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The Best Babka in Toronto

Robin Winship

Written By

Robin Winship

The Best Babka in Toronto

The best babka in Toronto comes slathered with a rich chocolate or cinnamon filling and is braided into a loaf before baking. The resulting yeasted bread is nothing short of indulgent and makes for an excellent nibble alongside a weekend morning coffee.

This iconic Jewish sweet bread originated back in Eastern European countries in the 19th century. It is said that leftover scraps from baking challah were used to encase sweet jams and cinnamon fillings. Eventually, emigrants from Europe brought babka over to the United States, where it has only continued to grow in popularity.

Whether you're a die-hard chocolate fan or stand-by cinnamon as the superior flavour, there are plenty of options to choose from in the city. Below is a list of the best babka in Toronto.

My Zaidy's Bakery

As one of the oldest Jewish bakeries in the city, this Thornhill institution knows how to make a delicious babka.

My Zaidy's Bakery

As one of the oldest Jewish bakeries in the city, this Thornhill institution knows how to make a delicious babka.

Lev Bakery

A newcomer to the Toronto food scene, this new Toronto pop-up bakes up challah, babka and bread. They're currently on a pause right now as they have been extremely busy since launching but an expansion is on the horizon.

Lev Bakery

A newcomer to the Toronto food scene, this new Toronto pop-up bakes up challah, babka and bread. They're currently on a pause right now as they have been extremely busy since launching but an expansion is on the horizon.

United Bakers Dairy Restaurant

With over 100 years in business, you know this spot has had the time to perfect all their offerings, including their chocolate babka.

United Bakers Dairy Restaurant

With over 100 years in business, you know this spot has had the time to perfect all their offerings, including their chocolate babka.

Yonge and Eglinton

420 Eglinton Ave W

Phipps Bakery Cafe

With 35 years of baking under their belt, this Forest Hill bakery offers an expansive menu of baked goods, including chocolate babka.

Phipps Bakery Cafe

Yonge and Eglinton

420 Eglinton Ave W

With 35 years of baking under their belt, this Forest Hill bakery offers an expansive menu of baked goods, including chocolate babka.

Kiva's Bagel Bar - St. Clair

This bagel shop on St. Clair West bakes a divine chocolate babka and are open for pickup!

Kiva's Bagel Bar - St. Clair

This bagel shop on St. Clair West bakes a divine chocolate babka and are open for pickup!

Grodzinski Bakery

This kosher bakery with locations in Toronto and Thornhill sells a chocolate and cinnamon babka.

Grodzinski Bakery

This kosher bakery with locations in Toronto and Thornhill sells a chocolate and cinnamon babka.

North Toronto

245 Eglinton Ave E

Sweetcultura

This small bakery on Eglinton sells a wide variety of baked goods from this fusion bakery -- including a chocolate babka.

Sweetcultura

North Toronto

245 Eglinton Ave E

This small bakery on Eglinton sells a wide variety of baked goods from this fusion bakery -- including a chocolate babka.

Downtown Toronto

165 University Ave

Cafe Landwer

With multiple locations across the city, this brunch, lunch and dinner spot also offers chocolate babka for dessert.

Cafe Landwer

Downtown Toronto

165 University Ave

With multiple locations across the city, this brunch, lunch and dinner spot also offers chocolate babka for dessert.

St. Clair West

1030 St Clair Ave W

Lox and Schmear

This small shop on St. Clair West does Montreal-style bagels, sandwiches and a Nutella babka. They even do special limited releases, like their savoury babka of smoked salmon and cream cheese.

Lox and Schmear

St. Clair West

1030 St Clair Ave W

This small shop on St. Clair West does Montreal-style bagels, sandwiches and a Nutella babka. They even do special limited releases, like their savoury babka of smoked salmon and cream cheese.

Entertainment District

130 Spadina Ave

What A Bagel - Spadina

Breakfast & Brunch

You might be coming for the bagels, but this popular shop offers a delicious chocolate babka as well. Find them at multiple locations across the city.

What A Bagel - Spadina

Entertainment District

130 Spadina Ave

You might be coming for the bagels, but this popular shop offers a delicious chocolate babka as well. Find them at multiple locations across the city.

Breakfast & Brunch

Harbord Village

115 Harbord St

Harbord Bakery

This longstanding Jewish bakery in Harbord Village does a chocolate babka that's not to be missed.

Harbord Bakery

Harbord Village

115 Harbord St

This longstanding Jewish bakery in Harbord Village does a chocolate babka that's not to be missed.

Financial District

60 Adelaide St E

XO Bisous

This Downtown bakery bakes up Chocolate Babka Rolls -- what they claim to be the perfect hybrid between a cinnamon bun and babka.

XO Bisous

Financial District

60 Adelaide St E

This Downtown bakery bakes up Chocolate Babka Rolls -- what they claim to be the perfect hybrid between a cinnamon bun and babka.