The 27 Best Restaurants in Toronto
As one of North America’s most sprawling, mega-diverse megalopolises, Toronto evades categorization. In other cities, you have a general idea of what’s going to be on the menu when you go out to dinner–French food in Paris, Japanese in Tokyo, so forth. But largest city manages to remain a moving target. Some would say its strong suit is the diversity of cuisines; others would point out the Canadian influence across all categories, which emphasizes foraged ingredients and provincially sourced meats and produce. The bottom line? Here in The Six, you've got a lot of choices. From world-class omakase to approachable ramen joints, greasy-spoon institutions to glossy outposts in tony Yorkville, you will find that this food scene truly has something for everyone. Read on for our picks for the best restaurants in Toronto.
Read our full Toronto travel guide here, which includes:
Every restaurant on this list has been selected independently by Condé Nast Traveler editors and reviewed by a local contributor who has visited that restaurant. Our editors consider both high-end and affordable eateries, and weigh stand-out dishes, location, and service—as well as inclusivity and sustainability credentials. We update this list as new restaurants open and existing ones evolve. This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
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Scarlet O'Neill/Lake InezrestaurantLake Inez
$$$Leave the touristy crowds behind and make your way over to Little India in the east end, where this beloved gastropub offers up eclectic share plates and a next-level selection of funky and fabulous wines and craft beers. There are no rules on this eclectic menu, which skews pan-Asian but truthfully includes influences from all over. There are some beautiful sharing plates on offer, including homemade egg noodles tossed in black bean sauce and finished with crispy enoki mushrooms and pickled greens, or mussels braised in a Filipino sinigang sauce and topped with hot chilis and pork cracklings. To take your experience to the next level, try and make a reservation for the Mystery Patio, a covered space out back that offers an even more amped-up tasting menu experience. Reservations can be tough to come by, but it’s worth it.
Roberto CarusorestaurantOji Seichi
$$Ramen seems pretty straightforward, but has a number of moving parts—all of which Oji Seichi nails. Toronto's multitude of foodies have largely followed Chef Mitch Bates from Momofuku, to Grey Gardens, and finally to here, an intimate space located in the city's East Chinatown (not to be confused with the main Chinatown), where Bates offers up his own take on the beloved soupy, noodley dish. Ramen seems pretty straightforward, but has a number of moving parts—all of which Oji Seichi nails. The broth is rich without being oily, the produce is fresh and local, the meats (and portobellos, for the vegetarian option) are perfectly tender and not tough or rubbery, and the noodles—the noodles!—are made from top-notch Canadian wheat, and pulled in-house on a special machine flown-in from Japan. While ramen does—and should—take center stage, there's also an excellent menu of "sandys'' on offer. And if you've saved room for dessert, ask if there's Coco Kasu Pie available.
Courtesy Canoe Restaurant & BarrestaurantCanoe Restaurant and Bar
$$$Canoe has the best view in Toronto: CN Tower standing to one side, planes landing at City Airport to another, and Toronto's glittering skyline sprawling beyond the horizon. And yes, the food here is just as good as the real estate. The menu at Canoe is an adventurous, surprising, and just-plain-delicious celebration of flavors and ingredients from across Canada. You'll find foie gras from Quebec, the flakiest fresh Pacific fish, and fine Ontario produce and dairy. Start with either the Ontario burrata with birch-pickled cucumbers and prairie seeds or the Quebec foie gras with rhubarb, pink peppercorn, and sumac meringue. The tea-smoked duck breast, which is served with duck-liver mousse, parsnip, and poached Niagara pear, is sublime. Service feels just as top-notch—glasses are filled, tables are de-crumbed, and cutlery is replaced so fast you'll hardly even notice.
