Every Toronto restaurant I went to
The list you didn't ask for, but need.
Well, well, well, if it isn’t the 2024 Toronto restaurant round-up I put off writing until now. But, 1. life is busy and 2. I went to A LOT of restaurants last year. Nevertheless, I still think it’s important to reflect on a year of good eating, everywhere I dined, and where I recommend—marked with a ⭐!!
Looking back on the whirlwind that was 2024, food was at the centre of some of my favourite moments: An Italian feast in the name of love and a fresh start, a birthday vitello tonnato with bone marrow croutons, Chinese barbecue after picking up my wedding dress.
And it was also there to help soothe the not-so-good: breakfast pierogies after a sleepless night, weeping into a hot plate of Egyptian shakshuka, omakase to take my mind off a shit day.
I sort of fell into writing about food, but my love for it has always been there. The same way it’s always been there for me. And lucky for me, I live in the best city for it. Toronto has the most diverse food scene. It’s hard to go more than a block without getting a taste of someone’s home or history. To eat in this city is to be almost everywhere without going anywhere. I’ve barely scratched the surface.
This past year, I was lucky to dine at some spectacular new places alongside old favourites that are thankfully still around. How unfair it is to always flock to the shiny and new when there are so many stalwarts that still got it: Bar Isabel, Seven Lives, Hastings Snack Bar, Union to name a few. When comprising the below list, I realized the places I enjoyed and returned to the most were, ahem, old.
That’s not to say that new restaurants aren’t worth it, of course they are, but I try not to get overly excited or visit too early because it takes time to get into a groove. If new restaurants have the budget, they’ll often host media previews or tastings. At their best, these previews are just that: a glimpse into what a new spot or menu has to offer (many of which I’m grateful to attend). At their worst, they’re a self-indulgent phone fest of blinding lights, more alcohol than food, and over-inflated hype from people who will never be back—at least not on their own dime.
Instead of running to every new restaurant in The Well the second it opens or a splashy new spot from a famous chef, I recommend checking out an older restaurant that’s new to you or swinging by that mom-and-pop place you love. I guarantee you will leave feeling more satisfied. When in doubt, a meal at one of my five favourite Toronto restaurants of the year (also below) will do just fine.
Toronto restaurants: Where I ate and what I thought
⭐ Alder *hosted - Not just a pretty space, but one that has substance to it. The Ace Hotel’s highly attractive, wood-fire restaurant took seven years to build (along with the rest of the hotel), and it shows. Good things take time.
When I’m not drooling over the interiors, I’m face-deep in their fluffy dinner rolls, a Wagyu beef carpaccio sliced so thinly you fear for the chef’s fingers, or a half-roast chicken that’s pure comfort. Psst, the Lobby Bar upstairs has $12 drinks weekdays from 4-7 p.m.
And/Ore - A very aesthetic space with very friendly service and very aesthetic food that tastes good but you leave feeling sort of … empty?
Ascari - An Italian restaurant in Toronto. Everything about our meal was completely fine, just not particularly memorable.
⭐ Bar Ardo - Beautiful, new-ish restaurant and cocktail bar in the heart of Old Town. I think it has the potential to be successful like its sister spot Ardo a few doors down. Their wild shrimp linguine is the kind of pasta I’d like to share with Stanley Tucci: simple, savoury, and full of flavour from Sicilian ingredients like shaved tuna bottarga.
⭐ Bar Isabel - spoiler alert, one of my favourite Toronto restaurants of the year—more on that below ;)
⭐ Bar Koukla - I go here for the mezze, which is always fresh and fun, and stay for the $10 classic martinis (9 p.m. to late every night). The plates are small (because, mezze) but the flavours sure aren’t.
⭐ Bar Raval - When I moved back to the city as a dumb, broke 24-year-old, I rollerbladed by here (I couldn’t afford transit let alone tapas) and thought it was the coolest bar I had ever seen. Its cocoon of curved wood crammed with hot people eating pintxos mesmerized me. When I eventually got a taste, I felt like I was on top of the world. I still feel that way all these years later whenever I pop by for a Spanish Fizz and my favourite bite of Kitchen Bread.
⭐ Bar Sugo - The louder little sister to the red sauce joint, Sugo, next-door. Small menu of pasta, wood-fired pizza, and parm done really well. There’s usually a wait, it’s always bumping, and the portions are huge. I tend to go classic here and get the spaghetti ragu: hearty, homey, fucking delicious.
