This is easily my go-to for grabbing food that's cheap, filling, and tasty when I'm at school. They're located in the food court right next to Manchu wok. You can take it back to the office or sit down at the food court which has plenty of seating. You pay first and then get to make your selection and/or pick up your order when it's ready.

Go during lunch time if you want several options when... more

This is the best place in the building to get a healthy meal. They are very generous in their portions, especially if you get the large "salad"! You can expect a variety of vegetables, tofu, glass noodles, tuna pasta salad, fruit, etc. Make sure you show up early in the day, because they start to run out later in the afternoon.

They CHARGE 50 cents if you use credit card :(
pretty decent food. tasty and cheap. the lady accidentally packed me "too much" of the expensive ingredients, overhead the owner complaints lol.

Absolutely horrible customer service. Have you ever had the business owner (I presume) of the restaurant yell at you? If you haven't, and don't ever want to, I suggest you avoid this place. Their food is decent for the value but holy moly I wouldn't ever come back here again.

I paid for my Korean Ribs with rice and sides and was waiting in line. It was lunch time and so there was a crowd.... more

My favorite breakfast place in the neighborhood. Quickly made, fresh and cheap. A very wide selection of food and fresh fruits. I order their breakfast sandwich special whenever I skip breakfast.

Great place for lunch. I particularly enjoy this for the salad bar..many different options to choose from. Glass noodles, pasta salad and the herb tofu balls are personal favourites. They do prefer cash-tends to be much faster.

Went to Est West for lunch with a friend today and it was great! I ordered a large salad bowl and they let you fill it up with as much as you can fit in there. Be warned: if you're someone that doesn't like their food touching, you won't enjoy the salad.

I filled mine up with glass noodles, spicy udon (so good!), beets (steamed), potato salad, kimchi (delicious!), steamed broccoli, sauteed... more

Love this place for their mixed salads! They have many choices including kimchi, pasta salad (the than pasta is amazing) some noodles, greens, fruits and so much more. They also pack your container full so you always get a lot for your money's worth. If I worked close to here I would be coming every day!

Great place, lots of delicious food. I got a honey garlic chicken, rice and salad/soup special for 6.99 and it was super filling. The salad is literary a pick and choose of a bunch of things (noodles, Kim chi, mango, coleslaw, etc). Amazing value for price.

I actually work in the same building as this place which is the only fast food restaurant I buy from in the small food court.

FOOD: Their food is great because of the cheap price! I don't mean the food tastes cheap either. You can get a big box of salad for $6 (tax included). Now what do they mean by salad? They mean any fresh fruits, vegetables, noodles, potatoes, tofu balls, stir fry etc.... more

I work in the building and this is my come-to when I'm working a late shift and the cafe has already closed. The large house salad is the best deal, you get to pack the container full of any of the selections from the salad bar. My personal favourites are the tuna pasta salad and the broccoli florets (they …

Love this place, used to come here almost every day and it was always busy. Owners are friendly once they recognize you, and it's a fast-pace ordering system which is good for little wait times. Food is always a hit, love how they change up their salad options but the classic items are always there (tuna …

So much variety for good prices. The small or large salad is always a good option, but I went for one of the "daily specials" and got a panko breaded, fried pork cutlet with rice and I still got to add from the salad bar. Only $7.90, huge portion and really tasty.

This is one of those places that you come for quantity over quality. Which isn't always a bad thing if you're looking for a cheap lunch place to eat. I came here for their salad bar that I've heard good things about. I ordered the large salad for $6 including tax. It was my first time here so I wasn't sure how …

I absolutely adore this place. I do not work close (Wellington & University) but that does not deter me from making the trip up to Est West Cafe for its cheap and delicious salad. I would say that the salad bar is the focal point of the cafe because they have a handful of korean sidedish-inspired items. I …

Tons of selection, large portions, great value. The other vendors in the food court look on in envy as est west has a huge line up during lunch whereas it's empty elsewhere.

I have to admit if you're a first timer, their menu is a bit confusing. When I ordered a main with a salad on the side, I expected a leafy green salad. Instead, I got a bunch of appetizers to accompany my main like... more

I am a huge fan of this place. I've come here numerous times for their famous salads. Just order a "small salad" or if you're really hungry, a "large salad". You get to pick whatever you like and they fill your container to the brim. The foods include pasta, fruit, vegetables, tofu, chickpeas, and tons of other goodies. This place is usually packed during office lunch hours. If you come, look... more

I had a salad earlier in the week from Salad Days located at Bloor and Yonge, and I fell in love. For under $5 I had a Cobb salad that was overflowing with a generous amount of avocado, chicken, feta, crisp lettuce, olives, fresh tomatoes and half a boiled egg. Unfortunately, I work in Queens Park, and making the trek to Yonge and Bloor is not always feasible. So after doing some research, I... more

The Staff here is so friendly and try hard to be funny. I like the effort. Also after pouring my rice, she asked if I wanted more rice...how many places ever asked you if you wanted more of anything? Also very good prices for the day's special and the amount of food is generous.

