Too Good To Go is a free app that you can use to purchase surprise/mystery bags of food for one third of the original price from participating bakeries, restaurants, and grocery stores.  These bags of food contain surplus food that the store has not sold that day or are near the best before date but are all still good to be eaten; hence the name of the app “too good to go”.  Every bag is a surprise because the store doesn’t know what food or products will be left over at the end of the day.  This is what’s exciting about the bags for me, the element of surprise, but also that I’m saving food from being thrown out.  At the same time, the store receives a small amount of money to recoup their losses as well as advertising through the app.

My first haul was in November 2021 where I got a Small Surprise Bag from Daan Go Cake Lab in Richmond Hill.  I was put off because I had high expectations of what would be in the bag.  There were only 5 macarons inside and I didn’t think the bag was really worth getting.

I did periodically check into the app to see what was available but never saw many bags actually available for reserving.

It wasn’t until January 2023 that I came across a Facebook post where someone said they got a ton of food from Pizza Pizza’s surprise bag that I was intrigued about the app and decided to check it out again.  TGTG has since added Tim Hortons and Longo’s to their roster and this definitely raises up the interest level even more.

Here are all my hauls up to January 2023 (45 surprise bags):

November 22, 2021:

• Daan Go Cake Lab (Richmond Hill)
• 550 Hwy 7, Richmond Hill
• Pick up time:  5 to 7 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $5.99
• 4 character macarons (Mango, Ovaltine, Vietnamese Coffee, Salted Caramel) ($4.25 x 4), 1 small macaron.
• I was disappointed that there were only macarons in the bag; expected some mini cakes since that’s what their storefront sells mostly.

January 8, 2023:

• Revitasize
• 8670 Woodbine Avenue, Markham
• Pick up time: 3:30 to 6 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $6.99
• 2 Vegan Rice Wraps ($11.98 x2), 2 dipping sauces (peanut and vinaigrette). Total value: $23.96.
• Really enjoyed these vegan rice wraps!

• Longo’s (Bayview)
• 7355 Bayview Avenue, Markham
• Pick up time: 5 to 7 p.m.
• Baked Goods:  $5.99
• 4 raised chocolate donuts ($7.99), mushroom focaccia ($5.99), 2 chocolate twists ($1.99), bag of baguettes ($3.49).  Total value: $19.46.
• The chocolate donuts were delicious as well as the chocolate twists.  The mushroom focaccia was mediocre.

January 9, 2023:

• Longo’s (Hwy 7)
• 3085 Hwy 7, Markham
• Pick up time: 5 to 7 p.m.
• Prepared Foods:  $7.99
• 1 tub of Potato Salad, 3 trays of Mac & Cheese ($8.99 each).
• We were quite shocked and surprised to see three trays of macaroni and cheese in this surprise bag.  We understood that the store can’t help what is left over, but we couldn’t help feeling like the staff at the store didn’t do a good job at picking the leftovers and not choosing a variety of items to put in the bag…

January 10, 2023:

• Saint Germain Bakery (Markville)
• Unit 2148, 5000 Hwy 7, Markham
• Pick up time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Assorted Products:  $4.99
• 6 Chinese buns: 2 of tuna bun, 2 of taro bun, 2 of a sweet/salty top bun.
• The pickup experience was not a good one.  The staff literally threw the bag on the table in a show of anger or something… why so angry and why the attitude?  We are still paying customers even if the bag of food is discounted.

• Sugar Rain Cafe
• 9011 Leslie St, Richmond Hill
• Pick up time: 5 to 6 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $5.99
• 7 intact macarons with cake whipping on it:  3 lychee, 2 matcha, 1 sesame, 1 strawberry.
• Good-tasting macarons but they don’t compare to the ones at Daan Go.

• Patisserie Fleur
• 180 Enterprise Blvd, Markham
• Pick up time: 5 to 7 p.m.
• Surprise Bag Small:  $5.99
• 5 croissants:  2 matcha, 2 chocolate, 1 almond.
• Best bag to date!!  Was expecting their mini cakes to be in the bag and so was surprised to see croissants.  I didn’t even know Patisserie Fleur sold croissants!  We were so impressed because all the croissants tasted fresh and delicious!  Large sizes too.  The almond one was the best.  The matcha one had creamy rich matcha while the chocolate one had rich chocolate.  Best enjoyed after 2 minutes in the oven!

