Seek and find
Toronto is the foodie city of Canada
For me, love for a city always goes through the stomach. In Toronto are foodies The right place when it comes to good restaurants and nice eateries. Almost all the restaurants I've been to in Toronto use local ingredientsThe menus feature local craft beers and even wines from the Toronto area, especially in the neighborhoods Little Portugal, Parkdale, West Queen West and near the Trinity Bellwoods Park You'll find many great restaurants and gastrobars. One of the great things about Toronto is the incredible diversity of cultures, and that's reflected in the diversity of its restaurants. In this blog post, I've compiled my favorites. From a night of fine dining to tapas and tacos. Something for every budget and every mood!
17 Toronto Restaurants You'll Want to Eat at During Your City Trip
The Banana: When I was in Toronto, I discovered La Banane had only been open for a few months. You'll find this hotspot near the intersection of Dundas, right at the end of Ossington Avenue. It's a super trendy street, packed with really great spots. The menu at La Banane is French, and you'll find it for au fruits de mer, steak tartare, and other French dishes with a Canadian twist. You'll recognize the restaurant by its banana-yellow door!
227 Ossington Ave, Toronto, Canada – labanane.ca
The Banana
Hello: This restaurant has been voted one of Canada's best restaurants. You don't go here for a quick bite, but to fully savor Chef Patrick Kriss's 6-course tasting menu. The menu is French-inspired, and reservations are essential! Last-minute guests can try booking a table for the restaurant that same evening through the website. If that doesn't work, try a walk-in for a spot at the bar, where they serve delicious bar bites.
163 Spadina Ave, Toronto, Canada – alorestaurant.com
Bar Raval: In my opinion, Spanish gastrobars never get old when it comes to delicious drinks and food. Especially if it's a restaurant like Bar Raval in Toronto. Open from brunch until late, by late afternoon the bar is stocked with pinchos, and you can order the most delicious Spanish tapas from the menu to share.
505 College St, Toronto, Canada – thisisbarraval.com
Bar Raval
Glory Hole Donuts: The name of this donut shop is hilarious. Honestly! And the donuts? They're truly delicious. It's not a restaurant you'll spend hours dining at, but if you're in Toronto, you definitely want to try a donut here. I highly recommend the hibiscus donut!
1596 Queen St W, Toronto, Canada – gloryholedoughnuts.com
Glory Hole Donuts
Grand Electric: Because you don't feel like eating a three-course meal every night, this restaurant guide also features a few less high-end spots where you can simply sit at the bar for a few tacos. I had the best tacos in Toronto at Grand Electric in Parkdale. Tip: order a local Toronto beer!
1330 Queen St W, Toronto, Canada – grandelectrictoronto.com
Grand Electric
Rose and Sons: You'll find several Jewish delis throughout Toronto. Like many other cities, there's a revival of "Tel Aviv"-style restaurants and delis. One of the best in Toronto is Rose and Sons. This deli diner now has two locations in Toronto. On weekends, they serve a brunch menu from 9 a.m. to 16 p.m. The concept is simple: you choose a main dish and two sides of your choice. Comfort foods like fried chicken, eggplant with Parmesan, and more!
892 Queen St W & 176 Dupont St, Toronto, Canada – roseandsons.ca
El Rey Mezcal Bar: In the Kensington Market neighborhood, you'll find restaurants from all over. One of the newest hotspots for drinks and bites is El Ray on Kensington Avenue. Delicious tostadas and quesadillas with a craft beer or cocktails made with mezcal!
2a Kensington Ave, Toronto, Canada – elreybar.com
Bar Raval
The Federal: Brunch in Toronto is the big thing on weekends. And a super popular brunch spot is The Federal. Don't be surprised if there's a line out the door. Want to avoid it? Get there early; they open every day at 9:00 AM and you can enjoy brunch until 3:00 PM. Then they open again for dinner at 6:00 PM!
1438 Dundas St W, Toronto, Canada – thefed.ca
The Palm: This new Italian hotspot is open daily from breakfast to dinner. The menu features New York-style Italian dishes and a surprising number of veggie options. The interior is modern and warm, and the white building with its neon signage is a real eye-catcher as you walk along Dundas Street.
