The VIBE: Saigon street soul meets Ossington cool
The team partnered with award-winning SOLID Design Creative (of Soluna and Vela fame) to turn the former Boehmer space into an immersive trip through the streets of Vietnam. Think hand-painted signs, custom iron gates, stamped concrete floors, and lush greenery—all designed to make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Saigon alleyway.
It’s all in the details, and no detail was spared.
With seating for 152 (including the patio, and bar seats), the space unfolds into distinct experiences:
- Main Dining Room – vibrant and communal
- Nhậu Bar – a 13-seat late-night-style cocktail spot
- Chef’s Counter – front-row to the action
- Rickshaw Lounge – curved booths under a painted canopy
- Saigon Supper Room – a private space for 20 with its own vibe
- And another smaller semi-private room that seats up to 10
From the booths, to the dining room, to the private rooms or bar seats, the vibe carrys on throughout.
But I can go on forever, y’all are just going to have to go experience it for yourself.
From a Saigon street stall to Vancouver’s MICHELIN Bib Gourmand—and now, Toronto’s Ossington strip—The Lunch Lady is ready to dish up a taste of Vietnam like you’ve never had before.
When Anthony Bourdain told the world about The Lunch Lady, he wasn’t talking about cafeteria food. He was referring to a culinary icon in Ho Chi Minh City—Nguyen Thi Thanh—whose humble noodle stall served up steaming bowls of magic that stopped him in his tracks. Now, Toronto’s about to experience that same soulful brilliance as The Lunch Lady opens its doors at 93 Ossington Avenue on June 26, 2025.
