The Best Restaurant in Toronto, Ontario

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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.

Chiado

$$$$ | Little Italy

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.

864 College St., Toronto, ON, M6H 1A3, Canada
416-538–1910
Known For
  • Excellent grilled seafood
  • Long list of regional Portuguese wines and port
  • Attentive service
Restaurant Details
No lunch weekends

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