Karkumi Cafe — Restaurant in Toronto

I really wanted to like this place based on the reviews. Unfortunately my experience was totally different, I came in and stood there for 10minutes before I was acknowledged. There was no one in the front, and a huge party. I see 3 of them cleaning tables so I assume they had just had their breakfast rush which was completely understandable.

They all made eye contact but no one came forward, then finally someone came and I got seated. I was ready to order as I had already read through the menu during that 10minute wait, still I felt like I had to wait for them to be ready to take my order. They seemed overworked, no one had any emotions.

When the food came it was extremely disappointing. I ordered the peameal bacon egg benedict, the eggs were overcooked, salad was under seasoned and very basic, the potatoes were inconsistent some where crispy some where soft which I didn’t mind.

I asked the server if the eggs are suppose to be overcooked and she said they’re suppose to be runny and I said yes it’s not runny .. she apologized and brought out new eggs which were exactly the same. And I came out extremely fast so I assume it’s already premade and that explains why it’s overcooked probably just sitting in water.

The peameal bacon was overcooked as well, there was no texture to it and extremely salty to taste. I’m not one to be picky because usually that’s what I get at brunch and never once had I gotten it this bad I didn’t even know you could mess up something I thought was simple. But I am no cook so I don’t know exactly, just shocking because over the years I had never had anything so overcooked like this.

The matcha...

Karkumi Café offers a relaxed, inviting atmosphere. From the moment you walk in, there’s a sense of calm. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel at home, with cozy seating and a friendly vibe—perfect for a leisurely meal.

The food? It’s good. The Beef Short Rib Benedict is rich and satisfying, while the All-Day Breakfast is just what you’d expect—filling and comforting. The Blueberry Pancakes are balanced, not too sweet, and beautifully presented. The Crispy Chicken Pasta has a nice crunch and flavor, a solid dish all around. No complaints about the taste—everything was enjoyable.

But here’s the issue: the timing. We ended up waiting for everyone at the table to get their food before we could eat. It’s frustrating, and while it didn’t ruin the meal, it definitely affected the experience. When you’re dining together, the flow is important, and waiting for everyone’s plates to arrive doesn’t quite feel right.

On the plus side, the service was good—friendly, attentive, and professional. There’s no fault there, and it’s clear the staff are trying to make sure you have a pleasant experience.

All in all, Karkumi Café is a solid choice for a good meal in a comfortable setting. Would I return? Yes. Would I recommend it? Definitely, but I’d hope the timing issues...

A friend of mine recommended Karkumi Cafe so you know I had to try it out! Arrived at about 12pm on a Sunday and was able to get a table for 2 right away. They do have an online waitlist on Google Maps, and strongly recommend that you do that for bigger tables as it was quite busy and I did see that larger tables had to wait a bit. Most of their tables were smaller - I only saw one table available for 6 but they may have just combined 2+4 person tables. Parking is also not the best.

My fiance wasn't really hungry so we shared an app and a main together. I also got a black sesame latte and really enjoyed that - probably one of the better ones in the GTA. We shared the sweet potato fries that came with some cheese and spicy mayo, which was alright. Nothing too special about it but they were more than happy to give us additional mayo when requested. We also got the croque madame which was very delicious. There was a bit too much of the sauce for my preference since it made the toast a bit soggy (which I don't prefer) and it leaked onto the salad (though it still did taste fine with it). The ham has a smoky taste to it and was toasted to perfection! Overall I definitely would come back to try the other items - the clam linguine I wanted was sold out/unavailable...