Though Toronto is absolutely jam-packed with incredible food options, a handful of restaurants regularly enter conversations when someone asks, "What restaurants in Toronto shouldn't I miss?"
If you're wondering where to eat in Toronto, whether you're a local or a visitor, we've got you covered!
These eight Toronto restaurants have become renowned even outside the city's borders for their excellent food and drink, atmosphere, service, and everything in between.
So, to truly say you've dined in the 6ix, make sure to add these top Toronto restaurants to your foodie bucket list ASAP!
Prime Seafood Palace
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Cuisine: Steak and seafood
Address: 944 Queen St W, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Between his tower of successful food ventures in Toronto and beyond and his more recent work as an actor and producer on the hit FX television series The Bear, Matty Matheson is inarguably one of Canada's most recognizable celebrity chefs.
A departure from the more relaxed fare at his other spots like Matty's Patty's Burger Club, Prime Seafood Palace shows off Matheson's culinary talents at their most refined. Housed inside a chic and warm dining room, this restaurant may outwardly favour fine seafood - after all, it's right there in the name - but there's just as much attention on dishes like steaks or duck with foie jus.
Open only since 2022, Prime Seafood Palace has readily climbed to the high ranks of Toronto's restaurant scene.
Pizzeria Badiali
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Pizza
Address: 181 Dovercourt Rd, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: They're all over social media and continue to command long lines out the door daily with good reason: Pizzeria Badiali may be one of the most hyped pizza joints in the 6ix, but it's also the rare spot that lives up to that hype.
Available by the slice or in whole pies, Badiali's New York-style pizzas commit to the classics: you won't find super unusual modern toppings here, but you will find takes on pies like the Margherita, Vodka, or Burrata Marinara that use simple quality ingredients to outstanding effect.
If you're passing through Toronto and only have time to hit up one pizza spot, you'd be far from disappointed if that spot was Badiali.
Vela
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: International
Address: 90 Portland St, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: The moody, lobby bar-inspired dining room of this Michelin Guide restaurant screams style and class, and they’ve got incredible food and drink to match.
Located at King and Portland, Vela has earned much acclaim for its contemporary menu, steered by and crafted by executive chef Marvin Palomo. The menu draws on international cuisines like Italian, Pan-Asian, German, Latin American, and beyond, regularly implementing fine Canadian ingredients that are sustainably sourced.
Of equal note is the excellent cocktail program headed by Robin Goodfellow, which takes a playfully temporal approach to its menu by highlighting popular drink styles of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
Alo
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Cuisine: Modern French
Address: 163 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: The modern French tasting menu at Alo has become quite acclaimed, and this restaurant continues to hold its place as one of Toronto's best.
Internationally inspired and crafted using modern French cooking techniques, the food at Alo is built to impress. But don't expect to fully know what you're in for until you walk in the door: Alo's tasting menu is served blind, with multiple surprise courses hitting the table during your seating. The idea of not knowing precisely what you'll be eating may worry some, but Alo's refined culinary program is extremely easy to trust and makes for one of the city's can't-miss food experiences.
Canoe
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Cuisine: Canadian fine dining
Address: 66 Wellington St W, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: The seasonally shifting food at this acclaimed Toronto restaurant situated 54 storeys high is pure Canadiana, thoughtfully designed to be "reflective of our country's diverse landscape."
The contemporary culinary delights at Canoe take inspiration from international cuisines and cooking techniques, with refined dishes built to show off exceptional ingredients by the best Canadian farmers and food purveyors. It makes for a Toronto dining experience that's hard to beat, and the proof is in the hefty list of awards Canoe has garnered over the years, including national and global recognition.
Don Alfonso 1890
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Cuisine: Italian fine dining
Address: 1 Harbour Square, 38th Floor, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Italian food is the focus at this fine dining spot, but don't expect your typical spaghetti & meatballs or fettuccine alfredo.
That's because the Michelin Guide-recognized Don Alfonso 1890 puts a modern, haute cuisine spin on Italian flavours and ingredients, turning out their signature tasting menu, which can feature intriguing dishes like pheasant-stuffed ravioli with Grana Padano foam and black truffle or eel gelato with sturgeon caviar, pulverized egg yolk, wild herbs, and wild rose-scented tagliatelle.
It's safe to say you've probably never had Italian cuisine quite like this before: this is a singular spot in Toronto's food scene.
Richmond Station
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Canadian
Address: 1 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Cleverly designed to look like the entry point to a Toronto subway station, this popular restaurant combines the relaxed vibes of your favourite neighbourhood eatery with exceptional food and service.
Meat, seafood, vegetarian dishes, and more are thoughtfully crafted using quality ingredients sourced from local farmers and artisans, resulting in a menu that's elevated yet approachable. Richmond Station isn't shy about offering a burger on its menu, but you can bet it'll be among the best burgers you've ever had.
For the adventurous, Richmond Station also offers a tasting menu, with dishes changing every couple of weeks to keep it fresh. This place is beloved by Toronto foodies for good reason.
Khao San Road
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Thai
Address: 11 Charlotte St, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Toronto has a bumpin' Thai food scene, and Khao San Road is easily one of the standouts.
If you crave flavourful, bright Thai cuisine made using the freshest ingredients and the ability to customize dishes to your liking, you can't pass this place up. From comforting curries to richly flavourful noodle dishes to refreshing appetizers and beyond, it's hard to find a dish that isn't bang-on here.
Locals consider Khao San Road to be among Toronto's best Thai spots, and it's easy to see why.
