The Happy Hooker

Clever name, and an even more unique establishment.
ATMOSPHERE:
This place is definitely successful in creating that warm feeling old-​school vibe, complete with nostalgia-​inducing items decorating the whole place (e.g. dated furniture, decorations, newspapers, and OH YES a Pac-​Man Arcade machine!).
SERVICE:
Our waitress was quite friendly, cheerful, and attentive. As strange as this might sound, her whole demeanor kind of fit well with the previously mentioned old-​school vibe of the restaurant.
FOOD:
The Baja fries were more bland than expected, but filling nonetheless — they don’t skimp on the fries. I was initially disappointed with the large plain bun used for the Lobster Roll (overpowered the meat at first), but after eating away at it a bit, the flavour of the lobster really came through. The size was better then some of it’s seafood competitors as well.
SUMMARY:
If you’re looking for a fun trip down memory lane, or a good lobster roll, check this place out!

One of those places you really wish there was a 3.5 star ranking…
But! Food leans me towards 4. We had the baja fries and the toppings were generous and deliciously gluttonous in the best way. Oysters were served on ice with lemon and horseradish to taste, as per usual. Lobster roll and Shrimp Po’ Boy were both very, very good and fresh. We will definitely be back to sample more of the menu and try the specials. Wait staff and décor were both fun and accommodating!
Couple things lean me more towards 3. Music as Too Loud (I’m a senior citizen apparently), but mostly the beer menu. VERY SMALL selection. There’s a hoppy local brew and Creemore Springs… maybe a couple more but nothing spectacular. Could stand to see a few more options but I’ll round up.

Amused by the name and victim to my weakness for seafood, I tried the Happy Hooker a few weeks ago. We knew they didn’t take reservations so we showed up around 6ish, just before the dinner rush. We were seated very promptly as there was space at a communal table. The space is VERY tiny so it filled up quick. I also noticed that many people come for takeout. The line got to be so long at one point that it went out the door!
The waitress who served us was new and had very little knowledge of the drinks or exactly what was on the menu but she had a good attitude, a big smile and always went back to ask if she didn’t know the answer to something.
Now onto the most important part… the grub. It was OKAY. We got the baja fries, which were good but had very little toppings. The top layer was slathered nicely with sauce but then they piled the fries so that once you ate passed the top part, there was very little sauce for the remaining ones. We had to ask for ketchup. Then we got the tuna burger — which was on special that day. That was definitely one of the highlights of the meal. It was canned tuna that was breaded and then deep fried and served burger style. The tuna was seasoned well and was delicious. Next we got the shrimp po’boy and lobster roll. Both were good but not amazing, and not good enough for me to go back for. Overall, it was a good meal but we were left wanting more.
There’s a green p very closeby across the street and lots of street parking.

Good to the ears: decent hip hop.
Good to taste buds and nose: simple, fresh, flavorful.
Good to the eyes: fun décor, setup, food presentation.
Good to the wallet: lots of specials depending on day, very reasonably priced.
Good to the psyche and heart: pretty cool vibe, but also neighbourhood/​family-​friendly feel which means it’s not annoyingly cool or anything.
Seemingly paradoxical proverbial verdict: Off the hook and I’m hooked.
Bonus: Watch my favorite sandwich cam boy, Jesse checking out the pacific cod sandwich ($ 9) many moons ago —

I have been so excited to come to Happy Hooker — all the great reviews, the mouth watering photos, I had to experience it for myself first hand…
Finally I was in the west end and I set my mind to make it over there for dinner after a business meeting. When I first walked into the restaurant, the space was larger than I expected and there are waitresses who serve you. I honestly thought that it was more of a take out counter with seats for you to sit and eat.
The service was great and the two ladies always made sure to check on us, making sure our experience was a good one.
It ordered the cocktail special — a tequila sour and it did not disappoint. Shaken nicely with a nice garnish to finish it off, you could taste a good kick of tequila combined with the ample amount of tartness in every sip. I could have drank at least two more!
It was also buck a shuck on Wednesday so I ordered a few oysters which came with an awesome portion of spicy horseradish. Just what I needed! I was very excited to try the Baja Fish taco, having read some great reviews about it. Unfortunately, I was saddened because it wasn’t what I thought it was. I am only realizing this as I write my review, by the way. What I had imagined was a large piece of battered fish ejecting our of each side of the taco shell. Instead, I had several pieces of lightly battered fish pieces. After reviewing the photos, I now know that I should have ordered the grouper taco instead. I had set my expectations a little to high, nonetheless, the Cali Baja was still flaky and loaded with flavour. Sasha ordered a shrimp and mahi mahi taco that was loaded with punch and spice.
We also shared a small Baja fries to share, which was a great portion for its price. Loaded with toppings — cheese, sour cream, salsa, onions, the works, every fry was packed with deliciousness. I pretty ate much most of the fries and did not want to share with Sasha.
All in all a very tasty dinner and I cannot wait to go back to try the Grouper and Lobster Rolls.
Thanks for the smiles ladies :)

