Dairy Freeze

I’ve been coming to this place since I was a kid! Burgers are charbroiled-​delicious and the onion rings can’t be missed. Dairy Freeze might have an odd name, but it’s a classic that can’t be missed!

If you’re reading this review you’re probably unaware of the fact that this place in a Toronto institution. It’s literally been around for eternity, and hasn’t changed at all. As children to new Italian immigrants in the 60’s this place set the benchmark for what a burger place should for my parents, as it did for a generation of others. Obviously ownership has changed through the years and this place isn’t going to renew your conception of what a hamburger should be, but it’s got a charm reminiscent of a time forgotten. Milkshakes, dingy vinyl seats, wood paneling and the smell of grease. I swear by the steak on a kaiser. Not passing up on the bagel-​sized onion rings either. Definitely a contender for the best I’ve ever had.

I tried this place after a walk in the park.
Customer service was a bit off and it was a surprise since it’s a rare experience in most places that I try. The cashier guy was frowning while I was reading the menu in the 1^st min I was in the store. There were two tables only occupied and 4 men working!
Clean washroom and tables.
I got the souvlaki dinner that had well grilled succulent cubes of chicken, around 7! Half of the plate was covered in lettuce: Greek salad with a cheap watery oily dressing that lacked flavour.

And the other half in fries and onion rings. The Cost without tip around 15 $

This place has stood the test of time. It has gone up against big chain burger joints and come out on top. And for good reason, Good service, good food & Nostalgia. The fries are a must have. The onion rings really good, after leaving a club or bar. Hands down this place will not disappoint.

This place is everything you would expect from a diner. Regular tasting fries, burgers, sandwiches and shakes. I’ve had fries and burgers from this place twice and it was nothing special. Fries just taste like regular home fries anyone could make, the burger wasn’t bad. sort of tasted like harveys but there wasn’t anything too great or special about it that would make me come back. It does get busy throughout lunch with locals and construction workers just looking for a place to grab a quick burger. This place reminds me a lot of a food truck you would find parked outside of a construction site. I am surprised it is still open however for their prices I suppose people just want to a great deal.
Wouldn’t come back,.

Went there for the first time today. When I entered, there was a girl leaning against the back counter, staring at the wall. She saw me, the guys in the kitchen saw me, but no one greeted me. So after looking at the display menu, I ask the girl, «can I ask you a question» and she said yes while still leaning at the back counter. It seemed like they were not interested in serving me. Didn’t even ask me if I was eating in or taking out. So I made myself comfortable on my own and sat down.
I then ordered a gyro. The pricing and prep time was good. But the gyro was just blah! Very very average. I will not eat that again.
Even when I was leaving, the girl and a chef saw me, but didn’t care to say thanks or bye or anything.
What an non welcoming group of people running this place.
My suggestion: try another place around here

Simply awful. Went with a friend on Sunday afternoon. Got a steak on a bun, onion rings and a drink. Over $ 16!!! Steak had no taste and was like rubber! Onion rings were very greasy but ok. My friend had the same with fries… Those fries were soggy and bland (like the rest of it). Waste of money! I told the owner who didn’t seem to care at all. I WON’T be back!!! Save your money and go elsewhere! Burger Shack on Eglinton and Avenue Rd is a million times better!!!

Toronto’s answer to the Alamo Freeze of FNL. Delicious soft serve, burgers and the like. The place looks like it hasn’t been updated since 1973 but that is part of the charm. Large portions and quick service.

Best onion rings. Best burgers. Dinner dish is big and tasty. Taking 1 star back for plastic forks and paper plate. Affordable. Old style. Will stop on a run but will be shy to bring girlfriend. Try steak on a bun. delicious food, not fancy atmosphere.

GREAT fries and gravy, maybe best in the city IMO, from this VERY old-​school greasy-​spoon burger joint, which from me is a compliment!
Fries are fresh-​cut and really excellent, the gravy is pre-​fab, but is the good beefy type made with flour, which I prefer to the typical tan coloured corn-​starchy oddly sweet gravy like Golden Star and many others use.
Try the Steak on a Kaiser vs. a burger, it’s really excellent with a few layers of thin grilled steak that’s tender and yummy, especially if you ask them not to overcook it. Burger is patty-​style, rather than homeburger.
They also make a very good toasted Western sandwich, lots of ham and onion and cooked nicely browned, the old school diner way, but only if you arrive before noon, as they are very strict about breakfast items NOT being available after the lunch rush begins.
Bottom line: If you go for fries with gravy, and an old-​school burger-​joint Steak-​on-​a-​K, or a toasted western, you will definitely not be disappointed.

