Last year, I created a list of the best restaurants in Toronto.
I’m changing it up this year with a where to eat and what to order in Toronto!
This food guide lists must-try eats and drinks from some of the best and new restaurants in Toronto including hidden gems, cafes and more. Let the food tripping begin!
Travelling Foodie Tip: Follow me on Instagram (@TravellinFoodie) for the most up-to-date posts on food!
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Adamson Barbecue
Website / Address: 176 Wicksteed Ave, East York, ON M4G 2B6
Brisket ($25/lb)
Comments: My top spot for BBQ! The brisket here is my favourite in the city and the closest I found to Texas BBQ.
Alchemy Coffee
Website / Address: 4361 Hwy 7, Unionville, ON L3R 1M1
Chicken and Waffles ($15.5) : Crispy chicken with spicy sauce, house salad
Comments: Big portions of waffles and fried chicken. The chicken is really tender and juicy!
Bar Raval
Website / Address: 505 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1A4
Steak & Onions ($19.75)
Comments: A most flavourful combination
Bar Reyna
Website / Address: 158 Cumberland St, Toronto, ON M5R 1A8
Lamb Shank Baklava ($10) : kataifi, lamb shank, saffron & burnt honey aioli
Comments: One of my favorites at Toronto Taste 2017.
Bella’s Lechon
Website / Address: 1145 Morningside Ave #17&18, Scarborough, ON M1B 0A7
Pork Sisig ($11)
Comments: It’s really the best pork sisig in Toronto! I also love the fact that they include the egg (for ala carte) without paying extra.
Benihana
Website / Address: 100 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5J 1E3
Shogun Feast ($72/$88) : Chateaubriand 8oz/10oz with Lobster Tail
Comments: Delicious surf and turf cooked right in front of you with a show!
Brothers
Website / Address: 1240 Bay St, Toronto, ON M5R 2A7
Sweetbreads ($24) : with savoy, apple, taragon
Comments: Check out my review of Brothers Food & Drink.
Bulldog Coffee
Website / Address: 111 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5H 2G4
Rainbow Latte ($6)
Comments: My favourite latte and barista!
Cacao 70
Website / Address: 300 Borough Dr, Toronto, ON M1P4P5
Black Sesame Dipped Vanilla Ice Cream Cone ($5.25)
Comments: It’s not common to find black sesame dipped ice cream. The one here has a strong black sesame taste that I love.
Cakeview Bakery and Café
Address: 4188 Finch Ave E, Scarborough, ON M1S 5C2
Ham and Egg Pineapple Bun
Comments: Sometimes the simple things are the best things, and this ham and egg pineapple bun hit the spot.
Canis
Website / Address: 746 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1E9, Toronto, ON M6J 1E9
Tasting Menu ($88) : 8-course tasting menu
Comments: One of Toronto’s best tasting menu restaurant! Check out my review of Canis.
CC Lounge
Website / Address: 45 Front St E, Toronto, ON M5E 1B3
Whiskey Sour ($12) : 2oz J.p. Wiser’s Deluxe, Fresh Lime Juice, Simple Syrup, Shaken With Egg Whites, Topped With Red Wine
Comments: The best place for whisky sour!
Chaplus Bubble Tea
Website / Address: 505 Hwy 7 E, Unit A1, Markham, ON L3T 7P6
Sesame Bubble Waffle ($4.9 (waffle) + $2 (black sesame ice cream))
Comments: Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside and with roasted white sesame
Cheese Garden
Website / Address: 5291 Yonge St, North York, ON M2N 5R3
Baked Cheese Tart ($8.75) : Freshly baked, plump cheese tart with molten cheese
Comments: My favourite cheese tart in the city
Congee Queen
Website / Address: 895 Lawrence Ave E #8, North York, ON M3C 3L2
Fried Chili Turnip Patties ($9.25)
Comments: It sounds simple, but it’s highly addicting
Congee Wong
Website / Address: 10 Ravel Rd, North York, ON M2H 1S8
Spice & Papper Salt Squid ($11.5)
Comments: I always get this here!
