218 Best Restaurants in Ontario, Canada

Most of the mom and pop places like this have moved out to the suburbs, all the more reason to seek out this gem if you are in the neighborhood.

Slide into a well-worn wooden booth or sit at a checkered table at this low-key steak house, complete with oak bar and pressed-tin ceiling. The steaks and Guinness-braised lamb shanks get rave reviews, but the hamburgers—from meat that is ground in-house—might be this spot's secret weapon.

Pick up a frosty treat—and some truffles or chocolate bars to take home—at this ice cream shop and chocolatier just off the main Danforth drag.

The most ambitious restaurant to call this part of town home is a warmly modern tasting-menu spot that draws from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors, Canadian ingredients, and fine-dining techniques. Plan for a couple of leisurely hours to experience the menu, which marries dukkah spice, za'atar, and pomegranate with foie mousse, Arctic char, and Iberico ham over a dozen well-considered, painstakingly plated small courses.

The lines might be long at this ice cream shop specializing in artisanal options like "Cinnamon Toast" (malted cinnamon ice cream) and "London Fog" (Earl Grey tea)—but oh is it worth the wait. The flavors are good on their own, but the queues form for their incredible ice cream sandwiches made with freshly baked cookies, Hong Kong waffles, carrot cake, and cinnamon buns.

Imagine yourself lost at a Saigon night market at this trendy sandwich and snack bar that specializes in Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches. Not satisfied with the traditional crusty white bread, Banh Haus offers whole-wheat and fried banh tieu (Vietnamese donut) buns as a vessel for fillings like grilled lemongrass chicken, five-spice sweet pork sausage, or deep-fried tiger shrimp. Other modernized street food classics include rice-paper-wrapped summer rolls and green mango salad.

Brothers David, Philip, and Peter Chau have banh mi in their blood—their parents opened one of the original Vietnamese sandwich shops in Chinatown—but they've taken the classic and decked it out with top-notch ingredients such as melt-in-your-mouth pork belly, duck confit, and kalbi beef. Other offerings include Asian-inspired tacos and steamed bao.

A Toronto landmark since 1959, Barberian’s is known for wheeling, dealing—and plenty of eating. It also has a romantic footnote in history: Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton got engaged here (for the first time). One of the city’s oldest steakhouses, it serves classic dishes like Caesar salad and jumbo shrimp cocktail. Mains focus on steak, but the fish of the day and grilled free-range capon are also solid picks.

In the original 1917 lodge building, this small lakeside pine dining room offers an ever-changing prix-fixe menu of contemporary Canadian cuisine, which might kick off with fennel and mustard-rubbed pork belly and move on to pistachio and cherry-crusted Australian rack of lamb or the house specialty, beef tenderloin. Fish and vegetarian options, such as sweet-potato gnocchi with shaved Gruyère, are always available. Desserts, included with the meal, always include some variation of crème brûlée (perhaps a chocolate-chili version), and homemade pie.

Serving up bold, homey Filipino flavors, this cozy Parkdale spot is a favorite from brunch to dinner. Mornings bring silogs (a classic Filipino breakfast dish served with a protein, fried eggs, and garlic fried rice), ube pancakes, and calamansi mimosas, while dinner shifts into heartier Filipino food with a modern twist, like adobo fried chicken. Pair it with mango juice or San Miguel beer and settle in—this is comfort food at its best.

A culinary tribute to beer, the creative menu here incorporates its star ingredient in every dish, but in subtle and clever ways without causing a malted-flavor overload. Start the hoppy journey with a taster flight of three draft beers, and follow that with a gooey beer-braised beef poutine or a bowl of mussels in a beer-based broth.

The well-stocked bar at this casual sports pub with booth and patio seating divides the room into two equal halves, with the locals converging on the east side. The pub fare includes quintessentials such as fish-and-chips, grilled steak and fries, burgers, and finger food. Salads, pasta, and sandwiches are also available. Upstairs you'll find a handful of loft-style suites to rent by the night.

If you're craving a specific ice cream flavor or topping, chances are this long-standing ice cream parlor will have it ready to go.

Bindia serves mouthwatering North Indian cuisine that will delight your taste buds from the first bite of juicy meats and freshly baked naan straight from the tandoor oven. A beloved neighborhood staple, it’s conveniently located in the heart of St. Lawrence Market, offering casual, warm, and friendly service. Whether you choose to dine inside or enjoy a table on the patio during the warmer months, you’ll be able to people-watch and soak in the vibrant sights and sounds of the local community.

This tiny café, just outside the Rosedale subway station, serves some of the city's favorite sandwiches.

With espresso, baked goods, bar snacks, beers, and cocktails on offer, this colorful café/bar (look for the neon pegasus sign) serves as a reliable local hangout from morning 'til night.

