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The 30 Essential Restaurants in Toronto
Over the past two years, we have time and time again been confronted with the word essential. Essential workers, essential businesses, essential activities and the list goes on. Besides the fact that everything is essential when it comes to a person's livelihood, restaurants have been overlooked as essential businesses to an unrelenting point throughout the pandemic. Faced with having to grapple with the influx of restaurant closures, from longstanding institutions to barely one-year-old operations, the insecurity of hospitality forces us to reckon with the prospect of potentially losing a favourite restaurant (which all of us have).
An essential restaurant might hold a roster of impressive chefs, a revolutionary menu, an insider knowledge of cooking traditional dishes, years in business, a claim to fame or all of the above. But what deciphers the essential restaurants in our eyes is the ability to capture and hold the admiration and loyalty of the neighbourhood it resides in. Essential restaurants are integral pillars of the community, entities that help define the identities of Toronto's many neighbourhoods.
As one of North America's largest cities, with an incredibly diverse and multicultural population, there is no shortage of different cuisines that comprise Toronto's unique food culture. Whether it is your first time touching down in Toronto or you are a well-versed local, our 30 essential Toronto restaurants are guaranteed to give you a taste of what Toronto has to offer.
Note: Restaurants appear in no particular order, numbers do not designate rank.
On any given weekend, be prepared to endure the long wait for a table at Liberty Village’s institution for decadent late-morning feasts, a beacon for Toronto’s tribe of devoted brunch-goers. Open since 1989, Mildred’s Temple Kitchen has managed to sustain its popularity, a true testament to the quality of food and its importance to the neighbourhood. Undoubtedly the signature dish on the menu and arguably the most photographed stack of pancakes on Instagram, Mrs. Biederhof’s Wild Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes might be the cause behind the three-hour lines.
Founded by the late Kevin Gallagher and co-owned by executive chef Donna Dooher, Mildred’s Temple Kitchen single-handedly catalyzed brunch culture in the city and remains a not-to-be-missed destination for any Toronto newcomer.
Tucked away on a quiet street in the middle of Toronto's bustling King West area, the facade of this quaint restaurant looks more akin to a countryside cottage than one of Canada's 100 Best Restaurants.
Helmed by husband and wife duo Tobey Nemeth and Michael Caballo, Edulis (meaning 'edible' in Latin) has made a name for itself on both a local and international stage, with the 30-seat restaurant even landing a mention on The World's 50 Best. The menu changes often and is driven by seasonal ingredients and chef Caballo's passion for foraging, particularly mushrooms. Rooted in Spanish and French fare, Edulis' vast repertoire of dishes continues to excite patrons, whether it be the first time dining or the fifth. It is difficult to encapsulate the menu's identity in only a few words. Still, dishes like Poached White Asparagus with Fogo Island Snow Crab and Wild Garlic Mayonnaise or Poached Skate with a Mousse of Black Truffles speak to the breadth and depth of the cooking being done at 169 Niagara St.
With one of the largest Greek populations outside of the Greek diaspora, Toronto is home to several restaurants specializing in Aegean fare. With the majority of Greek restaurants concentrated in Toronto’s Greektown, or also known as The Danforth, it might come as a surprise to hear one of the most notable Greek restaurants resides on Toronto’s west end.
Mamakas Taverna, part of the Mamakas Food Group – which also consists of neighbouring Bar Koukla and Agora Greek Market – is a mainstay on the Ossington Strip. Founded in 2014 by owner and operator Thanos Tripi, the corner spot is often lauded as having Toronto’s best Greek food.
On the menu, find a selection of mezze like House Dips, Cheese Saganaki and the largest Spanakopita you have ever laid eyes on. The spiralling flaky pastry consists of phyllo dough stuffed with spinach and feta and drizzled with honey. With ingredients sourced directly from Greece, the Horiatiki features a giant block of P.D.O. Feta on top of a bed of freshly cut tomatoes and red onion. You’ll also find whole grilled Mediterranean Sea Bass, grilled octopus and succulent lamb chops, served with bulgur and tzatziki.
