Myungdong Kalguksu and Shabu Shabu

One does not simply dine here and leave without terrible garlic breath.

When we were in Seoul last time, we were recommended to try the Myeongdong Gyoja & Kalguksu, and so when I saw the familiar name in Thornhill, my interest was piqued.

Myungdong Kalguksu and Shabu Shabu
Location: 8194 Bayview Avenue
Thornhill, ON
L3T 2S2

Elephant Grind Coffee

Sometimes, Instagram gets flooded when a new restaurant pops up, and inundates your feed until you succumb to its temptation. The magic of social media marketing led us to seek out brunch at Elephant Grind Coffee.

Elephant Grind Coffee
Location: 10 East Wilmot St, Unit 7
Richmond Hill, ON
L48 1G9

CHEE Organic Bakery Café

Asian Braised Beef Eggs Benny ($14.95)

My brunch buddy was finally back in town for the holidays, and we decided to continue our tradition in Markham. We took the usual suspects out of the picture, and a quick Google search showed us a cafe on Main Street Unionville.

CHEE Organic Bakery Café
Location: 147A Main Street Unionville
Markham, ON
L3R 2G8

The Alley

Royal No. 9 & Uji Matcha

I was a bit surprised when I realized I never wrote anything about The Alley – known as Diagon Alley elsewhere in the world, they opened up last summer in the Commerce Gate Plaza, and has just opened a new location on Main Street Unionville.

The Alley
Location: 505 Highway 7 E
Thornhill, ON
L3T 7T1 

Coffee Shops in Markham

I’m one of those people who have trouble concentrating at home. There’s always something to do, clean, watch, make, etc., and so I also find myself sidetracked or seriously distracted even when I manage to sit down and work. Studying or finding a place to work in Markham isn’t the easiest thing to do – libraries fill up fast here and aren’t that plentiful.

I love the cafe atmosphere of nursing a drink for a couple of hours while working, or just catching up with friends over a a cup of joe. There have been more coffee shops popping up over the last few years that offer exactly that. 

Funky Munky Cafe

I was on the hunt for a place to work after dinner on a Tuesday night, and found Funky Munky Cafe. I wasn’t looking for bubble tea, but imagine my surprise when I walked in to find that they offered bubble tea in addition to coffee and tea.

Funky Munky Cafe
Location: 9275 Markham Rd, Unit 7
Markham, ON
L6E 1A1

Alchemy Coffee

Matcha Latte

Independent coffee shops are popping up all over Markham, and the one with the biggest hype has to be Alchemy Coffee. Located in a strip plaza off Highway 7, it’s reputation brings customers in despite the sparse parking.

Alchemy Coffee
Location: 4361 Highway 7 E, Unit 1
Markham, ON
L3R 1M1

Spotlight: Green Grotto Maccha Hokkaido Milk Tea

I have reviewed my overall experience at Green Grotto already, but in the last few months, they released a new drink: Maccha Hokkaido Milk Tea.

I already love their Hokkaido milk tea, and I like their maccha milk tea, which meant it was a match made in heaven. The drink comes with grass jelly but I like to substitute with tapioca.

At $6.49, this drink is not cheap by any means, but it is the perfect blend of earthy matcha and sweet Hokkaido milk to leave your tastebuds satisfied. Also, you get 15% off with take-out!

They have opened a new location across from Markville Mall, and have a whopping eight locations now in Markham, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Downtown Toronto, Vaughan, and Mississauga. Browse them all on their website to find the one closest to you.

Main Street Greek

Finally, Greek food on Main Street Markham!

Main Street Greek
Location: 60 Markham Main St N 
Markham, ON
L3P 1X5 

Bean Around the World

Update (Spring 2018): this location has been closed.

There aren’t many coffee shops in Markham that aren’t Second Cup, Starbucks, and Tim Hortons… and now there is Bean Around the World, a coffee shop from British Columbia that opened its first location here.

Bean Around the World
Location: 5762 Highway 7 E, Unit 3
Markham, ON
L3P 1A8