⭐ Belle Isle - Maybe it’s the jello shot that spells “FUCK IT” in squiggly letters, or the “shitty olives,” or the Coney dog with mustard so yellow you could paint the road with it, but this is the kind of place Toronto needs (read: doesn’t take itself too seriously). Got to write about this deeply horny snack bar for Toronto Life, and love stopping by for a cocktail and a good time.
British Style Fish and Chips - I don’t go here for top-notch fish and chips. I go here because it’s less than 10 dollars, I never have to wait in line, and the people are nice.
Casa Morales - New Mexican spot in Kensington Market that could use more development and time to figure some things out.
Chula Taberna Mexicana - Ummmm … I just feel that Toronto has so many “modern Mexican” restaurants that offer a very similar experience: have some guac, order a few mid tacos, stare longingly at a Día de los Muertos mural, drink a marg that’s too sweet, repeat.
⭐ Conci - Tiny French café and wine bar with big energy. It’s run by French expats, so they know what’s up when it comes to good pastries and bread. But it’s more than just a sneaky spot where you can score a coveted canelé or croissant (if you're there early). When it’s not negative-fuck-this-place outside, they put on rotating block parties with food and sound mashups, sunny vibes, and plenty of natural wine.
⭐ Cumin Kitchen - My favourite Indian restaurant in the east end. They’re so consistently good and reliable. I usually go for the biryani or the always tender lamb rogan josh, a thick, almost gravy-like Kashmiri curry loaded with warming spices.
⭐ Evangeline - Sexy rooftop bar on top of the very sexy Ace Hotel. Catch me there with an Ace Martini in one hand and a smashed slider in the other.
⭐ General Public - Jen Agg’s most ambitious restaurant yet. You can tell how much creativity, heart, and hard work went into every thoughtful detail, and you can read my full review here.
⭐ Greta Solomon’s *now closed* - Cozy wooden shoebox on Queen East. During our visit, we had oysters, steak frites, and a few glasses from their 100+ bottle wine list (or what the French call “lunch”). The steak didn’t do it for me, but the Chablis was crisp, the oysters were fresh, and the vibes were high.
⭐ Good Company - a café/barbershop/snack bar (how Queen West) that has good deals: buck-a-shuck Sundays, dollar-an-ounce Traynor wines, espresso martini shooters, and a mini dirty martini with an oyster on it aptly named the Mother Shucker.
⭐ Gus Tacos - If I’m ever in need a greasy taco on the fly, Gus is there to fill the void (with a crisp Topo Chico), and they do it well.
⭐ Gusto 501 - The space is absolutely stunning (it reminds me of an opera house) with its towering terracotta walls that reach four glorious stories over King Street East. The pizza and pasta are always on point, but don’t sleep on their focaccia, kale salad, and dollar-an-ounce house vino.
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⭐ Harrys Charbroiled - I don’t want peanut butter or guacamole on my burger. I want classic toppings on a classic patty that’s not too big, not too smashed. Harry’s Plain Jane burger nails the brief: 4 oz beef patty, American cheese, pickles, onion, ketchup, and a great burger-to-bun ratio. Oh, and their thick-cut fries are heavenly.
⭐ Hastings Snack Bar - one of those classic Toronto mom-and-pop spots that’s been unapologetically themselves for years. The service is not particularly warm (they’re busy!) but that’s part of the charm.
It’s a small, counter-service spot at the back of a Leslieville barber shop that serves up huge, homestyle plates of Polish classics like bigos (a traditional sauerkraut stew), schnitzel, and legendary filled doughnuts that always sell out.
Ladybug Wine Bar - Stopped by this Corktown wine bar for small plates, but mostly for their “Retail Sunday,” where you can drink any bottle on their menu at its takeaway price.
⭐ Lake Inez - In a city full of carbon copy crudos, Lake Inez is defiantly original. Reading their menu or IG, which has captivating background stories behind each dish, is like stumbling upon someone’s deliciously entertaining diary. You never really know what to expect, and that’s the fun.
I love this place: the playful and unpretentious energy, the funky by-the-glass wines, our appetizer of meaty morel mushrooms stuffed with house-made summer sausage that I still think about.
⭐ Lambo’s Deli - I go to their Leslieville location probably once a week, and have yet to meet a sub I didn’t love. They catered my bridal shower, obviously.
⭐ Leslieville Sandwich Room - Don’t tell Lambo’s, but sometimes I dabble in the huge, house-made focaccia sandwiches here. So far, my favourite is the Nola (their take on a New Orleans Muffaletta), which packs enough cured meat to be its own deli.