Representing such a large demographic of the city, Mamakas showcases elegantly and effortlessly all Greek cuisine has to offer.
Opened in 2012 by “Top Chef Canada” winner Carl Heinrich, Richmond Station resides in the pulsing heart of Toronto’s Downtown Core and embraces everything it means to be a restaurant in a major metropolitan area.
“We love this city and we love meeting, hosting and cooking for people. We are honoured to see so many great guests visit and visit again, and to be considered one of Toronto's essential restaurants,” Heinrich says.
The menu is eccentric and is hard to pinpoint down to a singular influence, albeit the commonality of the cooking might just be refined dishes comprised of high-quality ingredients and executed to near perfection. When asked how to define the restaurant’s menu, Heinrich says, “The food is delicious. We focus on finding and growing high-quality ingredients, then showcasing them in their best form.”
What started as a humble vegan restaurant and juice bar, dedicated to taking a modern and elevated approach to vegan dining, has grown into a brand with over nine locations in Ontario and one in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1999 by Ruth Tal, Fresh was a pioneer in the plant-based movement in Toronto. With several establishments now following in its footsteps -- Toronto has evolved into a Mecca for plant-based eating (even National Geographic mentions Toronto for its booming plant-based scene).
Fresh, in part, was responsible for dissolving pre-conceived notions that plant-based fare was one-dimensional and lacklustre. Fresh’s menu consists of everything from burgers, sandwiches, bowls, pizza, dumplings, desserts and more. A fan favourite on the menu, the Quinoa Onion Rings come coated in breadcrumbs and puffed quinoa and rival any non-plant-based version of the dish.
The plant-based movement would not be where it is today in the city without Fresh’s dedication to innovate and push boundaries.
An integral part of any vibrant city neighbourhood would have to be a go-to bar. Now when your neighbourhood just so happens to tout one of the world's best bars within its borders, that is no small feat. On the corner of College St and Palmerston Ave, in Toronto's lively Little Italy, sits Bar Raval, a Mecca for Spanish tapas and pintxos (with a Raval twist), a wide selection of wines (both old world and new), cocktails, micro-brews and ciders. Consistently bustling, both a local haunt and a checklist for tourists, Raval is instantaneously recognizable as soon as you walk through the doors. The centrepiece of Raval, a striking mahogany bar that wraps around the entirety of the interior in swooping circular motions reminiscent of Salvador Dali, is reason enough to visit.
When asked what it means to be an essential Toronto restaurant, Kitchen Manager and Chef Renelle Joubert says, "To me, the idea of an essential restaurant is a space in your community for meeting with friends, family or even flying solo that is warm and inviting. At Raval, we host friends reuniting, first dates, anniversaries, birthdays or just a Saturday night out. To me, Raval is a place where people go to celebrate, connect and just be together as people.
Terroni has made a name for itself in Toronto. Under the Terroni Group umbrella, there are three Terroni locations in Toronto, two Sud Forno locations, La Bettola di Terroni, Bar Centrale, Spaccio, STOCK T.C. and even one Terroni location in Los Angeles. The group even launched an Italian meal delivery service called PORTA, as the demand for at-home options increases in the current climate.
What is now Toronto’s hub for traditional Italian fare in the city got its start back in 1992, when Cosimo Mammoliti and his partner Paolo Scoppio opened the first Terroni location on the then seedy and rundown strip of Queen West. Throughout its 30 years in business, Terroni has stayed true to its original identity, focusing on sourcing the best possible ingredients, upholding the Italian ethos of simplicity and still refusing to amend any menu items in order to maintain the integrity of the restaurant. A more recent addition to the Terroni Group, Spaccio, the new Corktown restaurant and central production hub, has developed into the pulse of the operation.
“We opened Spaccio in late 2019 to act as the backstage to our Terroni restaurants and Sud Forno bakeries. With the goal of maintaining consistency, Spaccio became an artisanal hub where we centralized production from our fresh pasta and Roman-style stirata pizza to our pastries and bread,” says Francesco Giorgio, Terroni Group’s Marketing Manager.
