Little India

Little India is home to the Gerrard India Bazaar, North America’s largest South Asian ethnic market. This is the place to get a sari - you can buy an array of silks, embroideries and ornately sequined pieces ready-to-wear or materials to sew yourself. Add to your jewelry collection: The Bazaar brings gold from places like India, Pakistan, Singapore and Dubai. Plenty of grocers sell Halal meat and an array of Indian foods and spices.

The restaurants are the real draw here - with the buffets and large restaurants here, you can feast for an affordable price. While Indian buffets still dot the heavily Sikh and Hindu eastern edge of the bazaar, halal restaurants are taking over the west. Vegetarians will be delighted at the options and popular restaurants include Udupi Palace, Bombay Chowpatty and Motimahal.

Every July, the TD Festival of South Asia celebrates South Asian culture. Tastes cost $1-5 and participants can be entertained by live Indian and Banghra music, Bollywood dance and a fashion show.

Practical Info

Note that here are two Gerrard streets - upper and lower - and that Little India is located on lower Gerrard Street. If you are already downtown, take the 506 Carlton Streetcar eastbound from College. Note that from Yonge Street going east, College street turns into Carlton and then Gerrard. On the subway, exit at Coxwell Station (on the Bloor/Danforth Line) and take the 22 bus south to lower-Gerrard.