The 14 Best Restaurants in Toronto

Edulis is a tiny, husband-and-wife-run gem serving a prix-fixe menu rooted in Spanish and French traditions with an obsessive focus on wild mushrooms, seafood, and foraged ingredients. The room seats fewer than 30 people, creating an intimate, almost private-dinner feel. Reservations open monthly and disappear within minutes — set a reminder or you'll miss out.

Consistently ranked among Canada's best restaurants, Alo serves a French-inspired tasting menu in a sleek third-floor room above Queen West. Chef Patrick Kriss's cooking is precise, creative, and deeply satisfying — think perfectly composed courses with exceptional wine pairings. Reservations are notoriously difficult to secure; use their online system and be persistent.

One of the most acclaimed omakase experiences in Canada, Masaki Saito trained under legendary Tokyo masters and brings that precision to a 10-seat counter in Yorkville. The fish is flown in from Japan and the nigiri is among the finest you'll find outside Tokyo. Expect to spend $400+ per person and book months ahead — this is a bucket-list meal.

Toronto's beloved modern Vietnamese sandwich shop — banh mi, steamed bao and Korean-style tacos done fast and cheap. Send you here for a killer lunch on Queen West. Caveat: it's a tiny grab-and-go with barely any seating, so plan to take it away.

A no-frills Chinatown mainstay on Spadina for all-day dim sum ordered off a checklist, plus classic Cantonese plates. Send you here for cheap, reliable, late-night dumplings. Caveat: service is brisk and the room is basic — you come for the food and the hours, not the ambiance.

A tiny, beloved spot in Kensington Market serving Turkish simit (sesame-crusted bread rings), börek, and strong tea in a warm, no-frills setting. It's a genuine neighbourhood institution that draws a loyal crowd of regulars. Cash only and seating is limited, but the food is honest and delicious at a price that feels almost too good.

Actinolite is a quietly excellent farm-to-table restaurant on Ossington that sources almost everything from small Ontario farms and producers. The seasonal tasting menu changes constantly and reflects what's genuinely available locally — a rarity done with real conviction. The room is cozy and unhurried, making it ideal for a long, thoughtful dinner.

Quetzal is a stunning Mexican restaurant built around a massive wood-burning hearth that anchors both the cooking and the dramatic open kitchen. The tacos, tlayudas, and mezcal cocktails are exceptional, and the space itself — soaring ceilings, exposed brick — is one of the most beautiful dining rooms in the city. Walk-ins are possible but a reservation is strongly recommended.

A Toronto institution since 1980, Scaramouche offers classic French-influenced fine dining with one of the best views of the downtown skyline from its Midtown perch. The coconut cream pie is legendary and has been on the menu for decades. It's a bit off the beaten path for tourists but beloved by locals for anniversaries and milestone dinners.

Sukhothai is a long-running Thai restaurant in Leslieville that locals swear by for its deeply flavoured curries, pad see ew, and tom kha. It's not trendy or flashy — just consistently excellent Thai cooking in a comfortable neighbourhood room. Waits can be long on weekends and they don't always take reservations, so arrive early.

Perched on the 54th floor of TD Tower, Canoe is a landmark fine-dining room celebrating Canadian ingredients with serious technique. The tasting menu and dishes like bison or Arctic char are consistently excellent. The view alone is worth the splurge, but book well in advance — tables go fast, especially for window seats.

Downtown's runaway-hit Northern Thai kitchen on Duncan Street — khao soi, gaeng hung lay and a warm, buzzy basement room. Absolutely send you here; it's some of the best Thai in the city. Caveat: it's wildly popular with long waits, and reservations are limited by design.

The St. Lawrence Market stall that made the peameal bacon sandwich a Toronto icon — a simple bun stacked with griddled back bacon. Worth trying once for the ritual. Caveat: it's cash-friendly, often has a line, and it's very much a one-hit tourist landmark inside the market.

Chubby's is a fun, vibrant Jamaican restaurant and bar on King West serving jerk chicken, oxtail, curry goat, and rum cocktails in a colourful, music-filled room. The food is genuinely flavourful and the atmosphere is festive — it's one of the best places in the city to eat Caribbean food without travelling to Scarborough. It gets loud and lively on weekends, which is part of the charm.