Cris Cantón/GettyrestaurantSotto Sotto
$$People come for the food but can't ignore the cachet; after all, famous past patrons include Justin Bieber, Jon Hamm, Blake Lively, and Drake. Sotto Sotto's Italian cooking is flavorful and filling, but it may not impress food-lovers accustomed to more inventive menus—in some ways being at this restaurant is more important than eating at this restaurant. That said, the seafood risotto (which takes about 40 minutes to prepare) is incredible. And the wine list, dominated by super Tuscans along with a couple of frizzy Franciacortas has a lot of quality, if pricey offerings. Sotto Sotto is a see-and-be-seen spot that will impress anyone you're with, and if you show up during the Toronto International Film Festival you could very well be seated next to an A-lister.
Richmond StationrestaurantRichmond Station
$$Richmond Station is a neighborhood restaurant that still manages to be elegant. A giant circular window lets in natural light during the day and creates a buzzy glow at night. The space is fitted with dark wood floors, a row of sleek banquettes, and a showstopper of a bar. And although the menu is on the shorter side, all of the dishes are thoughtful, flavorful, and unpretentious. If you're unsure where to start, the tasting menu from “Top Chef Canada” winner Carl Heinrich—humbly billed as "Let us cook for you"—is a good choice. Be sure to ask for the chilled asparagus soup and the slow-cooked black cod, which is served with coco blanco beans, red pepper rouille, sourdough, and tomato salsa. No pretenses—just good food.
Alexander Spatari/GettyrestaurantQuetzal
$$$When you’re tired of the same old, same old, head to Quetzal—a sleek, contemporary space offering up sleek, contemporary Mexican. Quetzal is known for its excellent, high-quality fare that offers an authentic, modern take on Mexican cuisine. This is a crowd that appreciates details, such as house made salsas and perfectly-seasoned, slow-cooked lamb barbacoa. A stunning 24-foot open flame grill anchors the open kitchen, as well as a large, traditional comal oven for handmade, fresh tortillas. Seafoods are especially good here, such as the Bone Marrow & Wild Argentinian Shrimp drizzled in Padilla and Ontario wild flower honey glaze, or the Octopus glazed with corn miso—perfectly charred, delicate, and seasoned just right. The drinks list of Mexican-inflected cocktails and hard-to-find Mexican beers makes a beautiful complement to the menu’s bombastic flavors. Come here if you're looking to indulge in the best Mexican flavors you'll find in The Six.
Courtesy Bar RavalbarBar Raval
Toronto's in-the-know food obsessives clamor for tables at Bar Raval, a warm and bustling joint known for its stellar tapas and pintxos. If the dining room feels like something out of Barcelona, owners Grant van Gameren and Robin Goodfellow has done their jobs; after all, they used Raval, a neighborhood in the Spanish city, as inspiration for the sexy vibe and colorful decor. This is a tapas and pintxos menu, so be prepared to order lots of stuff and share it. The house-smoked mussels with chili and fennel are an addictive must-try, as is the pancetta with rhubarb. There are also straightforward, classic dishes such as plates of excellent manchego and Serrano ham. The cocktail list is also good, with creative concoctions paired with clever menu descriptions. Into The Sun—"This tangy gin cocktail will undoubtedly, absolutely, unequivocally stop you from getting burned by the sun"—combines Beefeater, lemon, honey, sherry, housemade aquavit, apricot, and celery.
Alix CritchleyrestaurantGrey Gardens
$$Grey Gardens lives up to its bohemian-luxe address in Kensington Market; it's just vintage enough without feeling dowdy. Part wine bar and part restaurant, Grey Gardens has small snacks, medium, and full-sized plates. There's an emphasis on seafood here, with standouts including sweet shrimp with compressed watermelon radishes. But don't leave without trying the dry-aged Peking-style duck breast, which is served on homemade sauerkraut and duck fried rice. The real joy here is the wine list, which is stocked with everything from hard-to-find and private-order bottles to biodynamic selections, organic Burgundies, and orange wines. Luckily for neophytes, the menu offers easy-to-understand tasting notes. Pop in for a glass of rare Sauternes and a snack after work (no reservations required), or come with a friend to linger over dinner in the back dining room (reservations only).
