The top 25 grilled cheese in Toronto by neighbourhood

Grilled cheese is a lunchtime standard in Toronto and when the craving strikes there's most certainly a sandwich with your name on it nearby. Whether you're a purist that wants nothing more than a mass of melted cheddar between sliced bread, or you like to get fancy with the addition of pulled pork, mac 'n' cheese, or bacon jam, there's a diner, sandwich shop or pub ready to deliver.

Here are my picks for the top grilled cheese sandwiches in Toronto by neighbourhood.

ANNEX
Fanny Chadwick's grilled cheese ($13) smooshes gouda and grana padano with wilted greens and Dijon mustard between sourdough with a cheese crust.

BEACHES
The Jack'd Up Grilled Cheese ($16) at the Hogtown Smoke is a monster of a sandwich featuring orange and white cheddar as well as Monterey Jack with whisky-infused pulled pork, beer-braised onions and red peppers between thick-sliced bread.

BAYVIEW & LEASIDE
The Millwood Melt specializes in nostalgic cheese sandwiches and offers the option to customize (starting at $6) or embrace one of the signature house melts ($8) like The Tuna Kahuna or The Hamelot.

CABBAGETOWN
House on Parliament is home to the Grilled 4-Cheese Sandwich ($11) featuring fontina, provolone, grana padano and asiago on potato bread with roasted tomato relish. Have it with double smoked bacon for $3 more.

THE DANFORTH
Riverdale Perk offers a few different types of grilled cheese ($9). Favourites include the Grown-up Grilled Cheese, which is done on seven-grain bread with double-cream brie and honey-roasted pears, while the Guinness Bacon Grilled Cheese is made with aged white cheddar, caramelized granny smith onion chutney and beer aioli.

DUNDAS WEST
The Federal does a simple and sumptuous grilled cheese sandwich ($10) with cheddar and pickled red onions accompanied by house-made ketchup and sides of salad and potato rosti. Upgrade with bacon from $1 more.

ETOBICOKE
A plain cheddar-mozzarella grilled cheese at West City Snack Bar will only set you back $5, but for $2.75 more you can jazz up the classic sandwich with the addition of bacon and avocado. Make it a meal with an order of smoked tomato soup ($6.50) on the side.

FINANCIAL DISTRICT
Grilled cheese ($16) is a favourite on the lunch menu at Bannock. Here the sandwich features O&B artisan challah and is elevated with apple, bacon jam and pickled jalapeno.

THE JUNCTION
Half a dozen types of grilled cheese sandwiches, which all come with a pickle spear and popcorn, are on the menu at Cut The Cheese. Prices range from $5.75 for the classic with aged cheddar up to $9.25 for the gussied up Big Bad Wolf loaded with asiago cheese, deep fried pork belly, slaw, chipotle aioli and hickory sticks.

KENSINGTON MARKET
OM Grilled Cheese deals in pressed cheese sandwiches. Find classic combinations of cheese and bread or opt for beefed up versions like The Montabello made with gruyere, provolone, roast beef, roasted peppers and basil pesto.

KING WEST
Comfort foods inspired by cities are Cheesewerks's niche. The Charleston ($11) for instance features double-cream brie, caramelized onions and apricot chutney, while the Brooklyn ($11.75) boasts ricotta, bocconcini, Italian sausage and roasted tomatoes. Get any order in mac n' cheese, fondue, nacho or, of course, grilled cheese form.

KOREATOWN
White Brick Kitchen serves up a classic four-cheese grilled cheese ($14) with a choice of a side at lunch. House-made tomato jam is the standard accompaniment, while hickory-smoked bacon (+$2) is optional.

LESLIEVILLE
Brooklyn Tavern boasts a grilled cheese sandwich with pork carnitas ($11.50) on their brunch menu. Each order includes slaw and fries, and there's the option to crown it with a fried egg for $2.

LIBERTY VILLAGE
Little Kay's Favourite Grilled Cheese Sandwich ($13.95) is a staple on the menu at Mildred's Temple Kitchen. Grilled onto sourdough bread, the sandwich stars melted aged cheddar and mozzarella with apple-tomato relish.

LITTLE INDIA
Maha's is best known for its Egyptian brunch, but on the lunch side of the spectrum is the Date Grilled Cheese ($12), a twist on the familiar sandwich featuring dates sautéed in butter and added to a blend of gouda, havarti and swiss before being pressed between egg bread and drizzled with honey.

LITTLE ITALY
After years of eating nothing but the breakfast pocket at Aunties & Uncles, I started to experiment with some of the other orders and guess what? They're all good. Especially the grilled cheese on challah ($8) served with house-made ketchup. Upgrade with bacon for 75 cents more.

QUEEN WEST
Gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches are what Melt Grilled Cheese does best. The menu offers almost a dozen different sandwiches including the Mac Attack ($8) stuffed with mac 'n' cheese, cheddar, mozzarella, bacon, garlic mayo and ketchup.

RIVERSIDE
The pulled pork grilled cheese ($13) is a favourite on the menu at Prohibition. The deluxe sandwich starts with grana padano-encrusted sourdough and is loaded up with confit pork, house-made BBQ sauce, maple cheddar and raspberry-jalapeño compote.

RONCESVALLES
The grilled cheese sandwich at Cardinal Rule features a four cheese blend pressed between slices of challah. Smoked ketchup (+$1) is essential for dipping, or opt to spice things up with the killer house hot sauce (+$1).

ROSEDALE
Amongst the line-up of pub foods served by The Rebel House, the classic grilled cheese ($9.45) is a favourite. The standard sandwich is done with two types of aged cheddar on French bread grilled until golden brown in shallot butter. Have it with peameal bacon for $11.45 or simply add on some fresh sliced tomato for $1 extra.

SCARBOROUGH
The Working Dog Saloon is a great place to unwind with a beer, and at lunch hour it's made even better with the option to enjoy a classic grilled cheese for just $5.

ST. CLAIR WEST
The Stockyards excels at everything it does, no matter if it's a burger or fried chicken. The grilled cheese ($9.50) is no exception. The sandwich is grilled on a a flat top and features smoked cheese, sliced green apple and caramelized onion between slices of thyme-scented sourdough.

WEST QUEEN WEST
The Gladstone Hotel serves up a sourdough grilled cheese sandwich ($15) at lunch. Served with fries or salad on the side, each order features Monforte Providence cheddar with tomato chutney and bacon jam.

YONGE & EGLINTON
Uncle Betty's Diner does its Ultimate Grilled Cheese ($15) on either white or brown bread with melted cheddar, a slab of mac 'n cheese and a choice of grilled veggies, pulled pork or all-beef meatloaf drizzled in roasted garlic aioli.

YORKVILLE
Flo's Diner devotes an entire section on its menu to gooey grilled cheese sandwiches. The classic made on egg bread sells for $9 and includes a choice of salad, soup, slaw or fries. Other options include the addition of tomato slices ($10), bacon ($10), ham ($10), bacon and tomato ($12), or ham and brie ($11).

What did I miss? Disagree with my selections in the comments.

Lead photo from Cut The Cheese

by Liora Ipsum via blogTO