Aliu IsaWe Torontonians love to eat, which is why we have thousands of restaurants. In fact, after Vancouver, we are the 2nd most-visited culinary hotspot in Canada.
So, while I have my local faves (PAI for Vietnamese food, Rasa for fusion dishes, etc.), I’m always on the hunt for new restaurants to try. As a resident foodie, I owe it to my fans (which, I guess, is made up mostly of my family) to bravely sample new fare.
As a result of my backbreaking “research,” here are the best new dining spots in Toronto that local foodies (like me) are flocking to right now!
Linny’s
Media credit: exceptional_films
Website: https://linnysrestaurant.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linnysrestaurant/
Address: 176 Ossington Ave
Hours:
- Tue – Wed, Sun: 5 PM – 10 PM
- Thurs – Sat: 5 PM – 10:30 PM
Contact: (647) 390-1836
Must-Order: Linny’s Cut Pastrami
Linny’s on Ossington is led by Chef David Schwartz. He’s taken the classic steakhouse and given it a deli edge (as an homage to his mom), using flavors he grew up with.
What makes this spot unique is the old-school craftsmanship they offer. Their meats are smoked in-house, fish is cured by hand, and even the pasta is rolled fresh!
And the dish everyone (including me!) is talking about? Linny’s Cut Pastrami. It’s hand-sliced and sourced from Martin Family Farm, perfectly seasoned and served with mustard and pickles for that classic, satisfying bite.
As for drinks, you can’t go wrong with their creative cocktails like The Borscht Milk Punch or the Dilly Dally.
Pro Tip:
If you love bread, don’t miss their Challah service. Served with house-made cheese, jam, and pickles, it’s the perfect intro to Linny’s heritage comfort food.
LSL
Media credit: lsltoronto
Website: https://lslrestaurant.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lsltoronto
Address: 2066 Avenue Rd, North York
Hours: Tue – Sat: 5:30 PM – 11 PM
Contact: (647) 938-2066
Must-Order: Hokkaido Scallop Crudo
LSL is an exclusive nine-seat restaurant opened by three world-class chefs: Leroy, Saito, and Le Squer. It offers French-Japanese haute cuisine, with only one multi-course menu that changes seasonally.
Most of the ingredients are flown from Japan, such as sweet, hairy crabs, Japanese sea urchins (the $600-a-box kind), umeshu jelly, scallops, and a lot more.
My favorite part of the meal was the Hokkaido Scallop Crudo. This fresh, delicate dish is topped with ultra-premium sea urchin, lychee in two textures, honeysuckle flowers, and a savory scallop mousse.
Here, you’re paying not just for the food but for the whole experience. Service is crisply carried out by white-gloved servers, and each dish looks like a work of art.
Pro Tip:
Just a heads up—LSL is a bit of a splurge. Expect to pay $680 per person with a $340 deposit, so I recommend saving this place for a special occasion.
Takja BBQ
Media credit: exceptional_films
Website: https://www.takja.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takja_bbq/
Address: 962 College St
Hours: Tue – Sun: 5 PM – 10 PM
Contact: (647) 638-7368
Must-Order: Seafood Pancake
Takja BBQ reimagines Korean tradition through hansang—a dining style that brings out a whole table’s worth of food to welcome guests like family.
They offer set menus with appetizers, premium, dry-aged meats, and dessert, all at a surprisingly reasonable price. Their wagyu beef is tender and oh-so-juicy—a welcome bonus is that their staff will cut and cook it for you, so just sit back and enjoy.
Normally, at a BBQ joint, I skip the Seafood Pancake, but here, it turned out to be my favorite. It was light, crisp, and loaded with flavor, with just a hint of yuzu that brightened up the uni on top.
Don’t miss their house-fermented ssamjang and kimchi either! They pair perfectly with their rich beef offerings.
Pro Tip:
Who knew that this BBQ joint is also famous for bingsu? Yep, at Takja BBQ, you can snag refreshing shaved ice treats like their Blueberry Bingsu, which offers a layer of blueberry jam and mascarpone tucked inside.
Lucie
Media credit: restaurantlucie
Website: http://www.restaurantlucie.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restaurantlucie/
Address: 100 Yonge St
Hours:
- Mon – Wed: 4 PM – 9 PM
- Thurs – Fri: 4 PM – 9:30 PM
- Saturday: 5 PM – 10 PM
Contact: (416) 788-9054
Must-Order: Beef Tartare
Lucie is owned by Yannick Bigourdan, who grew up in the south of France. Named after his beloved grandmother, it’s actually his first fine-dining French restaurant.