restaurantLaylak
$$$This haute Lebanese spot offers a refreshing take on the classic power lunch. Toronto’s Financial District isn’t necessarily known as a bustling hot spot for anything other than over-priced restaurants catering to the expense-account set, but this elegant dining room offers up fresh, flavorful, and refined Mediterranean fare. The mohamarah (a stunning dip of fire-roasted red peppers, Aleppo pepper, and walnut) comes with a warm, pillowy pile of house made pita; robust mains are no less impressive, including the aromatic and hugely flavorful tenderloin of beef served with hummus and a succulent pomegranate glaze. There are also some great vegetarian options on offer, like warm halloumi cheese rolls and a stunning cauliflower tajin. The cherry on top? A wine list that emphasizes Lebanese varietals—solidifying this spot as a compelling reason to venture downtown for something new.
Courtesy Gusto 101restaurantGusto 101
$The most striking thing about Gusto 101 isn't the fact that it's located in a former auto body shop—it's that the space actually feels cozy and convivial. The restaurant delivers crowd pleasing Southern Italian classics, including a near-perfect rendition of cacio e pepe. Grilled entrees are also exceptional, especially the branzino, which is served with escarole, cannellini beans, and a lemony, garlicky salmoriglio sauce. Daily specials are also worth checking out; the Saturday Cumbria Cowboy steak for two and the Sunday lasagna (with fennel sausage ragu) have both achieved cult-classic status in the neighborhood. And you won't need happy hour here thanks to the six ounce house wine for $3 special—a real bargain in this area. The list is heavy on good Italian bottles. A small cocktail menu consists of Italian-inspired drinks such as the Cialda, a potent mix of bourbon, spiced pear, Frangelico, walnut syrup, and lemon.
Courtesy Alo RestaurantrestaurantAlo Restaurant
$$$The corner of Queen and Spadina was never the most posh or interesting address in Toronto, so when chef Patrick Kriss announced he would open a restaurant on the third floor of a historic Victorian building there, local foodies were skeptical. Once Alo opened in 2015 with high-concept, French-inflected cuisine, it soon topped critics' choice lists around the world and Kriss' naysayers became believers. This tasting menu restaurant spins ingredients and flavors from around the world into haute cuisine prepared with classic French techniques. The menu changes with the seasons; but a year-round signature is the 30-day dry-aged rack of lamb. The cocktail list consists of house concoctions and classic favorites both, and every single piece of ice is chipped by hand. Alo also has one of the most extraordinary wine programs in Canada, with pricey cult favorites, approachable bottles, and everything in between. Chat with the sommelier to find just the right pour, or just opt for a pairing.
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Dreyfus
$$Toronto's foodies clamber over each other for a reservation at Dreyfus, which is nestled into a Victorian townhouse on Harbord Street. The 30-seat restaurant provides a transportive experience that feels part French bistro and part Montreal house party. As soon as you take your seat, order a few of the small plates to share as you contemplate your mains. The croque cubano, which mixes rye, béchamel, and a generous sliced pickle with confit pork shoulder, is a sassy update to the classic French croque monsieur. Crispy, deep-fried dauphine potatoes come filled with a crème fraîche mixed with trout roe. For mains, people rave about the buttery tagliatelle served with British Columbia mushrooms and shavings of mimolette, a traditional French hard cheese. The vibe is right, the crowd is cool, the food is French without the fuss, and it's hard to think of a better date night spot in Toronto right now.
Stacey BrandfordrestaurantChubby's Jamaican Kitchen
$This is the best place in Toronto for Jamaican food. The papaya-avocado salad is a nice way to start any meal, and the salty fish fritters (served with mango salsa) should not be missed. There are great burgers and coconut-crusted fish, but the main event here is the jerk chicken, which takes four days to prepare. Each bird is brined for 24 hours, dry-rubbed, laced with scotch bonnet peppers, and left to dry before getting barbecued over maple wood. Save room for dessert, if possible; the passion fruit and coconut cream pie is a cool, creamy counterpoint to the jerk's satisfying heat. Come here whenever you get a hankering for a good, spicy hunk of meat—especially during those long, chilly Canadian winters.