Easily one of Toronto’s most well known and popular Indian restaurants, Banjara Indian Cuisine (with a Bloor and Eglinton location) garners plenty of diners all across the GTA vying to try its vast menu of tandoori dishes, pakoras, samosas, aloo gobi, curries, masalas, biryanis, roti, naan, vindaloos and more. Owners Raj Veerella and Anil Gurijala acquired the Bloor Street restaurant back in 2000 (which was then called Mr. Maharajah Indian Cuisine) and officially changed the restaurant’s name to Banjara in 2003. Since opening, they have been serving traditional Southern and Northern Indian dishes.
Opened amid the pandemic, Taverne Bernhardt’s has quickly evolved into a restaurant so dear to Toronto’s food scene that it is hard to imagine Dovercourt without the neighbourhood gem. Helmed by duo Carmelina Imola and chef Zach Kolomeir, who are also responsible for Harbord Village’s ‘French-ish’ restaurant Dreyfus, Bernhardt’s is precisely what Toronto needed in a restaurant. It is an unpretentious, convivial spot that injects seamless ease into the way it operates, with late summer dinners feeling more like a friend’s dinner party. The co-owners spent time working in Montreal, with chef Kolomeir holding a prior title of chef de cuisine at Joe Beef, which translates into how Bernhardt’s functions, that certain joie de vivre.
On the menu, find veg-forward seasonal dishes, bright seafood options and, of course, the star of the show, the rotisserie chicken dinner served with house-made gravy, thick-cut and crisp fries, slaw, pickle and a dinner roll. Don’t miss the house-churned soft serve that features original pairings like labneh and wild Ontario blueberries.
Given the harsh environment the industry has faced these past two years, Taverne Bernhardt’s has managed to shine brightly and even has a second sister location in the works across the street!
Nowadays there is a decent handful of excellent omakase restaurants in Toronto, all helmed by master sushi chefs, with ingredients flown in directly from Japan. Yet, regarded as Toronto’s original destination for high-end omakase sushi, Sushi Kaji has occupied a rather desolate strip in The Queensway since 2000 and continues to impress people that visit the sushi bar. Headed by Mitsuhiro Kaji, Sushi Kaji remains one of Toronto’s best restaurants for an authentic and memorable omakase experience and continues to hold a spot on Canada’s 100 Best list.
Taking up prime real estate within Toronto’s vibrant Kensington Market, this takeaway Jamaican and Italian fusion restaurant has evolved into a neighbourhood favourite for jerk chicken, oxtail, hearty sandwiches and fusion pasta. Their namesake, the Rasta Pasta, comes with gnocchi sauteed in alfredo or marinara sauce and topped with jerk chicken, ackee and saltfish. Longtime friends and co-owners Mary Neglia and Magnus Patterson opened Rasta Pasta back in 2012 and have become an integral part of the Kensington community, with Patterson often seen grilling his signature jerk chicken out front.
Open since 1993; Sotto Sotto is a Yorkville institution for high-end Italian fare that tends to draw quite an impressive crowd from a wall of past celebrity diners; there is a reason for the restaurant’s glistening reputation. The see-and-be-seen spot is not solely worth checking out for its ambiance but its menu of authentic Italian dishes, predominately Roman and the lengthy and impressive menu of wines to accompany the meal. Enjoy dishes like grilled octopus, white cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto di Parma, an extensive selection of salads and pasta like the bucatini all’ amatriciana with Campania region tomato sauce or their famed fettuccine bolognese. Veal scaloppini, Ontario cornish hen, whole fresh fish and Canadian prime grade tenderloin spotlight the carni and pesce sections of the menu.
Owned and founded by Marisa Rocca, the quintessentially Yorkville restaurant embodies everything it means to be a longstanding institution.