I really love its striking aesthetic, where you can see rich burgundy colors mixed with royal blues and raw concrete pillars. At its heart is a gorgeous 20-seat marble bar, where you can sip cocktails or wine (they have over 100 selections).
The spot has a prix fixe dinner menu—$130 for three courses. It’s a bit pricey, but don’t worry, I promise that each dish is worth it.
My favorite here is the grass-fed Beef Tartare, which tastes as good as it looks. Mixed with oysters, capers, mustard, and cornichons, it comes with a generous dollop of Osetra caviar and a creamy oyster sauce with parsley oil.
Pro Tip:
Keep an eye out for Lucie’s champagne trolley. It’s rolled up to your table shortly after you sit down, stocked with a trio of sparkling wines to get your evening started.
Cheffry’s Bistro
Media credit: _cheffrysbistro
Website: https://cheffrysbistro.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_cheffrysbistro/
Address: 388 Richmond St W
Hours:
- Monday: 12 PM – 9 PM
- Tuesday: 11 AM – 9 PM
- Wed – Fri: 11 AM – 10:30 PM
- Saturday: 12 PM – 10:30 PM
- Sunday: 12 PM – 9:30 PM
Contact: (437) 996-7357
Must-Order: Short Rib Orzo
Cheffry’s Bistro, one of the best lunch spots in Toronto, is captained by Chef Rocha, a 5-star international chef. This upscale but homey dining destination is known for serving artisanal meals made from scratch.
Craving something hearty (and halal)? Check out their Short Rib Orzo—tender braised beef rib with sundried tomato, thyme, and black lemon tossed with orzo pasta.
Vegetarians and vegans, on the other hand, would love their torched Caesar, quinoa avocado, superfood, or wild mushroom salad. Note that you can add halal lemon chicken, salmon, shrimp, or duck.
Overall, I love its nice vibe. It’s intimate without being too cramped, plus there’s soft house music playing in the background.
Pro Tip:
If you can, grab a seat near the kitchen. Cheffry’s has a fully open cooking area, so you’ll get a front-row view of the chefs in action—flames, plating, and all.
Akin
Media credit: akin.toronto
Website: https://www.akintoronto.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akin.toronto/
Address: 51 Colborne St
Hours: Wed – Sat: 5 PM – 12 AM
Contact: (416) 363-0151
Must-Order: Lobster Laksa Lemak
Tucked away in Old Town, Akin is a modern Asian tasting bar. It’s a passion project of Eric Chong, the first-ever winner of MasterChef Canada at just 21 years old!
This upscale dining spot has only 28 seats, and it offers a 10-course blind tasting menu priced at $275 per person. This is a bit more affordable than other fine dining omakase-style menus in the area.
I love that their premium ingredients are thoughtfully sourced. This means A5 Wagyu from Miyazaki, uni from Hokkaido, lobster from Nova Scotia, Peking duck from Feathered Acres, and geoduck from Vancouver.
For the laksa alone, I’d go back here again. Part of their multi-course meal, it’s served with lobster on a plate with DNA strands on it, which symbolizes how this meal is linked to his Malaysian background.
Pro Tip:
Got a special celebration coming up (birthday, promotion, marriage proposal, etc.)? Let Akin know when booking—Chef Chong’s team often adds a personal touch to make your night extra memorable!
Arbequina
Media credit: arbequina_restaurant
Website: https://arbequinato.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halalornothing/
Address: 325 Roncesvalles Ave
Hours:
- Wed – Thurs, Sun: 5 PM – 9 PM
- Fri – Sat: 5 PM – 10 PM
Contact: (416) 533-0786
Must-Order: Angus Short Rib
Chef Abuzaid leads Arbequina, an intimate Roncesvalles spot, which is named after a Palestinian olive. He draws his culinary inspiration from his roots in Jordan.
You’ll love their homey and delicious opener. Imagine freshly baked bread spiced with fresh za’atar and served with whipped labneh, gently sweetened with maple syrup, and enriched with Arbequina olive oil.
But the menu highlight for me is the Angus Short Rib. It’s slow-cooked and glazed with pomegranate and date molasses; plus, it’s served with flatbread and a curry leaf tahini.
