Kandice VincentThe 5 Best German Restaurants in Toronto
Are you dreaming to taste Germany’s well-known bratwurst sausages, chicken schnitzels, or döner kebabs?
Then get ready for your dream to come true! Browse through our review of the best German restaurants in Toronto!
Top German Restaurants in Toronto
We emphasised these particular aspects when examining the top German restaurants in Toronto.
How much do German dishes in Toronto cost?
Refer to the table below for the estimated prices of the most popular German dishes in Toronto.
The ingredients and equipment used, preparation and cooking techniques, service method, and location and type of the establishment are among the factors that influence the price of German dishes in Toronto.
1. WVRST
| MENU VARIETY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| QUALITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| VALUE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| REPUTATION | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| ONLINE PRESENCE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
When it comes to variety, we think WVRST is without a doubt one of the best in the city—the menu features 24 kinds of tasty sausages!
We are particularly astonished by the game meat sausages, like bison, wild boar, rabbit, and kangaroo.
After choosing the meat for your sausage, you can have it either on a toasted bun with toppings or with the German, tomato-based currywurst sauce.
Veggie lovers are also welcome for there are four plant-based and vegan sausage choices, and several sauerkraut dishes (cabbage salad) and pickled vegetable dishes.
Other menu items include fries, pretzels, burgers, and schnitzel, which is a traditional German dish made of crispy breaded pork or chicken.
There is a broad selection of drinks, just like how the Germans do it. WVRST has ciders, seltzers, cocktails, wines, and rich craft beers.
It’s unfortunate, however, that we have been told there were times that the staff somewhat lacked friendliness and took long to take orders.
At any rate, you would be happy with WVRST’s reasonable prices and generous servings.
The restaurant’s website is detailed and conveniently equipped with reservation forms, although its Instagram page can be a hit or miss.
WVRST is known for its communal dining, with a huge open space and bench seating. We think these features make its atmosphere relaxing and perfect for eating out with the family, drinking with friends, or having parties and gatherings.
The restaurant has two branches located at King West and in front of the Union Station. Takeout and delivery services are available.
Pros
- Broad selection of starters, mains, and drinks
- Affordable prices
- Generous servings
- Relaxing atmosphere
- Communal dining; perfect for big groups
- Detailed website
- Takeout and delivery
Cons
- Remarks on staff lacking friendliness
- Inconsistent on Instagram/social media
Customer Reviews
Mind-blowingly delicious
“The food was so tasty. We had bratwurst, venison sausage currywurst and the pretzel. Every component of each dish was mind-blowingly delicious. They had a very diverse craft beer menu as well. Will definitely be coming back.” —Joshua Parry, Google Reviews (King West branch)
Great food and quick service
“Went for a quick lunch with coworkers and was so pleasantly surprised. Great food, quick service, and tonnes of beer on tap. Prices are reasonable for portion size provided. I’ll definitely return. May be my new regular long lunch destination 😀” —Adrian Wolf, Google Reviews (Union Station branch)
2. Otto’s Berlin Döner
| MENU VARIETY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| QUALITY | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| VALUE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| REPUTATION | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| ONLINE PRESENCE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
When you happen to be in the diverse neighbourhood of Kensington Market, make sure to stop by Otto’s Berlin Döner.
From its name, the German eatery serves the famed döner kebab, a dish similar to the Arab shawarma.
Döner kebabs were introduced by Turkish immigrant workers, and West Berlin’s Zoo Station was among the first locations to sell the dish.
There are veal and lamb, chicken, halloumi, and veggie döner kebabs and plates to choose from. Apart from that, the restaurant sells currywurst sausages.
Although those are the only main dishes, there are various sides, such as fries, salads, poutine, couscous, and halloumi sticks.
Sadly, there are reportedly some consistency issues with the quality of the food at Otto’s Berlin Döner. At times, the food would turn out too salty or come out cold already.
While the restaurant is generous with the sides, the portions of the meat in the döner dishes are small, which is another drawback.
Fortunately, the prices are affordable and the personnel are welcoming and efficient. Moreover, Otto’s Berlin Döner is pet-friendly and has a delightful patio dining space.
The restaurant is fairly active online and is able to keep its online presence by interacting with customers and running promos and discounts. Its website is neat and organised, too.
Dine in at Otto’s Berlin Döner every Tuesdays to Sundays. You can opt for takeaway and delivery as well.
