Thanks BBL. Never had a Toronto hot dog and the last Toronto pizza i had was in the late 80's and it was...well...not so good compared to NYC. Seems things have changed. Thanks for clarifying!
Best Food in Toronto?
- Thread starter MissAlys
- Start date
I eat both - I just don't live in Toronto so I don't eat there often, and it's usually business, so someone takes me to dinner and I can't remember the place lol. But w more casual friends it ends up being some more simple thing like the Ritz (caribbean take away), that diner on carlton near jarvis (giant omelettes lol) or a Kelseys, or Keg, or Earls, or Amsterdam brewhouse, etc. My Canadian pizza experience from the 80s has kept me away from pizza lol.
But in keeping with the thread, I've been always happy with the food in Toronto even at those more casual places.
Haven't been to Zorro's in ages. I agree with you on service - they make the Caesar Salad table side. I love joints that do that.
NYC food is at another level entirely. Particularly street food. Toronto lags far behind many cities in that domain.
They’ve got a soft pretzel place in the Eaton Centre. They’ve got your standard soft pretzels, sweet cinnamon-sugar pretzels, pizza pretzels, pretzel dogs, etc. Not bad.
Also, anyone looking for pizza in Toronto... try Fourth Man in the Fire on Dundas west. They do a pretty basic pizza, they only offer like 8 toppings, but the attention to detail makes it. Best pizza sauce I’ve ever had, great crust, they do an amazing fried calzone (and they’re huge!), and they do a great coconut cream pie for dessert. I do kind of wish they had more variety in their toppings, but I was very impressed.
Here are some recommendations from some of my favourites around the GTA
Downtown:
Hy's Steakhouse
Lee's-Asian Fusion
Jacobs Steakhouse
Terroni-Italian ---> YES go to adelaide location the prettiest one out of all of them
Jules Bistro-French 3 locations all on or off Queen St
Don Alfonso-Mediterranean --> YESSS and go during happy hour thursdays and fridays 4-7pm for half price cocktails
Rodney's Oyster House-Seafood
Bymark-Continental
Scaramouche-French
Chase Fish & Oyster-Seafood
Moretti-Pizza
Petros 82-Mediterranean/Raw Bar/Seafood
North York:
David Duncan House-Steakhouse
Auberge Du Pommier-French ---> very very quaint beautiful place that fulfills my 'courtyard' dining fantasies... go in summer!
Richmond Hill
Octagon Steakhouse
Vaughan
Zizi Trattoria-Italian
Fiamma Ristorante-Italian
Cia Roma-Pizza
Markham:
Peters Fine Dining-Steakhouse
Etobicoke
San Remo-Bakery
New Orleans Steak & Seafood
Mississauga
La Castile-Steakhouse
Alioli-Italian
Peters on Eglinton-American Eatery
I have to agree with Grimnul. Certainly not a lot of places compared to Vancouver, but we've got some. I am the ultimate sushi snob. Japango. Jabistro. WOW sushi. Miku (from van originally). Skippa. Yasu (for best value and for tasting, go here). Shoushin (a bit rushed for the overall pricepoint). Saito (the most most exclusive experience.. omg so good).
I have to also recommend:
-Harbour60 for steak
-Pearl Diver for seafood
-Fisherman Lobster Clubhouse for chinese pile high seafood style
-Giuletta (beautiful beautiful cozy date place)
-Edulis (i can never freakin get a table here)
Personally, I think Alo is overrated - they wouldn't let me order more stuff because I was seated at a regular table as opposed to the bar seating. I used to like George until I went back and they put the same garnishes (pomegranite seeds) on literally every dish.
I am not a tacos fan but friends of mine also complain that Toronto doesn't have much when it comes to mexican..
I also have to recommend:
-Tinuno (filipino kamayan feast, what a great cozy family experience!)
-Que Ling (pho, cheap and amazing, busy spot in east chinatown)
-BBQ Wok & Roast (chinest bbq place in east chinatown)
-7west cafe (open 24/7 i think? Only place offering pastas sandwiches and cake after club hours.. )
My favourite bar: Louix Louis (St Regis).
Giiiiiiirl, hit me up for food!!
Haven't been to Shoushin or Saito and every time I've been to Estia I remind myself to go to Saito next time but it hasn't happened. Edulis same problem as you, I tried twice to get reservations although on Fridays they were fully booked.
7 West Cafe is good after hours, some others that are 24/7 are Thompson Diner although it's closed now with the new Hotel owners, They had a great Truffle Mac & Cheese that was just perfect after a night of drinking.
Fran's is also open 24/7 with two locations, I prefer the Yonge & Dundas location.
