Restaurant

Pinkerton's Snack Bar

BarToronto$$
Editorial restaurant image stand-in for Pinkerton's Snack Bar
Google

Pinkerton's Snack Bar is one of the best bar restaurants in Toronto for date night, especially if you want a strong option in Toronto.

Pinkerton's Snack Bar opened in Leslieville in 2017 and has spent the years since becoming the east end's definitive late-night hang — not because it's trying to be everything, but because it commits hard to a specific lane: classic cock…

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Rating (Google) 9.2
510 reviews
Toronto
At a glance
The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.
9.2
Rating
Based on 510 reviews
Best used for
date night and cocktail
Price and pace
Moderate spend
Neighborhood
Toronto · 1026 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1Z5, Canada
Price
Moderate spend
Google rating
9.2 from 510 reviews
Address
Toronto | 1026 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1Z5, Canada
What to order

Signature dishes at Pinkerton's Snack Bar

:
1026 Gerrard St E and the exposed-brick room with vintage decor backs that up. This isn't a restaurant that happens to have a bar — it's a bar that happens to take food seriously, and that distinction matters enormously on Gerrard East. The menu is built around snacks designed to hold up against serious drinking, and the kitchen leans into an Asian-fusion register that works because it doesn't try to be reverent about it. The Ahi Tuna Tostada swaps tortilla for crisp wonton wrappers — a small but telling detail about how the kitchen thinks. The Fried Chicken Bao is the kind of bar food people actually remember: juicy fried chicken tucked into a fluffy steamed bun and hit with gochujang sauce for that umami-forward funk. For non-meat eaters, the Jack Baoer — pulled jackfruit in hoisin BBQ sauce — is specifically called out as a standout across multiple sources, not as a consolation option but as something diners seek out. The bulgogi sirloin with spicy mayo and carrot slaw and the Kung Pao chicken with toasted sesame mayo and candied peanuts round out a menu that rotates but consistently rewards the instinct to order the bar snack that sounds slightly absurd. The sour beer program is the real insider angle here — it's been a draw since Pinkerton's opened and sets it apart from the generic craft tap lists that dominate the east end. Hours run until 2am Tuesday through Sunday, which makes it genuinely useful as a late destination rather than just a dinner option. Given the snack-forward format and open-until-close kitchen, the move is to arrive after 10pm with a loose plan: get the Fried Chicken Bao, get the Jack Baoer, and let whoever's at the table pick from whatever's rotating that week. Reservations aren't always essential but the room is small, so a heads-up call or OpenTable check before a Friday or Saturday is the practical play.
whatToOrder
Fried Chicken Bao
Jack Baoer (Jackfruit Bao)
Why go

What makes Pinkerton's Snack Bar worth the move

Pinkerton's Snack Bar looks like a good night-out option in Toronto because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. : and 1026 Gerrard St E and the exposed-brick room with vintage decor backs that up. This isn't a restaurant that happens to have a bar — it's a bar that happens to take food seriously, and that distinction matters enormously on Gerrard East. The menu is built around snacks designed to hold up against serious drinking, and the kitchen leans into an Asian-fusion register that works because it doesn't try to be reverent about it. The Ahi Tuna Tostada swaps tortilla for crisp wonton wrappers — a small but telling detail about how the kitchen thinks. The Fried Chicken Bao is the kind of bar food people actually remember: juicy fried chicken tucked into a fluffy steamed bun and hit with gochujang sauce for that umami-forward funk. For non-meat eaters, the Jack Baoer — pulled jackfruit in hoisin BBQ sauce — is specifically called out as a standout across multiple sources, not as a consolation option but as something diners seek out. The bulgogi sirloin with spicy mayo and carrot slaw and the Kung Pao chicken with toasted sesame mayo and candied peanuts round out a menu that rotates but consistently rewards the instinct to order the bar snack that sounds slightly absurd. The sour beer program is the real insider angle here — it's been a draw since Pinkerton's opened and sets it apart from the generic craft tap lists that dominate the east end. Hours run until 2am Tuesday through Sunday, which makes it genuinely useful as a late destination rather than just a dinner option. Given the snack-forward format and open-until-close kitchen, the move is to arrive after 10pm with a loose plan: get the Fried Chicken Bao, get the Jack Baoer, and let whoever's at the table pick from whatever's rotating that week. Reservations aren't always essential but the room is small, so a heads-up call or OpenTable check before a Friday or Saturday is the practical play. also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 510 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating
9.2 from 510 Google reviews
Best used for
date night and cocktail
Style
Bar in Toronto
Spend
Moderate spend