Daldongnae
Website / Address: 6034 Yonge St, North York, ON M2M 3W5
Beef Short Plate ($18.99)
Comments: Best of all, everything around the meat in this photo is all you can eat! That includes the cheese corn 🧀🌽
Enat Buna
Website / Address: 175 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M5A 1S2
Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony ($10) : For two people. Served with popcorn.
Comments: A must-try experience for coffee lovers
Enat Buna
Website / Address: 175 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M5A 1S2
Beg Tibs ($12.95) : lamb with onion, tomato, jalapeño, green and red peppers, and Ethiopian spices
Comments: The spicy sauce and Ethiopian spices makes the tender lamb very flavourful
Eva’s Original Chimneys
Website / Address: 454 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1X8
Matcha Crunch Cone ($9.75) : house-made matcha sauce, layered with Matcha KitKat crumble and a piece of Matcha KitKat
Comments: Perfect for matcha lovers like me
Fat Ninja Bite
Website / Address: 3517 Kennedy Rd, Scarborough, ON M1V 4S4
Chicken Katsu (Dark Meat) ($9.5)
Comments: Check out my review of Fat Ninja Bite.
Fishman Lobster Clubhouse
Website / Address: 680 Silver Star Blvd, Scarborough, ON M1V 4S5
Lobster Mountain in H.K. Style ($16.99/lb) : with fried anchovies and garlic
Comments: A must for lobsters! …and for your instagram!
Good Taste Casserole
Address: 8392 Kennedy Rd A9, Unionville, ON L3R 0W4
Casserole Rice (~$10.99)
Comments: Delicious comfort food with huge portions at such a good price! It’s not common to find this in Toronto too.
Gyubee
Website / Address: 7100 Woodbine Ave #100, Markham, ON L3R 5J2
All-you-can-eat Japanese BBQ ($19.99 Lunch)
Comments: For some grilled meat sweats
H2 Kitchen
Website / Address: 204 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 1Z2
Hokkaido Dive ($17.95) : Uni Tuna Poke, Limited to 20 Orders/Day: 1 piece of Uni (Sea Urchin), Ahi Tuna, Black Cavier, Corn, Edamame, Crab Meat, Carrot Spiral, Beet Spiral, Golden Beet Spiral, Cucumber, Cherry Tomato, Red Onion Slice, Seaweed Salad, 1 piece of Baby Scallop
Comments: Uni and caviar on your poke makes it even better!
Hollywood Gelato
Website / Address: 1640 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4G 3B7
Rocky Rocher ($5.50 (Small))
Comments: One of the better places up town for gelato. If you love hazelnut or ferrero rocher, you’ll love this!
Holy Cannoli
Website / Address: Festivals/Events/Partner Restaurants
Cannoli ($2-$6 depending on size)
Comments: Best cannolis in the city
Home of Hot Taste
Website / Address: 5 Glen Cameron Rd #3B, Thornhill, ON L3T 5W2
Wings with Five Flavours ($20 (Large)) : dry crispy with five spice
Comments: I found they have the best Korean chicken wings (boned).
Hot Black Coffee
Website / Address: 245 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1Z4
Coffee
Comments: Another go-to for coffee. No wi-fi on the café to encourage customers to connect with one another instead of their phones.
Istanbul Café
Website / Address: 174 Eglinton Ave E, Toronto, ON M4P 1A6
Turkish Coffee ($4) : Comes with two pieces of turkish delight
Comments: Another coffee experience for coffee lovers: very finely ground beans are mixed with cold water then served just before boiling when it begins to froth.
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Jatujak
Website / Address: 1744 Victoria Park Ave, North York, ON M1R 1R4
Gaeng Panang ($12.95) : Red panang with peanut, basil, red & green peppers and kaffir lime leaves
Comments: You don’t find a lot of panang curry in the city. The curry was very flavourful that I was drinking it like a soup in the end. Price is very reasonable and portions are good.