Always a no-fuss and tasty option. Potentially healthy as well if you make the right choices - there are lots of fresh vegetable and fruit choices that I never go for (and that the smiley server will try to encourage me to have more of, instead of fried oily goodness).

This restaurant is a hidden gem. Tucked away in the small hydro building food court, this place has been visited by hospital medical staff for lunch since time immemorial. What defines this restaurant is their "salads". A large "house salad" is in fact a vegetarian meal where you can load up on mashed potatoes, pasta, various veggies, legumes, and fruits for around $6. Go for a salad special... more

Fresh salad, generous portions and affordable price. Definitely healthy lunch place in Hospital row. TIP: Try the fried tofu balls!

I eat here on a regular basis. It's reasonably priced, healthy food with plenty of choices. Staff are amazing!

I come here every once in awhile when I want something healthy-ish and easy on the wallet.

If you want an assortment from the salad bar, just ask for the House Salad. It comes in small $3.68 or large $5.64. What I got is the large. You just ask for whatever items you want until it fills the container.

Tip: I find that the green items closest to the cash (broccoli, asparagus, snow peas,... more

Best kept salad bar secret in the universe...ok, the downtown core! Order a small salad, step to the left, and gaze at the wonders through the window! They had these falafel ball things that were a combination of egg & chic peas--incredible!! Everything is super fresh and the small order was stuffed to the brim; all for $5!! Crazy-good!

Try their $1.00 Banana Bread its amazing. The staff are so personable and friendly . Food is fresh, healthy and affordable which is hard to find in the downtown core.

Best value lunch in the area. The small salad from the salad bar is under $5 and you can choose from a variety of fruits, veg and noodles. You can also get their veggie sushi with salad for $5 - not the best sushi but big portion size for your buck and you can grab and go if you don't have time to wait in line at the salad bar. If you're feeling like breakfast you can order their breakfast... more

Inexpensive, tasty, and healthy! Perfect for students, and much better than the healthy offerings from campus. For $5, you get a large salad of your choice (steamed vegetables, pasta - glass noodles and the spicy noodles are so good!, fruits, tofu). Their line up gets long around lunch, but the staff are quick and efficient. It's a bit confusing for a first timer: you line up to pay under the... more

with huge turnover rate and awesome fast staff, this place is perfect for lunch. i have never seen a take-out container filled like they do here.

generous amount, lots of choices. only take cash or debit cards.
don't take too much fruits in your salad, takes too much container room :P

My favorite spot near work for a healthy, light lunch. Their sandwiches are delicious, and much like I'd make at home. Everything is fresh, and the soups are particularly good. Plus, the ladies behind the counter are the sweetest people you'll ever meet. The lineups tend to be a bit long during the lunch rush, but it moves very quickly.

THE best salad bar on Hospital Row hands down. Heads and shoulders above Cultures, Druxy's, and any hospital cafeteria. Est West is hidden in the OPG Building food court, directly connected to Queens Park station. I am eternally grateful to the colleague who introduced me to this place. I feel sorry for the other businesses in the food court. At lunch hour, there is always a long line-up here... more

99% of the time, I love this place. The food is great and the prices very fair. You may have to spend some time discovering which ingredients taste good in the custom salads, but once you do, you're good to go. All-day breakfast #1 is a fantastic value as well. Spicy chicken combo is great as well.

What I absolutely hate is the inconsistentcy. It's not often inconsistent but when it is, it's... more

i love it! it's the best lunch spot in the area. so affordable, fresh and tasty. the salad bar is a big hit with everyone i bring there. it's a huge serving for $5.64; they pile it on and the lid barely closes. the variety is pretty large. i normally get like 8 salads in my container. the veggies are really crunchy and the noodles are nicely seasoned. the carbs are decadent like pasta salad and... more

Your first time to Est West can be a little intimidating, as you can get stuck in the Subway or Manchu Wok lines, and it's not inherently obvious that you order and pay at Est West on the side closest to the corner of the food court, and then you go back in line to obtain your salad. But follow everyone else, or don't feel bad about asking. This place is getting a real following from... more

Est West is a hidden gem, perfect for a fast lunch to go. The star of the show is the salad: $3 and change for a small, $5 and change for a large.

This Korean operation (there's about a dozen working behind the counter at any one time) has a salad bar that would make any Halmonie proud. Note: the line-up can be daunting, but it moves rapidly. There are actually two lines: one for paying, and... more

This is a secret haven for anyone that works in the area. Best bet is to go with a salad small or large. Everyone in my office just asks for a bit of everything and you get yummy food for the entire afternoon for hardly any money.
The sandwiches here are pretty good. Make sure to go before noon or after 2 because the line ups are insane. I feel bad for the other restaurants in the food court... more

A few weeks ago I was at a meeting outside my usual area where I grab lunch. Come that time I was pleasantly surprised to find it wasn't the usual boring salads that I normally pass on. I find most salads are mainly lettuce with a few ingredients on top... INSTEAD this salad had a wide range of delicious ingredients ranging from grilled asparagus, brussel sprouts, mango, glass noodles, rapini,... more