Mystic Muffin — Restaurant in Toronto

Mystic Muffin has been on many top Toronto best cheap eats list as far as I can remember. You always read the words of "plentiful, healthy, and awesome flavours" that goes on each list. What some list fail to capture is the amazing and incredibly charismatic gentleman behind the counter. He will make you smile if not laugh the entire time you're there.

Mystic Muffin names doesn't convey the true nature of this place ... don't expect a bakery. You get to experience the most honest and fun conversation with a complete stranger (unless you're a regular) while enjoying some of the best and most affordable Mediterranean food in Toronto. The lady in front of us was getting the full treatment of learning what Mediterranean hospitality is all about and how she's got to bring one of the banana bread loafs (only $5 for the entire thing and freshly made! That's his hustle) to her friends cottage if she ever wants a return invite. He definitely knows how to work everyone into the conversation so even if there's a line, you never feel it once.

As for me, I wanted a piece of the famed apple cake and for $3, I got a good sized helping to bring back. I could have eaten it there and then as there is a few tables available but his super clean but fairly spartan place is meant more as a take out spot.

Apple Cake - I get why there's much love for this. It's like the best homestyle baked good you can find in Toronto. Tight crumbed and yet will quite light and moist, the cake is just the right sweetness that still gives the tender apple chunks the starring role. I loved how the sugar created a light crisp top that shatters and crumbles while you take a bite. It's very simple and homey but sometimes simple is the best. 4/5

The cake is a solid 4 star rave but the gentleman is a star in itself so 5 star from me. Next time, I'm...

I never knew a falafel sandwich could be so tasty. my past experiences with falafel from other places had me thinking they're always heavy and deep fried and oily but the falafel I had yesterday was so perfectly crispy on the outside but not in the deep fried way (some different method I don't know what they do) with the perfect texture inside.

He didn't just throw ingredients together and give them to me, he actually CRAFTED the sandwich and made it with care. All the little details in how he built the sandwich contribute to the result of a fragrant (LOVE the fresh parsley), filling yet light, warm tender wrap on the go. It's always a good sign when you can eat a wrap on the go without the ingredients spilling anywhere, that's how you know that they prepped every ingredient with intention (not haphazardly cut huge pieces of tomato slipping out like at most other places) and they built the sandwich making sure every bite gets you all the ingredients with ease. Delightful. I was having a bad day up until the point that I stopped by (my first time ever after seeing the place featured in a local indie movie) and it genuinely had me smiling after my first bite to the point where that created a butterfly effect of good feelings for the rest of the day. Good food at good prices just cannot be beat in terms of the way they make you feel.

The prices are unlike anywhere else in Toronto. We need to support places like this if we want them to stay for a long time to come.

Long live...

I discovered this place while commuting from the east end of Toronto to school and was immediately intrigued by the signage and exterior of the building (if you look at others' photos you'll understand why!) On my lunch breaks I would sometimes walk over and every time I just had the most personable, warm, memorable experience and truly some of the best falafel I've ever had. The owner really does treat everyone like family and is always smiling and friendly. Having worked in restaurants and spent time in Toronto, I know how difficult it is to keep up this kind of positive energy all day every day, so I really appreciate the owner's dedication to having such positive energy. I think more than once I witnessed the owner giving food to homeless people. I remember these experiences so fondly and often wish to go back and visit again. This is a Toronto institution and I'm shocked to see that there aren't more ratings on the Google listing! TLDR: Extremely, almost shockingly personable experience and some of the best falafel and baked goods at great prices. Do yourself a...