Hula Girl has been part of Toronto’s independent coffee shop scene for over a decade. Opening its doors in 2010, Hula Girl was inspired by the spirit of Hawaiian coffee (read their full story here). Flash forward to 2020, and Hula Girl is still serving the community one excellent cup of coffee at a time.
Hula Girl Espresso Boutique is located at 2473 Dundas St W, less than a 5 minute walk north from Dundas West station. Hula Girl is open Monday-Friday 7:30am-1pm & Saturday-Sunday 8am-1pm*.
ATMOSPHERE
Expect the coffee shop’s exterior to be the first to pull you in. From a street view, colourful exotic flowers contrast the black background of the café. The shops looks inviting, and once you step inside, you’ll have no doubt that this statement is true.
Hula Girl’s style is hard to describe. The café combines exposed brick, mixed wood panelling, retro signage, and pop art motifs all under one roof. This creates an atmosphere that is as intriguing as it is fun.
Keep an eye out for the homages to Honest Ed’s across the café (showcasing Hula Girl’s Toronto routes), and its neon coffee sign - a favourite of bloggers and Instagram users alike. The café’s vibe is laidback and fun; a space that you’d want to be surrounded by.
NOTE: Given the restrictions due to COVID-19 at the time of writing this post, no indoor seating is available at the café.
MENU
Hula Girl serves a standard coffee shop menu (which can be seen in the image below) that ranges from $2.25-$5. Considering the high quality of their coffee and espresso (they roast, sell & serve their own beans), the menu is very affordable.
Milk alternatives are available at the café (soy, almond, coconut) along with skim and lactose-free options. You can also add an extra shot of espresso for $1 or a flavour shot for $0.50 (but their coffee is so good that I wouldn’t suggest this).
On top of coffee, the café also sells a variety of baked goods (such as scones, cookies, & date bars) and breakfast sandwiches.
I love the coffee at Hula Girl, but their breakfast sandwiches are usually the motivation for my visits. There are a small selection to choose from (including vegetarian options), but my favourite is their bacon & egg sandwich. The sandwich is made up of a super creamy square-shaped egg, cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, tomato, arugula, and mayo in an English muffin. I’d suggest pairing one with an americano from the café. This tasty breakfast combo costs $9.50.
CHANGES DUE TO PANDEMIC & HOW TO SUPPORT THEM
Along with the café solely operating for take-out orders, be aware that only two people are allowed in the shop at a time. Given the café’s popularity, you may have to wait in a short queue outside before placing your order (the coffee will be well worth the wait).
You can also now order from Hula Girl on Uber Eats to get a selection of their coffee and breakfast sandwiches delivered right to your door. You can also order their coffee beans and boutique grocery items on the app.
Given Uber Eats’ commission fee, if possible, I’d recommend ordering directly from the café instead. A great way to support cafés during this time is to purchase coffee beans. Bags of Hula Girl’s beans can be purchased in-store or on their website. The shop even offers coffee subscriptions.
Hula Girl’s coffee averages at $25-$28 per bag. It is a little more expensive than some roasteries in the city, but given its high quality and small batch production, the price matches its value. If you’re in the market for premium coffee, check out their “Extra Fancy” made with 100% Kona beans (one of the world’s most expensive & hardest to get coffees) that retails for $69.
SUMMARY
Hula Girl Espresso Boutique has a long history in Toronto’s independent coffee scene. Located at 2473 Dundas St W and open daily until 1pm, the café roasts and serves their own beans that are inspired by Hawaii’s coffee culture. Hula Girl has an eclectic atmosphere that draws patrons in and is welcoming to all. Look out for their Toronto and Hawaii homages across the café, along with their fun pop art inspired bags of coffee. The menu at Hula Girl is affordable given its high quality; its drinks range from $2.25-$5. The coffee is great, but don’t miss out on their breakfast sandwiches or baked goods. Due to the pandemic, the café is take-out only, with only two patrons allowed in the shop at a time. You can support Hula Girl by visiting the café for your next cup of coffee or breakfast to-go. You can also purchase their bags of coffee to make at home in-store, online, or on Uber Eats.