⭐ Le Swan - Comforting bistro classics meet old-school diner vibes (and they have my favourite steak tartare in the city). The menu is French for “I don’t give two fucks,” and by this I mean excellent, interesting wines rub elbows with nostalgic milkshakes; a corn dog co-exists next to the dry-aged steak served with frites that take three days to make; and there’s fondue? It doesn’t make sense, yet it absolutely does.
⭐ Linny’s - scroll down ;)
⭐ Maha’s - On one of the hardest (and coldest) days of the year, I went to Maha’s for Egyptian brunch and emotional support. A few mouthfuls of hot lemon ginger tea and shakshuka later, and I started to feel like I was going to be okay.
Most brunch spots could only dream of making dishes with as much soul and flavour as the ones at Maha’s. It’s the only place I will wait outside before noon in the freezing cold for.
⭐ Manita - Never thought I’d say this, but I love the salads here. I don’t have much else to add other than they’ve got a really tasty breakfast sandwich, and I like the vibes, ok?
⭐ Matty's Patty's - there’s something about the Matty’s sauce that keeps me coming back to this Trinity Bellwoods burger shack. The tangy sauce tastes like mustard and tartar sauce had a love child, and it just works.
⭐ Maven - a new Harbord Village spot that feels like it’s been part of the neighbourhood for years. The menu is inspired by home-cooked European Jewish food rooted in nostalgia and family memories. It’s like going for dinner at a chic Bubby’s house.
The salty, sweet, vinegary BBQ Salami continues to occupy a particular space in my mind. I also loved the potato salad—a dill-lover’s dream—with pickled mustard seeds and malt vinaigrette. And I basically licked my plate of rainbow trout with luscious olive schmear clean.
⭐ Mimi Chinese *hosted - every time I go to Mimi, I’m floored by the whole experience, from the level of technique to the bold flavours to the lighting in the bathroom (I’ve never looked better). It’s truly something special, a celebration of China’s vast culinary landscape except you’re in Yorkville (kind of).
I’ve tried just about everything on the menu, and it’s all exceptional, but my faves are the smacked cucumber salad, the achingly good shrimp toast, caramelized house char siu (meat candy), the texturally elite chaoshan marinated scallop, supreme fried rice with salty pops of salmon roe and lap cheong, and the dramatic four-foot belt noodle. Brb, drooling.
⭐ MSSM Ossington - The dilemma: I want to try omakase but I’m not a Kardashian. Enter: MSSM Ossington. A dinner here is priced at $98 per person (compared to its sister spot, Sushi Masaki Saito, where a night STARTS at $680 per person, that’s a fricken steal).
The tasting consists of 14 dishes that run the omakase gamut, from a fatty tuna hand roll to a buttery, torched sea bream nigiri. Each element was so fresh and executed with the precision of a neurosurgeon—I wouldn’t except anything less from chef Masaki Saito’s students—but the vibe is totally relaxed and fun.
⭐ North of Brooklyn - So, I can’t eat dairy (*gasps), and it’s a real buzz-kill when it comes to pizza. Lucky for me, North of Brooklyn has a vegan cheese that actually melts and doesn’t make my ‘za taste like plastic. I love them so much for it, I’ve even managed to forgive them for not having pineapple as a topping.
Puerto Bravo - casual, seafood-forward Mexican spot in Little India. The margaritas were crushable, but I thought the food was underwhelming. I need to go back and reassess because I’ve heard good things.
⭐ Ricky + Olivia - I was pleasantly surprised by this Queen East cutie. Their menu is playful and quirky (red wine gummies, steak tartare with cheddar "cheese whiz"), which can be challenging to pull off without being gimmicky or straight up bad.
We played it safe by going more classic—heirloom tomatoes with just the right amount of salt, a no-nonsense steak with chimichurri—and everything was delicious. My fave was the chicken salad sandwich. They put confit chicken, chicken mayo, and chicken skins between two pieces of crispy challah bread fried in chicken fat. It’s like chicken inception, finished with an all-dressed chip crumb. It’s unreal.
⭐ Sala Modern Thai Kitchen - my fave spot for Thai in the east-end. This isn’t a ketchup-in-your-pad-thai place. They’re all about authentic flavours, fresh ingredients, and super friendly service.
⭐ Samaira's Kitchen - A little Leslieville gem where you can get really good comfort food at really good prices. They make their own bread in house, which gives their already drippy and delicious burgers and sandwiches an extra touch of love.
⭐ Seven Lives - Cash-only taqueria in Kensington. Out of all the tacos I’ve tried in this city, none hold a candle to the ones at Seven Lives (except for Fonda Balam’s, RIP). The tacos here are exactly what I want: small but punchy, saucy yet hold their integrity, and—like an old flame that’s suddenly come back—messy as hell.
