Papaya Hut

This place looks super tacky, but is actually dang good food, juice and smoothies for as cheap as it is! Employees are talkers, so if you’re a quite type like me you’ll have to suck it up and do a bit of small talk, but it’s worth it.

Good bye Papaya Hut! This location will be closing in approximately 4 weeks due to Toronto’s condo bubble. Papaya Hut will be closing its doors to accommodate yet another condo in the neighborhood.
If you are looking for a sleek-​looking pretentious modern juice bar, you are at the wrong place! Papaya Hut’s unassuming location is sometimes hard to spot in the midst of all the signage in the area. The store is far from glamorous; handmade signs, random menus, and seemingly Caribbean retro decors. You are there for a delicious yet unhealthy smoothie! While the term health is relative, I would deem Papaya Hut’s smoothie as somewhat «unhealthy» due to the addition of frozen yogurt in most of the smoothie options. However, it is delicious! The Amazing Avocado ($ 6.75 including tax for a medium sized smoothie) is by far one of the most delicious smoothie I have ever purchased!
Can’t way to visit again during lunch to try one of their sandwiches!

Very fresh ingredients. Very friendly staff. Love the health nut smoothie (very filling on its own). I come a few times a month.

The food here is fantastic, nutritious, and delicious! But the customer service on the other hand, not so much.
I had planed to get their lunch special but they did not have any gluten free bread so I was not able to get any of their sandwiches and enjoy the awesome lunch special that they have.
Another time perhaps?

After hearing about it 5 years ago, I decided to try it out last week. I ordered a smoothie with papaya and yep, it was super tasty! It’s more affordable than some of the franchises out there and even getting their regular size is enough to fill you up for the next few hours. Will be returning here when I want something healthy and refreshing. If you’ve never been. Don’t delay as you won’t be disappointed. Can’t believe it took me this long to finally give it a shot.

Absolutely the best smoothie/​juice I’ve ever had!

I went in one day and was immediately hooked on the Jamaican Me Crazy smoothie! Tropical fruits and frozen yogurt blended to perfection. They offer three sizes.
Please have patience because it’s usually just one guy working during the week and he makes everything to order.

I have to give this place a couple of stars because the smoothie I got was pretty tasty, but two things really rubbed me the wrong way. The first was that this place is incredibly dirty. Like grime all over the walls and counter, rank BO in the air, and I didnt see anyone wash their hands behind the counter for the 15 minutes I was there, including after handling money. And second, the owner really reamed out an employee for a minor oversight in front of all the customers. That just wrecks everyone vibe man. This place is a Hep A disaster waiting to happen. Wouldn’t go back.

One of the best lunches I’ve ever had! With their 10.95 lunch special (tax in) you get a sandwich/​pita of your choice, either chili or soup, and one of any of a selection of amazing smoothies!
I opted for the falafel pita, a spicy vegetable soup, and a vegetable juice. Sooo good!

The inside of this place is far from sleek; it’s got brightly painted walls with beach scenes, and their menu is scattered all throughout the store. Regardless, there’s some charm to it.
The smoothies are soooo yummy. The Health Nut, which is it’s bestseller, has frozen yogurt, berry sorbet, strawberry, bananas and a host of other fruits mixed in. It tastes a bit like Laura Secord’s Superkid ice cream, and is a creamy treat. As for the health benefits… Well, there’s a fair bit of yogurt in it, and is quite sweet so not all that healthy, but definitely fresher than the average smoothie. A regular size is $ 6.75.
I’m excited to try their lunch special too. Avocado wrap, falafel or other sandwich options, plus a snack size smoothie (12oz) for about $ 7-​$ 9. Seems like a great lunch option!
They will be leaving this location soon, due to a condo going up there, but they seem optimistic in finding a new spot.

I’ve come here many times for their smoothies — they are sooooo yummy! However, when I’m looking to be a little more healthy, I skip this place because the smoothies are made with vanilla frozen yogurt and there are very very few veggies on the menu to add to them. But for a fruity smoothie fix, this is one of best in the city! And the prices are better than most, as well :)

Went here with my girlfriend for a quick lunch last week. We both got the Big Kahuna – $ 10.95 for a wrap, soup/​chili, and a snack size Health Nut smoothie. I got the soup and liked it a lot, definitely a sizeable veggie boost! My girlfriend got the chili, which she says was good, if a little too sweet.
We both got the caesar chicken wraps, which weren’t huge but a good, reasonable size and were super yummy. I loved the sprouts and veggies in it, and everything tasted really fresh. I wish I’d had the money to take one home with me, even after having it for lunch. The optional hot sauce they put in it is just garden variety stuff, but it adds a nice kick and makes it extra tasty. The Health Nut is sooo good. It’s so good. You can size up the snack size included in the Kahuna for a dollar, which I didn’t do and regret, honestly, because it would’ve been worth it.
The only bad thing I noticed was that we were there for a fair bit of time, at least 45 minutes and I didn’t see them wash their hands once. They handle food without gloves, so that skeeved me out a bit. I did see the guy making the wraps disappear in the back a few times, hopefully that means he washed them there.
The person who owns the building is selling it; we asked them if they’d be closing soon before we left, and they said they’d definitely stick it through the summer and then find a new location, so I’m glad they’re not disappearing for good.
Definitely plan on coming back – can’t wait to try their avocado wrap! :)

Best place for a smoothie in the city. Prices are good, everything is fresh, and the staff is cool. BLUEBERRY DREAM is the smoothie everyone should try.

