169 Best Restaurants in Toronto, Ontario

Le Sélect occupies a special place in the heart of Toronto's Parisian cuisine aficionados. The sprawling plush booths, zinc bar, and mosaic flooring create the ideal ambience for buttery escargots with pillowy pain au lait (milk buns), hearty bowls of saffron-tinged bouillabaisse, and an oversized apple tarte tatin for two, drizzled tableside with rich caramel sauce.

Once a classic Toronto diner, this intimate spot from local restaurateur Jen Agg pays homage to its greasy-spoon roots but with a French twist. The frequently evolving menu balances steak frites and Nicoise salads with tuna melts, onion rings, and grilled cheeses. It's also a rare Toronto spot to eat fondue. 

This combination general store and barbecue joint has long been a refuge for locals in need of a poutine, breakfast sandwich, or butter chicken at odd hours.

The Tibetan dumplings are super-tasty at this no-frills family-run counter-serve spot.

You'd never know this St. Tropez--inspired seafood restaurant and raw bar with an indoor garden decor was once an infamous lady bar. Full-fledged beluga caviar and blini experiences, a 45-ounce tomahawk steak served on enormous sharing platters, and extravagant sushi rolls layered with luxuries such as torched Wagyu beef, foie gras, truffles, lobster tempura, and gold flakes make up part of the menu. Champagne girls can be seen parading the fantastical garden interior with sparklers in hand to announce milestones like college graduations and marriage proposals. 

Enjoy classic and modern Catalan tapas at this lively restaurant where guests are taken on a tasting journey by executive chef Ramon Simarro. Shareable plates allow for maximum sampling of Madrina’s menu, alongside a large selection of Spanish wines and gins (more than 70) to complement your meal. Order à la carte to try items such as the Iberico ham croquetas or the whole fried sea bass; alternatively, the restaurant offers a nine-course chef’s tasting menu. 

The game will always be playing but this upscale, airy establishment is not your average sports bar. Show up post-game and you're likely to spot at least one of the Toronto Raptors or visiting team members dining on a platter of decadent appetizers like thick, creamy Dungeness crab cakes, or mounds of steak tartare decorated with a layer of silver-dollar-sized truffle shavings. The veal Parmesan steak is another creation in a class of its own, and gold-leaf-flecked cookies served with a butterscotch sauce make for a decadent way to finish things off. 

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.

Whether you're looking for imported pesto potato chips, a bottle of wine, a fresh cappuccino, or a hearty salad, this Italian bodega has you covered.

Local celebrity chef/often-shouting TV personality Matty Matheson always has a number of spots opening and closing in Toronto, but if you want to try the delectable smash burgers that made him famous, Matty's Pattys is the place. Called a "burger club," it's a no-frills mostly-takeout spot with single, double, and triple cheeseburgers (or plant-based burgers), milkshakes, and chili cheese fries.

Crowd-pleasing, reliable Italian fare—pizzas, pastas, and a few meaty mains—is the name of the game at this spacious Italian trattoria, part of a small local family of restaurants.

This long-running Greek spot has a loyal local following, thanks to consistently good food, a sizable menu, and friendly service. Classics like fried calamari and horiatiki salads crowned with flavorful feta are here, along with some unusual options like whole quail and fried smelts flown in from Greece.

Asian desserts are all the rage in Toronto, so find out what everyone's talking about at this Korean favorite that specializes in organic milk soft-serve ice cream layered with toppings like cotton candy, honeycomb, and jelly beans.

One of the best spots to try bier schnapps (a traditional German-style spirit that is akin to tequila), this gastropub features classics with a twist such as crispy cornish hen with Sriracha maple glaze, or ultrameaty chicken wings. Even salads are anything but boring, like the red quinoa salad with sweet and tangy sherry vinaigrette. Fondue is served up with a duo of Oka and aged cheddar with roasted beets, house-made bratwurst, apples, and mini potatoes. For dessert, opt for Nonna's sugar donuts; they're melt-in-your-mouth and pillowy soft.

Luxurious takes on diner and brunch classics—think Benedicts and open-faced turkey sandwiches—dominate the ever-evolving menu at this cute corner eatery. There's something for everyone, including a menu for the under-10 set, but dishes like fried truffled mushrooms and smoked pork loin are decidedly refined.

