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$$$$ | Queen West |
The 10- to 16-course dinners here breathed new life into the concept of the tasting menu for many Torontonians, thanks to a chef who channels refined French cooking techniques into beautifully composed plates. Courses from the ever-changing offerings have included striped bass with chanterelles and baby artichokes, Nova Scotia lobster tail paired with romesco and shishito peppers, and rack of pork offset with bing cherries, Swiss chard, and a dusting of pistachios.
163 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Known For
- Need to reserve weeks in advance
- Multicourse tasting menus
- Stunning presentation
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$ | Kensington Market |
These award-winning cakey brioche donuts are fried fresh in the wee hours of the morning, dipped, and then ready to fly off the shelves by the time the converted storefront opens at 8:30 am. From the milky London Fog with an Earl Grey glaze to mini salted caramel Boston Creme bombs, you just can't go wrong.
161 Baldwin St., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1L9, Canada
Known For
- Organic ingredients sourced from Kensington Market shops
- Vegan options
- Strong coffee from local Propeller Specialty Roasters
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$$ | Queen West |
Known as one of the city's tried-and-true French bistros, this brightly decorated spot lives up to expectations with a menu full of excellent standards, including steak frites, rare venison chop, and mussels in white wine. The long bar at the front of the restaurant is a great spot for drinks or solo dining.
492 Queen St. W, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2L9, Canada
Known For
- Short but well-curated wine list
- Three-course prix-fixe dinner
- Great brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner weekends. Closed Tues.
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$ | Kensington Market |
Japanese perfectionism merges with French tradition at this minimalist coffee and pastry shop. The owners are always dreaming up new croissant creations like a flaky croissant cube (that needs to be seen to be believed), and the croffle, a—you guessed it—croissant/waffle hybrid prepared in a half-dozen ways, from churro-caramel sweet to ham-and-pesto savory.
160 Baldwin St., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3K7, Canada
Known For
- "happy hour" coffee specials from local De Mello Roastery
- Ceremonial-grade matcha imported from Japan
- Gooey mochi (sticky rice dough) stuffed with chocolate and strawberries
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$ | Kensington Market |
With only 10 seats, this taco joint almost always has long lines, but it's worth the wait. The menu brings the best of SoCal and Tijuana seafood together, featuring taco options like the gobernador (smoked marlin and shrimp), and a vegetarian option with corn fungus (trust us, it tastes better than it sounds).
69 Kensington Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2K1, Canada
Known For
- Delicious shrimp-and-cheese tacos
- Range of fiery hot sauces
- Gluten-free tortillas available
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$ | Chinatown |
Downtown Toronto's quintessential dim sum eatery overlooks all of Chinatown from its secret rooftop perch at the Dragon City Mall. Carts with towers of bamboo steamed baskets containing shrimp dumplings or black-bean-sauce chicken feet ("phoenix claws" in Chinese), banquet-size platters of noodles, and traditional delicacies like black or yellow curried cuttlefish are pushed around the hall by gregarious servers who tick off boxes from your order list as they are served. There's also an extensive à la carte menu.
280 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1H2, Canada
Known For
- Surprisingly expansive views through the huge windows
- Traditional Cantonese dim sum service
- Savory chive-and-shrimp dumplings
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$$$ | Kensington Market |
The thin-crust pies at this airy family-run pizzeria are authentically Neapolitan and consistently earn top marks on local (and even global) critics' lists thanks to their fresh ingredients and use of traditional methods. Pasta mains (with gluten-free options) like a fiery Naples-style rigatoni and seafood linguini may take second place but are certainly worth a look.
188 Augusta Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2L6, Canada
Known For
- Extensive antipasti (traditional Italian appetizer) list
- Sidewalk patio
- The ciambella ripiena, a ricotta and hot soppressata--stuffed crust pie
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$ | Queen West |
It takes its name from the city’s most popular area code, so it’s no surprise that 416—a dim, boisterous bar that echoes the general vibe of West Queen West—draws inspiration from the city around it. The menu of inexpensive small plates, best enjoyed with a cocktail or two, is a fun mishmash of cultures, from Jamaican to Chinese to Peruvian, that serves as a one-stop culinary crash course to this city of immigrants.
181 Bathurst St., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2R7, Canada
Known For
- Sometimes controversial no-cutlery policy
- Fun spot for a first date
- Buzzy atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Thurs.
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$$$ | Chinatown |
Like the art gallery in which it's located, this bistro was designed by starchitect Frank Gehry, whose touches are seen in the minimalist decor and geometric ceilings. The dishes themselves, like the Basque-style eggs with chorizo, or grilled cornish hen with dandelion greens on coconut curry, are plated as works of art.
317 Dundas St. W, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1G4, Canada
Known For
- Prix-fixe meals inspired by gallery exhibits
- French meets western Canadian dishes
- Handcrafted cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$ | Chinatown |
Imagine yourself lost at a Saigon night market at this trendy sandwich and snack bar that specializes in banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches). Not satisfied with the traditional crusty white bread, Banh Haus offers whole-wheat and fried banh tieu (Vietnamese donut) buns as a vessel for fillings like grilled lemongrass chicken, five-spice sweet pork sausage, or deep-fried tiger shrimp. Other modernized street food classics include rice-paper-wrapped summer rolls and green mango salad.