This can honestly be my go to spot on Thursdays and Fridays. They have buck a shuck on these days and I think we polished off a good 35 oysters haha
The place is small but feels like home. They have daily specials for drinks/​food and top notch service.
Highly recommend going early to get the lobster roll and Mahi Mahi taco. My favourite is the Black Cat sandwich paired up with the Baja fries.
They use TAB here so if you have it use it and if not get on it #paywithtab
Let’s just say for 3 people we split: 3 tacos, 2 sandwiches, Baja fries, 35 oysters, 8 beers and 2 shots of jameson for $ 52 each including tip… heard me right.

I have always walked passed the happy hooker, but I’m glad I dropped in for lunch. I had one of their sandwiches, I think it was called black fish. It came in a toasted bun with ailoli sauce. It was delicious! The fish wasn’t deep fried, it was broil and also moist.
The dish came with a small side of coleslaw. I like that it was crisp and not too tarte. I recommend dropping by this place on a Tuesday for their Tuesday taco specials

My kale salad ($ 7) was delicious. The dressing was fantastic.
However, I did not enjoy the tacos. Lack of flavour and something was off with the tortillas.

Came for the $ 2 Friday fish and chips deal, was able to get seats. The fries and fish batter were good but the fish itself was mushy and very thin. I’m sure the regular menu items would have been better. Service was friendly, but seats are limited

Had dinner here with my dad because he read about their fish & chips on-​line. Early 90’s rap blaring, arms with heaps of tats, toques that sit on one’s head, skinny jeans. If it wasn’t so dark, I would have taken a photo of my father eating his dinner among the sea of Hipsters. The cool kids that we were sharing a table with must have been wondering who this old man was !
There are some places to eat, but seating here is quite limited. It gets super crowded so prepare to wait for a solid 20 minutes — it was so cold that I was going to leave if we had to wait a minute more. Service was excellent — it was packed, but staff came around often to see if anyone needed water, cutlery, napkins, etc. The menu isn’t too large, but there’s something for everyone. I’m not a huge fan of fish and chips so I opted for the Shrimp Po Boy. It was super tasty (and really spicy as well… be prepared, get yourself a bottle of water). I also had the Baja Fries — a house special, fries with the works like lime, guacamole, salsa, cheese. It was a great combination of ingredients.
Good for: fish and chips, fried fish

If you did an internet search for «The Happy Hooker», you might get some pretty risqué search returns. But don’t worry, this seafood-​centric establishment is more than family friendly. They are Ocean Wise certified, and serve up a small menu of affordable tacos, seafood sandwiches, and sides.
Notable orders:
Shrimp Po’boy — Lightly battered shrimp, and a nice chewy bun. The sandwich is loaded with habeneros, giving it a prominent spice not for spice intolerant. We had lots of these sandwiches left at the end of the night, and they tasted just as good the next day!
Lobster Roll — Dare I say this is the best lobster roll in Toronto? It’s definitely up there. A fluffy, buttery, brioche bun, jam packed with a generous heaping of chunky lobster. I am literally drooling just typing this. Run, don’t walk.
Baja Fries — crispy russet potatoes, cheddar cheese, adobo chiptole sauce, lime crema, onion, cilantro, and housemade guacamole. Enough said.
They also have daily specials and promitions, like $ 2 fish sandwiches and buck-​a-​shuck oyster nights.

