Toronto Canada Food Tour: The 5 Best Restaurants

By Michelle Grossman | September 25, 2019

Canada may not be at the top of too many foodie destinations. In fact, it flies under the radar of many travelers.

This is a shame as there are some excellent food experiences to be had, particularly around Toronto. 

Get off of the well-worn food travel path and check out Toronto. You’ll be surprised at the variety and quality of the food, the warmth of the people and the unexpected beauty of the area.

Let’s check out some of the “must see” places for some of the best food in Canada.

1 – Chinatown Toronto

If you are a regular reader of this blog then you know that I love to check out the Chinatown of the various areas I travel to. 

Toronto Canada has one of the largest Chinatowns in North America. There are so many amazing places to get authentic Chinese food that it is hard to narrow down which one is the best.

Some standouts are Mother’s Dumplings for some of the best boiled, steamed or pan-fried dumplings outside of China, Swatow for authentic Cantonese dishes and for the vegetarians there is Greens Vegetarian Restaurant.

2 – Little Italy

Toronto is also home to one of the biggest populations of Italians outside of Italy. You can be sure some excellent restaurants followed those immigrants to this charming Little Italy neighborhood!

For a taste of a traditional Italian cafè, be sure to check out Cafè Diplomat for your cappuccino and Italian sweets. Il Gatto Nero, or The Black Cat, is one of the oldest Italian restaurants in the neighborhood. They’ve been serving up authentic Italian cuisine since 1960.

3 – Niagara Falls

With a lot of car rentals at Toronto airport available it is easy to get a little further afield to see one of the world’s greatest natural wonders.

One of the best places to eat there is the Skylon Revolving Tower restaurant. Enjoy some local ingredients like Muscovy duck and Canadian smoked salmon with a stunning view of the Falls. 

4 – Cottage Country

Take advantage of having that car rental and before you return it take a trip to the area called Cottage Country. Right by many lakeside beaches and parks, there is a quaint area full of interesting foods that usually feature local ingredients.

A stand out is surely Muddy’s Pit BBQ. Get some smoked brisket and pulled pork while listening to some local bands in their cute outside patio.

Ready for something cool and sweet? Try some artisanal ice cream from Sweet Jesus right by the lake. 

5 – Edulis Restaurant

When you’ve dropped your car off and are back in the city, a must-eat restaurant has to be Edulis. Consistently ranked as one of Canada’s best restaurants you can enjoy locally sourced ingredients lovingly prepared. 

Their menu is seasonal so always changing, but they are famous for their foie gras and truffle based dishes.

Be Flexible

Though you can’t go wrong with any of the above restaurants, nothing beats word of mouth recommendations.

Have an open mind and ask some of the locals where they like to eat. In a world class city like Toronto, you’re never far from a great meal!