January 11, 2023:

• Oranous Pastry
• 9625 Yonge St, Richmond Hill
• Pick up time: 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $4.99
• Box full of 11 Persian Danish pastries, almond, and Napolean pastries
• Amazed at the look and freshness.  First time having Persian Danish pastries and was so impressed with the value.  Full box of pastries for $5!  Box was freshly packed upon pickup.

January 12, 2023:

• Patisserie Gateau (First Markham Place)
• 3229 Hwy 7, Markham
• Pick up time: 8 to 10 a.m.
• Baked Goods:  $6.99
• 8 Chinese buns:  taro, pineapple, BBQ pork, coconut, small sausage bits, large raisin bread, red bean, and a chicken pie.
• Tasted so soft and fresh.  The taro bun here tasted better than the one received at Saint Germain — richer taro flavour.

January 12, 2023:

• Bento Sushi (Woodbine)
• 8610 Woodbine Ave, Markham
• Pick up time: 5:30 to 6 p.m.
• Prepared Meals:  $7.99
• Dynamite Crunch Roll $11.99, California Roll $7.99, Chicken and Vegetable Steamed Bun $4.99, Pocky biscuit sticks.
• The steamed bun was a surprise to get but a good one because of the variety.  The Pocky sticks were a cute touch as well!

• Bento Sushi (Woodbine)
• 8610 Woodbine Ave, Markham
• Pick up time: 5:30 to 6 p.m.
• Prepared Meals:  $7.99
• Salmon Avocado Roll $10.49, Vegetable California Roll $7.99, Dynamite Crunch Roll $11.99.  Total: $30.47.
• Pretty good sushi for what it’s worth.

January 13, 2023:

• Bake Code (Woodbine)
• 9255 Woodbine Ave, Markham
• Pick up time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $7.99
• Box of 5 baked goods: Spinach and Feta Puff Pastry $4.50, Matcha Ring $5.50, Salted Egg Croissant $5.50, Roasted Milk Tea Croissant $5.50, Ham & Cheese Croissant $4.90.  Total value:  $25.90
• Amazed at the variety of this one and how there were 3 croissants and 2 of which were the molten series variety!  These are not cheap!  The salted egg yolk and the milk tea both gushed out of the flakey croissants.  It was so good!  Loved all 5 varieties and inhaled them, even the unassuming matcha ring was so fluffy soft and easy to eat.

• Patisserie Fleur
• 180 Enterprise Blvd, Markham
• Pick up time: 5 to 7 p.m.
• Surprise Bag Small:  $5.99
• 2 mini cakes: Strawberry Shortcake Mini (vanilla chantilly cream, house made strawberry sauce with fresh strawberries, vanilla chiffon), Orange de Terre Mini (blood orange mousse, vanilla crème brûlée, chocolate sponge, chocolate rice crisp).
• Finally got the mini cakes in the bag!  So happy.  The chantilly cream was so airy soft!  The orange was  So refreshing and fresh.  These were taken fresh from the display case upon collection.

January 14, 2023:

• Little Sweet Bakery
• Unit 1SK8, 9390 Woodbine Ave, Markham
• Pick up time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Baked Goods:  $6.99
• 1 Soy Milk Black Sesame Basque Cake ($11.95), 2 Mango Mochis ($11.95).  Total value: $23.90
• I had low expectations for this one considering this small bakery doesn’t even have a website or social media accounts and half expected macarons.  Surprisingly, got this small cake and mango mochis in the cutest designed cake-carrier box and mochi tray too.  Enjoyed the mochis (so fluffy and soft) and cake (unique soy milk), but later think that this place is quite overpriced.  Only two small desserts for $7 is not the best value.  No wonder their rating is only 3.7/5 at the time of writing.