Katsuya
Website / Address: 6048 Yonge St, North York, ON M2M 3W5
Cheese Katsu Curry ($15.75) : Traditional Japanese style curry made with braised onion and chicken broth
Kiin
Website / Address: 326 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1R3
Khao Yum ข้าวยำ ($24) : Jasmine rice with white turmeric, long beans, lemongrass, sawtooth coriander, kaffir lime leaves, cucumber, toasted coconut, pomelo, fried chilli, sunflower sprouts, edible flowers, tamarind and soy bean sauce
Comments: Probably the prettiest and most delicious rice dish you’ll find.
Kiin
Website / Address: 326 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1R3
Yum Tua Plu ยำถั่วพลูู ($15) : Blanched wing beans, chilli shrimp paste, toasted coconut, peanut, soft boiled duck egg
Comments: Very rare to find wing beans in restaurants. And this one was so good and flavourful with the chili shrimp paste when combined with the duck egg.
Konjiki
Website / Address: 5051 Yonge St, North York, ON M2N 5P2
Signature Clam Broth Ramen ($14) : with full-bodied clam, shellfish, chicken & pork clear soup base
Comments: Check out my review of Konjiki.
La Chilaca Taqueria
Website / Address: 214 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2L8
Chorizo Taco ($3)
Comments: Homemade and full of flavour. As you can see, portions are generous with the chorizo taking half the taco when folded. Their homemade sauces are a must-try too especially the spicy one!
La Palma
Website / Address: 849 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1V5
Opel Valley Lamb Chops ($26) : yogurt tahini, preserved lemon and dill
Comments: Tender and juicy lamb chops. You’ll want to smear the lamb with the yogurt tahini.
Lai Wah Heen
Website / Address: 108 Chestnut St, Toronto, ON M5G 1R3
Crispy Foie Gras & minced chicken wonton ($12) : in clear truffle consommé
Comments: You can’t go to regular fried wontons after this
Little Pebbles
Website / Address: 160 Baldwin St. Store #4, Toronto, ON M5T 3K7
Matcha Daqouise ($3.75)
Comments: It’s like macaron, but with almond meringue!
Meet Fresh
Website / Address: 5315 Yonge St, North York, ON M2N 5R4
Meet Fresh Signature ($8.7) : Herbal Jelly+Herbal Blended Ice+Taro Ball
Comments: They have the best grass jelly and taro balls
Menya Fuji
Website / Address: 3 Finch Ave E, North York, ON M2N
Chicken Karaage ($4.9) : Can be ordered as spicy
Comments: The best chicken karaage, and the biggest pieces too!
Mildred’s Temple Kitchen
Website / Address: 85 Hanna Ave, Toronto, ON M6K 3S3
Mrs. Biederhof’s Blueberry
Buttermilk Pancakes ($16) : served with a wild blueberry compote, Lanark County maple syrup & whipped cream
Comments: The best pancakes in the city
Mos Mos Coffee
Website / Address: 25 King St W, Toronto, ON M5L 2A1
Mango Chai Latte ($4.87 (Large))
Comments: Hard to describe. But everyone I’d recommended this too has been addicted to it.
Mymy Chicken
Website / Address: 9 Spring Garden Ave, North York, ON M2N 3G1
Curry Boneless Korean Fried Chicken ($29)
Comments: I find they have the best boneless Korean Fried Chicken. I love the curry flavour because it is dry curry, and you don’t see this flavour in other places.
Olde Yorke Fish & Chips
Website / Address: 96 Laird Dr, East York, ON M4G 3V3
Fish & Chips ($13+)
Comments: Check out my review of Olde Yorke.
Olde Yorke Fish & Chips
Website / Address: 96 Laird Dr, East York, ON M4G 3V3
Onion Rings ($5.25)
Otto’s Bierhalle
Website / Address: 1087 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1H3
Schweinshaxe ($29) : Roasted Crispy Pork Hock
Comments: Good to share. Crispy skin with tender meat. Great with beer!