Soluna - tbh, not my choice of restaurant (dancers grinding on dry ice while you eat dinner doesn’t do it for me). But, my meal was surprisingly good, the service was friendly, and I had fun.
⭐ Supreme Taste - keep going ;)
⭐ Sunnys Chinese *hosted - One of my favourite Toronto restaurants of all time. You wouldn’t know from walking down that janky-ass Kensington Mall hallway, but there’s a goddamn palace at the end. Born out of a pandemic pop-up, Sunnys has become one of the city’s coolest it girls, where spice, heat, and regional Chinese flavours leave you all tingly and euphoric. Maybe that’s the baijiu talking?
We celebrated her second birthday this past year on the back patio (Cold Tea’s old digs, IYKYK) and things got rowdy. In between several Gunpowder Slaps, we feasted on bites like Sichuan’s fiery Dan Dan noodles slathered in chili oil, succulent charcoal-grilled pork belly, and sweet and sour orange chicken (Panda Express’ gift to the world).
⭐ Sushi on Gerrard - my go-to for takeout sushi. I’ve yet to find a casual sushi spot that’s on par with the quality and prices here. Besides their sushi, I always order their huge beef udon bowl. It’s loaded with *~umami~* and eating it is like making out with salty, comforting joy.
⭐ Taverne Tamblyn - you’re almost there ;) *now closed for dinner service*
⭐ Terroni is like The Keg of Italian food: quality ingredients cooked simply and well. They don’t do any modifications, which I low-key respect (they have designated vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free menus), and I’ve never had a bad pasta there.
⭐ The Keg (speaking of). Where else in the city can you can get a perfectly cooked, quality steak with sides included at a better price??? The Esplanade location is the best one IMO, some of the kitchen staff have been there for years.
⭐ Union - breakfast, lunch, dinner, it’s always good. A caesar on their back patio is peak summer for me.
⭐ Wanas Shawarma - the best shawarma I’ve had in Toronto. It’s Syrian-style, so there’s no shortage of sweet and tangy pomegranate molasses. They dip the shawarma in its own meat drippings before blitzing it to flame-seal the wrap nice and crispy.
White Lily Diner - Don’t hate me, but I don’t get the hype (or maybe I just dislike brunch unless it’s Maha’s). We waited a long time for what felt like pretty average breakfast. The service and space were so warm and friendly, and I love how much they champion local suppliers, but I just don’t have it in me to wait over an hour for … eggs.
⭐ Wynona - so close, promise ;)
⭐ Yan Dining Room *hosted - Chef Eva Chin’s new micro restaurant inside Hong Shing. The locally sourced, neo-Chinese tasting menu features dishes that highlight Eva’s culture, culinary journey, and the stories she’s collected along the way. It’s pretty cool. It’s also insanely good value (around $88 for 8-10 courses).
The offerings change monthly, depending on what’s in season or what’s inspiring Eva. Maybe it’s a daikon soup in memory of the ones her grandma would make, or perhaps sea bream with a tart, preserved Ontario cherry sauce, influenced by Chinese sweet and sour sauce.
⭐ Zitto Zitto Taverna - We had our rehearsal dinner at this homey Sicilian spot on College, and were totally blown away by the whole experience. Obviously, we picked it for the food. They specialize in seafood and pasta that could give Nonna a run for her money, but the level of service and ambiance nailed their parts in a really special night. Their cozy cantina, separated from the restaurant by glass wine cabinets, is the perfect spot for a dinner party or event.
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My top-five restaurants of the year (in no order)
Linny’s - How do we honour the ones we love after they’re gone? Some write heartfelt captions, others get tattoos, David Schwartz builds a restaurant—and a spectacular one at that. Linny's is part swanky steakhouse, part old-school deli, named after the chef-owner's late mom Linda. It's a homecoming of sorts, with a menu and ambience that call back to the way things were (pressed white linen, vintage radios playing hard bop jazz). It’s nostalgic and sexy, and while Toronto has its fair share of steakhouses, there’s nothing like Linny’s.
It takes courage to open anything but especially yourself—to your past, to food that feels acutely personal, to the possibility of failure. But, like all of Schwartz’s restaurants, there’s so much passion and precision behind every single detail, every dish (I beg you to get the pastrami, the fluke and fennel, and the cured King salmon) that I can’t imagine a world where it doesn’t all work out.
⭐ Taverne Tamblyn *now closed for dinner service*- the definition of a neighbourhood restaurant: red and white striped awning, country bread baked fresh every day, the smell of boeuf bourguignon wafting from the open kitchen. It’s like a fricken Disney movie in there. This is French food at its best—unfussy, unpretentious, and unequivocally delicious. Stop by for Tuesdays at the Taverne, where you can get a three-course dinner for $48.
