Mystic Muffin

Delicious food, great price and most importantly, made with love. You need to order the apple cake.

The good: Honestly, I remember always coming by this place but I avoided it because it sounded like a place where people would get high (mystic muffin come on). But wow, did Unilocal bring me into a great place. Ok, onto the food. Their apple cake is as they say they are, amazing!!! Their falafel is not too bad itself, but wow that apple cake is something I would definitely go back for! The price is as good as it gets. Not to mention the owners are happy of what they do and have a very cheerful/​fun personality.
The bad: spacing is super limited so it’s either takeout or wait for a seat.
The ugly: I didn’t notice anything bad that would prevent me from coming back again.
Neutral: their combos are a good item to choose. It fills you up. Great takeout food. Don’t leave without the Apple cake.

Loved this charming place. The owners run the simple resto. The food is good and inexpensive. I enjoyed the vege platter that everyone raves about. I suggest trying that with a piece of apple cake. Filled with personality in the décor and the owner.

I always prefer to have meals at small classic family owned restaurants. Their lentil soup relieved my uncomfortable feeling caused by stomach flu. The owners are very friendly.

Amazing little gem in downtown Toronto. Very welcoming owner, we arrived late so some of the items were finished, but no worries there’s a lot of stuff to choose from!
Falafel and tuna pita sandwiches are amazing, fresh soup. Everything is made in house, nothing is processed. Fresh apple cake, that dessert everyone is raving about on here is as good as it claims to be. Lots of love here!

The service here is fantastic. I have never left this place without a smile on my face.
I’ve only had the apple cake here but it is great. Nice crispy layer at the top and really moist and fluffy on the inside. Plus perfect ratio of apples and ‘not too sweetness’ that I really like.
Highly recommended.

Great tasting Falafel. But it’s the Apple Cake that makes me going back again and again.
Super friendly Owner working behind the counter.
Reminder, if you are driving, don’t try parking across the gas station staffs inside had a keen eye. I usually parked across on Lombard Street.
REMEMBER TO TRY THEIR APPLE CAKE.

After reading all the reviews about the infamous apple cake, I had to try it out for myself and I’m glad I did!
Atmosphere: It has an old school diner type of feel that’s clean and inviting.
Service: the owner, Elias, is genuinely a nice guy and just wants to take care of his customers. Take a seat and let him tell you a story or two.
Food: The pumpernickel bagel was delicious; crispy on the outside, chewy and warm on the inside. The apple cake was amazing; fluffy texture with a crunchy and chewy top — definitely a must try! A guy came in while we were eating and bought a while tray for his sister cause she loves it so much.
Tips: Elias talked us into buying a whole loaf of his blueberry banana bread saying that we will not regret it. He was right. I am currently sitting here writing this review while having a toasted slice of the banana bread with my tea (what Elias suggested).

Stopped in to grab a banana loaf and some of their famous apple cake. At about 1:30 when I went there were only a few baked good left. Apparently this place is very popular! The cake was fresh out of the oven and was tasty — definitely the homemade-​goodness I was hoping for.
The owner was very welcoming and friendly and the prices were very fair. Only two tables inside but there is a park next door where you can enjoy your baked goods.

If there’s one age-​old lesson this place taught me, it’s not to judge a book by its cover. I’ve driven by this place many times, thinking it was nothing more than an average dive. Boy, was I wrong. This spot may look like a shop you’d find on the 8 Mile (okay, that’s an exaggeration, but the exterior is pretty dated), but the food and experience deserves all 5 stars.
I dropped by on a Wednesday afternoon at noon for lunch, and was taken aback by how warmly the owner greeted me. Service was so warm, genuine, friendly — you don’t find owners like this too often in a big city. I ordered the Vegetarian Platter, which comes with rice, potatoes, 4 types of salad, a pita, and two falafel, topped with a generous dollop of hummus, and spices. I thought the potatoes and rice were just okay, but everything else in my overflowing container was delicious — the hummus and falafel were definitely the highlights for me. That hummus is magic.
Elias also discovered that it was my first time visiting, and offered me, ever so famously, a piece of apple cake. So moist, soft, delicious, not overly sweet, and paired perfectly with the coffee I grabbed after my meal.
For all that food, plus a piece of apple cake on the house, I paid $ 9.00. Cash only. Great value, especially taking into account the portion size. If it wasn’t such a trek from work, I’d be here more often. But nevertheless, I’ll definitely be back. Thanks to fellow Unilocalers for helping me find this gem!

