Aliu IsaToronto is known for its yummy breakfasts, fun brunches, hearty lunches, and fab dinners, but did you know that it’s also famous for its awesome snacks?
Yep, we locals are total snack fiends. And while we do love the classic candy bars and salty chips at the nearest bodega, we’re also known to munch on savory Indian puffed crisps or slurp up Korean ramyun.
If you’re a fellow serial snacker but don’t know where to start, I’ll hook you up. Here’s my curated guide to the top snack shops in TO!
1. Ricardo’s Kandy Korner
Billed as Toronto’s largest candy store, Ricardo’s Kandy Korner (at CF Toronto Eaton Centre) is a huge, magical place for young and old alike. Imagine a Willy Wonka-type world, but you don’t need a Golden Ticket to enter!
It offers a mix-and-match bulk section, where you scoop up your faves, all for one flat price per pound. This is great for indecisive snackers who want a little bit of everything.
Just a heads up—some candies aren’t labeled with a price, so that cute little candy bag you grabbed might end up costing you a ton.
Now, if you’re after international goodies, you’ll be spoiled for choice here. They offer stuff like Habibi Dubai chocolate, Pringles tubes, and massive Cadbury bars.
A nifty bonus: they accept the CF SHOP! card, which is handy if you’re a mall regular.
Chocolates and candies from worldwide
“Chocolates and candies from worldwide. What else do I need to say? The price is a little high, but if you’ve ever paid a Purolator duty fee, you’d know foreign luxuries don’t come cheap! Nice once in a while, treat.”
Jason Campbell, Google Review
Has EVERYTHING you’ve ever wanted to try
“This store has EVERYTHING you’ve ever wanted to try. Different challenges like spicy gummy or the big pickle in different flavours, mochi, crystals, marshmallows, etc. Lots of products from different countries, some stuff you haven’t heard of. The staff is really nice, helpful. The atmosphere is great, it’s very colourful and organized.”
Darina Vilyamova, Google Review
2. GoodieBag
GoodieBag totally lives up to its name. Just like a goody bag, you never know what you’re going to get when you enter—you could snag Polish cookies one week or chocolate bars from Brazil in another.
Chips, candy, cakes, sodas, and ice cream. Nope, this is not my grocery list; these are other items they might have at any given time.
And as you may have already guessed, their snacks are all over the map—in a good way. You’ll find products from places like the US, UK, Mexico, Germany, Korea, the Balkans, and beyond—just note that not all of them may have a Best Before label.
What’s cool is that after you check out, you get to play a mini-game. You can spin a prize wheel and try to match up cards on a wall for a freebie!
My favourite store to buy exotic snacks now!!!
“My favourite store to buy exotic snacks now!!! They have a lot of things to choose from.
Will be returning very soon!”
josh leonard, Google Review
Best customer service ever
“Best customer service ever. The dude who works here is friendly & inviting, always talks to you when you come into the store, and lets you know about new items or things you might like based on what stuff you’ve picked out, etc. Also, the snack & drink options are VAST & not overpriced like most exotic snack places. I sometimes even go out of my way to go to this spot over a Circle K or other convenience store, cuz it’s that good.”
Jenna M, Google Review
3. The Snack Pause
Open since 2022, The Snack Pause is the place to be if you’re craving Indian snacks that can’t be found at your local grocery store.
Case in point—they have over 200 varieties of authentic Indian candies and other goodies. From crunchy namkeens to sweets like gulab jamun, you’ll find yourself drowning in delicious options.
Everything is fresh and well-packed, not to mention super affordable. I just love browsing through their neatly organized shelves, picking and choosing which nibbles to consume for my next Netflix marathon.
When laziness hits (or maybe it’s raining), you could simply order online, too.
Unfortunately, they’re not very responsive to emails, calls, or texts. This is not ideal, especially if you have questions or issues with your order.
Fantastic range of authentic Indian products
“This snack shop offers a fantastic range of authentic Indian products, including spicy namkeens, crispy mixtures, and traditional sweets like gulab jamun and kaju katli. The flavors are fresh and true to their roots, with popular brands ensuring quality. Prices are reasonable, making it a great spot to satisfy your snack cravings. Perfect for anyone who loves bold and vibrant Indian flavors! Must visit this place.”
Harpreet Sidhu, Google Review
Best shop in town!
“Excellent service and huge variety. Best shop in town!”
Jasmine, Google Review
4. PAT Central
Just a quick 5-minute walk from Christie Station, PAT Central is such a conveniently located snack shop—it’s also near restaurants, banks, and other stores. You can run errands and grab your snack haul all in one go.
If you’re a ramen fan (who isn’t?), this spot has the widest and most affordable selection in the city. We’re talking walls of instant noodles in spicy, cheesy, and savory flavors.
It’s also stocked with ready-made Korean food like homemade kimchi, seasoned tofu, and seaweed sides. And if you love freshly made fish-shaped cakes, they’re right by the entrance counter.
One thing I’ve noticed, though—their staff can be a bit too hover-y? Normally, I don’t mind, but there are people who find hovering sales staff to be very annoying.
You know what’s funny? I just recently discovered their skincare store upstairs. Make sure to browse trendy Korean beauty products before or after your snack shopping.
Ready-made Korean food is always fresh
“Always the best prices, and ready-made Korean food is always fresh. They used to have the $10 for 3 side dishes, and that was a great deal. Definitely recommend this store.”
Sarah Adil, Google Review
So many Korean and Japanese products!
“I really liked this grocery shop in Koreatown. They have so many Korean and Japanese products! Prices are fair, and weekly specials are great. I loved the freshly made Taiyaki (fish-shaped cake) counter at the entrance. It is much better than tourist spots selling overpriced bakeries. At PAT, you can buy lots of packaged snacks and 2.25$/2.50$/Taiyaki! They are legit, similar to what I had in Japan! I almost wanted to buy in bulk haha!”
Linda Huynh, Google Review
5. Luckys Exotic Bodega
Luckys Exotic Bodega is an Ossington gem known for its wild mix of exotic snacks and—drumroll please—footwear. Yep, you read that right.
The snack selection is definitely worth the trip, with shelves of imported treats from Korea, Japan, Germany, and beyond. I love their mango candies, seaweed chips, and I even tried their halal candies (Spoiler alert: they’re yummy!).
If you want to cool off, they also have an ice cream section.
As I’ve mentioned, they sell shoes (displayed on a wall) by big brands like Nike, Supreme, OVO, Travis Scott, and many more.
There’s even a gaming setup below and a hoop to shoot around with, making it a family-friendly spot for kids to hang out in before going home from school.
But just a tiny reminder—do check the expiry dates before purchasing items. Some have complained about expired bottled beverages, which sucks.
One-of-a-kind snack experience
“If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind snack experience, Lucky’s Exotic Bodega is the place to be! This spot is an absolute gem, offering an incredible selection of rare and hard-to-find snacks from all over the world. Whether you’re craving unique chips, exclusive sodas, or limited-edition candy, Lucky’s has something that will surprise and satisfy your taste buds.”
victor le, Google Review
So many snacks from around the world
“Pretty cool candy store. They sell so many snacks and drinks from around the world, limited edition and unique specialty items like official Twinkie scented candles and scorpion lollipops. There is a wide selection of Haribo candies. Spent a good while just looking at all the items they have. Fun place to pop by and take a look.”
Clam, Google Review
