218 Best Restaurants in Ontario, Canada

Front-row sushi bar seating, ultra-fresh ingredients, and minimalist wood-sculpted trappings keep diners coming back for these briny hand rolls and raw sashimi boats. The secret is a nori \"humidor\" that keeps seaweed sheets in a perfectly dry and crispy condition, making every bite as satisfying as the last. Sit back and marvel as chefs grill meats before your eyes with a hand torch and a binchotan charcoal stick.

For two generations, this family-run Chinese restaurant has served flavorful dishes inspired by China’s diverse regional cuisines. Hong Shing has deep community roots—locals say it offers the city’s best crispy beef and General Tso’s chicken, and hometown celebrities Drake and Simu Liu are regulars. It also features Toronto’s first baijiu-focused bar, pouring creative cocktails made with China’s potent national spirit. In 2024, Hong Shing opened Yan Dining Room, a 26-seat private space offering Chef Eva Chin’s seasonal, eight-course neo-Chinese tasting menu—advance reservations are essential.

Toronto is filled with quick bubble tea—including many chains from Taiwan and other parts of Asia—but Icha Tea is a slower, homegrown shop that brews high-quality loose-leaf teas.

Sensuous paintings of nudes and the sea and signed celebrity photos line the walls at this two-story seafood institution. The kitchen prepares dishes from the Dalmatian side of the Adriatic Sea, and members of the international artistic community who frequent the place adore the unusual and healthy array of seafood and fish. The black risotto with squid, served in a shareable portion size, is a must, as are the grilled prawns with lemon garlic butter.

Chef Nuit Regular, Toronto's powerhouse Thai restauranteur, invites diners to a rare taste of Baan Lao cuisine, a seven-course tasting menu of specialties that have been served over centuries to the Thai royal family (and there's a vegan version as well). Don't expect fiery curries but rather a sophisticated and textural experience of imaginative dishes fit for a regal palate. An à la carte menu is available but most diners opt for the main event. Dishes ramp up from bite-sized flower-shaped dumplings to substantial fusions like five-spice–infused braised beef short ribs, or coconut milk-coated charcoal-grilled sablefish steak topped with carved coconut flowers and basil leaves on a red curry custard puree. The playful cocktail menu features Thai-infused ingredients, and you'll want to try more than one.

In a neighborhood where the bohemian vegetarian lifestyle is the norm, King's Café has become a mainstay for artists, students, and young professionals seeking vegan grub with an Asian accent. The setting is a serene and airy eatery with wide windows looking out onto bustling Augusta Avenue.

This laid-back Cabbagetown favorite is all about fresh, thoughtful Japanese food done right. The star of the show is the tasting platter—12 beautifully presented bite-sized dishes that change daily based on the chef's selection and in-season ingredients. Pair it with buttery sashimi or flavorful udon, then swing by the in-house market for frozen ramen kits, bento boxes, and pantry gems to take home. 

Since opening in 2009, this izakaya has helped define Japanese pub-style dining—small plates and drinks—for Torontonians. The atmosphere stays lively with an open kitchen and ultra-friendly staff. Standout dishes include the truffle carbonara udon, topped with mushrooms, onions, a soft-boiled egg, and fragrant truffle oil.

A trip to Little India isn't complete without hitting up this raucous Pakistani/North Indian spot, a neighborhood staple since the 1990s. Pull up a table in the colorful dining room and dig into a broad selection of biryani, curries, kebabs, grilled specialties, and sizzling platters.

An elegant dining room and formal service with silver serving dishes set the scene for upscale Asian food. The 100-dish inventory features excellent dishes like wok-fried shredded beef tenderloin with sundried chili peppers alongside delicacies dotted with truffle and foie gras.

Nothing is left to chance at this five-star restaurant in the Lake Leamy casino. Service is first class, from the choice of complimentary spring or sparkling water to the fresh linen napkin waiting every time you return to your table. Chef Serge Rourre, in the open kitchen, brings a contemporary twist to classic French cuisine. Rack of caribou is served in a crushed-nut-and-juniper-berry crust. Langoustine tails and seared scallops top an oatmeal galette accompanied by squash puree. The five-course Grand Menu Dégustation du Chef (C$90) and eight-course Menu Gastronomique (C$115) can be paired with wines chosen for each dish. Ask for a window table. The view of the lake makes for a romantic and memorable evening.

This low-lit, warrenlike bistro has hardly changed at all since the 1990s—and the regulars like it that way. The open kitchen turns out reliable French fare like steak tartare and duck confit; desserts include flourless chocolate cake and house-made ice cream. Get a quieter table in one of the inner dining rooms, or belly up to the bar and watch the action.

Le Sélect occupies a special place in the heart of Toronto's Parisian cuisine aficionados. The sprawling plush booths, zinc bar, and mosaic flooring create the ideal ambience for buttery escargots with pillowy pain au lait (milk buns), hearty bowls of saffron-tinged bouillabaisse, and an oversized apple tarte tatin for two, drizzled tableside with rich caramel sauce.

Once a classic Toronto diner, this intimate spot from local restaurateur Jen Agg pays homage to its greasy-spoon roots but with a French twist. The frequently evolving menu balances steak frites and Nicoise salads with tuna melts, onion rings, and grilled cheeses. It's also a rare Toronto spot to eat fondue. 

A winning fusion of Dutch and Indonesian flavors sets this jungle hostel-themed resto-cocktail bar apart from the rest on Portland Street. Start off with rich beef rendang croquettes; sweet, spicy, sour satay lamb skewers; or an addictive pork crackling slaw. Groups can sip themselves all the way to Bali with carafe-sized, summery cocktails like the \"It's All Gone Peach Tong\" (made with melon gin and peach liqueur) or the \"Indo Citrus Sangria\" (made with citrus gin and elderflower liqueur). The house beer, a Dutch-style Session IPA, doesn't disappoint either.

