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A handful of cities in the world offer expansive international food experiences at every turn. Dining out in Toronto will definitely make you biased as a traveler, as it boasts cuisines that cover the globe from corner to corner.
With more than 260 ethnicities capturing the cultural harmony of Toronto, this city is called home by some of the most authentic, diverse and tastiest restaurants and bars in the Ontario province.
For those who live here, dining out in Toronto is like having a local passport that allows your taste buds to savor the world. With each neighborhood comes its own history and personality that contribute to Toronto’s internationally recognized food scene.
A Taste Home When Dining Out in Toronto
Toronto has long been a haven for immigrants and their families to recreate the essence of their homelands through food. Aashim Aggarwal, who immigrated from India and later founded Seed Eat Repeat, champions these stories on his food tours and personal escapades that take foodies to some of the most vibrant eateries.
As I joined him last year, his curated day of diverse eating experiences in Toronto is filled with heartwarming stories from passionate owners. During a beautiful afternoon, we symbolically traveled to Venezuela for classic arepas, tostones, yuca fries and tasty cocktails at Pomarosa on Danforth Street.
Don’t you dare think about having pad thai with ketchup when visiting Chef Kasorn Meepan, aka Chef Mo at Sala Thai Kitchen. While I never knew this was a thing, I am glad I have experienced this dish how she says it should be. Her outgoing personality, coupled with the delicious food she prepares daily, is the recipe behind her success.
On the other side of town, Chef Nuit Regular tells tales of her native home in Northern Thailand at KIIN. KIIN is one of several Michelin-star restaurants to enjoy while dining out in Toronto. Expect a different vibe from Sala, with the same commitment to representing the amazing flavors and traditional Thai dishes.
Similar to Chef Mo, you won’t find ketchup in Chef Regular’s pad thai. However, you will find out why KIIN is a favorite among the locals with dishes such as Thoong Thong (deep-fried dumpling with chicken and shrimp), Nua Nam Tok (Thai grilled beef salad), and Jhok (Thai rice porridge with house-made chicken meatballs).
Honoring Native Land
In a 2020 article on Global News, Indigenous Elder Duke Redbird shared, “Remember that the word Toronto comes from (the) Haudenosaunee word tkaronto and it means meeting place.”
Toronto is the native territory of many Indigenous nations, with many still keeping their history, culture, and traditions very much alive today.
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If you visit during the summer months (July – September), one meeting place where you can learn more about Indigenous food culture is at the Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin Indigenous food market.
Translating to “They feed the people,” Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin is also the catering company behind Toronto’s first Indigenous food market, offering weekly seasonal menus to include items such as the three sisters spring roll (corn, beans, squash), wild rice burger and mixed game poutine.
Be sure to follow them on social media for 2024 market plans.
Cheers to Toronto’s Cocktail Culture
Brenton Mowforth is the digital creator behind the IG account Cheers to Happy Hour and host for an evening of bar hopping. His expansive knowledge of cocktails and Toronto’s cocktail culture set the tone for a fun evening during our five-stop cocktail tour.
While you can grab a great cocktails throughout various neighborhoods while dining out in Toronto, the Bloorcourt neighborhood has grown in popularity over the years, especially with one of its favorites, Civil Liberties, being named the best bar in the country in 2022 by Canada’s 100 Best. And yes, the cocktails did not disappoint.
Civil Liberties’ owner Nick Kennedy, a veteran of the cocktail scene, is also about innovation as one of the co-owners of Civil Pours, Canada’s first draught cocktail bar. In other words, the brand concocts high-quality cocktails such as a jalapeno margarita and old fashioned that can be served from a keg or in bottle form, which is great to travel with.
Kennedy shows the science behind Civic Pours at Third Place, an event space with “warm hospitality and even better cocktails.”
Hands down, my favorite cocktail is an Old Cuban. While I usually have to provide the ingredient list (simple syrup, lime juice, rum, bitters and topped off with Champagne), the bartender at Chantecler knew precisely what I wanted.
Along with cocktails at this French-inspired restaurant, you can nibble on fries fried in duck fat and oysters or enjoy a full dinner menu while sitting outside on the large patio.
Mowforth switched the vibe up a little with the final tour stop at 915 Dupont. Very unassuming from the outside of Dupont Street, I thought maybe I needed a code word upon entering. The speakeasy ambiance at this Japanese-inspired listening bar that doubles as a coffee shop during the day said it’s time to chill.
After five bars, Mowforth made a final recommendation for another time: a visit to Bar Mordecai, co-owned by Christina Veira. Hailed as a powerhouse in the beverage industry, Veira not only champions amazing cocktails but also others looking to follow in her footsteps and create a dynamic hospitality career.
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No Meat, No Problem
Vegan options are plentiful when dining out in Toronto. Anan Lololi, chair of the Black Food Sovereignty Toronto Working Group and longtime plant-based enthusiast, shares, “Toronto is a vegan utopia — no matter your appetite, from outrageous vegan donuts to bowls of gorgeous Vietnamese noodles, Caribbean-inspired vegan/ital, 100% plant-based cuisine, vegan Egyptian North African flavours and everything in between.”
Last year’s Toronto Black Vegan Festival shared a glimpse of Toronto’s plant-based African and Caribbean food makers and products that cater to a growing demographic.
When asked about some of his favorite eateries, Lololi lists off Vital-Life Vegan, V’s Caribbean Restaurant and Fresh Kitchen + Juice Bar.
When asked about the growth of veganism in the city, he says, “I am observing Black-owned plant-based women’s businesses with a focus on bringing healthy, nourishing food to their and every community, nurturing plant-based lifestyles in their communities.”
This is the perfect segue into Toronto’s newest vegan eatery, Le Vegan, owned by Banchi Kinde. The Ethiopian native arrived in Toronto in 1999 after attending school in Virginia and soon became a restaurant owner, taking over what was once a cafe and one of the city’s go-to spots for authentic Ethiopian and Eritrean vegan restaurant, Rendez-Vous.
After cooking plant-based versions of her dishes, she eventually moved into action to expand her restaurant portfolio, opening Le Vegan in 2022. “I really love the vegan part of Ethiopian food and I enjoy cooking it.”
The beautifully decorated restaurant is a few doors down from Rendez-Vous, easing her job of managing both locations. A follow of Le Vegan on Instagram shows good food and good times being had by all.
Staying true to Ethiopia’s history as the birthplace of coffee, don’t miss out on seeing the beans being roasted in front of you before they are brewed and coffee is served traditionally with popcorn.
Although this article has a lot to consider when dining out in Toronto, I’ve only scratched the surface of food and drink options that wait. To explore even more, visit Destination Toronto.
