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Toronto’s calling card—its ethnic diversity—offers up a potent mix of cuisines. But with that base, the city’s chefs are now pushing into new territory. Gone are the days of chefs gunning for white linen tablecloths; now pop-up vendors such as Fidel Gastro’s Lisa Marie and Seven Lives Tacos Y Mariscos draw a cult following big enough to open up brick-and-mortar locations.
And it’s not enough to have consistently good food: kitchens are pushed to be creative and embrace food trends. Spanish tapas and Korean fusion have replaced French and Thai as the newest crazes in the city and izakayas are out while ramen is in. Farm-to-table shows no sign of slowing down, with many menus citing the source of their meats and produce. While Toronto is still young as a foodie travel destination, it’s drawing in the crowds, or at a minimum world-famous chefs such as Daniel Boulud and David Chang, who have landed in Toronto with Café Boulud and Momofuku. And as locals will tell you, first come the chefs, then come the savvy foodie travelers, always posting a tweet or photo to Instagram at the city’s newest hot spots.
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.
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.
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.
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.
On the fifth floor of the historic Dineen Building, overlooking the Financial District, the Chase's marvelous lighting fixtures, solarium dining room, and floor-to-ceiling windows are a glamorous setting for the surf-and-turf-focused menu. Dishes like Siberian caviar-topped buratta or a chanterelle-topped veal chop are meant for sharing, as are opulent seafood platters layered with shrimp, lobster, and bluefin otoro tuna.
Old-school service meets modernized Portuguese cuisine at this long-standing spot, where waiters bustle past polished wood furnishings and impasto paintings. The menu is built upon exquisitely prepared seafood, including selections sourced from Portugal and the Azores. But there's much for meat eaters, too—like a signature roasted rack of lamb with Douro wine sauce.
Transport yourself to an Old World, intimate Spanish wine cave while dining on highly creative tapas dishes. While the menu is frequently changing—like any tapas bar worth its salt—one can expect the flair of French choux a la crème filled with a salmon-like uni mousse; a scallop ceviche layered with green honeydew, topped with a floral crown; and mainstays like acorn-fed Iberico ham imported from Spain.
On the ground floor of the renovated Anndore House hotel, this sprawling spot's open kitchen turns out varied fare like Middle Eastern mezes, pastas, and gorgeously plated desserts. Grilled meats are great here---especially the lamb burger---but vegetarian options abound.
Actor-turned-baker Craig Pike started this local chain of cookie shops as a small pop-up, but they've since gone viral and then turned ubiquitous throughout the city. The signature is a simple but addictive chocolate chip cookie with a little bit of salt to balance out the sweet, though there are many, many more options in this Church Street location's glass display case. The chocolate chip base becomes a vessel for all sorts of fillings like peanut butter cups, Pop-Tarts, Rice Krispies, chocolate bars like Twix and Toblerone, and, for a cookie-within-a-cookie, Oreo.
On an Ossington strip with plenty of restaurants but not many bakeries, you'll find this veritable mecca of sourdough. The first standalone shop (or "Sourdough Studio") for the bread brand that built a cult following during the pandemic, this shop has a big wall of fresh daily loaves plus pastries, wines, tinned fish, local condiments and spreads, and even picnic boxes with meats and cheeses you can take over to nearby Trinity Bellwoods.
Toronto has its fair share of places that make delicate, thin-crust Neapolitan pizzas, but this is where the locals go to indulge their carb cravings with thick Detroit-style pies cooked in rectangular pans. Go simple with the classic pepperoni, or try an international twist with the Jaffna (a twist on Sri Lankan kothu roti) or a jerk chicken version with pineapple. The pizzas might seem small for the price, but don't let your eyes fool you: they're ridiculously dense.
