Toronto Eating: 24 Best Local Restaurants & Cafes in Toronto

OddSeoul

By Amanda

OddSeoul had incredible Korean fusion food! Every plate is inspiring and full of flavour! Each dish is small, but shareable and I recommend getting a few to split at the table. It is hidden, with no sign on the street, but it is always bustling. Leave your name at the door, and grab a drink down the street while you wait for a table.

A

by Amanda

Sud Forno

Budget Meals 4 0

By Mackenzie

Fancy Patisserie Italian Style

Sud Forno

4

Sud Forno was opened by locally famous restaurant Terroni. They do pizza-by-the-slice with Roman flavours like potato and sausage, and 'nduja. Furthermore they have an excellent coffee bar with a selection of Italian Pastries. Something not done well in most big cities!

by Mackenzie

Starving Artist Waffles. Espresso. Bar.

Cafes 4 1

By Daren

Best brunch spot for waffles

Starving Artist Waffles. Espresso. Bar.

4

Popular among locals and on the Instagram feed, Starving Artist offers a large menu of different kinds of waffle dishes. Waffle sandwiches, eggs benny on waffles, and dessert waffles are available. Along with coffee, you can also offer some beer or a caesar.

by Daren

The Distillery Historic District

Shopping 5 2

By Lesley

Great food, great atmosphere!

The Distillery Historic District

5

There is always something going on in the Distillery! Wander the cobblestone streets and enjoy the unique architecture of the heritage buildings of the former Gooderham and Worts Whiskey distillery. Drinks, dining, entertainment, The Distillery has it all!

by Lesley

NADÈGE

Cafes 12 4

By Mackenzie

Pastry Becomes Art- Baking at its Finest

NADÈGE

12

Nadège is known in Toronto for primarily for their many colours and flavours of macarons. However their gorgeous cakes are like little works of art and they have the best almond croissant among other impeccable viennoiserie (pastry which are more bready like croissants, brioche, etc.)

by Mackenzie

Arepa Cafe

Budget Meals 5 2

J

By Josh

A Taste of Venezuela

Arepa Cafe

5

Looking a bit like an English muffin, an arepa is anything but. Here these white corn masa cakes are prepared by hand and then filled with some traditional Venezuelan ingredients but there are some local interpretations too. Great for lunch while you wander Queen street west.

J

by Josh

Sneaky Dee's

Budget Meals 8 3

Mexican food and a party

Sneaky Dee's

8

Sneaky Dee's is a staple of Toronto student culture. Located on College Street, near the University of Toronto St. George Campus, Dee's is known for it's hip hop nights, pub trivia, and glorious nachos – all for a low price.

Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery

Eating 11 3

By Mackenzie

Hand-pressed ice-cream sandwiches.

Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery

11

Bang bang opened years ago and still has lines down the sidewalk most nights during the summer. It's wild popularity is due to it's ingenious ice-cream flavours like toasted marshmallow, London fog, and PB&J just to name a few. These flavours are then put with your choice of house-baked cookies and hand pressed into a kick-ass ice-cream sandwich.

by Mackenzie

Fika

Budget Meals 5 2

By Mackenzie

Sweden's Tradition Coffee and Cake in TO

Fika

5

Fika is super cozy, it has a front deck for people watching, an inside living room-like seating area, a work area, and a chill back yard with a hammock and chairs. You can come here to enjoy some great coffee, cake, and food. Most importantly though, you get to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

by Mackenzie

East York Civic Centre's Farmers' Market

Shopping 6 3

By Peter

A neighbourhood farmers' market

East York Civic Centre's Farmers' Market

6

The East York Farmer's Market started in the year 2000. It showcases produce from 15 southern Ontario vendors and farmers that sell mushrooms, vegetables, fruit, cheese, sausage, bread, honey and eggs. The products vary from week to week as the growing season changes. The market is open from May until the end of October and runs every Tuesday.

by Peter

Pho Xe Lua

Budget Meals 1 1

By Daren

Late Night Vietnamese

Pho Xe Lua

1

Pho is one of my favourite foods so I had a good share of it at many different restaurants in Toronto. This one is my favourite because I prefer how the noodles are flatter and cooked a little longer than usual. The broth is the best I've had and it's open until 5am Friday and Saturday night so you can avoid a hangover the next day.

by Daren

Thor Espresso Bar

Budget Meals 3 0

J

By Josh

Coffee Prepared with Care

Thor Espresso Bar

3

Great little spot, only 10 seats inside, where coffee is certainly the emphasis. While they don't roast onsite they use a well-known local roastery's beans. Coffee is prepared with an emphasis on precision over speed so if you are looking for Starbucks-like production, look elsewhere. There are also some small snacks on offer.

J

by Josh

Assembly Chef's Hall

Budget Meals 1 0

By Zhanna

Great Toronto Chefs in one place

Assembly Chef's Hall

1

This is not your average food court. Assembly Chef's Hall has little restaurants that showcase the creative culinary creations of several prominent chefs in Toronto. The food is delicious and not what you would normally get at any food court. Here you can try different unique foods like Kimchi Chicken or the Gnocchi that beat Bobby Flay.

by Zhanna

Toronto Island Marina (TIM)

Eating 3 0

By Linda

Lets keep this our secret

Toronto Island Marina (TIM)

3

Away from the tourist hordes, this quaint Marina has the most amazing view of the Toronto skyline! Laid back and casual beach bar and patio, great food and live bands on most weekends. Hard to find but worth the search!

by Linda

kitten & the bear

Cafes 3 3

By Mackenzie

Hipster High Tea

kitten & the bear

3

This place is really just a tiny nook you could look over but they make unbelievable scones, house-made jams, and offer a very affordable afternoon tea. People know them for unique flavours like banana-bourbon vanilla bean, Meyer lemon and chamomile, or black and blue which features blueberry, blackberry and lavender.

by Mackenzie