Courtesy Curryish TavernrestaurantCurryish Tavern
$$Chef Miheere Shete took a risk in opening this pseudo-Indian restaurant, whose menu has a certain “-ish factor,” as he puts it. Think of it less as a fusion spot and more of an evolution of Indian cuisine, where flavors and techniques from the subcontinent lend themselves to seasonal Canadian ingredients. The confit duck leg, for example, comes spiced with Maharashtrian goda masala, a foie gras curry and pickled grapes. In a city with absolutely no shortage of fantastic Indian cuisine, Curryish Tarvern’s new proposition stands out, making it a destination dining spot for local and visiting foodies alike. As mentioned, it's difficult in a city like Toronto to pinpoint just one (or even just ten) excellent Indian restaurants, but this one feels singular—like a destination in its own right. If you're interested how Indian flavors and techniques can adapt to seasonally-driven Canadian ingredients, this one is a must try.
Lakeview DinerrestaurantThe Lakeview Restaurant
$Stepping into The Lakeview is like stepping into the Toronto of the past. A long, narrow space lined with vinyl banquettes and a bar with round seats, this 24-hour diner has been serving up all-day breakfast, potent Caesars and greasy spoon favorites since 1932. For a greasy spoon, The Lakeview's menu is refreshingly non-greasy, and offers all the classic diner favorites with a few off-beat additions. For instance, you can order a classic Eggs Benedict, or you can opt for the Chicken N'Waffle Benedict, a glorious pile of waffles, crispy cornflake fried chicken, and rivers of hollandaise and authentic maple syrup. The thick-cut Beefeater Onion Rings are a go-to for anytime of day or night (but especially night), and the Deep-Fried Mars Bar served á la mode is every bit the indulgence you'd hope it would be.
Oscar Wong/GettyrestaurantSushi Masaki Saito
$$$People come far and wide to sample Masaki Saito's cuisine, and if sushi is your jam, then you won't be disappointed. The restaurant's eponymous chef-owner made headlines in 2019 when he decamped from his two Michelin-star (also eponymous) Manhattan location to set up shop in Toronto. And while reservations are exceedingly difficult to come by, and the price on Saito's omakase menu is nothing short of eye watering (at $680 per person), the experience is nothing short of transcendent—if you can get a table. Chef Saito's specialty is Edomae sushi, which explores not only fresh raw fish, but also aged fish. For some preparations, he wraps fish in pieces of fresh kombu kelp he's flown in from Hokkaido. He’s also put together a brilliant list of imported sakes, including rare and sparkling sakes you won't find literally anywhere else in the world outside of Japan.
Courtesy Daniel NeuhausrestaurantPrime Seafood Palace
$$$Think of Canadian celebrity chef (most recently of The Bear) Matty Matheson’s Queen West restaurant as a luxe, contemporary take on a classic surf and turf house. The menu oozes with luxurious touches such as a halibut filet drenched in an eye-popping beurre blanc with orange trout roe, and more caviar than you could shake a mother-of-pearl spoon at. But don’t be distracted by the Wagyu steaks and over-the-top flourishes, because the details are where chef Matheson really sings. A local stracciatella covered with painstakingly aligned slivers of white asparagus and topped with ember-grilled squid requires the type of precision and vision of a chef who is so much more than just a hype master. Come for the classics, stay for the unexpected twists. A trip to the Prime Seafood Palace will cost you, but everything about this place looks, tastes, and feels oh-so-indulgent.