This place had good vibes, great energy, and the owner is a fantastic person. The food was fresh, tasty, and hit the spot. This is a nice little gem in Toronto! Enjoy!

I remember when I lived down the street I thought this place looked a bit sketchy from the outside. But this is a perfect example of why you shouldn’t judge books by their cover.
It’s one of those hidden gem places that over a wide variety of home cooked food for cheap prices!
This place would get a 5 starts for the apple cake alone!

Everyone once and blue moon, you have an experience that forever leaves an impression on you. Mystic Muffin was one of those experiences, and the story of the place is amazing.
Knowing nothing about this place, I walk in and get a falafel sandwich with a side of chickpeas. Upon going to pay for my meal, they said they only take cash, which I didn’t have on me. They said I could stop by the next day and pay them or even later that week. I stood there dumbfounded… I politely refused this very generous offer and went up the street to an ATM to pay them.
After finally digging into my very tasty falafel sandwich, I noticed a few homeless people coming to eat free of charge. It was then clear that place was special and deserving of the praise that it gets on Unilocal.
After my meal, I was given a piece of apple cake as a parting gift since it was my first time there. It was absolutely delicious to say the very least. I would even go as far as to say it’s one of the best things I’ve ever tasted in my life.
This is truly a unique place and I applaud the owners for their sincere effort to help those in the community. The fact that they serve delicious food is only a plus!

Well honestly I can’t add anything that hasn’t been already said. I’m just happy to give them another rave review. The amount that you get for that price is something that will have me going back. And the flavours will keep my taste buds very grateful for that decision.
I’m not usually a big fan of Mediterranean food but of course, with the excellent ratings on numerous review sites, I knew I had to give this place a try. It was one of those unassuming places I would have never gone to unless I knew about it. But am I glad I found out about its existence. I got the Better Life Combo, and upon finding out that it was my first time there, Elias offered me a piece of that crazy famous Apple Cake (instead of the cookie/​pita that usually comes with the combo). Yes, listen to everything that’s been said before. This cake is very delicious. That little caramelized crust from the top of the cake. I can eat that all day every day. My takeout box was PILED with food and it was so very very good. $ 8 and I was completely stuffed. What a great lunch idea.
Definitely coming back. Definitely going to try and convince my coworkers to go with me. Another satisfied customer for the Mystic Muffin.

It’s worth all the hype; down to every last ounce of it. The apple cake is THAT GOOD! Fluffy, pillowy, oozing with melt-​in-​your-​mouth apples. They are not shy with the cinnamon either. I love the bits of caramelized brown sugar that form the crust (crispy with the slightest chew!). This stuff is an incredible aromatic and textual experience!
I work 5 minutes away from this place and I can’t believe I have never visited. This is dangerously close to me and I am hesitantly looking forward to many, many more visits.
I had an exceedingly great experience with the owner as well. He went above and beyond for me on my very first visit. I wasn’t aware they ONLY ACCEPT CASH and he happily offered me a piece of cake on the house. I went back later that day to pay him and told him he can expect to see a lot of me from here on.
This is truly a hidden gem!

Decent food and good service in a very home-​sy diner environment. As all of the other reviews suggest, Elias seems to be a fairly friendly and nice guy. However, my experience was only just standard. I would say I had an a-​okay time but nothing was exceptionally outstanding.
The highly acclaimed applecake was definitely good but not the best that I’ve had. Then again, that might be because I am an avid foodie for baked goods.

