É«É«À²

Now we’re down to the Final Four.

After two rounds of close matchups and thousands of votes, only four contenders remain — three classic patty shops that have anchored the city’s Caribbean food scene for decades, and one rising star that’s quickly become a neighbourhood favourite.

Let’s break it down.

In a tight race, Fahmee narrowly beat out Caribbean Queen of Patties to move into the semi-finals. It’s a big win, considering Caribbean Queen’s cult following in Bloordale. Still, it’s hard to underestimate the power of subway station nostalgia — thousands of commuters have scarfed down a Fahmee patty at Bathurst Station over the years.

In the battle of new-school patties, Kingston 12 Patty Shop — Little Jamaica’s latest culinary gem — came out on top over JunePlum by Patois. The fact that Kingston 12 only opened in 2023 makes this victory especially impressive. It’s no small feat to gain that kind of loyalty in a city where routine and nostalgia often reign.

Elsewhere in Little Jamaica, the juggernaut continues: Randy’s Patties cruised past Allan’s Pastry Shop in what might’ve been the hardest matchup yet. Both bakeries are É«É«À² legends, known for ultra-flaky crusts and fresh-from-the-oven heat. (Yes, I’ve burned my tongue at both.)

In the final showdown of Round 2, two Scarborough staples — P Jay’s Jamaican Takeout and Patty King — went head to head. Patty King advances, and I can vouch for the love: I’ve often hopped off the 904 Sheppard-Kennedy Express bus a stop early just to grab a quick lunch from there.

Voting in today’s semi-final will determine which two bakeries make it to Thursday’s championship round.

If you’ve discovered a new patty spot through this bracket — or finally tried one you’d been meaning to — mission accomplished. And as someone who’s been keeping an eye on the vote counts, I can assure you: every one of the original 16 got a strong showing. You really can’t go wrong.

Here are your final four. Vote now until 11 a.m. Thursday.

1. Fahmee Bakery

222 Lansdowne Ave.

This beloved bakery is synonymous with subway station snack shops, having supplied their patties for decades, and has thankfully recovered after a devastating factory fire. When people praise the .

2. Kingston 12 Patty Shop

1808 Eglinton Ave. W.

A newcomer to , this patty shop opened in 2023 but has quickly established itself as a neighbourhood favourite with its classic beef, chicken and veggie patties, as well as cheese-filled variations.

3. Randy’s Patties

1569 Eglinton Ave. W.

It was big news last year when this legendary patty shop reopened after the original owners closed the bakery in 2022. Since 1979, lining up at .

4. Patty King

321 Progress Ave.

Located near Scarborough Town Centre, . Choose from mild/spicy beef, chicken or veggie — and don’t sleep on the jerk for lunch.