There’s no denying it: Torontonians love their Jamaican patties. Whether it’s grabbing one on the go at a subway station, stocking up at a bakery or supermarket, or fuelling up before dancing down Lake Shore Boulevard during the Toronto Caribbean Carnival parade, patties are a city staple.
To celebrate the golden, flaky goodness, the Star is inviting readers to vote for their favourites in our Patty Week Bracket. This isn’t a definitive list of every patty maker in the city, but we hope it prompts new discoveries, inspires folks to shout out their go-to patty place and sparks a few lively debates.
Cast your votes on thestar.com before 11 a.m. each day. We’ll tally the results and open the next round until we crown a winner on July 31 — just in time to kick off the Toronto Caribbean Carnival.
1. Caribbean Queen of Patties
When it comes to patties, owner Georgina Hamilton’s are hard to beat. She’s cultivated a staunch and loyal following for decades for her consistently flaky and piping hot house-made patties.
7725 Birchmount Rd., Unit 28
This Markham-based producer has one of the widest reaches in the GTA, supplying patties to retail stores, restaurants and takeout spots like Allwyn’s and The Islands Caribbean Cookshop. Chances are, you’ve had a Michidean patty without even knowing it.
This beloved bakery is synonymous with subway station snack shops, having supplied their patties for decades, and has thankfully recovered after a devastating factory fire. When people praise the Bathurst Station patties, they mean Fahmee’s patties.
600 Denison St. and 9590 McCowan Rd, Unit 1
Founded in 1977 by the late George Phang-Lyn, this Markham-based bakery keeps it simple with beef (mild, spicy and extra spicy), chicken and vegetable patties.
A patty shop spinoff of the popular Patois restaurant, JunePlum stands out with its pyramid-shaped patties and less common fillings such as smoked brisket, coconut-crab, and corn and callaloo.
6. Patty Cake and Ice Cream
Opened in 2015, Patty Cake made a splash in Scarborough’s patty scene with its classic beef patties as well as jerk chicken, curry goat and curry shrimp fillings.
While Stush doesn’t have a storefront, Opal Rowe gained a following for her frozen patties found at grocers across the city. Her take on vegan patties filled with spicy lentils or jerk soy are a particular highlight for those looking for a change from the usual veggie fillings.
8. Kingston 12 Patty Shop
A newcomer to Little Jamaica, this patty shop opened in 2023 but has quickly established itself as a neighbourhood favourite with its classic beef, chicken and veggie patties, as well as cheese-filled variations.
Nondescript storefront? Located on a neighbourhood plaza? Popularity spread solely by word of mouth? Patty Time is a prime example of good Scarborough eats with a tight menu of classic Jamaican mains like curry goat and oxtail, as well as its chicken and beef patties.
It was big news last year when this legendary patty shop reopened after the original owners closed the bakery in 2022. Since 1979, lining up at Randy’s has been a Toronto rite of passage.
A Kensington Market classic, Golden Patty is as old-school as it gets — affordable, fresh, and beloved by locals. Try their unique fillings like ackee and salt fish, callaloo or jerk pork.
Since the ’90s, this Scarborough bakery has been rolling out its signature trapezoid-shaped patties with classic beef, chicken, veggie and curry goat fillings.
A fan favourite for their consistency and accessibility, Tin’nels patties are stocked in the freezer aisle of major grocers across the GTA. After more than 20 years, they’ve become a patty institution.
Located near Scarborough Town Centre, Patty King has been serving classic patties since 1981. Choose from mild/spicy beef, chicken or veggie — and don’t sleep on the jerk for lunch.
15. P Jay’s Jamaican Takeout
Since 1984, P Jay’s has built a loyal fan base for both its jerk chicken and its hand-cut, ultra-flaky beef and veggie patties, made in small batches for maximum flavour.
Etobicoke locals have long loved this low-key takeout patty counter for its harder-to-find fillings like ackee and salt fish, shrimp, jerk chicken, and beef with cheese.
