Introducing: Buna’s Kitchen, a homey new lunch counter in the Entertainment District
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
Name: Buna’s Kitchen
Neighbourhood: Entertainment District
Contact Info: 388 Richmond St. W., Unit 5B, 647-342-5506, facebook.com
Previously: Sido Shwarma
Chefs/Owners: George Brown alums Grace An and Taylor Heon met in culinary school and opened a catering company together, Food Parade , before going the brick-and-mortar route with Buna’s.
The Food: Owners An and Heon are determined to bring old-fashioned home cooking to the downtown core. (Buna is Hungarian for “grandma”). The short menu includes sandwiches (pulled pork, duck confit), poutines and salads, plus a daily changing pasta special. On one visit, it’s bolognese; on the next, it’s fettuccine in a simple marinara sauce.
The Drinks: Boylan organic sodas, coffee from Balzacs, organic teas and hot chocolate.
The Place: The industrial space has a grab-and-go counter, booth-style seating and a handful of stools. There are some charming design details, like faux-leaded windows (the effect is achieved with stickers) and a “living wall” bursting with fresh basil and mint.
300233 The restaurant is located at 388 Richmond Street, just east of Spadina. (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Buna's Kitchen https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-03-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-03.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-03/ bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-03 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
300232 The industrial space is warmed up with bouquets of flowers and other pretty touches. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-04-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-04.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-04/ bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-04 0 0
300235 Owners <b>Grace An</b> and <b>Taylor Heon</b> are both George Brown alums. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-01-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-01.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-01/ bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-01 0 0
300229 The restaurant was designed by <b>Stacey Cohen</b> of <b>Interiors by Stacey Cohen.</b> https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-07-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-07.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-07/ bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-07 0 0
300225 Kale and goat cheese quiche ($5). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-11-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-11.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-11/ bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-11 0 0
300223 The pulled-pork sandwich is made with beer-braised meat and topped with a cabbage-apple slaw. It’s served with green salad ($9.50) or potato-carrot salad ($12). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-13-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-13.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-13/ bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-13 0 0
300224 Duck confit is topped with a fried egg and served on a buttered bun with cranberry mayo ($12). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-12-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-12.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-12/ bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-12 0 0
300226 The pasta special changes daily. Here, it's fettuccine in a simple marinara sauce ($7). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-10-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-10.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-10/ bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-10 0 0
300227 Amaretto-raisin bread pudding ($3). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-09-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-09.jpg 1000 666 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-09/ bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-09 0 0
300230 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-06-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-06.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants/slide/bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-06/ bunas-kitchen-toronto-restaurants-06 0 0