Toronto’s food and drink scene is unlike any other and the city’s reputation for a dynamic and diverse restaurant forte is well deserved. With over 9,000 restaurants and counting, Toronto’s vibrant multicultural population continues to push culinary boundaries to delight locals and visitors alike. From hidden speakeasies to illustrious rooftop restaurants, there’s a lot to love about Toronto’s current dining scene. To help you decide which hot spots to check out next, here is our list of the most hyped restaurants in Toronto right now.
Aloette
163 Spadina Ave.
This modern diner near Queen and Spadina is getting major buzz already, largely because it’s from the same people as Alo upstairs. Aloette is more casual than its big sister but it’s still elegant, providing elevated, fun spins on traditional dinner meals such as burgers and milkshakes.
Mahjong Bar
1276 Dundas St. W
This secretive snack bar hidden behind a bodega on Dundas West is the place to be if you love watermelon cocktails, wontons and smashed cucumber salad. Mahjong Bar is like stepping into a Hong Kong time warp and its great food mixed with its 1960’s aesthetic is sure to have chefs and bartenders from other restaurants around Toronto stopping by.
La Palma
849 Dundas St. W
From the minds behind Campagnolo, it’s tough to get a weekend dinner reservation at this hot new Italian spot. Thankfully, La Palma holds a section of tables exclusively for walk-ins (so get there early). The restaurant is open all day for coffee and Italian-inspired cocktails, plus sharing-style pizzas and pastas.
Pray Tell
838 College St.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZJZuxXg5u-/?taken-by=praytellbar
Little Italy’s newest addition to the bar scene is Pray Tell – a 50-seat snack bar from Track & Field’s Nickie Minshall and Dustin Keating, along with Home Of The Brave chef Sonia Mondino. The speakeasy is small but the food is hearty and with a curated wine and cocktail list, plus brews from Left Field and Mill Street, you can’t go wrong.
BlueBlood Steakhouse
1 Austin Terrace
Located inside Casa Loma and garnished with Andy Warhol art on the century-old walls, this steakhouse is both a showstopper when it comes to aesthetic and, most importantly, food. BlueBlood hosts massive steaks and towers of seafood among their menu for the ultimate luxury dining experience. Plus we can’t forget to mention their raw bar.
Kost
80 Blue Jays Way
Found in the Entertainment District on top of the Bisha boutique hotel, Kost offers guests breathtaking views of the city coupled with Baja-esque dishes. With refined plates of roasted tofu, tuna tartare, steak and tres leches cake, plus an accompanying list of fine wines, Kost is a must-try.
Brothers
1240 Bay St.
This quaint restaurant above Bay station may seem simple, but its food is anything but. With a constantly overturning menu of spare three-ingredient plates and a glowing recent New York Times review, it’s nearly impossible to get a seat at Brothers.
Cafe Cancan
89 Harbord St.
This new restaurant has been winning over Torontonians with its delicious French fare and its variety of takes on foie gras. From the same owners of Piano Piano (located right across the street on Harbord), Cafe Cancan is a bright, airy spot that’s undeniably pleasing to the eye – and the stomach.
Kiin
326 Adelaide St. W
From the team behind Sukhothai and Pai, this Entertainment District restaurant boasts elevated, shareable Thai plates in a bright atmosphere. With a fresh take on traditional menu items, you can expect to experience the most intricate of handmade dumplings along with the nostalgia of DIY lettuce wraps, establishing a new meaning for comfort food.
Pinky’s Ca Phe
53 Clinton St.
Tucked away just off College on Clinton is the kitschy-cool Pinky’s Ca Phe from owner and chef Leemo Han of Hanmoto and OddSeoul. The spot is quickly becoming known for its tasty Asian snacks of bone marrow beef, Korean squid and ceviche.
Would you visit one of the most hyped restaurants in Toronto? Let us know in the comments.
Featured Image: Instagram/@cafecancanto
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