Pros
- Good number of sides
- Affordable prices
- Welcoming and efficient personnel
- Pet-friendly
- Patio dining
- Fair social media presence
- Neat and organised website
- Takeaway and delivery
Cons
- Limited main dishes
- Small meat portions
Customer Reviews
Very authentic döner
“This place is amazing! Definitely get the currywurst, definitely get a döner, and the HALLOUMI STICKS are literally to die for! You order that delicious halloumi!! I promise you won’t be disappointed! The slushies are also very good (I got the cactus pear-lychee slush. Very good). My fiancée also mentioned that the döners are very much the kind of döners that you would get in Germany—very authentic! A must-go place in Toronto! We’re sad we won’t be able to eat here regularly, as we’re going back home to Alberta. So good!!! 😊💜” —Alicia Kalman, Google Reviews
Friendly and efficient service, reasonable prices
“If you’re looking for an authentic Berlin-style döner, look no further than Otto’s Berlin Döner! The döner here is made with thinly sliced beef, lamb or chicken, and is served on a soft, fluffy pita bread with plenty of fresh vegetables and a delicious yogurt sauce. The beef döner is my personal favourite – it’s so flavourful and juicy, and the yogurt sauce really ties everything together. The lamb döner is also very good, and the chicken döner is a great option if you’re looking for something a bit lighter. The service at Otto’s is always friendly and efficient, and the prices are very reasonable. I highly recommend Otto’s Berlin Döner – it’s the best döner in town!” —Daulet N, Yelp Reviews
3. Otto’s Bierhalle
| MENU VARIETY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| QUALITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| VALUE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| REPUTATION | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| ONLINE PRESENCE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
We think you won’t want to miss out on this German restaurant on Toronto’s trendiest district, Queen Street, as it is run by the same group as Otto’s Berlin Döner.
The striking difference between the two restaurants is the number of food items. Otto’s Bierhalle has a lot of starters and mains, and variety is always a plus on our book.
The restaurant has schnitzel burgers and plates, currywurst sausages, and assorted veggie and vegan options. To boot, there are sharing dishes called “feasts” and they’re definitely a treat.
What caught our attention the most in the menu is the spätzle, which is a German egg noodle pasta dish.
Otto’s Bierhalle’s späetzle is made with a four-cheese sauce, finished off with a cheesy crust. We tried it for ourselves and it was amazing!
Any German eatery would have a good selection of drinks, and the restaurant offers an impressive array of beers, seltzers, and wines.
It’s a letdown that the waiting time for orders if quite long. Additionally, in terms of service quality, Otto’s Bierhalle’s falls short.
Some customer experiences were regretfully not memorable since the personnel lacked urgency while managing their concerns, particularly when reserving a table.
In any case, you would be delighted with the dishes’ huge servings and budget-friendly rates.
We think you would also enjoy the restaurant’s bright interiors full of plant décor and refreshing patio for outdoor dining.
Otto’s Bierhalle’s interacts with its sizable social media following, performs an excellent job with its online presence, and uses a minimalist and effective website.
The restaurant is available every day of the week for dine-in, takeaway, and delivery. There are brunch hours during weekends, too.
Pros
- Diverse starters, mains, and sides
- Budget-friendly
- Huge servings
- Refreshing atmosphere
- Patio dining
- Excellent social media presence
- Effective website
- Brunch hours during weekends
- Takeaway and delivery
Cons
- Customer service lacks urgency
- Waiting time is long
Customer Reviews
The environment was really nice
“Service was very good and the food was delicious. Lots of selections with different beers. The environment was really nice as well. Will definitely return!” —Jim Tam, Google Reviews
Everything was super tasty and plentiful
“My husband and I had a great night out at Otto’s Bierhalle. We started with the pretzels and beer cheese, both of which were delicious. We split a Wien Feast, which included both the pork and halloumi schnitzel, cucumber salad, potato salad, coleslaw, cheesy spätzle, and the best pickles I’ve ever had. This could have fed three people with no problem, so we were both stuffed by the end. Everything was super tasty and plentiful. We are already looking forward to coming back!” —Rosemary B., OpenTable Reviews
4. Steam Whistle’s Biergärten
| MENU VARIETY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| QUALITY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| VALUE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| REPUTATION | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| ONLINE PRESENCE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
This next German restaurant is like no other—it’s operated by Steam Whistle Brewing, an award-winning brewery housed right in Toronto!
A favorite spot for pre- or post-Jays game beers, Steam Whistle’s Biergärten is located in what used to be the brewery’s bottling facility.
The beer hall restaurant serves a great deal of starters, mains, and sharing meals.