One of many restaurateur Grant van Gameren’s endeavours in the city, Bar Isabel is a tapas bar reminiscent of a sultry Spanish tavern that you would meander into for a drink on the streets of Barcelona. Open since 2013, the restaurant resides in Toronto’s Little Italy neighbourhood and instantaneously became a local favourite while garnering national recognition. Initially operating seven days a week and open until 2 a.m., Operating Partner and General Manager Alessandro Pietropaolo recalls always being busy and imbued with excitement.
Still, nine years later and one global pandemic, the restaurant has carved out its place in Toronto’s oftentimes overwhelming landscape of restaurants and bars.
“The goal with Isabel was always longevity and consistency. Both very hard to achieve in this industry,” says Pietropaolo.
Lauded for bringing authentic Neapolitan pizza to Toronto, Pizzeria Libretto has been firing leopard-spotted pies from their Ossington location since 2008. Founded by Executive Chef and Partner Rocco Agostino, Libretto has since expanded to open four other locations and influence a flurry of Neapolitan-style pizzerias.
As one of the first restaurants to serve VPN-certified pizza, it is not just upholding traditions that inspire Agostino when it comes to the menu. "At Pizzeria Libretto, our food is focused on seasonality, simplicity and bold flavours. The inspiration for the food at Pizzeria Libretto has always been one of love and care. From inspiration to development of our recipes, it's important to us to take the time and care when putting together dishes for our guests to enjoy. Ingredient integrity is just as important, which is why we carefully select the local producers that we work with," says Agostino.
After all these years, what sustains the life-cycle of a restaurant is not solely the food for Agostino. When asked what being an essential restaurant meant to the chef, he says, "Being an essential restaurant in Toronto means that we have had an impact on people's lives when it comes to dining out and creating memorable experiences. It's a great feeling to know that we are an essential part of people's lives and their community."
Nuit and Jeff Regular are household names with food lovers in Toronto. As leaders of the Thai food scene in Toronto, their journey in the city dates back to 2008, when they opened their first Sukhothai restaurant location at Parliament and Dundas Streets. Next came Khao San Road, then Sabai Sabai and finally PAI, which opened their second location uptown in 2020.
“Whenever I open a new restaurant, there’s always so much love and excitement. Especially when we opened PAI, says Chef Nuit. “The restaurant is named after the town in Northern Thailand where Jeff and I met and fell in love, so the place is very meaningful to us and holds a lot of great memories.”
Focusing on northern Thai cuisine, PAI embodies all the best parts of Thai food and hospitality, and has become a staple since its 2014 opening. Dishes like the famous Chef Nuit Pad Thai and the uber-popular Pad Gra Prow impress time and time again, and the service is next to none.
Whenever I open a new restaurant, there’s always so much love and excitement. Especially when we opened PAI.
This Jamaican-Chinese mainstay is a testament to Toronto’s incredibly diverse restaurant landscape. Chef Craig Wong’s French fine-dining cooking experience paired with his heritage and food that he grew up eating make this trendy Dundas West restaurant a must-go-to spot, whether you’re visiting Toronto or just in the neighbourhood.
Dining at Patois is a true Toronto experience––the food takes the best parts of each cuisine to create a unique menu that is both exciting and fresh, but familiar and humble. Smoky jerk rotisserie, pineapple bun burgers and jerk chicken chow mein highlight Patois' crossover into both cuisines, while dishes like the Popcorn Shrimp Fried Rice and Jamaican Oxtail put a twist on the staples.
Regarded as one of the best restaurants year after year, Alo is highly-touted as the best restaurant in Canada. While their style leans heavily on fine dining, their parent company, Alo Food Group, has made it their mission to make their food more accessible and diverse over the years.
“We wanted to give the Toronto dining public––and there’s a lot of great restaurants in Toronto––we just wanted to do, in our way, something that people could be proud of,” says John Bunner, Alo’s operations manager.
Aloette, the company’s first expansion, opened their doors below the Alo space in 2017, hoping to bring in a more casual crowd with their more affordable, diner-esque menu and space. Alobar, the group’s bar and bistro style space, opened in Yorkville a year later, and another year after that, they opened Salon, a private dining space.