The Tibetan dumplings are super-tasty at this no-frills family-run counter-serve spot.

You'd never know this St. Tropez--inspired seafood restaurant and raw bar with indoor garden decor was once an infamous lady bar. Full-fledged beluga caviar and blini experiences, a 45-ounce tomahawk steak served on enormous sharing platters, and extravagant sushi rolls layered with luxuries such as torched Wagyu beef, foie gras, truffles, lobster tempura, and gold flakes make up part of the menu. Champagne girls can be seen parading the fantastical garden interior with sparklers in hand to announce milestones like college graduations and marriage proposals. 

Enjoy classic and modern Catalan tapas at this lively restaurant, where guests are taken on a tasting journey by executive chef Ramon Simarro. Shareable plates make it easy to sample a wide range of dishes from the menu, paired with an extensive selection of Spanish wines and gins—more than 70 in total. Order à la carte to try items like the Iberico ham croquettes or whole fried sea bass, or opt for the 10-course chef’s tasting menu.

This Ossington staple brings its sunny, cozy vibes uptown, landing in Rosedale with the same easygoing charm and seriously good food. The all-day café serves up bright, tasty dishes like soft scrambled eggs on fresh bread, hearty salads, and roast chicken that’s anything but basic. Open daily from 10 am to 10 pm, it’s the perfect spot to linger over a latte, split a bottle of orange wine, or settle in for a relaxed meal that delivers on flavor. 

For a unique take on cheap eats, head east of Bathurst to Market 707, a strip of food stalls built out of repurposed shipping containers. Highlights include poutine at Nom Nom Nom; authentic lamb-fat-infused Damascus-style shawarmas and burgers from Chef Harwash; soul-warming Filipino at Kanto by Tita Flips; and authentic Japanese rice balls stuffed with burdock and red miso pork, along with other hearty staples from Omosubi Bar Suzume.

Local celebrity chef/often-shouting TV personality Matty Matheson always has a number of spots opening and closing in Toronto, but if you want to try the delectable smashburgers that made him famous, come here. Called a "burger club," it's a no-frills mostly-take-out spot with single, double, and triple cheeseburgers (or plant-based burgers), milkshakes, and chili cheese fries.

Crowd-pleasing, reliable Italian fare—pizzas, pastas, and a few meaty mains—is the name of the game at this spacious Italian trattoria, part of a small local family of restaurants.

This long-running Greek spot has a loyal local following, thanks to consistently good food, a sizable menu, and friendly service. Classics like fried calamari and horiatiki salads crowned with flavorful feta are here, along with some unusual options like whole quail and—whenever the restaurant can procure them—fried sea smelts flown in from Greeze.

Luxurious takes on diner and brunch classics dominate the seasonally evolving menu at this cute corner eatery. Stop in early for eggs, grab the Angus burger or fish-and-chips at lunch, or dig into pastas and beef tartare at dinner.

This Hawaiian-inspired restaurant and tiki bar is a hip hangout, delicious eatery, and occasional nighttime hot spot. The menu includes pineapple fried rice served in an actual pineapple, poke bowls, and plenty of vegan options (fried "chicken" from its sister takeout spot Lovebird is available). The cocktail menu is big, bright, and sprawling, featuring both old-school drinks and playful tropical creations (some named after Drake songs). A back room, once home to the nightclub Wrongbar, hosts DJ events and parties. 

Mott 32 is the perfect pairing to its host, the luxurious Shangri-La hotel, and Peking-style duck is king at this highly decorated Cantonese eatery. The sought-after birds are sliced and diced tableside, served with smoked applewood skin that you can dip into brown sugar for a unique experience. Fire-engine red hot-and-sour soup dumplings and decadent wild mushroom lettuce cups make for satisfying starters, while adventurous eaters might go for braised whole fish maw or bird's nest soup. 

This hot-pink patisserie is a top destination for Torontonians with a sweet tooth. Long glass cases are filled with French macarons, cakes, and fanciful pastries, as well as savory options like croissant sandwiches and salads, while the walls are lined with a candy shop's worth of sweets (all made in-house). There's delicious espresso, as well as ice cream offered in a second storefront around back.

Founded in 1984, Nami is one of Toronto’s first authentic Japanese restaurants, continuing to serve fresh sushi sourced both locally and from Japan to a dedicated clientele. The kimono-clad servers and cozy wood booths evoke the charm of an older Kyoto. Along with its regular menu, Nami features daily specials and seasonal promotions, ensuring there’s always something new and exciting to try.

A five-minute drive from Clifton Hill, this local joint manages to be both casual and refined. Sit in the back room where exposed-brick columns and black-and-white photos of Naples on the walls set the scene for the southern Italian pasta dishes and thin-crust pizzas. The extensive menu includes 10 pizzas with wafer-thin crusts and generous dollops of tomato sauce, and plenty of pasta dishes and hearty meat dishes to choose from.

Located on a quiet side street, the beloved café is known for its quality coffees, teas, and seasonal, Japanese-inspired fusion pastries. Since opening in 2015, the shop’s beautiful space has seamlessly blended Japanese and Scandinavian design, featuring warm wood finishes, concrete surfaces, and minimalist furniture, earning it design accolades. Beyond its aesthetics, it serves as a cozy, hip community hub with a loyal clientele, thanks to its friendly service and commitment to using high-quality, organic ingredients. Popular menu items include the matcha latte, roll cakes, and a rotating selection of seasonal drinks and pastries. There are several other locations across Toronto.