The Happy Hooker (@happyhookertdot) have been on my to-​eat-​list since it first open but never got the chance. Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to their media tasting by my favorite food blogger Stella (@foodieyu).
The Happy Hooker is Ocean Wise Certified, providing sustainable and ocean friendly seafood.
Their one year anniversary is coming up on March 5^th and they are offering specials regularly for this occasion, so make sure to follow their Facebook and twitter.
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Dark & Stormy
Coco Peno $ 10
~ rum, coconut, ginger syrup, jalapeño
~ This cocktail does pack some heat, love it and it was so refreshing perfect with the food.
Caesar $ 7.50
~ This was my least favorite of the night, nothing special
Paper Plane $ 10.00
~ Very citrus-​y and on the tart side which was a rather nice palette cleanser in between bites.
Kale Salad
~ organic kale, baby arugula, watermelon radishes, cucumber, pickled cabbage,
house made red wine vinaigrette
~ Love how it was lightly dress and isn’t this beautiful with the watermelon radish. Love the different levels of crunch here and the pickled cabbage added the much needed pop.
Baja Fries
~ crispy russet potatoes, cheddar cheese, adobo chipotle sauce, lime crema, onion, cilantro, house made guacamole
~ Party time, perfect with Love it especially the adobo chipotle sauce but not a big fan of the guacamole presentation.
Shrimp Po’Boy
~ cornmeal breaded shrimp, lemon aioli, baby arugula, sliced tomato, pickled habaneros, kosher pickles, butter toasted Portuguese bun
~ My fave dish of the night, love the crispy shrimp and the bun was toasted perfectly which also have been able to hold up all the ingredients (hate when it gets all soggy but that didn’t happen here).
~ Also love the pickled habaneros which packed a punch of heat which I love but be careful if you can’t really take the heat.
Shrimp Taco
~ grilled shrimp seasoned with cumin salt, adobo chipotle sauce, lime crema, pickled green cabbage, habanero pico di gallo
Cali Baja Taco
~ breaded and fried alaskan pollock, melted cheddar cheese, shredded romaine lettuce, diced tomato, lime crema, house made guacamole
~ There was way too much guacamole with the smaller pieces of fish here.
Grouper Taco
~ beer battered grouper, melted cheddar cheese, pineapple habanero salsa, lime crema, pickled red cabbage, onion, cilantro
~ This was my fave taco of the night, love biting into the big piece of fish and the batter was perfectly crispy light.
Lobster Roll
~ east coast lobster, mayo, celery, celery salt, butter toasted top slice bun
~ Def the best for last, it’s now my favorite lobster roll in t.o. with big chunks of lobster and barely any fillers.
~ The roll was perfectly toasted buttered yummy goodness. Meaty, rich, creamy, buttery goodness that I am dreaming of as I am writing this.
Verdict :
~ Will definitely be back for more of the lobster roll & shrimp po’boy, would also love to try their fish sandwich (Filet-​o-​fish is my fave after all).
~ Great affordable cocktails all under $ 10 and with great selection of local craft beer.
~ Great spot to hangout but also very convenient for takeout

Nice to see a Fish n Chips shop on the Dundas west strip and a great addition to having Chippy’s down on Queen St. I bolted out of bed and went down for their FB discount event — $ 2 fish and chips Friday, yay! Driving by this small shop I hadn’t noticed it before, but now I know they have $ 4 beers and interesting soft drinks for just $ 1.50. With a rustic wood interior and a hint of diner mentality, the small layout can pack in many people when it’s busy with shared table space and plenty of stools so you’re not forced to stand. Cool that they deliver too. Service was pleasant and prompt and the fish was perfect! Lightly battered, not too greasy with the best tartar sauce I’ve ever had. Fish n Chips all the way!

Having gone last year and enjoying myself thoroughly, I passed by the Happy Hooker recently, and was surprised to see they were open again after a brief hiatus. I didn’t notice much in terms of changes, but the décor is nice and a bit homely, with wood panel walls and a few nautical themed paintings for ambiance. I also found that the staff were really friendly, but some items do take a bit longer than others, so be prepared to wait and have water served to you from used liquor bottles.
The menu items are standard fare for a seafood restaurant, the lobster rolls and fish/​chips are alright and they don’t really stand out too much. But when we get to the taco’s, things get very interesting very quick, they were amazing, and if you’re not careful, you can inhale 4 – 5 of them in a few minutes. If you come to the Happy Hooker, go out of your comfort zone, and get a roll or some tacos, and you’ll be glad you did.
Recommendations:
–Cali Baja Tacos

This place seems to have shut down, yet the sign in the window says they’re reopening in the new year. Slightly irritating because they were good.
Update: they’re open again and all is right with the world. Fish sandwiches are more delicious than ever.

I was pleasantly surprised by the food here.
We were trying to get into Saving Grace, which was packed. I’m glad we came here instead.
You buy the food at the counter and then go sit down.
We ordered mahi mahi and shrimp taco along with the basa fries. The tacos were tasty and delicious. The proteins were cooked nicely. The shrimp had a lot of flavour and was nicely spiced. I enjoyed the tang of the lime and the freshness of the guacamole. The cabbage made the taco seem light and gave a nice crunch to the taco. The tacos are small enough that you can order different ones to try.
I highly recommend getting the Basa fries. They come with sour cream, tomato, and guacamole. They are well priced at $ 5. Even the small Basa fries portion is pretty big. The sauce they had on the fries adds another depth of flavour.
I liked the décor. There are a lot of wooden elements. The are some fishes on the walls, which works well with the theme of the restaurant. The exposed piping and chandelier also creates a modern industrial feel. I thought the «outhouse» sign for the washroom was cute.

