The top 12 cheap steak in Toronto

Cheap steak in Toronto can be tricky culinary ground. Everyone wants a deal, but there's no point in paying for tough meat. Fortunately, there are a number of places around town that offer quality steak dinners for under $25. The cuts range from flank and hanger to New York strips, but this often depends on your proximity to downtown. In any case, there are deals to be had if you know where to look.

Here are 12 wonderfully cheap and delicious steaks on offer in Toronto.

Zet's Diner
You'd be hard pressed to find a better steak dinner for the price than at this airport diner. The 10oz New York strip loin ($18.95) is well marbled and comes with heaping sides and garlic bread.

Jules Bistro
This classic French bistro-style steak frites comes in at $17.95 and features a flavourful cut of flank steak served with herbed fries and ratatouille. The serving size is modest, but there's just the right amount of beef to wash down with your glass of Cotes du Rhone.

Aft Kitchen & Bar
Aft has a great deal on its steak frites, offering a 12oz herb-infused sous-vide flank steak for $22 that comes with a refreshing red chimichurri dressing. This thing is packed with flavour and comes served the only way it should be: medium rare.

Midfield Wine Bar
Midfield's steak is a fantastic deal for $17. The hanger cut has a deep beefy flavour and comes with whey brine and collard greens. You can get the order for two for $26.

Le Paradis
What's one way to prepare a cheaper cut of beef? Slice it thinly and cover it in sauce. The Bavette aux Echalotes ($21) is a beef flank grilled with a shallot demi glace. It comes served with frites.

Master Steaks
This Mississauga spot is probably not the best place for a romantic date. It is, however, a steak lover's paradise. There's an array of cuts on offer, from a 16oz Delmonico to rib eyes and, of course, strip loins. A 10oz dinner will get you in comfortably under $25 and leave you stuffed.

The Tulip
Often the subject of mixed reviews, the key with Tulip is to go in with appropriate expectations. The 12oz sirloin ($23.95) is juicy and filling, but not the top of the heap as far as grill-worthy cuts go. If you like a leaner steak, this is for you.

The Purple Onion
The Purple Onion is like the west side version of the Tulip, but given its modest fanfare over the years, the prices have stayed lower. You can get a 10oz sirloin for $16.95, but my money is on the 10oz New York strip at $19.95, which comes with mashed potatoes and garlic bread.

House on Parliament
House on Parliament does a lovely throwback peppercorn steak and fries that's a good value at $24 given that it's a 10oz strip loin on the plate. Add shallot and herb butter and a watercress salad, and you have the recipe for a hearty meal.

Martins
This restaurant might be better known for its Portuguese chicken, but it also does an excellent steak with a fried egg (a typical Portuguese preparation) starting at $21. The thinly sliced chip-like fries make for a novel take on steak frites.

Rio 40
Brazilian-style steak is not to be missed if you're a fan of beef. At Rio 40, there are a wide range of options between $18-23, starting with either a grilled rump steak or a New York strip and sides like grilled pineapple, grilled shrimp, rice, and beans.

The Abbot Pub & Fare
For $25, you can partake in the Abbot's picture perfect pub staple: steak and chips. This is a 9oz Canadian Angus strip loin with fantastic yukon gold fries that rivals versions priced much higher around town.

Did I miss any good spots for cheap steak? Let us know in the comments.