Best for

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.2 from 510 reviews
Price point: $$
Popular dishes: :, 1026 Gerrard St E and the exposed-brick room with vintage decor backs that up. This isn't a restaurant that happens to have a bar — it's a bar that happens to take food seriously, and that distinction matters enormously on Gerrard East. The menu is built around snacks designed to hold up against serious drinking, and the kitchen leans into an Asian-fusion register that works because it doesn't try to be reverent about it. The Ahi Tuna Tostada swaps tortilla for crisp wonton wrappers — a small but telling detail about how the kitchen thinks. The Fried Chicken Bao is the kind of bar food people actually remember: juicy fried chicken tucked into a fluffy steamed bun and hit with gochujang sauce for that umami-forward funk. For non-meat eaters, the Jack Baoer — pulled jackfruit in hoisin BBQ sauce — is specifically called out as a standout across multiple sources, not as a consolation option but as something diners seek out. The bulgogi sirloin with spicy mayo and carrot slaw and the Kung Pao chicken with toasted sesame mayo and candied peanuts round out a menu that rotates but consistently rewards the instinct to order the bar snack that sounds slightly absurd. The sour beer program is the real insider angle here — it's been a draw since Pinkerton's opened and sets it apart from the generic craft tap lists that dominate the east end. Hours run until 2am Tuesday through Sunday, which makes it genuinely useful as a late destination rather than just a dinner option. Given the snack-forward format and open-until-close kitchen, the move is to arrive after 10pm with a loose plan: get the Fried Chicken Bao, get the Jack Baoer, and let whoever's at the table pick from whatever's rotating that week. Reservations aren't always essential but the room is small, so a heads-up call or OpenTable check before a Friday or Saturday is the practical play., whatToOrder
Website linked on this page
TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for Pinkerton's Snack Bar

Google snapshot
9.2 from 510 reviews
TastyPals notes
Editorial review by Carlos Mendez
No diner notes for Pinkerton's Snack Bar yet.

Every note in this section is written by a diner who actually ate here, so we leave it empty until there's a genuine one to share.

For now, Pinkerton's Snack Bar holds a 9.2 rating across 510 Google reviews.

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Address
1026 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1Z5, Canada
Price
$$
TastyPals score
Coming soon
Google rating
9.2 (510 reviews)
Cuisine
Bar
Neighborhood
Toronto

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Pinkerton's Snack Bar serve?

Pinkerton's Snack Bar is a Bar restaurant located in Toronto, Toronto. Pinkerton's Snack Bar opened in Leslieville in 2017 and has spent the years since becoming the east end's definitive late-night hang — not because it's trying to be everything, but because it commits hard to a specific lane: classic cock…

What is Pinkerton's Snack Bar best for?

Pinkerton's Snack Bar is best for cocktail, date night. Pinkerton's Snack Bar looks like a good night-out option in Toronto because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. : and 1026 Gerrard St E and the exposed-brick room with vintage decor backs that up. This isn't a restaurant that happens to have a bar — it's a bar that happens to take food seriously, and that distinction matters enormously on Gerrard East. The menu is built around snacks designed to hold up against serious drinking, and the kitchen leans into an Asian-fusion register that works because it doesn't try to be reverent about it. The Ahi Tuna Tostada swaps tortilla for crisp wonton wrappers — a small but telling detail about how the kitchen thinks. The Fried Chicken Bao is the kind of bar food people actually remember: juicy fried chicken tucked into a fluffy steamed bun and hit with gochujang sauce for that umami-forward funk. For non-meat eaters, the Jack Baoer — pulled jackfruit in hoisin BBQ sauce — is specifically called out as a standout across multiple sources, not as a consolation option but as something diners seek out. The bulgogi sirloin with spicy mayo and carrot slaw and the Kung Pao chicken with toasted sesame mayo and candied peanuts round out a menu that rotates but consistently rewards the instinct to order the bar snack that sounds slightly absurd. The sour beer program is the real insider angle here — it's been a draw since Pinkerton's opened and sets it apart from the generic craft tap lists that dominate the east end. Hours run until 2am Tuesday through Sunday, which makes it genuinely useful as a late destination rather than just a dinner option. Given the snack-forward format and open-until-close kitchen, the move is to arrive after 10pm with a loose plan: get the Fried Chicken Bao, get the Jack Baoer, and let whoever's at the table pick from whatever's rotating that week. Reservations aren't always essential but the room is small, so a heads-up call or OpenTable check before a Friday or Saturday is the practical play. also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 510 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Pinkerton's Snack Bar?

Pinkerton's Snack Bar is in the Moderate spend price range ($$). Google rating: 9.2 from 510 reviews

What should I order at Pinkerton's Snack Bar?