I liked the food and our experience here. I’ll be back try out their other menu items.

Happy hooker, what a catchy restaurant name. It’s also a great kick to ask the cab to take you to «The Happy Hooker» and he gets confused that it’s a strip joint. I know, I’m childish.
My friends and I went on a taco hunt recently and The Happy Hooker was one of the places that we hitted up as part of our taco run. It’s a great stop on a taco run as the service is very fast and the vibe is very casual. It was an in and out stop for us and we were happy for that!
The tacos were delicious, the fish was fresh and it wasn’t too heavy. The tacos were a nice 2-​bite size (3 bites for me) with lots of flavour and depth. I would recommend the happy hooker any day! I also think that it could be a nice place to grab a quick bite before heading somewhere else. I only wished that it was closer to where I lived, then I can be happy eating tacos more often!

Craving Tacos? Like delectable, fresh, fish tacos? Well, that really isn’t a problem in Toronto. There are plenty of taco joints to choose from and many are notable. I personally value variety and choice for a taco place, it shows craftsmanship and style. I appreciate that, I appreciate creativity. The Happy Hooker does it right, and I’ll be going back for another catch! (Too much? I thought so).
It’s a small but hip little joint that sports the common natural wood décor and is fisherman’s wharf/​dock-​esque. Makes sense. The menu is simple, everything is fish or seafood influenced. You have the classic fish and chips (9.50) and sandwiches, tacos (3.50), and deep fried oreos (3.00). All categories with your choice of fish and slight price difference respectively. I suggest three or four tacos.
I tried the oyster slider, the Baja Cali taco and the Mahi Tuna Taco.
I hesitated on the oyster because I though it would be small and dinky, mostly bun and lacking flavor, however I was pleasantly surprised. The oyster was large, peaking out the sides of the bun, coated lightly to a crisp and flavorful while being juicy at the same time. The tacos were good, tasty but small. The Baja was fried fish nuggets while the Mahi was grilled. Both good, once again small, with good flavor and texture.
Overall, I liked eating at the Happy Hooker. The wait time isn’t bad, the food is fresh, the atmosphere is encompassing and comfortable, and it’s really affordable. Last touch, the pop is in bottles, that’s pretty cool.

I like the tacos! Also the fish and chips are great. Mahi Mahi!
I would definitely recommend this place to friends and will return. I have been here 3 times now but for takeout only.
Get the hot sauce with your tacos.

First, being a new business I imagine is very hard and many things to sort out. This place is no stranger sorting them kinks out. I’ll get to that.
However, the service was splendid, very courteous, respectful and not pretentious one bit. You walk in and it’s bright in a boathouse kinda way, wood boards as panels on the walls, an arcade game near the door, some fish paraphenelia on the walls. And an ancient registrar on the counter that is not used, instead an iPad mini is used to take your order.
The Oyster Slider for $ 4 is worth it, it taste very nice with just enough Oyster flavor that doesn’t make it too fishy. And just a bit of their custom hot sauce adds a little kick.
The shrimp corn dog, 2 for $ 6, another worthy eat. It’s mashed shrimp beneath a not so thick layer of corn bread on a stick. It comes on top of three dollops of sauce: wasabi, cocktail and what tasted like a mayo. I really liked the wasabi flavor as I like that kick, but the cocktail was nice too.
The tacos, three kinds: shrimp, grouper and baja fish. I’d say my favorite of the bunch was the shrimp as it has a nice smokey flavor that you can taste right away. It’s suggested with a squeeze of lemon and two drops of the hot sauce. The grouper, another nice one as you can taste the ncie fish but the baja style, I’d say lags a little left to be desired. At $ 3.50 a taco, i felt a bit expensive though.
They could use a few more drinks as they have a small selection.
As for this hot sauce, appears to be for sale and really has nice kick and flavor. So yes, they are new and sorting out the kinks. But they were nice to admit they have some problems which I respect, as many restaurants wouldn’t even admin their faults. They were so nice they offered patrons their money back for an unacceptable wait time and still gave them their food. Plus it sounds like they ran out of food. So good on you for doing that nice gesture and I’l give you an extra star for it!