GettyrestaurantRol San Restaurant
$$White plastic tablecloths, neon window signs, and a no-fuss atmosphere? A Kensington Market hole-in-the-wall like Rol San doesn’t merely stay in business for thirty years without being excellent. The reliability of all-day dim sum and late night hours on weekends make this a go-to for those in search of Chinese classics. It's not fancy, but it's real. The crispy beef in ginger honey sauce, the General Tso's chicken, the piles on piles of perfectly dense rice, the house made hot chili sauce—it's a symphony of flavors, all prepared to perfection. The staff here are maestros of keeping the dining room moving. Plates come flying out of the kitchen with speed and precision. Torontonians have high standards when it comes to Chinese food, and Rol San's 30 years in business are testament that they not only meet, but set those standards.
Victoria BazanrestaurantHonest Weight
$Located in the Junction, Honest Weight feels a bit like a quintessential New England seafood joint. Helmed by four of the city's noted seafood chefs, the restaurant takes its fish seriously, and Torontonians will cross the city just to get their fix. There's always something a little unexpected and rare to try, like house-steamed cockles or Azorean limpet clams. Grilled squid served atop romesco is a favorite, as is the fish sandwich. The drink menu offers homemade sodas—including blood orange, which goes great with briny fish—and a limited, straightforward wine list consisting of a red, a white, a sparkling, and a couple of craft beers. Diehard seafood enthusiasts should have lunch or dinner at Honest Weight. The food here is as satisfying as it gets.
GettyrestaurantJacobs & Co. Steakhouse
$$$It’s almost unfair to call this institution a mere restaurant–it’s more like a temple to the fine art of meat. Steaks are the name of the game here (there’s an entire menu dedicated to all the various cuts on offer), and Jacobs & Co. is known for offering up some of the finest meats in the world: from true A5 Japanese Wagyu, to decadent dry-aged porterhouses dry-aged for an astonishing 210 days, to some of the finest home-grown Canadian steaks, too. The sides, like duck fat French fries? No less decadent. The wines, with best-in-class bottles from around the world? Enough to make an oenophile blush. Combine all of that with an elegant ambiance, top-notch service, and the sound of piano music drifting over from a dignified bar area–and it’s easy to see what all the fuss is about.
GettyrestaurantFamiglia Baldassarre
$$If you're looking for authentic Italian pastas prepared with recipes passed down for generations, check this place out. Famiglia Baldessare is a small-scale factory for handmade pastas, and includes a number of Toronto's favorite restaurants as clients—except from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays when the shop opens a small lunch counter where pasta fanatics line up to indulge in the city's best handmade pastas. This lunch counter is something of a mirage that pops out of an otherwise industrial setting. It offers a rotating menu, usually with a shape of the day prepared in two different ways—such as cavatelli with broccoli rabe and pecorino, or cavatelli with homemade sausage—as well as a burrata starter, a basic salad and perhaps a crudo. Waiting in line for a pasta lunch here is a rite of passage in the city's foodie scene, and an unmissable experience that's absolutely worth the wait.
Courtesy BarorestaurantBaro
$$Although Toronto's King West has been known for its buzzy nightlife and a rowdy club scene for a few years now, Baro proves that, yes, the area also offers high-quality restaurants. Plates are Latin with Asian influences; the Ceviche de Atún made with yellowfin tuna, coconut lime sauce and cilantro oil, is out of this world. Other standouts include the half roasted Pollo Asado with aji panca, chimichurri and finger-licking guava barbeque chicken jus, and the OG Duck Chaufa, duck confit rice prepared tableside with edamame, egg, corn, chili, and flying fish roe. The restaurant can get pretty hectic, especially at the bar and up on the rooftop patio, so don't expect to be in and out for a quick meal. That said, staff ensures there's always another mezcalita coming your way.