849 Dundas St W, Toronto, Canada – lapalma.ca
La Palma
Hanmoto: Izakaya restaurants are hot right now in Toronto. And on the foodie street Dundas Street West, you'll find the small restaurant Hanmoto. Go there for Japanese comfort food like dyno wings (fried chicken wings stuffed with bacon, pork, and ginger) with spicy mayonnaise. Perfect with a delicious cocktail, as they serve food until 2 a.m.!
2 Lakeview Ave, Toronto, Canada – instagram.com/hanm0t0
Antler: As the name might suggest, this place is all about wild animals. The menu features a variety of game dishes you might never taste in your own country. Think deer, bison, or wild boar! All ingredients are local, but the preparation often has an international twist. Think Canadian venison prepared Jamaican-style. Sounds exciting, right? This hotspot (also located on Dundas Street) also serves a delicious brunch on weekends!
1454 Dundas St W, Toronto, Canada – antlerkitchenbar.com
Antler
The Fring's: Anyone who's a fan of Drake (the artist this time) has probably heard... he's invested in this restaurant in his hometown of Toronto. However, it seems he's not very involved in the day-to-day operations. We had a lovely dinner here on our last night in Toronto! The menu is designed for shared dining, with medium-sized dishes. What would you like to order? The octopus and the lobster poutine are highly recommended!
455 King St W, Toronto, Canada – fringsrestaurant.com
The Drake: I already mentioned it in the list of the best hotels in Toronto, but The Drake also has a delicious restaurant. The patio is a lovely spot for lunch or brunch in nice weather. Besides the restaurant at the Drake Hotel, they also have a restaurant called Drake One Fifty, located Downtown. What can you expect? American-style bistro dishes, such as steak tartare and pasta.
1150 Queen St W, Toronto, Canada – thedrake.ca
150 York St, Toronto, Canada – drakeonefifty.ca
The Drake
Uncle Smoke Cookhouse: For the tastiest barbecued meats in Toronto, head to Uncle Smoke Cookhouse. Mouth-watering comfort food, sides, and ribs. Make sure you go on an empty stomach, as the portions are generous!
2285 Dundas St W, Toronto, Canada – unclesmoke.com
Momofuku Noodle Bar: Momofuku in Toronto has four different restaurants. For a quick bite, the noodle bar on the ground floor is perfect. For a more substantial meal, Daisho is highly recommended. Definitely order the Trout tartare and a skirt steak. So delicious!
190 University Ave, Toronto, Canada – noodlebar-toronto.momofuku.com
Momofuku Mylk Bar
The Black Hoof: This Toronto-based restaurant is located next to the Rhum Bar, which shares the same ownership. Reservations aren't accepted, making it a great choice for spontaneous dining. It's still popular, so you might have to wait a bit for a table, but it's worth it. Everything here is homemade and cooked according to the nose-to-tail principle, using every part of the animal.
928 Dundas St W, Toronto, Canada – theblackhoof.com
Seven Lives: Love ceviche as much as I do? Then you'll want to head to Seven Lives in the Kensington Market district. It's a brightly colored spot that serves incredibly delicious ceviche (to go). The mixed ceviche, which includes octopus, is highly recommended!
69 Kensington Ave, Toronto, Canada – check the Facebook page
Seven Lives
Toronto Travel Tips
>> HOW TO GET THERE: Jet Airways Fly daily from Amsterdam to Toronto from €402. You're there in just over eight hours! I flew in their Premier Class on my last trip, and the food was truly delicious. Highly recommended if you, like me, love Indian food!
>> WHERE TO STAY: Toronto has several nice neighborhoods where you can stay, but if you like the trendier areas, then the area around Queen Street West and Ossington Ave is recommended.
- Drake Hotel: Without a doubt, the hippest hotel in Toronto. With only 19 rooms and a fantastic rooftop bar where you can enjoy drinks after a day exploring the city.
- Shangri-La: If budget isn't an issue, you can't go wrong staying at the Shangri-La. If only for the Momofuku restaurant!
Happy travels!
TIP: discover more great addresses and travel tips in my books THE AMSTERDAM CITY GUIDE & WANDERLUST!
PSSSST... did you know we have many more city guides?
WITH LOVE,
ANNE
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