Basil Box Ryerson

Peter Chiu was working at the corporate office of Mandarin as a business development manager when he decided that it was time to start something of his own. “The North American palate wants something more exotic,” he says. “There’s a lot of Chinese and Japanese restaurants out there, and we wanted to do something different.”

Enter Basil Box: A healthy eatery inspired by Southeast Asian streetfood and specializing in make-your-own Thai/Vietnamese boxes. Tucked just outside Ryerson University at Yonge and Dundas, it's easy to see why the airy restaurant draws in so many passersby, student and beyond. Complete with floor to ceiling windows and a vibe that's equally welcoming for quick take-out or sit-down lunch, the space is the brainchild of Peter, who opened the first location in Mississauga’s Square One in July 2015. Much to the delight of Toronto foodies,  in 2016, he opened two additional locations in the city proper – one in the downtown core and one at Queen and Spadina.