ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

The dish

Long gone are the days when a university student in the downtown core could get by on $2 hot dogs. Still, there are lunch deals to be had that offer better bang for your buck than the usual fast-food chain route. Every weekday, BeLeaf Vietnamese Cuisine, just outside College Subway station, features a different lunch special priced at $12.79, a rarity for a sit-down restaurant these days. On Mondays, it’s the Pork Chop Rice: a generous cut marinated overnight with lemongrass, garlic, and fish sauce before hitting the grill. The result is sweet and salty with a slight acidic finish, tempered by a subtle bittersweet char. The plate comes with steamed rice (perfect for soaking up the pork’s juices), a bowl of light vegetable broth, and a crispy vegetable spring roll. “It’s healthy, satisfying, affordable, and comforting — the kind of meal you can enjoy any day without feeling heavy,� says owner Alice Wu.

The restaurant

Opened in 2023, BeLeaf is part of a recent wave of Southeast Asian restaurants popping up around the downtown core. When it comes to Vietnamese cooking, diners’ palates have expanded beyond the classic pho to embrace fresh herbs with citrusy or minty notes — perfect for ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½â€™s unrelenting summers. “I think it comes down to how healthy and versatile the cooking style is,â€� says Wu. “The flavours are fresh and balanced, and the food leaves you feeling good instead of heavy. In today’s economy, it matters that you can eat well without breaking the bank, and Vietnamese food offers that. The style also blends naturally with Western influences — like grilled meats or fusion toppings — so it feels both authentic and international, which really connects with ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½â€™s diverse community.â€�

Also on the menu

Wu recommends first-timers try the House Special Pho, $15.99, featuring classic slices of rare beef, brisket, beef tendon, tripe, and bouncy beef meatballs. “The broth takes over 12 hours to make,� she explains. “It has layers of flavor from beef bones, spices, and herbs.� For students looking for an affordable first-date idea, the dinner combo for two is a great deal. For $43.49, you get your choice of two mains — like pho (vegetarian option available) and chicken rice — plus two drinks and a shareable appetizer such as spring rolls, mango salad, or lemongrass fish cakes. Other weekday lunch specials at $12.79 include chicken with vermicelli on Tuesday, pork vermicelli on Wednesday, chicken rice on Thursday, and mixed vermicelli on Friday. The drink menu also features increasingly popular Southeast Asian-style coconut-and-coffee combos. The iced coconut coffee, $6.99, is a luscious dessert drink made with coconut milk and a shot of espresso — the coconut milk adds a rich, nutty sweetness that elevates it beyond plain cream.

Explore the area

I wrote in an earlier newsletter that just a few doors down within the same apartment complex is Pita Way (45 Carlton St.), which offers a snack-sized $5 shawarma. As I mentioned before, the area saw an influx of Southeast Asian restaurants in recent years, especially regional Thai spots. There’s fancy brunch spot (27 Carlton St.) on the same street, Som Tum Jinda (76 Gerrard St. E.)  (496 Yonge St.) and Thong Lor (555 Church St.), just to name a few. For a non-food option, check out the newly renovated conservatory at  (19 Horticultural Ave.)