January 15, 2023:

• The Bernese Barista
• 6 Nipigon Ave, Markham
• Pick up time: 4:15 to 4:45 p.m.
• Baked Goods Bag:  $3.99
• 3 pineapple buns, 1 chocolate chip cookie, 1 chilled coffee.
• The description stated that the surprise bag would include baked goods and a chilled coffee.  When hubs went to pick up the items, it wasn’t until he got back into the car that he realized there was no chilled coffee.  He went back into the store and the staff prepared it for him.  This is a cute coffee shop in Markham that is dog friendly!

• Longo’s (Hwy 7)
• 3085 Hwy 7, Markham
• Pick up time: 5 to 7 p.m.
• Prepared Foods:  $7.99
• Basmati Rice with vegetables ($6.99), Chicken Tikka Masala ($9.99), Meatball with sauce & parmesan cheese ($12.99), Roasted potato wedges ($7.99).  Total value:  $37.96.
• When hubs arrived to pick up this bag, the staff said that there were no more surplus to make a surprise bag that day.  However, to make up for the inconvenience in not cancelling the surprise bag in time, the staff person went to the shelves and picked these items on the spot to make a bag.  This was wonderful!  This was well over the value of the bag and everything was fresh and well before the best before date.  This was one of the best bags we’ve received from Longo’s so far!

• Maxim Bakery & Restaurant
• 9665 Bayview Ave. Richmond Hill
• Pick up time:  7:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $7.99
• Assorted cake slices:  3 slices of different mango cakes and 1 slice of strawberry cake.
• This was absolutely delicious and an amazing surprise bag!

January 16, 2023:

• High Wide International Inc.
• 3315 14th Ave., Markham
• Pick up time:  3 to 3:30 p.m.
• Frozen Cold Pressed Juice:  $6.99
• Guava lemon green tea, Grapefruit Apple Green Tea.
• Both bottles were frozen solid upon pickup.  These were refreshing and interesting to try.

January 17, 2023:

• Tripl3 Baked
• 2677 Bur Oak Ave., Markham
• Pick up time:  4:30 to 5 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $3.99
• A chocolate roll, 3 assorted cookies.
• This was a very underwhelming bag.  The chocolate roll tasted fine.  The chocolate cookie was good.  The two other cookies were mediocre.  I was hoping to try some of their Filipino baked goods.

• Revitasize
• 8670 Woodbine Ave., Markham
• Pick up time: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $4.99
• Gluten-free Chickpea Tuna Salad Wrap ($7.99).
• I was able to try their small surprise bag!  However, this was very underwhelming in size.  The taste of the wrap was all right but after trying this small bag, I definitely think the larger bag is more worth it.

• Kiss Cake
• 550 York Regional Rd 7, Richmond Hill
• Pick up time:  2 to 7 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $7.99
• Soy Milk cake in a tub ($10.99 x2).  Total value: $21.98.
• This was my first time trying chiffon cake and in a tub, no less.  It was really good, soft and airy.  (It would have been nice to try another flavour.)

• Kiss Cake
• 550 York Regional Rd 7, Richmond Hill
• Pick up time:  2 to 7 p.m.
• Cake Bag:  $19.99
• Chestnut cake.
• This was supposed to have a value of $60, but when we measured the cake, it didn’t fit the value of a 6 inch cake (the cake was less than 5 inches).  The pricing didn’t add up either:  a 6 inch cake costs $55 while a 5 inch cake costs $38.
• Regardless, it was a chestnut chiffon cake and full of chestnut chunks!  It was delicious.

• Markham Bakery & Cafe
• 3255 Hwy 7, Markham
• Pick up time:  3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $5.99
• 6 egg tarts, swiss cake ends, 3 assorted buns.
• This was an amazing surprise bag!  I didn’t expect to get six egg tarts.  They were so delicious.  The cake ends were amazing too because they’re so moist and tasty!

• Tanuki Restaurant
• 3160 Steeles Ave. E, Markham
• Pick up time:  6:15 to 10 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $6.99
• Tonkatsu Curry rice.
• Delicious!

• Tanuki Restaurant
• 3160 Steeles Ave. E, Markham
• Pick up time:  6:15 to 10 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $6.99
• Chicken kaarage and fried rice.
• Such great portion!