Much like the museum that houses it, Diwan is an architectural wonder that incorporates walls, ceilings, and hanging lamps salvaged from a 19th-century Damascus merchant's home. The menu reflects the museum's mission by incorporating Middle Eastern, Indian, and Persian cuisine, with seasonal meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes. The use of top-notch (and, when possible, local) ingredients is paramount to executive chef Mark McEwan's mandate.
At this classic Toronto wing joint, crispy flats and drumettes are served with pristine celery sticks and ranch, dill, or blue-cheese dressing (though the menu is not all wings). The "medium" sauce is still fairly hot—but for those truly willing to tempt fate, the options go all the way up to "armageddon."
By day, e11even presents steak-house fare for the downtown business crowd; by night, concertgoers and sports fans slide into wooden booths for a refined meal or nightcap. The menu of North American classics includes savory-sweet maple-glazed bacon, salads flanked with seared tuna, filet mignon, and casual fare like burgers and kosher beef dogs. The wine list is also impressive.
Enter a Middle Eastern paradise where vegans and the health conscious can feast on delicious mock-meat renditions of classics like chicken shawarma and beef kebabs doused in a variety of flavored tahinis, like beet and lemon. Chef Isra re-created her grandmother's Egyptian recipes so faithfully that not even she can tell them apart.
This neighborhood scoop joint, featuring a long list of house-made flavors, is a hot spot for locals and families in the summer months. A second location serves Leslieville at 920 Queen Street East.
Open in one form or another since the 1980s, this neighborhood eatery strives to capture both contemporary and authentic Japanese washoku-style cooking. Think tempura, teriyaki, sushi, sashimi, poke bowls, and creative maki rolls. Hot pots and udon noodle bowls are a great way to warm up in the colder months.
Egg Club’s breakfast sandwiches are hailed as some of the best in the city because of their expertly folded eggs, which are housed in a sweet and soft Japanese milk bread called shokupan. Sandwiches are made in an open kitchen before your eyes and sauces are also created in-house. Add the hash brown to your order to experience a sweet and savory, heavenly potato creation.
Tucked away on a quiet street in Yorkville, this intimate, Michelin-starred spot delivers a world-class tasting menu experience in the heart of Toronto. Chef Quinton Bennett draws on global influences—from Japan to Scandinavia—to craft seasonal blind menus featuring luxury ingredients like Atlantic halibut, Australian wagyu, and chanterelles. For a slightly more accessible option, a lunch tasting is offered on Fridays and Saturdays. Expect elegant plating, discreet service, and an optional whisky pairing from the adjacent Macallan Lounge. Servings are small, but the inventive flavor pairings make a lasting impression.
As much Greek history museum as palace of gastronomy, here you'll find off-duty bankers, wealthy dowagers, and celebratory diners eating amongst enormous amphoras and ancient statues in alabaster surroundings. When you are ready to order, a server will walk you through the seafood market with fish and rare seafood (like deep-sea Carabineros prawns) flown in from Greece and Europe, all priced by the pound. Your seafood can be grilled, baked, or fried. Traditional green vegetables or oven-baked gigantes are recommended as sides. If it's land that suits your fancy, fresh racks of lamb, goat, rabbit, and AAA steaks hang ready for the fire. To finish, house-made yogurts and traditional Greek cakes are a must-try.
Don't let the opulent interior at this busy breakfast spot fool you: the meals here are affordable (and yummy). It's one of the closest brunch restaurants to the Rogers Centre, making it a good place to grab a cup of coffee and some pancakes before an afternoon Jays game.
A hit with locals, this cozy, low-lit spot is Middle Eastern food at its finest. The menu is a love letter to classics like hummus, shawarma, and falafel, with a few novel creations thrown in for good measure.
Located smack in the middle of Kensington Market, locals flock to this highly versatile cultural hub that effortlessly merges brunch restaurant, gelateria, and evening cabaret. The sprawling front and back patio make it an ideal location for soaking in local culture over an umami-rich Japanese omelet and pink sakura latte, or cocktails paired with late-night Latin-themed bites. The choices are truly endless.