Start with :, 1026 Gerrard St E and the exposed-brick room with vintage decor backs that up. This isn't a restaurant that happens to have a bar — it's a bar that happens to take food seriously, and that distinction matters enormously on Gerrard East. The menu is built around snacks designed to hold up against serious drinking, and the kitchen leans into an Asian-fusion register that works because it doesn't try to be reverent about it. The Ahi Tuna Tostada swaps tortilla for crisp wonton wrappers — a small but telling detail about how the kitchen thinks. The Fried Chicken Bao is the kind of bar food people actually remember: juicy fried chicken tucked into a fluffy steamed bun and hit with gochujang sauce for that umami-forward funk. For non-meat eaters, the Jack Baoer — pulled jackfruit in hoisin BBQ sauce — is specifically called out as a standout across multiple sources, not as a consolation option but as something diners seek out. The bulgogi sirloin with spicy mayo and carrot slaw and the Kung Pao chicken with toasted sesame mayo and candied peanuts round out a menu that rotates but consistently rewards the instinct to order the bar snack that sounds slightly absurd. The sour beer program is the real insider angle here — it's been a draw since Pinkerton's opened and sets it apart from the generic craft tap lists that dominate the east end. Hours run until 2am Tuesday through Sunday, which makes it genuinely useful as a late destination rather than just a dinner option. Given the snack-forward format and open-until-close kitchen, the move is to arrive after 10pm with a loose plan: get the Fried Chicken Bao, get the Jack Baoer, and let whoever's at the table pick from whatever's rotating that week. Reservations aren't always essential but the room is small, so a heads-up call or OpenTable check before a Friday or Saturday is the practical play., whatToOrder and Fried Chicken Bao. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Pinkerton's Snack Bar worth visiting?

Pinkerton's Snack Bar holds a 9.2 Google rating from 510 reviews. Pinkerton's Snack Bar looks like a good night-out option in Toronto because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. : and 1026 Gerrard St E and the exposed-brick room with vintage decor backs that up. This isn't a restaurant that happens to have a bar — it's a bar that happens to take food seriously, and that distinction matters enormously on Gerrard East. The menu is built around snacks designed to hold up against serious drinking, and the kitchen leans into an Asian-fusion register that works because it doesn't try to be reverent about it. The Ahi Tuna Tostada swaps tortilla for crisp wonton wrappers — a small but telling detail about how the kitchen thinks. The Fried Chicken Bao is the kind of bar food people actually remember: juicy fried chicken tucked into a fluffy steamed bun and hit with gochujang sauce for that umami-forward funk. For non-meat eaters, the Jack Baoer — pulled jackfruit in hoisin BBQ sauce — is specifically called out as a standout across multiple sources, not as a consolation option but as something diners seek out. The bulgogi sirloin with spicy mayo and carrot slaw and the Kung Pao chicken with toasted sesame mayo and candied peanuts round out a menu that rotates but consistently rewards the instinct to order the bar snack that sounds slightly absurd. The sour beer program is the real insider angle here — it's been a draw since Pinkerton's opened and sets it apart from the generic craft tap lists that dominate the east end. Hours run until 2am Tuesday through Sunday, which makes it genuinely useful as a late destination rather than just a dinner option. Given the snack-forward format and open-until-close kitchen, the move is to arrive after 10pm with a loose plan: get the Fried Chicken Bao, get the Jack Baoer, and let whoever's at the table pick from whatever's rotating that week. Reservations aren't always essential but the room is small, so a heads-up call or OpenTable check before a Friday or Saturday is the practical play. also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 510 Google reviews.

Where is Pinkerton's Snack Bar located?

Pinkerton's Snack Bar is located at 1026 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1Z5, Canada. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Is Pinkerton's Snack Bar good for a date night?

Yes — Pinkerton's Snack Bar is tagged for date night dining. Pinkerton's Snack Bar looks like a good night-out option in Toronto because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. : and 1026 Gerrard St E and the exposed-brick room with vintage decor backs that up. This isn't a restaurant that happens to have a bar — it's a bar that happens to take food seriously, and that distinction matters enormously on Gerrard East. The menu is built around snacks designed to hold up against serious drinking, and the kitchen leans into an Asian-fusion register that works because it doesn't try to be reverent about it. The Ahi Tuna Tostada swaps tortilla for crisp wonton wrappers — a small but telling detail about how the kitchen thinks. The Fried Chicken Bao is the kind of bar food people actually remember: juicy fried chicken tucked into a fluffy steamed bun and hit with gochujang sauce for that umami-forward funk. For non-meat eaters, the Jack Baoer — pulled jackfruit in hoisin BBQ sauce — is specifically called out as a standout across multiple sources, not as a consolation option but as something diners seek out. The bulgogi sirloin with spicy mayo and carrot slaw and the Kung Pao chicken with toasted sesame mayo and candied peanuts round out a menu that rotates but consistently rewards the instinct to order the bar snack that sounds slightly absurd. The sour beer program is the real insider angle here — it's been a draw since Pinkerton's opened and sets it apart from the generic craft tap lists that dominate the east end. Hours run until 2am Tuesday through Sunday, which makes it genuinely useful as a late destination rather than just a dinner option. Given the snack-forward format and open-until-close kitchen, the move is to arrive after 10pm with a loose plan: get the Fried Chicken Bao, get the Jack Baoer, and let whoever's at the table pick from whatever's rotating that week. Reservations aren't always essential but the room is small, so a heads-up call or OpenTable check before a Friday or Saturday is the practical play. also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 510 Google reviews.

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