Where can you get a peameal bacon breakfast in Toronto?

If you want a proper peameal bacon breakfast in Toronto, come see us at Sunnyside Grill, 1218 St. Clair Avenue West. Order the Peameal Breakfast: two large eggs, peameal bacon, country griddled potatoes, thick sliced toast and jam. We're open every day from 7am to 3pm, and breakfast runs the whole time.

That's the short answer. The longer one involves pigs, peas and a nickname this city has never quite shaken.

Why peameal bacon is Toronto's breakfast

Toronto has been called Hogtown for well over a hundred years, and peameal is a big reason why. A Toronto pork packer named William Davies is credited with it back in the 1800s. His company cured lean pork loin and rolled it in ground dried peas so it would keep longer. After the First World War the peas were swapped for cornmeal, which is the golden crust you see today. The name stuck anyway. Nobody was going to start calling it cornmeal bacon.

Plenty of people know it from the famous sandwich downtown at St. Lawrence Market. We think it belongs on a breakfast plate too, ideally next to a couple of eggs and a coffee that keeps coming.

What does peameal bacon taste like?

Milder than the strip bacon most people grew up on. It's unsmoked, cut from the loin, and closer to a juicy slice of fresh ham with a little crunch on the outside from the cornmeal. It holds up on the griddle without drying out, which is good news for anyone who likes their breakfast hot.

Our peameal bacon breakfast in Toronto, and the rest of the peameal menu

The Peameal Breakfast is the classic. If you'd rather go fancy, the Poached Hollandaise is our peameal benny: hollandaise over peameal on an English muffin, with country griddled potatoes.

Coming in closer to lunch? Peameal shows up all over the menu:

• Canadian Peameal sandwich with lettuce and tomato
• Canadian burger with peameal bacon, sautéed mushrooms and cheddar
• Meatlovers omelette with peameal, ham, bacon, sausage and cheddar
• Triple B burger, for the person who couldn't pick one bacon so ordered three

You can also add peameal to a build-your-own omelette or the Classic Twist Grilled Cheese. Sandwiches come with your choice of fries, country griddled potatoes, potato chips or coleslaw. The full list is on our menu.

Can I swap anything?

Yes. On breakfasts and bennies you can sub egg whites or gluten free bread. Just ask your server.

When to come in

We're open 7am to 3pm, seven days a week. Weekday mornings are a good bet if you're on your way to work. Weekends tend to fill up, so if your crew is big, come early and come hungry.

Two deals worth knowing about: the Early Bird Traditional Breakfast on weekdays from 7 to 9am, and seniors save 20% on Tuesdays. These run at participating locations, so give us a call at (647) 346-4666 to check before you come.

Everything you need, from directions to hours, is on our St. Clair West store page. Live a little north or west? We also have Sunnysides in North York, Mississauga and Richmond Hill.

Questions people ask about peameal bacon

Is peameal bacon the same as Canadian bacon?

Not quite. In the United States, "Canadian bacon" usually means smoked back bacon, while peameal is unsmoked and rolled in cornmeal. Here in Ontario, if you want the real thing, ask for peameal.

Why is it called peameal bacon?

The cured pork loin used to be rolled in ground dried peas to help it keep. Cornmeal took over after the First World War, but the old name stayed.

Is peameal bacon leaner than regular bacon?

Yes, it's cut from the pork loin, which is a leaner cut than the belly used for strip bacon. It eats more like ham than crispy bacon.

Where can I get peameal bacon for breakfast in Toronto?

At Sunnyside Grill, 1218 St. Clair Avenue West, where the Peameal Breakfast and the peameal benny are on the menu every day. We're open 7am to 3pm.

Can I order peameal bacon breakfast in the afternoon?

Yes. Breakfast is served all day, right up until we close at 3pm. Have it with a burger on the side if you like, we won't judge.

Do you take reservations on St. Clair?

The best way to know is to call the store at (647) 346-4666. They can tell you what will work for your group.

Ever thought about owning a Sunnyside of your own? Have a look at www.sunnysidegrillfranchise.com.