January 18, 2023:

• What-A-Treat
• Unit 3-27, West Beaver Creek Rd, Richmond Hill
• Pick up time:  12 to 4 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $4.99
• Dunkaroos (x 4), Starburst gummies, cyclops jawbreaker.
• This didn’t seem worth the price of the bag.  We also don’t eat candy or sweet treats like this.  I gave this bag away on a Facebook buy nothing group (food version).

• Pizza Pizza (Warden)
• 8601 Warden Ave. Unionville
• Pick up time:  4 to 5 p.m.
• Prepared Meals:  $5.99
• 2 slices of Half Moon Cheesy Bread, a slice of pepperoni, a slice of vegetarian pizza.
• First time trying the Half Moon Cheesy Bread and it was pleasantly good!

January 19, 2023:

• Honey Honey Cakery
• 4471 Hwy 7, Unionville
• Pick up time:  6 to 6:30 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $6.99
• Matcha crepe hybrid cake ($9.50), blueberry crepe hybrid cake ($9.50).  Total value:  $19.
• So interesting to try a “hybrid” half crepe cake and a half regular cake!  So creative.  The crepe cake part had thin layers and was well made.

January 20, 2023:

• Kin-Kin Bakery & Bubble Tea (John St.)
• #141, 300 John St., Thornhill
• Pick up time:  11 to 11:30 a.m.
• Baked Goods Large:  $7.99
• 2 egg tarts, 8 bakery buns.
• Loved this big haul of bakery buns!

January 21, 2023:

• Edible Arrangements (Richmond Hill)
• 9019 Bayview Ave. Unit 21, Richmond Hill
• Pick up time:  3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
• Cutout Fruit Bag:  $4.99
• Large plastic bag of pineapple, cantaloupe, and honeydew cutouts and a box of strawberries.
• This took hubs an hour to cut all of the fruits from the skin and we yielded so much fruit!  Some of the pineapple was light yellow and thus not very sweet.

January 22, 2023:

• Boreal Gateau & Creamery
• 2-205 Main St Unionville, Unionville
• Pick up time:  4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
• Pastries:  $6.99
• 4 croissants:  Almond $5.75 (x 2), milk tea $5.75, cheese $5.  Total value:  $22.25.
• I was hoping for some of their beautiful marble ice cream cakes but got four of their croissants instead.  I didn’t even know they sold croissants in their store.  It reminded me of the ones from Patisserie Fleur.  These were delicious upon toasting in the oven.

January 23, 2023:

• Tanuki Restaurant
• 3160 Steeles Ave. E, Markham
• Pick up time:  3:30 to 9 p.m.
• Surprise Bags (x2):  $13.98
• Shrimp & Corn Croquettes and rice, Pork Belly on fried rice.
• Taste-wise, these bags were a little underwhelming compared to the first two we got from Tanuki.  Still great bags though.

• FIT MEAL Canada – John St.
• 2300 John St., Thornhill
• Pick up time:  6:45 to 9 p.m.
• Meals:  $7.99
• Ground turkey, peas, corn, beans, rice.  Sriracha Lime Chicken with Grilled Vegetables.
• Absolutely delicious meals!  You can tell the food is made from fresh quality ingredients.  So tasty and healthy clean eating!

• La Petite Colline
• 3355 Steeles Avenue East, Unionville
• Pick up time:  7 to 8 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $7.99
• Pineapple Bun (lightly sweetened soft bun, with a golden crunchy crust) $2.75 x 2, Custard Bun (housemade custard filling using Madagascar pure vanilla bean paste) $2.75, Chocolate Banana Croissant (chocolate, banana), Blue Cheese Danish (blue cheese, grand tourage [French puff pastry butter], rum glaze) $4.95, Corn & Bacon Bun (topped with corns and bacon bits) $3.25, Kouign-Amann (flaky and buttery croissant dough with layered sugar coating) $3.50.
• Best assortment of baked Taiwanese buns!  I loved this haul.  Everything was so delicious and unique!

January 24, 2023:

• O-Tea Bakery
• 8360 Kennedy Rd b02, Markham
• Pick up time:  12:45 to 1 p.m.
• Large Desserts Bag:  $6.99
• Slice of Oreo cake, slice of matcha crepe cake, chocolate mousse cupcake.
• What a great assortment of desserts!  I loved this bag.

