Toronto doesn’t need to boast about its food scene. The city speaks for itself.
With influences from every corner of the world, Canada’s most multicultural city is a place where dim sum and dry-aged ribeyes sit comfortably on the same block, where sushi counters are booked weeks in advance and where tasting menus come tucked-away speakeasy bars. And of course, being perched on Lake Ontario, world-class seafood is never far from the spotlight.
This is where locals book weeks ahead and visiting stars slip in quietly during TIFF. If you know where to go, you’ll eat very well.
Here are the best restaurants in Toronto.
Aburi Hana
- Toronto, ON, Canada
Aburi Hana offers a refined take on Kyoto-style kaiseki in a serene Yorkville setting. The design is soft and immersive with curved wood partitions and ambient lighting setting a calm tone throughout. Each dish is presented with intention highlighting Japanese ingredients and technique with a subtle local influence. The experience is deeply ritualistic with quiet service and a sense of flow that builds across the multiple-course progression.
Buca
- Toronto, ON, Canada
Buca brings rustic Italian cooking to a sleek industrial space just off King Street West. The interior is all brick wood and steel with an open kitchen and visible curing room adding to the atmosphere. The menu is ingredient-driven with housemade pastas whole fish and cured meats presented with confident simplicity. It’s a bold and energetic setting that keeps a strong following among the city’s food-savvy crowd.
Quetzal
- Toronto, ON, Canada
Quetzal brings the flavors of Mexico to life over a 26-foot wood-fired grill in a sleek and linear setting on College Street. The space is striking and contemporary with concrete finishes, curved ceilings and dramatic lighting. The menu spans regional Mexican traditions with bold flavors and open-fire cooking techniques that give each dish depth and character. It's a vibrant and immersive experience that invites exploration.
Cafe Boulud
- Toronto, ON, Canada
Located inside the Four Seasons Hotel in Yorkville Cafe Boulud offers a polished brasserie-style experience with French roots and seasonal influence. The room is sophisticated but unpretentious with leather banquettes and warm lighting. The menu balances classics like duck à l’orange and steak frites with lighter modern additions. It’s a versatile dining option equally suited to weekday lunches and elegant evenings out.
Alo
- Toronto, ON, Canada
Perched above a Victorian building on Spadina Avenue, Alo offers a polished and precise tasting menu experience in an elegant urban setting. The room is sleek and softly lit with views into a glassed-in kitchen. The cuisine is French-inspired with modern touches featuring finely composed plates that shift with the seasons. Known for its seamless service and attention to detail Alo remains one of the city's most refined dining destinations.
Sushi Masaki Saito
Roots
- Toronto, ON, Canada
Sushi Masaki Saito offers a faraway adventure in the heart of Toronto. As the only restaurant in Canada with a chef holding two Michelin stars, Masaki Saito presents Edomae-style sushi rarely experienced outside Japan. The restaurant's ambiance is set with a marble staircase, a two-hundred-year-old hinoki counter, and traditional Japanese paneling. Fish is flown in exclusively from Japan, and assistants ensure chef Saito's prized rice from Niigata prefecture, warm and tinged with his special blend of vinegars, is ready after every course. Here, one might find shirako boldly skewered and grilled, or savor melting chutoro under a blizzard of white truffles. The experience is more than just a meal; it's a culinary journey filled with laughter, thanks to chef Saito and his jovial team.
Edulis
- Toronto, ON, Canada
Edulis is a small west-end restaurant with a quiet presence and a deeply seasonal tasting menu. The dining room is understated and intimate with wooden furniture soft lighting and a handwritten wine list. The menu changes frequently based on what’s available with a focus on vegetables wild mushrooms and seafood. With a slow pace and subtle charm Edulis is a place for thoughtful unhurried meals.
Jacobs & co. Steakhouse
- Toronto, ON, Canada
Jacobs & Co. is a classic downtown steakhouse known for its dry-aged beef and polished service. The setting is low-lit and comfortable with leather booths and a vintage piano often playing in the background. The menu is steak-forward supported by shellfish sides and a deep wine list. Ideal for business dinners and celebrations it delivers formality with ease and attention to detail.
Giulietta
- Toronto, ON, Canada
Giulietta offers a contemporary approach to Italian dining in a sleek midtown space. The interior features marble counters warm woods and a long open kitchen that adds energy to the room. The menu is focused and balanced with grilled meats fresh pasta and vegetables prepared with clarity and restraint. It’s a stylish venue with a relaxed rhythm and confident service.
Actinolite
- Toronto, ON, Canada
Actinolite is a small neighborhood restaurant with a focus on Canadian terroir and sustainability. The dining room is relaxed and pared-back allowing the seasonal tasting menu to take center stage. Ingredients are often foraged or sourced directly from Ontario farms with dishes that favor natural flavors and quiet complexity. It’s an understated and grounded experience that speaks to place and season without pretense.