EVERYONE PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE EATING HERE
I wasn’t only just a customer, I was a former employee of dairy freeze. I really liked the poutines and milkshakes and was delighted to get a job there.
Oh boy did it open my eyes. The cooks and cashiers smoke cigarettes in the kitchen. The burgers and bacon are «lightly cooked» and kept in a bin by the grill, ready to throw on when someone orders. Same with the souvlaki. And oh god the onion rings are precooked days in advance andjust refried to order. The ice cream machines have to have the spoiled milk layer on top scraped out every night so the whole bag doesn’t go sour as well.
I would have to say the most appalling thing I witnessed as an employee was them dropping burgers/​ANYTHING REALLY, rinsing/​refrying and SERVING IT TO THE CUSTOMERS.
This is sad and wrong and I’m more than surprised they haven’t been hit with a lawsuit. Beware of what you eat.

Went in for more than just a coffee. Wouldn’t want to base my review off of that.
Ordered a milkshake with a burger. My friend ordered a souvlaki dinner from what I recall.
Milkshake was the saving grace for my entire meal; burger was nothing special. If anything it wasn’t all that tasty. Somewhat blasé. I don’t know how that was possible as I did put on a number of toppings.
Pure jokes when my friend found ice in his salad.
Mediocre order taking system… Can’t imagine anyone being comfortable shouting orders over a mic.
This place has kind of a retro feel to it. Needs a bit of a refresh. Maybe an update.

First time at a legendary spot. It did not disappoint. The burger looked good and I was told it was delicious. The chicken souvlaki, classically dressed with tzatziki, onions and tomatoes, on a bun, was tender and fresh and decadent. Finally the onion rings thick with batter, freshly crunchy and tender at the same time were shared by all.
The space is run down, but expected nothing less. Very authentically 70’s. Don’t look or touch the underside of the tables…70’s gum.
I enjoyed the experience and food!

I won’t go back.
The food was cold, greasy and was served on paper plates & plastic utensils
The cook was yelling and belittling a female staff member in front of everyone.
When I spoke up to tell him to stop, he started yelling at me and calling me a fucking piece of shit, and told me to get the fuck out, or he would break me in two !! (ok tuff guy)
With families and their children sitting in the dining room I felt that his attitude and behavior was completely unprofessional and unacceptable and he doesn’t deserve our business !!

I would recommend checking out this place just because it is totally old school! Two stars awarded because the food is edible but not great.
I usually get a burger and fries. They add your burger toppings in front of you Harvey’s style and usually it is an incredibly grumpy old man who loads everything on. The patty is salty and not very homemade tasting. The fries are good and are fresh cut. The gravy is the super thick brown stuff that you would expect from this type of place. Dairy Freeze also has a long list of milkshake flavours. I’ve only had the butterscotch one which had a fakey flavour. I ordered the fish and chips once and it was surprisingly good — thick halibut and fries for around $ 10.
I think most of the people who go here have been going for a very long time. It is cheap, fast food that isn’t bad, and you know nothing will change. Check it out if you are in the area.

This souvlaki /​burger joint used to be good.
Went there tonight and I tell you, things have changed.
The souvlaki is good, fries brutal!
Still looks like it was in teh ‘80s. Looks like the same guy behind the grill.
Not the best but good enough. 2 Stars tops.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve been here, but from what I recall it was an above average meal at a fair price.
Their burgers are pretty good, nothing gourmet about them but well above your typical mcdonald’s or burger king burgers. Their fries are nothing special but their onion rings are pretty good if I recall correctly. The restaurant itself is kind of old school, it’s been around since my dad was a teenager and he always recalls it being a pretty good place to get a quick meal.
All in all a worthwhile place to go if you’re in the neighborhood and looking for an above average burger.

Calm down haters, Dairy Freeze is the best… or at least it’s really good at being greasy and having rad retro crap and doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not.
Ridiculous conversations about Saturdays at Walmart (think Tuesdays With Morrie) with my dining companion aside, eating-​in at Dairy Freeze was great fun. The booths are dated and cozy, and you have to move the pop-​seats down yourself to sit on them, a la old movie theatre.
I had a soda, a poutine and a souvlaki pita. The poutine gravy was salty, dark and and runny… just how I like it, and the cheese was grated white crap. So good. Next time I’ll get the burger like my pal did. If you do go for the burger, eat quickly so that your bun doesn’t soak through. That’s never fun.
PEPPER POINTS for all the grease. So. Tasty.

Nothing special about this place. It’s got retro charm, but I thought the burger wasn’t very great. The Hubster really really enjoyed his, but I was left a bit disappointed.
Service was fast, and they definitely have their fans, as it was pretty busy. I think I might try something other than the burger if I ever go here again.

This is probably the greasiest of greasy spoon places I’ve been to. Some friends and I came in for breakfast late one weekday morning. The service was fine, really nothing special. The food was ok at best. While I don’t expect great things from places like this I would have expected a smidge better.
Watch out for the salt shakers here. You could slide a toothpick through the holes in the cap they’re so large.