Of course, there are the German sausages, and you can also have some unique pretzel bun burgers, tender steaks, and juicy ribs.
Furthermore, we value that there is a kids’ menu and a good range of plant-based alternatives.
Several beers, specialty cocktails, hard seltzers, and wines are available. You can even help yourself to the bottle shop and order some beer to go, glassware, and other merchandise.
The restaurant’s menu items cost a bit more than the average. Your money would still be well-spent because of the hefty portions and excellent customer service.
We think you’d appreciate the rustic interiors and energetic atmosphere as well.
Steam Whistle Brewing is a popular event venue, that is why there could be occasions wherein its Biergärten may be packed and you may not even be able to enter.
Hopefully, because of Steam Whistle Brewing’s solid online presence, you can check for updates and plan out your visit. It’s best to book a reservation via the website, too.
Steam Whistle’s Biergärten is open seven days a week and accepts takeout and delivery orders.
Pros
- Great selection of starters, mains, and drinks
- Hefty portions
- Excellent customer service
- Rustic interiors
- Energetic atmosphere
- Solid social media presence
- Comprehensive website
- Takeout and delivery
Cons
- Menu items are a bit pricey
- Usually gets crowded
Customer Reviews
Lovely place, kind and friendly staff
“Visited at the end of August 2022 as part of my vacation at Toronto, got surprised of such a lovely place as well as kind and friendly staff. As a man from the land of the beer, I have to recommend this local beer, which tastes the closest to the European/pilsner style beer—only the thing that is missing is the typical strong bitterness (and foam, as usual anywhere at US/CAN). Anyway, feel free to ask for foam if you like, feel free to ask about the brewery story. Greetings from a stranger from Czech Republic.” —Pavel “Vodník” Novák, Google Reviews
The curry brat reminded me of Germany
“Vacation visit to the Biergarten. The food exceeded our expectations. Perfect burger, and [the] curry brat reminded me of Germany. Had the unfiltered Steam Whistle and found it the perfect combo with the food. Would recommend this place to anyone.” —George E., OpenTable Reviews
5. Little Bavaria Restaurant
| MENU VARIETY | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| QUALITY | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| VALUE | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| REPUTATION | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| ONLINE PRESENCE | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Want the ultimate Germany dining experience? Little Bavaria Restaurant has got you covered!
Open since 1965, this tavern-style eatery will transport you to the picturesque state of Bavaria with its wood beam interiors and ceramic glassware.
We love that Little Bavaria Restaurant boasts an extensive menu. Among the 18 schnitzel dishes are pork, chicken, cheese, and vegetarian choices!
In addition, there are bratwurst and krainerwurst (smoked sausages), spätzle, schweinebraten (roasted pork-loin), and beef rouladen, which is a traditional German recipe made of thinly cut beef slices served with mustard gravy.
On top of that, all meals are accompanied by either a salad or the soup of the day.
The dishes come in big portions, but get your wallets ready because they are expensive. Entrées start at $19.95.
At that, there are also inconsistencies in the quality of the dishes. The food can be rather greasy or oily, according to comments we have acquired from customers.
Nonetheless, the staff at Little Bavaria Restaurant would quickly take care of you for they are kind and accommodating.
Little Bavaria Restaurant is only occasionally active online, but it makes sure to update customers with the food specials and events calendar.
You can dine in and order takeaway or delivery from Tuesdays through Sundays.
Pros
- Extensive menu
- Authentic German cuisine
- Big portions
- Quick and accommodating staff
- Tavern-style interiors
- Historic vibes
- Takeaway and delivery
Cons
- Expensive
- Food comes out greasy at times
- Incomplete website
Customer Reviews
Great food, big portions
“Dining at this establishment is akin to taking a flight to Bavaria and eating there. Great food, big portions, a really kitsch vibe that does feel like you’re eating at Oma and Opa’s place. Great place to revel in Oktoberfest festivities too!!” —Alex “Lozo” Lozowskij, Google Reviews
The interior was like stepping into Europe
“Be still my German heart—this cute traditional style restaurant is a new favorite discovery of mine as it has all sorts of schnitzel dinner selections to satisfy any craving! The staff were friendly and helpful, and the interior was like stepping into Europe with lots of little tributes to look at and keep busy 👏” —Kyra Ottier, Google Reviews
FAQs About German Restaurants in Toronto
These German restaurants surely revved up our appetite, how about you? Tell us what German food you’re most excited to try!
In the meantime, get the most out of the European food scene here in the city. Have a look at our review of the best Spanish restaurants in Toronto.