I also admire their zero-waste philosophy. They source nearly 100% of their produce from nearby farms and even grow their own herbs in-house, which is pretty cool.
Pro Tip:
Arbequina is fully halal and alcohol-free, but they offer mocktails so delicious, you won’t miss the alcohol. Try their Peach Blossom—a lovely bright mix of white peach, sumac, and orange blossom.
Sushi Yugen
Media credit: mrs_dimsum
Website: https://sushiyugen.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sushiyugen.ca/
Address: 150 York St
Hours:
- Mon – Tue: 11:30 AM – 3 PM, 5:30 PM – 10:30 PM
- Wed – Thurs, Sat: 11:30 AM – 3 PM, 5:45 PM – 11 PM
- Friday: 11:30 AM – 3 PM, 5:30 PM – 11 PM
Contact: (416) 363-1888
Must-Order: 13-Course Omakase Menu
Sushi Yugen (which loosely means hidden beauty) is a stunning, oak-lined omakase restaurant located inside the Medcan building. It’s led by Chef Igarashi and has already earned spots on Canada’s Top 100 Restaurants in 2024 and 2025.
There are two dining options here—the first is the eight-seat chef’s counter Omakase Menu, which offers 10 to 20 courses for $275/person. Highlights include white fish drizzled with umami truffle sauce and somen noodles in a three-fish dashi broth with edible flowers.
My preferred course is their shorter 13-Course Omakase Menu—13 courses for $80 at lunch or 14 courses for $98 at dinner. This one includes nigiri, a hand roll, miso soup, dessert, and an appetizer.
If you’re in a hurry, book the shorter 45-minute lunch omakase at the main counter. But if you’re celebrating something special, the chef counter omakase option is the way to go.
Pro Tip:
I recommend washing down your meal with Sushi Yugen’s Matcha Highball. This lovely drink is made with Kyoto matcha powder, matcha liqueur, yuzu, and sake.
Bar Prima
Media credit: eatsconnoisseur
Website: https://barprima.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barprima.to/
Address: 1136 Queen St W
Hours:
- Mon – Wed, Sun: 5 PM – 10 PM
- Thurs – Sat: 5 PM – 11 PM
Contact: (647) 347-9697
Must-Order: Lobster Fra Daviola
Bar Prima is a West Queen gem that brings vintage Italian indulgence, from its Old World glamorous decor to its branded ice cubes.
Prepare to fill your Instafeed with shots of the gorgeous space. Here, you’d get a soft, golden glow from the gold-leafed recessed ceiling and mirror-lined walls.
I recommend starting your meal with The Royal Vine, a mix of Tomba Blanco tequila, basil liqueur, lime, grapefruit, angostura, and orange.
Note that they offer classic Italian fare, such as Tenderloin Rossini and Spaghetti All’amatriciana. But my go-to dish is the Lobster Fra Daviola (lobster pasta)—tender and buttery lobster in a spicy tomato-based sauce.
Pro Tip:
Ask for a seat by the amber-colored Murano glass wall during golden hour. When the sunlight hits just right, the whole dining room glows (and you’d be in the perfect Insta-worthy shot).
Maven
Media credit: maventoronto
Website: https://www.maventoronto.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maventoronto/
Address: 112 Harbord St
Hours:
- Wed – Sat: 5 PM – 10 PM
- Sunday: 5 PM – 9 PM
Contact: (647) 348-9666
Must-Order: Chicken Schnitzel
Maven was created by Chef Shaun Godfrey to celebrate Eastern European and Jewish comfort food. The name itself, maven (Yiddish for expert), is a nod to her own grandmother, Rose, and the kind of expert home cooking that shaped her palate.
This place is known for fresh takes on family favorites like their Chicken Schnitzel, which I’m addicted to! Inspired by the Japanese tonkatsu, it’s fried flawlessly and served with fermented plum and brown butter compote, plus Kozlik’s Dijon for that extra zing.
Follow it up with an homage to her grandmother, Bubby Rose’s Cheesecake. It’s rich, creamy, and perfectly tangy, built on a classic graham cracker crust.
As one of the hottest dining spots in town, Maven is often fully booked, especially on weekends. Book ahead to guarantee a spot, especially if you want to sit near the bar.
Pro Tip:
If you love sour-based cocktails, don’t miss Maven’s Pickletini! It’s an herbaceous twist on the classic dirty martini made with cornichon brine, celery, dill, and gin.
