Toronto restaurant known for giving back to those in need to close after nearly a decade of operation
A Toronto restaurant that gained a reputation for offering free meals to the less fortunate will soon be closing after nearly a decade.
Leslieville’s Samaira’s Kitchen has been a fixture on Queen East ever since opening its doors in 2016, whereupon it quickly became a staple for locals thanks to its fast-food favourites.
While on the food front, the restaurant became known for its juicy, hearty burgers and gourmet pizzas, it was the owner’s inventive solution for combating a growing food security crisis in the community back in 2023 that made Samaira’s Kitchen particularly notable.
In November of that year, Chef Rajish, the restaurant’s owner, began printing meal tickets and posting them in the front window with a sign that promised anyone in need of a meal could take the receipt from the window, bring it to the front counter, and receive their meal for free.
Patrons who could afford it were also encouraged to donate meals through the program, which allowed a customer to add additional items to their own order, which would then be printed on a separate ticket and added to the window.
Within the first week of the program, Samaira’s gained the notice of local news outlets, other restaurants that quickly followed suit, and, most importantly, hundreds of locals who received free meals thanks to the initiative.
Despite its popularity and goodwill, the restaurant took to its Facebook page on June 12 to announce that, after nine years in business, it’ll soon be closing its doors for good.
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“After nine years, the time has come to wish Samaira’s Kitchen a beautiful goodbye,” the restaurant writes in the post.
“It was [an absolutely] incredible time, but we have decided that it’s time for a new adventure. We are incredibly grateful for your support throughout the years.”
The restaurant goes on to thank all the customers who have supported the restaurant over the years, whether for a late-night pizza to go or a sit-down lunch, adding, “We definitely could not have made it this far without you.”
It’s not all bad news, though; you still have the chance to swing by Samira’s Kitchen a few more times before it’s gone for good, as the restaurant’s last day in service is slated for Monday, June 30.
Samaira’s Kitchen
Address: 1056 Queen St. E.
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