Soup is a dish of many wonders. It warms you up on a chilly day, acts as both a complimentary side and stand-alone meal, and can be comprised of pretty much any ingredient on the face of the planet. I probably couldn’t tell you my favourite kind of soup since I have hundreds, but I CAN tell you my favourite places to get soup in Toronto. I feel your souls warming up already.

RaviSoups (322 Adelaide St. W. & 1128 Queen St. W.)
Soup lovers flock here and for good reason: so many scrumptious soups! Owner and chef Ravi Kanagarajah’s gourmet soups are made with fresh and seasonal ingredients and near impossible to decide on. Curried lentil and apricot, roasted red pepper bisque, corn chowder are just a few of the options ($8-9 or wrap-and-soup combo for $11).

E.L. Ruddy (1371 Dundas St. W.)
This cafe hasn’t been open for long but it is definitely deserving of a soup shout-out. Every dish is made from scratch, with many vegan and gluten-free options available, and the homemade quality is evident in everything – especially the soup. Soup of the day is served with a slice of homemade bread and makes for a perfect afternoon meal ($6).

Tequila Bookworm (512 Queen St. W.)
By day, Tequila Bookworm is a cafe serving up coffee, free wifi, and delicious homemade soups of the day. Eating soup is best done in a cozy atmosphere admidst books and choice tunes, which is probably why I indulge in their hearty offerings as much as possible.

Esther’s Soup Kitchen (2 Bloor St. W.)
The gem of the Cumberland Terrace at Yonge and Bloor, Esther’s has at least seven soup offerings a day (with vegan options), all made from scratch and without dairy. The perfectly spiced mulligatawny seems to be the most popular but there are plenty of more delicious options to be had.

Hibiscus (238 Augusta Ave.)
Tucked away in Kensington Market, Hibiscus is easily missed but has a loyal following. Despite being vegan and gluten-free, the soups here are so creamy and full of flavour that both vegans and non-vegans (like myself) will have a hard time passing on them. Raw crackers on the side add a unique twist ($5 for a large or soup-and-salad combo for $9).

~ Caitlyn Holroyd