This city has so many great choices in cuisine to pick from and all those restaurants you mentioned are great.
If anyone is around The Eaton Centre and looking for some high end Restaurants check out Elm Street there are quite a few with a wide variety from Barberian's a steakhouse, Adega Meditteranean restaurant, and Donatello's an Italian.
Try Quetzal on College a great Mexican restaurant with a lot more choices than just Tacos with fun and good cocktails.
If you like French cuisine check out Maison Selby it's on Sherbourne off Bloor st.
I had no idea you don't live in Toronto. I knew you weren't from here but thought you lived here...lol.
All three are excellent! Donatello's has a great veal scallopini and Barberian's is my favourite steakhouse in Toronto.
Don't forget the Danforth and it's not just Greek! But for Greek, Megas and Ouzeri are great. Sher-e-Punjab for fine Indian, Mambo Lounge for Cuban, Mong Kut Thai. A couple of pretty decent sushi places. And there's a new Egyptian place called Papyrus which I have yet to try.
You're right about many "Japanese" restaurants are Korean or Chinese operated. That's why I only visit ones that are Japanese chef owned. Unfortunately three of my favourites have been sold but operate under the same name. They're all sub-par now.
There's still a couple I go to. Kaji in Etobicoke and Shoushin on Yonge north of Lawrence. They are both excellent!
Mexico Lindo is a gem indeed, and the family has set up several locations Scarborough and eastwards
Toronto has closed the gap on NYC. I tried the street food in NYC, lamb kebabs and had an Anthony Bourdain moment - I was bound to the Thunder Bucket.
Woodbridge's best kept secret has now been outed - King's Fish and Chips is now considered one of the best fish and chips joints in the city. I had the Kingfish Escebeche at Albert's Fine Jamaican Food on St Clair - Vaughan. Nothing fancy just a nondescript take out place. It was the best dish I ate all last year, goes far beyond the Chinese take out concept of sweet and sour.
If I hadn't eaten there my big head wouldn't have prompted me to give lovely Kelly Young a slap on the wrist.
Chotto Matte is an amazing Peruvian/Japanese restaurant, it's one of the newer ones in the city.
The beef fillet and the octopus tentacles are amazing.
The beef fillet and the octopus tentacles are amazing.
Is this genuine Mexican or stuff that is slathered with sour cream, yellow cheese and hard tacos?
scouser1 there is a difference between Mexican and Tex-Mex. You'll know when you're in a Mexican joint, they serve ceviche. I don't think real Tex-Mex is available in Toronto, it's mainly from New Mexico with Apache roots.
When you go to a sushi bar, the best way to know if you're getting the freshest fish is if uni is on the menu. Mangiacakes are not used to eating pure protein, most places won't keep it. I was surprised to find it at Tokyo Sushi, across from the Eglinton Theater. Although I shouldn't have been, it's a Jewish area, when it comes to fish they are not mangiacakes.
I lived in Mexico for 4 years recently so you are correct huge difference between Tex-Mex and Mexican, the majority of what we get here is the former with like I mentioned yellow cheese, sour cream and hard shell tacos, none of which feature in Mexican dishes. You are correct ceviche is awesome but also prevalent in other Latin American cooking like Peruvian, I just miss authentic tacos, mole and burritos that arent from some franchise.
R-E-A-L Mexican eats in T.O. past for years has been hit hard like a fuckin' Pinata by all these wannabe hipsters opening up fake-ass taco joints!
10 YEARS AGO . . . . BEST MOM & POP MEXICAN RESTOS, RAN BY REAL MEXICAN FAMILIES
REBOZOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rogers Rd
TENOCHE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..St. Clair/Christie
TACOS El ASADOR . . . . . . . . . . . Bloor st/Christie
MEXITACO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bloor st/Christie
NOW DAYS . . . . . . . BEST MOM & POP MEXICAN RESTOS, RAN BY REAL MEXICAN FAMILIES
EL TROMPO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .https://www.yelp.ca/biz/el-trompo-taco-bar-toronto
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HACIENDA LAS AMERICAS . . . https://www.yelp.ca/biz/hacienda-las-américas-toronto?osq=mexican
ITACATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . https://www.yelp.ca/biz/itacate-toronto
TIERRA AZTECA . . . . . . . . . . . ..https://www.yelp.ca/biz/tierra-azteca-toronto?osq=tierra+azteca
(Mexican Taqueria doesn't get as much love, But . . . . . . Loooooove this place. Latin couple.....she's from Mexico City, he's from Argentina. She's super-sweet, he's super-cool. Always bust his balls......hey 'Mi Hermano'. We both love Latin Boxers Eg. Marco Maidana from Argentina, so you know, we're totally gonna vibe each other.
