22 Best Restaurants in West Queen West, Ossington, and Parkdale, Toronto

Like the appealingly bare-bones aesthetic of its space (exposed brick, hardwoods, and candlelight), this creative contemporary Pan-Asian bistro offers unadorned dishes that are jammed with flavor. After traveling for a year, chef-owner Tom Thai returned to Toronto with inspiration from Asia, Latin America, and the Mediterranean to produce a menu featuring tapas-style offerings like arctic char ceviche, lamb and duck prosciutto dumplings, and grilled side ribs with a sticky shallot glaze.

The Danforth might be the epicenter of Greek food in Toronto, but across town on trendy Ossington, you'll find some of the city’s best Greek cooking—Aegean to be exact—right here. Diners snack on classic mezes like rich, creamy tzatziki and roasted eggplant before diving into more unusual dishes like lamb tartare or tea-brined chicken. After opening in 2014, it's now a mini-empire of four restaurants, including the nearby Bar Koukla.

The Asian-Jamaican mishmash you see at this hip Dundas West joint is unlike any other in town. The spot is fueled by dishes from chef Craig Wong's Jamaican-Chinese upbringing, with plenty of tropical cocktails to wash it all down.

This hidden Parkdale gem serves up West African dishes rooted in tradition and full of bold, spicy flavor. The jollof rice is rich and fragrant, the fried cauliflower is a party in your mouth, and the miso mafe stew—a plant-based peanut dish with jackfruit and coconut rice—is the perfect balance of creamy, hearty, and satisfying. Don’t forget to wash it all down with an effervescent palm wine.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A neighborhood favorite with serious cult status, this Parkdale sandwich stop punches well above its weight. The tiny space (and even tinier menu) focuses on a handful of craveable classics: the eggy Gold Standard breakfast sandwich, delicious burgers, and vegan-friendly options are all crowd-pleasers. With most items under $10, it’s a budget-friendly gem for breakfast or lunch on the go. Seating is minimal, so plan to stroll with your sandwich in hand.

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.

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. 

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

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.

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. 

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.

Whether you order them baked, fried, or raw, oysters are the thing at this casual neighborhood spot. A chalkboard spells out what's fresh, along with sizing and prices for each, and there is an excellent selection of house-made condiments. The main thing here is obviously the bivalves, but the seafood chowder is also excellent.

This popular take-out joint serves up New York--style pizza by the slice, with a focus on simplicity and quality. Whether you're going for the signature vodka pie with its creamy rosé sauce or sticking with a timeless Margherita, no choice is the wrong choice. It's the perfect spot for a quick, affordable bite. Heads up: seating is scarce, so consider enjoying your pizza on a nearby park bench.

Authentic thin-crust pizzas are fired in an imported wood-burning oven at this pizza joint that adheres to the rules set by Naples's pizza authority. Go classic with the Margherita D.O.P.—with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh basil, and fior di latte mozzarella—or branch out with nduja (spicy salami) or duck confit pies.

In a city filled with independent "third wave" coffee bars, competition-trained espresso guru Sam James is a pioneer of lovingly made cappuccinos and lattes. The big, open, black-and-white styled Parkdale shop is filled with friendly local characters, a laid-back vibe, and an on-site bakery with freshly baked bread and pastries.

Time seems to slow down at the Skyline, a classic old-school diner that's become a neighborhood hangout for tattooed youngsters and longtime Parkdale characters alike. Club sandwiches, patty melt burgers, and homemade pies make you feel like you're in a 1960s time machine, but long lines for brunch re-root you in present-day Toronto. Since finding new ownership in 2016, it's also found life as a popular spot for pints of Canadian craft beer after dark, and weekly trivia nights.

This Malaysian street food spot is a hidden gem on the busy Ossington strip. There are a variety of sharing-style plates like kapitan chicken tacos, rendang beef, and delicious stuffed roti---but a popular option is the "feed me" tasting menu. The once-separate vegan concept Fat Choi is now incorporated into the regular menu, so there are plenty of plant-based options as well.