January 26, 2023:

• Longo’s (Hwy 7)
• 3085 Hwy 7, Markham
• Pick up time: 5 to 7 p.m.
• Baked Goods:  $5.99
• 6 Asiago cheese bagels ($5.49), 4 onion and cheese buns ($3.49), Italian filone loaf ($5.99), apple mini strudels ($4.99).  Total value: $19.96.
• Good assortment of baked goods!  Hubs said that the bag didn’t reach value and told the staff.  The staff added the bag of cheese bagels to make it reach value.

• O-Tea Bakery
• 8360 Kennedy Rd b02, Markham
• Pick up time:  12:45 to 1 p.m.
• Large Desserts Bag:  $6.99
• Slice of matcha crepe cake, slice of black sesame crepe cake, vanilla chocolate dusted cupcake.
• I liked the previous bag from here so much that I got it again on a whim when I saw it.  The second time didn’t taste as good as the first time, but it’s still a great bag.  I didn’t think I’d be getting two slices of crepe cakes in different flavours.

January 27, 2023:

• Longo’s (Hwy 7)
• 3085 Hwy 7, Markham
• Pick up time: 5 to 7 p.m.
• Prepared Foods:  $7.99
• Sundried Tomato & Green Olive with Goat Cheese Quiche, Grilled Veg & Ricotta Romaine Style Pizza Slice $4.99, Tourtiere $5.99, Vegetable Fried Rice $7.99, Brussel Sprouts $8.99, Braised Green Beans $8.99.
• Wow, this was an amazing haul and loved the variety!!!  All delicious too.

January 28, 2023:

• Longo’s (Hwy 7)
• 3085 Hwy 7, Markham
• Pick up time: 5 to 7 p.m.
• Prepared Foods:  $7.99
• Roasted potato wedges ($7.99), 4 pack boneless charbroiled chicken breast ($17.99).  Total value: $25.98.
• This initially looked like an underwhelming bag, but the chicken breasts were deliciously tender.

• Revitasize
• 8670 Woodbine Avenue, Markham
• Pick up time: 2:40 to 6 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $6.99
• Cold Pressed Juices:  Bloody Beet ($14), Super Green ($14).  Total value:  $28.
• Loved this bag!  Got to try their infamous cold pressed juices.  Both were great.

January 29, 2023:

• Revitasize
• 8670 Woodbine Avenue, Markham
• Pick up time: 3:45 to 6 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $6.99
• Warrior Salad ($11.98), Vegan Rice Wraps ($11.98).  Total value:  $23.96.
• Warrior Salad was so healthy and clean.  I really liked the black lentils and the pop of sweetness from the dried cranberries.  Second time having the rice wraps.

January 30, 2023:

• Kiss Cake
• 550 York Regional Rd 7, Richmond Hill
• Pick up time:  12 to 9 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $7.99
• Pork Floss Beckham $17.69, candied strawberry $6.99.  Total value: $24.68.
• Hubs received this originally without the candied strawberry.  He questioned the surprise bag not being worth the $24 value.  The staff said it was enough after taxes, which hubs said it wasn’t.  She then unwillingly threw in the candied strawberry.  The pork floss beckham was unique and quite tasty.  The candied strawberry was already a bit melted by the time I got to it…

• Markham Bakery & Cafe
• 3255 Hwy 7, Markham
• Pick up time:  2:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Surprise Bag:  $5.99
• 5 bakery buns, 1 swiss cake ends, 1 egg tart, 1 crisps, 1 sesame ball.
• Lovely assortment of items!

January 31, 2023:

• FIT MEAL Canada-John St.
• 2300 John St., Thornhill
• Pick up time:  12 to 3 p.m.
• Meals:  $7.99
• Hearty chili.  Chicken breast, cheese, potatoes, vegetables.
• Just like the first bag, these meals were made with quality and tasty ingredients.

See more of my TGTG hauls:  January (this one),  February 2023,  March 2023,  April 2023,  May 2023,  June 2023,  July 2023,  August 2023,  September 2023,  October 2023,  November 2023,  December 2023.