In 2021, the group decided to expand even greater, bringing takeout-focused Aloette stores to more Toronto neighbourhoods, beginning with Liberty Village in July.
Yes, Alo is the crown jewel of this Toronto-based food group, but their dedication to diversifying their menus and restaurants makes this entire string of restaurants essential to the city.
Opened in 2014, DaiLo has been a Toronto staple when it comes to alternative Asian restaurants, or as Head Chef and Owner Nick Liu describes the food, “New Asian Classics.” Liu had operated multiple pop-ups over a few years leading up to the opening, tweaking his recipes and finding the best team to bring his vision to life.
“We make dishes with all the Asian flavours that people are used to. We play around with a lot of different cultures to ensure the food provides an elevated experience.”
The College Street gem always has something new they’re trying out, but their menu mainstays, like the humble Big Mac Bao and the Whole Fried Giggie Trout speak for themselves. Bundled into a gorgeous dining room and one-of-a-kind service, it’s no wonder why this spot is on our list.
Helmed by the restaurant’s namesake, Maha Barsoom, this family-run gem is highly regarded as one of the best places to grab brunch in the city. No matter the day, you can almost always find a massive lineup of eager diners waiting for a table.
The Barsoom family immigrated to Toronto in 2000, with Maha operating a catering service for many years. The family finally followed up on their dream of opening a restaurant, welcoming guests to their charming Greenwood home in 2014.
“Luckily, our mother was passionate about cooking us delicious Egyptian food that made us feel at home no matter where we lived. We try to emulate this homey feeling and experience at Maha’s,” wrote Monika Barsoom, daughter and sous chef, in a 2016 blog post.
Kensington Market has long been a hub for incredible, diverse food in Toronto, and none are more famous than this beloved taco joint. In a neighbourhood that has as much Latin influence as it does, Seven Lives stands out for their long-standing residency and dedication to quick, mouthwatering tacos.
Although they recently moved into a larger space, across the street lies their humble beginnings, with nothing more than a counter to order from and a bustling kitchen staff trying to keep up with the tsunami of orders. Nowadays, you can still find them slinging some of city's best tacos, including their signature Gobernador taco, in one of Toronto's most notable hoods.
This stunning Dundas West eatery is a fave amongst many Toronto residents. Specializing in modern Italian fare with influences from other cultural cuisines, La Palma is a dreamy dining destination that brings both the flavours of the Amalfi Coast and the lofty aesthetics of the city.
Dishes like the albacore tuna crudo and a traditional burrata are brought together with foreign ingredients, like wasabi, sesame and za’atar, while their staple dishes, like their featured vegetable menu and the iconic 100-layer lasagna, highlight their Italian roots.
Wallace Emerson is home to many incredible restaurants, bars, cafes and shops. One in particular that stands out amongst the rest, is Donna’s, a beloved hole-in-the-wall opened in 2018. Tucked along Lansdowne Avenue near Wallace Avenue, Donna’s is as no-frills and honest with their food as it gets, but pulls no punches with the flavour.
“We try to make everything delicious, comforting and simple. Like if your grandma was also a trained chef.”
They describe the menu as seasonal snacks, salads, sandwiches and larger plates of European influence, but not strictly. Helmed by three Momofuku alums Ann Kim, Jed Smith and Peter Jensen, locals flock here for the incredible, homestyle meals and the authentic neighbourhood vibe.
On the outer limits of downtown, Chef Anthony Rose’s Middle Eastern eatery in the Annex stands out as an essential neighbourhood locale. In fact, the strip of Dupont Street between Bathurst Street and Davenport Road is dotted with the chef’s many hang-outs.
It’s at Fat Pasha that Rose puts his own twist on Jewish classics––ones that are inspired by his bubby and integrated with the flair of the Middle East.
“All the greatest love you can shove on a plate and your mouth at once,” says Rose.