Freaking fantastic.
I’ve been coming here since I was in highschool — and then I lived in another city.
They make something called «the health nut» which is amazing.
I hear they might have to close and/​or move due to impending condo development.
There is another unrelated location called Papaya Island on Queen West, but they don’t make the Health Nut in the same way (it tastes different).
The Papaya Hut/​Island restaurant serves other things too like tasty sandwiches, but for me their smoothies are about the best in Toronto by a long shot.
And the location is a time-​tunnel trip to the past. It’s awesome. Should be considered a landmark and preserved.
I’d give this place 6 stars if I could.

First time at Papaya Hut and what an experience. The staff is very friendly and was great at offering suggestions. I had the Big kahuna deal (I believe that’s what it is called). You get soup, a sandwich and a smoothie for only $ 10.95 no tax. The soup was fantastic and is home made every day, the tuna wrapped was amazing and had a tun of yummy vegetables and the smooth «Health Nut» tasted like sunshine on a beautiful beach. The place may not look the nicest but the people and the food totally make up for it. I am for sure going back: D

You can’t go wrong with Papaya Hut. If you’re thinking «I could really go for a Booster Juice right now» then stop yourself, remember that Booster Juice didn’t invent the smoothie, and make your way to Papaya Hut.
Fresh fruit, friendly service, several sizes to choose from, and additives for all you gym rats. Reasonable prices lifts Papaya Hut from 4 to 5 stars.
Perfect for a summer treat when walking down Yonge St. Try Papaya Hut and you won’t regret it!

This place is terrible.
I ordered a chocolate milkshake which is displayed on the menu under a large Kawartha Dairy sign so I assumed the milkshake would be made with Kawartha dairy ice cream.
What I got instead was a sickly sweet syrupy mess made with soft serve that tased like it had been sitting in the machine since last summer.
When I asked the man behind the counter why my shake wasn’t made with real ice cream as advertised he shrugged and said, «Yeah. That’s a bit of a typo on our parts. If you wanted real ice cream you would have had to specify and pay more.»
He then watched my throw my shake away and didn’t even offer to make me a new one.
It was infuriating.

While I was slowly strolling down Yonge St on one beautiful winter day, I decided I wanted a smoothie and thus this Hut on Yonge Island popped up. I had the Health Nut smoothie and it tasted great though a bit pricey at 6.75 tax in.
However, it tasted good and satisfied my cravings, so I was happy. And the guy behind the counter seemed so nice as he was chatting up everyone, guys and girls — so it really did feel like you were back in the Caribbean where people are so lax and not so go-​go-​go.
Verdict: Yep, I’ll drop by again.
Note: Made with frozen yogurt base, so not necessarily super healthy, but healthy enough.

Pretty much the nicest people in the world. I could sit here for ever and chat the day away.
As a dog walker, this place is a godsend. They love having a pooch in the store.
As a wino, this place is also a godsend. They have the amazingest Liver Cleanser Juice — that stuff zaps all the alcohol fogginess from your system in a matter of minutes.
Prices are reasonable given the freshness, location, and charm of owners.
But not cheap.

I love this place but I think when people hear «smoothie» they equate it with health, or post-​workout fuel. Don’t. Far better to have a smoothie from here before a workout. they are not as healthy as you might think. yes, healthier than a milkshake, but not something to be having more than once a week.
The smoothies themselves are delicious. Every combination is great. I really enjoy their small vegetarian food items now and then. They are pretty good for grabbing something quick. But I always feel I could have thrown a similar veggie burger myself at home for cheaper.
I’ve learned the hard way to SIP SLOWLY (even though the smoothies are so damn tasty) or else you experience a huge crash, as you do with consuming a large amount of fruit in a short time span.
The staff here is great. Everyone I’ve come across is so approachable and friendly. I’ve heard otherwise, but I’ve only had positive experiences.
price is about as fair as it gets, I feel.

Amazing juice! So fresh! My kids and I love it! Personally, I think you should buy the large or one of the big bottles because you’ll want more!
Not a lot of seating, so just enjoy your drink outside while walking.
The flavours are great for young and old!
Bön Appetit
:)
Cammy