This Hawaiian-inspired restaurant and tiki bar is a hip hangout, delicious eatery, and occasional nighttime hot spot. The menu includes pineapple fried rice served in an actual pineapple, poke bowls, and plenty of vegan options (fried "chicken" from its sister takeout spot Lovebird is available). The cocktail menu is big, bright, and sprawling, featuring both old-school drinks and playful tropical creations (some named after Drake songs). A back room, once home to the nightclub Wrongbar, hosts DJ events and parties. 

This hot-pink patisserie is a top destination for Torontonians with a sweet tooth. Long glass cases are filled with French macarons, cakes, and fanciful pastries, as well as savory options like croissant sandwiches and salads, while the walls are lined with a candy shop's worth of sweets (all made in-house). There's delicious espresso, as well as ice cream offered in a second storefront around back.

Established in 1984, Nami is one of the first authentic Japanese restaurants in Toronto and continues to serve fresh sushi sourced locally and from Japan to a loyal clientele. Kimono-clad servers and wood booths replicate an older version of Kyoto. In addition to its standard menu, Nami offers daily specials and seasonal promotions—there’s always something new and interesting to try.

Located on a quiet side street, NEO COFFEE BAR is a well-loved shop that serves quality coffees and teas, with a focus on creating Japanese fusion pastries. Opened in 2015, the shop’s beautiful space combines the best of Japanese and Scandinavian design with its warm wood finishes, concrete surfaces, and minimalist furniture, which has won it design accolades. Aesthetics aside, NEO is a warm and hip community hub with a loyal clientele due to its friendly service and use of quality, organic ingredients to create delicious drinks and sweets; popular menu items are the matcha latte and roll cakes, as well as seasonal drinks and pastries.

Whether you're in need of an espresso, a pour-over, a hojicha tea latte, a sandwich, or a gorgeous slice of cake, this modern Japanese café has you covered.

In hotly debated "best pizza in the city" barroom discussions, this local pizza chain is one of the top contenders. This location is a top spot in the Village for a tasty and crispy pie, slice, or handful of garlic knots.

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).

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.

Whether you order them baked, fried, or raw, oysters are the thing at this casual neighborhood spot. A chalkboard spells out what's fresh, along with sizing and prices for each, and there is an excellent selection of house-made condiments. The main thing here is obviously the bivalves, but the seafood chowder is also excellent.

This legendary deli has been serving kosher-style kishkes, knishes, and oversize smoked-meat-on-rye sandwiches for four generations.

This fast-casual takeout spot is an offshoot of one of the city's top catering companies, the Food Dudes---and though the salads and proteins here are produced in massive quantities, everything is handled with a deft, flavorful touch. Pick a combo size, then choose from the daily mix of multicultural offerings in the display case. Favorites include moist grilled salmon and various types of chicken (jerk, peri peri, shawarma, etc.), ricotta meatballs, truffle mac and cheese, and Mexican street cauliflower.

This Egyptian takeout spot is a welcome herbivore-friendly destination on this souvlaki-heavy strip. Most of the satisfying, delicious dishes here are vegan, with koshari (a savory lentil, pasta, and tomato dish), ful (spiced, slow-simmered fava beans) and tameya (crisp, herbaceous Egyptian falafel) the biggest draws.

This neighborhood staple has been serving fresh and delicious seafood dishes for more than 15 years. Oysters make up the backbone of Pearl Diver’s menu, alongside popular menu items like pan-seared steelhead trout, the PD burger, and the mouthwatering seafood tower adorned with oysters, pickled mussels, crab legs, and more. The black walnut old-fashioned and the lychee lime margarita—created to replicate a pearl in the water—are must-order drinks.

Ride the Queens Quay Terminal escalator to one of the city's hidden fine dim sum experiences. The view overlooking Lake Ontario is nearly as delicious as the restaurant's menu of traditional Cantonese classics like har gao shrimp dumplings, broad snow pea leaves decorated with chunks of king mushroom, and various fresh seafoods from the tank prepared with homemade sauces.

Folks flock from all over town for this takeout counter's fried chicken sandwiches—one of the first spots to capitalize on what has become a citywide trend.