Peking Duck Kitchen
Website / Address: 1 Glen Watford Dr, Scarborough, ON M1S 2B7
Peking Duck ($39.99) : includes: Scallions, Sweet Paste, Pancake sheets & Cucumber
Comments: My favourite place for Peking Duck
Petit Potato
Website / Address: 10 Ravel Rd #1-2, North York, ON M2H 1S8
Special Teppan Pepper Rice with Sliced Beef ($9.99) : with fried egg (+$1.50)
Comments: They have the best version of this. Adding the egg makes a big difference.
Petit Potato
Website / Address: 10 Ravel Rd #1-2, North York, ON M2H 1S8
Red Bean Matcha Special Golden Toast ($16.99) : french honey golden toast
Comments: The matcha was surprisingly strong which I love. I also like the fact that it’s not sweet.
Pi Co
Website / Address: 1200 Bay St #4, Toronto, ON M5R 2A5
Neapolitan Pizza ($13) : Craft yours with unlimited toppings
Comments: For lovers of Neapolitan Pizza, you’ll want to try this! Unlimited toppings with a good variety. Please don’t compare it to Blaze Pizza, but to other Italian restaurants.
Richmond Station
Website / Address: 1 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5H 3W4
Station Burger ($22) : lettuce, beet chutney, aged cheddar, milk bun, rosemary fries, dill pickle, garlic aioli
Comments: The best gourmet burger in the city
Roll N Bowl
Website / Address: 1157 Ellesmere Rd, Scarborough, ON M1P 2X6
Legend Spider Maki Roll ($15.95) : 9pcs, Spicy Scallop on Spider Roll with dried shrimp powder
Comments: This is such a great maki roll! They are big pieces so it’s actually quite filling.
Saryo Café
Website / Address: 5051 Yonge St, North York, ON M2N 5P2
Uji Matcha Rare Cheesecake ($5.5) : with red bean
Comments: Check out my review of Saryo Cafe.
Tendou Matcha
Website / Address: 3621 York Regional Rd 7, Markham, ON L3R 0G6
Matcha Softserve ($4-6.50)
Comments: If you love strong matcha taste, you’ll love the matcha softserve here. You taste more umami matcha than sweet.
The Cups
Website / Address: 3235 Hwy 7, Markham, ON L3R 3P3
Injeolmi Bingsu ($11 (Large))
Comments: My favorite bingsu is Injeolmi (Korean rice cake) – so simple but soooo good! I find The Cups serves the best one.
The Pho Restaurant
Website / Address: 11 Fairburn Dr Unit 16-17, Markham, ON L6G 0A4
Canh Ga Chien Bo ($8.5) : Deep Fried Chicken Wings with Butter Sauce
Comments: That butter sauce makes all the difference!
Tinuno
Website / Address: 31 Howard St, Toronto, ON M4X 1J6
Kamayan ($15) : shrimp, mussel, squid, grilled pork belly, pork bbq skewer, and two kinds of fish on a bed of rice
Comments: The best kamayan (in regards to the food) in the city! You’ll need to make reservations to be sure.
Xin Jiang Restaurant 西域食府
Address: 3330 Pharmacy Ave, Scarborough, ON M1W 3V8
Xin Jiang Lamb Skewer ($2.49, or $1.49 with VIP card)
Comments: This Northern Chinese restaurant serves my favorite lamb skewers in Toronto!
Zen Japanese Restaurant
Website / Address: 7634 Woodbine Ave, Markham, ON L3R 2N2
Seared Ocean Trout Sushi ($9.5)
Comments: Check out my review of Zen.
Hope this food guide helps you decide where to eat in Toronto! I’m always eating around the city and would love to hear your recommendations.
Let me know where you find are the best restaurants in Toronto and what I should eat/drink there. Thanks!
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