81 Huron St., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2A8, Canada
Known For
- Exotic fruit smoothies
- Vietnamese coffee drinks
- Vietnamese-style patio with micro-stool seating
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$ | Queen West |
Brothers David, Philip, and Peter Chau have banh mi in their blood—their parents opened one of the original Vietnamese sandwich shops in Chinatown—but they've taken the classic and decked it out with top-notch ingredients such as melt-in-your-mouth pork belly, duck confit, and kalbi beef. Other offerings include Asian-inspired tacos and steamed bao.
392 Queen St. W, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2A9, Canada
Known For
- A modern take on a classic eatery
- Crunchy kimchi fries
- Five-spice pork belly
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$ | Kensington Market |
Hearty sandwiches stuffed with toppings like mortadella, grilled veggies, and spreads made in-house are accompanied by selections of traditional brioche buns, and creative palm-size Viennoiseries at the local legendary boulangerie. It helps to get there earlier in the day to take score of other baked delights like tomato danishes and quirky chocolate corks.
172 Baldwin St., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1L8, Canada
Known For
- Organic grains
- Crusty sourdough loaves
- Providing baked goods for restaurants around the city
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$ | Kensington Market |
There's no better place for a quick espresso or another pick-me-up than at the poured-concrete walls of this uber-hip meeting spot, complete with front and back patios. Show up by night for a full-length bar menu of local and imported craft beers and an apothecary of spirits.
307 Augusta St., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2M2, Canada
Known For
- Extensive gin list
- Persian-influenced drinks
- Frequent evening musical programming
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$$ | Chinatown |
Fried dumplings stuffed with juicy shrimp and pork or the health-conscious steamed spinach and black mushroom wrappers are the stars of the show but ordering from the selection of northern Chinese staples is highly recommended too. Top crowd-pleasing picks are the ultra-thinly sliced semi-cooked potato threads cooked in a jolting spicy vinegar, and noodley tofu strips boiled and lightly stir-fried with pork and veggies.
328 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2E7, Canada
Known For
- Fast service
- Dumplings wrapped fresh by staff in the window
- Homey atmosphere
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$$ | Kensington Market |
Enter a Middle Eastern paradise where vegans and the health conscious can feast on delicious mock-meat renditions of classics like chicken shawarma and beef kebabs doused in a variety of flavored tahinis, like beet and lemon. Chef Isra recreated her grandmother's Egyptian recipes so faithfully that not even she can tell them apart.
160 Baldwin St., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3K7, Canada
Known For
- Rotating desserts
- Everything is made fresh and worth the wait
- The rice and lentils are comfort in a bowl
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$$ | Kensington Market |
Located smack in the middle of Kensington Market, locals flock to this highly versatile cultural hub that effortlessly merges brunch restaurant, gelateria, and evening cabaret. The sprawling front and back patio make it an ideal location for soaking in local culture over an umami-rich Japanese omelet and pink sakura latte, or cocktails paired with late-night Latin-themed bites. The choices are truly endless.
230 Augusta Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2L6, Canada
Known For
- Eclectic menu
- Film screenings
- Creative coffees, smoothies, and cocktails
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$ | Kensington Market |
In a neighborhood where the bohemian vegetarian lifestyle is the norm, King's Café has become a mainstay for artists, students, and young professionals seeking vegan grub with an Asian accent. The setting is a serene and airy eatery with wide windows looking out onto bustling Augusta Avenue.
192 Augusta Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2L6, Canada
Known For
- Vegan takes on dim sum classics
- Purple rice in lovely bento boxes
- Tea and spices for sale
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$ | Kensington Market |
For a unique take on cheap eats, head east of Bathurst to Market 707, a strip of food stalls built out of repurposed shipping containers. Highlights include poutine at Nom Nom Nom; authentic lamb-fat-infused Damascus-style shawarmas and burgers from Chef Harwash; soul-warming Filipino at Kanto by Tita Flips; and authentic Japanese rice balls stuffed with burdock and red miso pork, along with other hearty staples from Omosubi Bar Suzume.
707 Dundas St. W, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2W6, Canada
Known For
- Huge variety of cuisines available
- Street-side eating
- Innovative urban design
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$ | Kensington Market |
Otto’s brings a nightlife-worthy spin to street snacks. The owners are former club promoters who fell in love with Berlin’s most popular street eats and set about bringing them to Toronto. You can sample shaved-meat-stuffed pita wraps, kebabs, and currywurst (sausages smothered in a ketchupy curry sauce).
256 Augusta Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2L9, Canada
Known For
- Wide selection of beers on tap
- Berlin-style street food
- Lightning-fast service
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$$ | Queen West | Seafood
Whether you get them baked (in one of four different ways), fried, or raw, oysters are the thing at this casual neighborhood spot. A chalkboard spells out what's fresh and available, along with sizing and price for the beauties. There's a pleasing array of house condiments with which to slurp your choices. Other treats include beer-battered fish-and-chips, lobster rolls, and excellent onion rings. A nice selection of wines and beers, as well as cool, friendly servers, makes for a fun night out.
872 Queen St. W, Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1G3, Canada
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, No lunch
