Family pictures and newspaper clippings line the wall, chronicling the long history of the restaurant. White stucco covers the rest of the wall. The floor is covered with brown rectangular mosaic tile in a cobblestone pattern that wraps halfway up the wall. Morning prep consists of chopping up fries and the fresh toppings for the day.

Golden Star employees getting ready to start another day just before the lunch rush begins. The cashier, wearing a blue button-up shirt bearing the Golden Star logo, greets every customer with a jovial, “Welcome to Golden Star. Flashbacks to the 1960s begin with the natural wood countertop, large Coca-Cola sign and the lit menu board with yellow and orange letters. The nostalgia kicks in as the front door opens. Its classic features, including the brown brick walls and red tiled roof, stand out among the sleek modern designs showcased by its neighbours. The restaurant, just north of Steeles Avenue at the corner of Yonge Street and Meadowview Avenue, is surrounded by multiple highrise condominiums. There is a happy buzz in the dining room for those who stay to sit and eat as others leave content and satisfied.

The crowd on any given day or night is a mix of families, couples and singles enjoying a quick bite to eat. The smell of charcoal-grilled meat greets customers new and old who come craving the diner’s array of fast food, from hamburgers to steak sandwiches. The memorable towering sign, with its large yellow letters and four-pointed golden star on top, can be seen from afar. The world has the golden arches, but Thornhill has the Golden Star.įifty-six years after the retro burger joint opened, the iconic sign continues to draw crowds daily with a lunch and dinner rush that sees lines forming out the front door onto the patio.

Golden star restaurant yonge street