As a newcomer to the city myself, I was blown away (and so was my belt buckle) by what is on offer, even at your fingertips with Uber Eats and Skip.
While some restaurants have had to close their doors disappointingly, the city's new generation of restaurants keep pushing the bar higher and higher.
None more so than these Toronto-based spots that were recently recognized among the best new restaurants in Canada.
On Monday, May 5, Canada's 100 Best New Restaurants 2025 list dropped, and three Toronto establishments were among the top five.
At #2 is the French restaurant LSL, at #3 is the steakhouse Linny's, and at #5 is the Korean spot Takja BBQ.
Hungry yet? Here's a closer look at the best new restaurants in Toronto:
LSL Restaurant
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Cuisine: Haute French with a Japanese influence
Address: 2066 Avenue Rd., North York, ON
Why You Need To Go: Opened in May 2024, LSL is an exceptional culinary experience in a highly intimate setting. It is the brainchild of chefs Christian Le Squer, Masaki Saito and Didier Leroy, hence LSL.
With only nine seats at the location, those lucky enough to enter the door can taste exceptional French haute cuisine with high-class Japanese products.
"Whether it's taste, smell, sight or sound, everything in this room is designed to bring you back to yourself," said general manager Matthieu Arteau. "You're meant to leave lighter than when you came in. This is the heart of what we do — and the most important thing is the heart."
LSL's Website
Linny's Restaurant
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Deli-inspired steakhouse
Address: 176 Ossington Ave., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Since opening its doors in September 2024, Linny's has become a significant player in vibrant Ossington.
With almost 15,000 followers on Instagram, it is quickly becoming a popular place on the west side.
Chefs David Schwartz and Ethan Rogers focus on using high-quality ingredients and preparing them with love.
Linny's seats between 80-90 people.
"We want guests to feel like they've been transported to a time when craftsmanship and comfort were valued more than convenience and shortcuts," said Chef Schwartz.
Linny's Menu
Takja BBQ
Price:💸💸💸
Cuisine: Korean
Address: 962 College St., Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Opened in April 2024 by chefs Edward Bang and Jeff Kang, Takja BBQ celebrates everything good about Korean cuisine.
Immersing themselves in the tradition of hansang, Takja offers tasty dry-aged meats, banchan, and house ferments, which can explored and enjoyed by all.
"In Korean tradition, hansang is how we welcome guests like family — by filling the table with abundance," said Chef Kang. "We want this food to be shared and the experience to stay with you long after you've left the table."
Takja BBQ's Menu
Canada's 100 Best New Restaurants 2025
- Le Violon — Montreal
- LSL — Toronto
- Linny's — Toronto
- DOPO — Calgary
- Takja BBQ — Toronto
- Mystic — Halifax
- Juliette Plaza — Montreal
- The Gate — Flesherton
- Naagan — Owen Sound
- Elem — Vancouver
Did these restaurants deserve to be on this list? If you haven't already, you'll have to find out for yourself!
