Here’s what’s replacing a century-old fish and chips restaurant in Toronto
Published April 3, 2025 at 4:33 pm
For every institution lost, it seems there is one gained.
Late last year, diners in Toronto’s bustling Leslieville neighbourhood—a place that has seen quite a few restaurants come and go over the past year—said goodbye for good to Reliable Fish and Chips, a long-standing resto that had been serving east-end diners from 1930 until its final closure in late 2024.
While the shuttering of the Queen Street East and Carlaw Avenue staple shocked many (especially since it had reopened following a brief closure in 2022), it appears that the prime storefront won’t be empty for long.
Yesterday, Masa Deli, a popular Dovercourt spot known for its breakfast sandwiches, announced that it’s in the midst of renovating its brand new Leslieville digs at 954 Queen St E.
“Word’s out- Masa Deli EAST here we come,” operators wrote on social media.
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The news received an enthusiastic response on Facebook and Instagram.
“You had me at breakfast sandwich,” one poster wrote on Facebook.
Another couched their delight in a little mix of criticism for the quieter side of TO.
“Omggggggggg the east end might finally be sexy now,” a poster wrote on Instagram.
Masa Deli serves both breakfast and lunch, offering a sausage and egg breakfast sandwich (made with chicken sausage, chive omelette, white cheddar, pickles, aioli and salsa on an English muffin), a kale and egg breakfast sandwich, a chorizo burrito (made with tater tots), a hot cheese sandwich and more.
The restaurant also serves a wide range of coffee beverages (think lattes, flat whites, chai lattes, cortados and more), tea, juice, iced horchata and more.
An official opening date has not yet been announced.