Inside downtown Toronto’s affordable eats at STACKT Market
Published July 4, 2025 at 3:53 pm

A major open-air market in Toronto just launched a summer lunch program with a huge, affordable twist.
The Market
STACKT Market, for those unfamiliar, is a massive complex of storage containers within Toronto’s downtown core.
The facility hosts a wide array of rotating vendors, who pick a box, set up shop, and provide Toronto with a diverse range of culinary and retail experiences hard to find anywhere else.
To celebrate those maneuvering downtown while on the job or vacation, STACKT launched its Lunch & Local program on July 2 — a 12-week series that runs every Wednesday from 12 to 3 p.m., built on providing delicious and affordable lunches.
“It’s all about eating local, and it’s all about spending less, especially given the economic times most of us are going through right now. For that reason, we love to see folks just come through and hang out with us. Whenever we learn about unplanned visits that go well over an hour, we know there is something for anyone who comes here,” Mohamed Abseh, Director of Marketplace for STACKT, told yourcitywithIN.com.
Participating locations at STACKT that contribute to the lunch program include Haydn’s, Pampered Pig BBQ, Monday’s Off, Oi Sushi, Bodego, Sunday’s Pasta Lab and Courage Cookies.
The incentive aims to reinvent the way STACKT approaches the noon to early-afternoon block in the summertime, as with most event spaces and hospitality locations, high traffic is in the late afternoon to early evening.
Even a few days in, the result, according to Abseh, has exceeded expectations, as daytime travellers are finding their way into STACKT and are learning very quickly about the array of diverse food available for less than the cost of a cab ride.
“We constantly hear from all the regulars who come through here, and it’s great, beyond that, it also boils down to what we can learn from them. We find out what they want to see in the future, and beyond what they can learn from us, also, find out what we can learn from them,” says Abseh.
The Lunch & Local program is slated to run until October.
STACKT also plans to apply the lessons from the summer Lunch & Local program to a winter program that will showcase uniquely Toronto cuisine, warming the city up as it starts to cool.
The Lunch
While visiting the launch day for STACKT’s Lunch & Local program, yourcitywithIN.com was able to sample a few of the select vendors participating.
Here’s an inside look at some of the innovations available for $15 and under.
Pampered Pig BBQ
The heavenly aroma from this location will likely be the first thing that hits you as you walk into STACKT, as its giant smoker is just to the left of the main entrance.
For the Lunch & Local program, the Pampered Pig is going straight to the point with its beef brisket sandwich.
Simplicity in its most direct and delicious form, this savoury miracle comes on a fresh toasted brioche bun, brought home with a delicate application of pickles.
Oi Sushi
Hidden inside a row of storage crates bordering the exterior of STACKT is Oi Sushi.
This vendor prepares their suhi fresh on site, and boy, does it taste like it. Whether you are looking for rolls, sashimi, tartar, or a poke bowl, this is the place to be.
As part of the Lunch & Local program, many grab-and-go sushi combos are ready for purchase.
We grabbed the salmon nigiri and almost went back for more.
Haydn’s
Likely one of the most dynamic spots on this list, Haydn’s is a self-serve location that specializes in frozen yogurt, and above all else, its frozen açaí dessert.
Let’s just say if you need something incredibly fresh, flavourful, and cool on a hot summer day, the açaí is your new best friend.
Sunday’s Pasta Lab
It’s in the name — this is no mere kitchen, it’s a full-on lab dedicated to crafting some of the most flavourful pasta in Toronto.
While visiting these flavour scientists, we grabbed The Tommy, fresh pasta accompanied by tomato sauce made in-house, infused with fresh basil.
Topped with a dollop of Parmigiano Reggiano mousse, which tastes as if Italy were a cloud, this is one spot that can’t be missed.
The Vendor
We managed to sit down with one of the creative minds behind the vendors featured at STACKT’s Lunch & Local program.
Andreas Tsagarelis, cofounder of Sundays Pasta Lab, provided insight on not only why operating out of STACKT is a unique experience, but also how supplying an inexpensive lunch program in an expensive city is a career highlight.
“When they come to us and say ‘we need $15 and under,’ I was like, absolutely. Our pastas, on average, are $10, so we’ll throw in a drink and a bag of chips (imported from Greece). Let’s get people here at lunchtime, and more importantly, let’s give back to the community,” Tsagarelis told yourcitywithIN.com.
Much in line with Abseh’s goal of getting more pedestrian traffic into STACKT during the midday, Tsagarelis is already seeing it happen in real time, as just a few days into the program, Sunday’s is seeing its storage container fill up for the lunch bell.
As for what fare is offered during the Lunch & Local, guests can swing by Sunday’s and design their perfect pasta, right down to the style, sauce, protein, and more.
“The customization aspect, I mean, there is so much fun to it, especially in the way we have curated it,” says Tsagarelis. “There are no limits or restrictions either, we have six vegetarian options, we get to hit all the boxes.”
As for what to grab when visiting, Tsagarelis advises the Les Miz, a perfect light pasta for the summer, accompanied by a classic golden browned butter sauce infused with sage & finished with aged mizithra cheese.
For more information on Sunday’s Pasta Lab and the Lunch & Local, visit STACKT’s official website.