Their frites are fried in beef fat, like God intended, which makes them extra crispy and addicting. Instead of a raw egg yolk, the steak tartare has salted egg yolk grated over it, which turns up the saturation on a classic. We shared the rich and balanced beef bourguignon and P.E.I. mussels—the combo that could quite easily be my death-row meal.
Supreme Taste - an East Chinatown legend-in-the-making (they only opened in 2023, but are helping to keep Toronto’s dwindling flame of Chinese barbecue going). The front door never stops opening with people picking up takeout or sitting down for dim sum and steaming plates of roast duck.
Their menu features a wide selection—as Cantonese restaurants often do—of dishes, from savoury siu mai (steamed pork dumpling) to classic young chow fried rice and Sichuan-style mapo tofu, but it’s their siu mei (roasted meat) that’s next-level.
The crispy roasted pork is a highlight. It has a thin layer of crackly skin that makes an audible crunch before you reach a soft, luscious landing of tender and flavourful meat. Nailing this takes both skill and experience that doesn’t happen overnight. There are years of knowledge behind these dishes that we blissfully devour in seconds.
Wynona - I want to marry this restaurant. It’s romantic and down-to-earth, not showy or pretentious—even though they serve Italian-style dishes that are so dang good they could be smug about it. Plus, I think its rare to find a restaurant that can easily suit a chill Monday night and a special occasion.
The ever-evolving menu is as fresh as their pastas. One of the standout dishes we had was a vitello tonnato, thinly sliced veal in a creamy, mayo-based tuna sauce with capers and anchovies. It’s something you don’t see often because it’s a ballsy dish that sounds rogue, but when it’s executed well, it’s divine. Wynona not only killed it, but made it even better by adding croutons brushed with bone marrow.
The pastas range from classic pomodoro to ravioli stuffed with things you have to Google. They’re always good. They also recently launched a 5-course shared set menu (two apps, a pasta, one main, and a dessert) for $75 per person.
Bar Isabel - The closest thing we have to Spain. It’s so sultry and cozy inside. I wish I could bottle the feeling you get when you sit down for a meal here. It’s been a small plates restaurant before that became a whole thing, and they’ve had the past 12 years to nail every single one.
Their dishes, which have reached celeb-like status, are not overly complex or too chefy. Instead, they treat fresh, local ingredients and fine European imports with the utmost care and technique, making them the star. If you don’t get the grilled octopus, you’re seriously missing out. Before it gets to your table, glistening with a lemon-garlic butter emulsion, it’s brined, steamed, and grilled with just the right amount of char. It tastes like something out of a Mediterranean holiday. Psst, they have a Saturday lunch special with half-priced cocktails and a $69 prix-fixe menu for two people.
The best of the year
Best sandwich: the chicken salad sandwich at Ricky + Olivia
Best cocktails: General Public
Best service: Ricky + Olivia
Best vibe: Belle Isle
Best taco: Baja fish taco from Seven Lives (all of their tacos, really)
Best burger: Plain Jane from Harry’s Charbroiled
Best pasta: Wynona (they change frequently but are so consistently good)
Best deal: Every Tuesday, Jules Bistro has half-price côte de boeuf at both of their locations (Leslieville & Trinity Bellwoods). That’s 24 oz. of AAA ribeye with fries and a salad for like 59 bucks (before tax and tip)
Best brunch: It’s always going to be Maha’s
Best new restaurant: Linny’s
Best not-new restaurant: Bar Isabel
Best design (new restaurant): It’s a tie between Linny’s and General Public
Best design (not new): Gusto 501
Best bathroom(s): General Public - no one does a bathroom like Jen Agg
Best Dessert: Bar Isabel’s Basque cheesecake and Sunnys’ Hong Kong French toast have a cult-following for a reason
2024 Toronto restaurant trends: what was hot
the return of lunch
anchovies and tinned fish, but make it $30
fennel mania, kampachi craze, stuffed pasta obsessed
sides not included
food halls
mini martinis
mocktails that are actually good
restaurants rebranding instead of closing (but also lots of closures)
steakhouse opulence, Italian overload, listening bars
“share plate,” except it’s an amuse-bouche
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Agree with so much of this! Because I sense we're in the same neighbourhood, if you haven't tried Maple Leaf Tavern (woodfired meats + manhattans on tap!) and Goods & Provisions (walk up only, constantly rotating menu, buzzy little neighbourhood spot), I highly reco!