Toronto is a cosmopolitan city, being a social and cultural melting pot, and diners in the city are spoiled for choice. After all, on a single outing, you might be tempted to try Asian cuisine, Mediterranean, or maybe French, or whatever you set your sights and appetite on.
With such a wide variety, we’ve rounded up the top five restaurants you must try, which have also made it to the best lists on several platforms. So, what are you waiting for? Read our synopsis of each unique restaurant and discover what suits your palate.
Redefining Chinese cuisine, Yan Dining Room opened its doors in 2024 and quickly gained momentum, catching the public’s attention. Renowned for fusing tastes, at Yan Dining Room, you can taste delicacies like Cantonese-style sea bream aged for seven days, swimming in a sweet and sour juice of preserved Niagara cherries. Or you can try scallop crudo served in its shell with Sichuan peppercorn and spiked citrus. Chef Eva Chin says that when it comes to Chinese fusion food, “it doesn’t get more confusing or more fusion than this.”
For lovers of Mediterranean cuisine, Louf caught the attention of Torontonians, and it can grab yours, too. Chef Fadi Kattan brings home traditional recipes from his native Palestine and Lebanon to the delight of many. Among the notable specialties is kibbeh nayeh, a renowned Middle Eastern delicacy. It is a traditional dish made of a smooth paste of raw beef marinated with herbs and garlic, seasoned with warm spices and olive oil. Other notable specialties include foul moutabal, which is fava beans puréed with tahini, lemon, cumin, and olive oil, served with a basket of warm sesame bread.
At Dopamina restaurant, you can take your taste buds on a culinary journey, fusing Spanish and Japanese dishes together. With plenty of à la carte options, you can try dishes like chawanmushi, a Japanese egg custard topped with a blend of steamed chicken broth and fresh cream, finished with shiitake mushrooms, parmesan foam, and truffle shavings. You can also try their steelhead trout, brined and poached in olive oil to keep it tender. With a variety of dishes and flavours, you won’t be left clueless as to what you can try; after all, the restaurant has a soul-satisfying selection that pleases the most discerning palate.
This Hong Kong-inspired kitchen and cocktail bar restaurant draws inspiration from several Asian cuisines, fusing them into a unique blend. An ideal example is Cheung fun, a dim sum staple stuffed with Vietnamese beef tartare, dressed with fish sauce and Marmite. They also serve other interesting dishes, such as Cha Chaan Teng Risotto, a creamy tomato-based risotto inspired by the borscht soups of Hong Kong, featuring oxtail gravy and pickled beets.
Established on the principle of bringing the best of Mexico to Canada, Casa Morales offers a new perspective on modern Mexican cuisine. Upon entry, you will be mesmerized by the sweet aroma of charred pasilla and guajillo chilies coming from the kitchen, transporting you to Mexico’s authentic eateries. Among their notable specialties is the crema poblana; although it resembles a pea soup in a bread bowl, it is made from charred poblano peppers blended into béchamel and finished with white corn queso fresco.
David Messiha | Staff Writer