Hearty sandwiches stuffed with toppings like mortadella, grilled veggies, and spreads made in-house are accompanied by selections of traditional brioche buns, and creative palm-size Viennoiseries at the local legendary boulangerie. It helps to get there earlier in the day to take score of other baked delights like tomato danishes and quirky chocolate corks.

With an ever-changing menu that is influenced by the owner's travels, one year might be Asian-themed, another Spanish, but always with a menu of small and large plates in a casual setting with seating both inside and out. Food is paired with a small, curated wine list and great cocktails. Recent showstoppers included hot cheesy Parmesan-topped oysters served on black lentils, beef cheek Stroganoff with porcini mushroomss in a brandy sauce, and an addictive syrupy fried banana dessert over coconut milk and toothsome tapioca pudding, paired with Viet coffee ice cream.

Consistent with the aesthetics of Taboo Resort, the Boathouse offers luxurious and contemporary international cuisine in a subdued dining room with sleek furnishings, hardwood floors, and a wall of lakefront windows. The kitchen has oriented the menu to appeal to a health-conscious crowd.

Known for making Pinterest-perfect cakes for some of the city's splashiest fetes, this charming bakery also offers bite-sized baked goods for a spot of on-the-go luxury.

The original location of the artisan coffee shop/wine-and-spirit bar mini-chain that now has eclectic locations throughout the city, this Summerhill spot is a relaxed but lively spot from morning to evening. Located in a two-story Victorian home (and former dry cleaner), Boxcar Social has a bustling bar, a quiet and sophisticated upstairs lounge, a nice back patio, and a next-door bottle shop for those who prefer takeout.

You can't always please everyone but Brch & Wyn does a solid job of catering to both the strong-coffee-and-brunch crowd and the theatergoers looking to prolong an intimate evening. The mood of the converted industrial space is airy with exposed brick and beam, contrasted by tropical garden wall coverings and plush couches and bar tables.

This neighborhood watering hole offers year-round beach-town atmosphere. The kitchen mostly deals in pub food, but (as the name suggests) the thing to get here is the BBQ—brisket, moist pulled pork, chicken wings, and tender ribs, available in sandwiches or hefty platters. Breakwall stays open late—a rarity in this sleepy part of town—in case you’re looking for somewhere to grab a pitcher in the wee hours.

Top Chef Canada judge Mark McEwan has created a refined modern menu showcasing sophisticated seafood dishes, like whole roasted orata, and simply prepared meats. His signature 6-ounce burger with molten Brie de Meaux, grilled porcini mushrooms, and shaved truffles is a popular highlight.

The Toronto flagship of a Vancouver-based casual fine-dining chain, this massive, modern Financial District spot is one of the district's trendiest dining destinations. Stellar dishes include butternut ravioli topped with sage, prawns, and truffle butter, and a 45-day dry-aged Angus ribeye drenched in a brandy-based sauce, sprinkled with juicy peppercorns.

Holding court over a central Little Italy corner since 1968, Diplomatico is popular for its big sidewalk patio, one of the best places in the city for people-watching. "The Dip," as it's locally known, serves reliable red-sauce Italian fare until late into the night.

Head to this colorful café for locally roasted espresso and reasonably priced Mediterranean brunch. Inspired by Greek kafeneio meeting places, it's a great spot to while away a few hours.

There's no better place for a quick espresso or another pick-me-up than at the poured-concrete walls of this uber-hip meeting spot, complete with front and back patios. Show up by night for a full-length bar menu of local and imported craft beers and an apothecary of spirits.

The irresistible scent of smoky Texas-style barbecue from Carbon Bar’s wood firepit hits your nose the moment you walk in, instantly sparking your appetite. The spacious yet sophisticated and laid-back atmosphere sets the stage for a memorable meal. Ordering the Pitmaster barbecue platter is a must—it features five types of meat and is perfect for sharing with a group, or daring to tackle on your own. The friendly waitstaff are quick to recite the restaurant’s drinks menu, and they're proud to mention that Carbon Bar boasts one of the largest bourbon selections in Toronto, including a selection of Canadian whiskies. No wonder it's a popular hangout for after-work crowds and weekend diners alike.

Meals at this rare higher-end Mexican restaurant in Kensington Market start off with a basket of blue corn tortillas, grilled in-house, emerging like prehistoric mushroom caps paired with a trio of sauces. A strong selection of innovative starters marry classics with modern culinary trends like a pair of drippy brie and succulent chorizo empanadas, earthy mushroom sopes with just the right amount of crisp and raw shrimp aguachile in a lavalike red sauce. The lamb shank barbacoa steamed in a banana leaf is the real show-stopper, unwrapped table side by Chef Felipe.