It’s been… 4 years since my last review (sung to the tune of BNL’s One Week)…
… and if I could update my review to give Mystic Muffin 10 stars I totally would.
Elias, the owner, heart and soul of Mystic Muffin is what makes this tiny shop so great. Now his wife, Annie and baby daughter Stella join him behind the counter.
As a frequent customer over the years, I have regularly seen Elias tell people who panic when they don’t have cash that if they work or live in the area, they can come back and pay him next time. Can you name another restaurant that does that!!! I can’t.
I have also seen Elias realize he is serving someone he hasn’t seen in the shop before, and give them a free piece of apple cake… he really does remember who has been there before and who hasn’t, but it has to be someone ordering food from him, and the reason he gives these free samples of apple cake? It’s because the stuff is as addictive as crack, just one taste and your are hooked.
Then there is the huge list of menu choices, I have yet to bring a friend that didn’t enjoy a Mystic Muffin pita wrap: Tuna, Chicken salad, Egg salad and Falafel, and then there are the veggie combos, so tasty AND healthy!
Everyone ends up finding their favourite — my hubs loves the chicken salad on a pita with cabbage and potatoes, an Elias secret menu special!
It can get busy at peak lunch hours, especially on Fridays, but please be patient, your tastebuds will be rewarded!
I can’t count the number of times I have brought a Mystic Muffin apple cake to a birthday or pot luck type event and everyone assumed I baked it, because it looks and tastes homemade, but I always fess up and tell the truth because I want everyone to visit Mystic Muffin and experience the hilarious and heartwarming service you get from Elias, who works hard, crazy long hours to support his family.
And still, after decades in business Best. Apple. Cake. EVER! (Must be legal eating age for a slice!*)
*TM: Mysic Muffin wall advertising you can see as you drive along Richmond east of Jarvis.

Found on Unilocal,had to go and check this place out. The first look is quite «scary» it’s a little corner deli, looks old and run down from the outside, certainly very local.
Inside you meet the owner, a Lebanese national that moved to Canada when young, and built his life and business in Toronto from scratch.
Well the interior is well kept, there are a lot of things to «read» and see, the owner talks with everyone and is very friendly. I have tried the «famous apple cake», it was nice, other people had burritos and salads which looked extremely delicious.
All in all it’s a great, cheap place that offers an uncommon experience and a very personable service.

Mystic Muffin is everything you look for in a place to eat. Great friendly people doing their best to run a successful business, while feeding a busy Toronto lunch crowd with tasty, filling and reasonably priced food.
If you are down with chickpeas, or falafel, or salads, or baked goods. You’ve come to the right place. If not, I believe they have tuna on the menu. I got the veggie combo platter ($ 8 including tax). It includes 2 falafel, hummus, pasta salad, rice and peas, spicy potatoes, cabbage salad, garden salad, chickpea salad, and a choice between pita or cookie. It is a filling yet healthy plate of food. It’s the kind of food you won’t feel bad after eating a lot of.
I’ve had the apple cake before at work, and it’s moist and delicious. And it’s not cheap on the apple chunks either. Totally recommended.
There’s a place in Vancouver called Nuba that sells similar food, but the difference with this place is the food is way tastier, and way cheaper. Do yourself a favour and try this place out for lunch. Your tummy and your wallet will thank you.

Definitely one of my favorite place in town! The apple cake and banana chocolate cake are mostly recommended!
I came there in Friday morning for breakfast. Elias is so friendly and humorous, when I told him many people recommended him online he seemed to be very happy.
I ordered a chickpea salad (with flavored herb), chili soup (rich and delicious), and two pieces of heaven cakes! Just for 8 $…Actually, Elias didn’t charged me for the apple cake~~ He was so kind!
Banana chocolate cake was freshly baked and still warmed… So nice! And the best apple cake in town is so soft and moist! Most importantly, both of them are not too sweet. It was soooooo good! I love it so much!
Elias and his food reaally make my day! I would definitely go back and take my friends to try the cakes!!!