Rick O'BrienrestaurantGiulietta
$$Imagine a quintessential red sauce Italian joint—Giulietta is the polar opposite of that. Canadian chef Rob Rossi's highly sophisticated, pan-Italian restaurant offers a refined approach, with none of the clichés that have pervaded so many other Italian hotspots in recent years. In other words, don't expect to find any burrata on the menu here. It presents one of the finest expressions of Italian cuisine you'll find in Toronto. Handcrafted pastas are a hit—see the campanelle al ragu, and the flawless tonnarelli cacio e pepe—as are the wood-fired pizzas. The namesake Giulietta, a thin-cruster, comes with pistachios, lardo, cream, and smoked scamorza—it's decadent and fantastic. The staff allows the food to take center stage. They're there when you need them, and gone when you don't. The refined interiors and elegant Italian dishes make Giulietta feel like a special-occasion restaurant.
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Alder
$$It shouldn’t come as a surprise that this restaurant is a bit of a scene: It’s run by renowned local chef Patrick Kriss (of Alo Restaurant), and it’s part of the Ace Hotel, which opened in 2022. That being said, don’t mistake this for some forgettable see-and-be-seen spot, or just another nondescript hotel restaurant. In the relatively short time it’s been open, Alder has ensconced itself as a neighborhood fixture and local favorite, attracting some of Toronto’s coolest residents with its sleek design (think soaring concrete and polished wood) and Mediterranean menu (which benefits from a wood-fired grill). Come here in a group, order some shareable plates for the table (the potato flatbread is a highlight), pout over an Ace Martini, and you’ll be blending in with the Torontonians in no time.
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Mimi Chinese
$$$Any restaurant that has a four-foot-long belt noodle that comes with its own pair of scissors on the menu immediately has our attention. But don’t worry, Mimi Chinese doesn’t rely on gimmicks or stereotypes. (That being said, there is a cocktail that comes in a panda-shaped vessel… but stay with us, here.) The menu, which pulls some of the most authentic and iconic flavors and techniques from across (mostly Southern) China, has quickly become one of Toronto’s favorite scenes for authentic Chinese food: a Smacked Cucumber Salad bursting with flavor, Sichuan-style Hidden Crispy Chicken that comes under a mound of 100 peppers, and a shrimp toast on fried bread with spicy mayo that, in itself, is worth booking a table here. Everything about this beautiful boîte feels like a special occasion, and Toronto’s robust, excellent Chinese food scene is all the better for it.
Courtesy Louix_LouisrestaurantLouix Louis
The soaring walls and undulating ceiling mural which define this space on the St. Regis Toronto’s 31st floor are meant to emulate the experience of being inside a glass of whiskey, as a nod to Toronto’s Prohibition-era history as one of the world’s great distillery cities. In fact, there’s a whiskey list here that’s almost 700 bottles strong. There's nothing overly complex or offputtingly fancy about the menu here. It's French-inflected bistro fare, but where possible, the luxury dial is turned way, way up. Come here for a date night, to mark a special occasion, or to impress a colleague: the whole organic truffle chicken ($87) is a mouthwatering and satisfying classic, and the 13-layer, sky-scraping King’s Cake ($55) is unapologetically indulgent. If you're a fine dining glamor puss who thrives on a more-is-more aesthetic, add this one to your list. Especially if someone else is paying.
Courtesy GiarestaurantGia
$$This Trinity Bellwoods restaurant on Dundas West is emblematic of Toronto’s plant-based dining movement: stylish, satisfying, and sceney. It's all about house made pastas here, which allow seasonal Ontario ingredients to positively sing. The Tonnarelli Tartufo is silky and sexy and perfectly truffled, and the Ontario Corn Ravioli made with mascarpone cheese is sweet, salty and creamy. Don't skip the apps here: the plant-based cashew brie with seasonal fruit is an absolute standout. You'll want to save room for dessert, too. There's an olive oil cake topped with warm seasonal fruit compote. This is the kind of place where you can bring your unsuspecting carnivorous friend and they won't even notice that meat isn't on the menu. Gia is stylish, it's a fun scene, and above all else, it's satisfying.
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