Dishes like the absurdly popular Whole Roasted Cauliflower, doused in tahini and skhug and riddled with fresh pomegranate, or the incredible platter of fresh dips and pita, Fat Pasha is as delicious as it is comforting and homely.
Toronto’s Chinatown neighbourhood is absolutely loaded with incredible restaurants, eateries and vendors––old and new. While the area has brought in some great new spots in recent years, Swatow Restaurant is an OG, no-frills spot slinging a straight-up, extensive menu of Chinese classics we know and love.
Toronto’s Caribbean community is abundant, and is home to the majority of people of Caribbean origins that reside in Canada, with the largest cohort of the Caribbean diaspora in the city being Jamaicans. Of course, this comes with a slew of incredible spots to eat, but none as iconic as the long-standing Allwyn’s Bakery, which has sprouted a handful of locations across Toronto. Whether it’s the punchy boneless jerk chicken or a loaded stuffed sandwich on fluffy coco bread, you can never go wrong with this Toronto landmark.
Dim sum is one of the many delicacies of Chinese cuisine. Toronto has dozens of hot dim sum spots, and with the addition of places like Yu Seafood––which has been regarded as some of the best dim sum Toronto has ever had––Rol San still stands out as an essential piece to Chinatown’s dim sum hodgepodge. Known for their never-ending dim sum service, it’s become a night-owl’s haven and post-bar hangout for many over its 28-year existence.
What began as Adrian Ravinsky detailing the city’s best hidden culinary jewels, transformed into a brick-and-mortar speakeasy in 2011 alongside partner and friend Dave Stewart. Slinging out snack foods that cross many cultural borders, this Queen West watering hole is a place designed to frequent with friends alongside a drink.
“The mode of eating is like tapas or pintxos in Spain, only we're as all-over-the-map as possible, by definition,” says Ravinsky.
Dishes range in flavour profiles, serving both hot and cold snack foods that cover different regions of the world, and represent Toronto's ethnically-diverse demographic. Each respective dish is ensured to stick to the culture's culinary tradition and will "never fuse influences." You'll find a classic steak tartare, crispy Korean fried chicken, a snacky reuben sando and fluffy bao among many other dishes, which come and go.
While it might not be known to the casual diners, this cozy Croatian dining destination is a marvel in Toronto. First opened in 1967 as a cafe by Joso Spralja himself––a Croatian-born Euroean folk singer and artist––and his wife Angiolina, the place is now run by Joso’s son Leo and his wife Shirley.
Riddled with the late Joso’s art across many mediums, the place is as beautiful to look at as the food is delicious. This Toronto landmark dishes out simple, coastal foods with a heavy emphasis on seafood. Prepared simply, iconic items like their grilled whole fish are brought together with nothing more than salt, oil and citrus. The high quality ingredients and the labour of love goes a long way with the grilled octopus, fresh and crispy calamari and squid ink pasta, making these classics taste so much better.
In their near 45 years of operating the joint, Joso's menu has stayed relatively the same, sticking to their Croatian roots and their charming personality. It’s an absolute institution in Toronto.
Perched in the heart of Roncesvalles––which is home to Toronto’s Polish community––Cafe Polonez has been a neighbourhood mainstay for over 30 years. Serving up traditional Polish faves with a homemade feel, dishes like their potato pancakes, crispy schnitzel and their to-die-for pierogies are unbeatable.
Nondescript and located in a plaza off Sheppard Avenue in Scarborough, Mona's Roti has been the central hub for West Indian-style roti for decades. Opened by Mona Khan after moving to Canada from Trinidad, the restaurant evolved from a reasonably tight-lipped community secret to a destination worth travelling for.
Inside operates like an active hive. Women stand gathered around a communal table in the open kitchen, rolling out the dough and preparing the dhalpuri roti and the "buss up shut" paratha roti. Mona's Jerk Chicken and Mona's Boneless Curry Chicken are signature items and come wrapped with curry potato and choice of dhalpuri or paratha roti.
Come lunchtime the bustling energy is palpable, as newcomers and regulars alike wait patiently for one of Mona's famed roti.
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