I had zero knowledge and the same amount of expectations of Toronto’s culinary scene before visiting. And let me tell you, this city completely blew my mind. We mostly visited casual restaurants in Toronto, since I traveled with my husband and our two kids. Toddlers are not exactly great companions when it comes to fine dining. But even the most casual cafes and budget-friendly spots had a way of surprising me with how fresh, flavorful, and simply delicious the food was.
I probably should mention that these were not random spots I visited, but favorite restaurants of my sister-in-law and her husband who live in Toronto. It was so refreshing, for once, to come to a new city and not do any research whatsoever on things to do and places to eat. “This place has great ramen!”, “Try croissants here!”, “This cafe is where we get our coffee!” I would be told and as long as I followed the directions I would always end up full and happy.
That is just to give credit where it’s due. Every single restaurant I visited was a recommendation of my sister-in-law. And now I am sharing her recommendations (tried and approved by me) with you!
Khao San Road is your spot for traditional Thai food. They serve such classics as papaya salad, green and red curries (among many other curry varieties), but their most popular dish is, without a doubt, pad thai, one of the most flavorful I’ve ever tried.
You can choose your spice level: from no spice to mild to extreme Thai spicy. Be aware, though, that if you can’t handle the heat, they won’t redo the dish for you (I guess people had asked in the past, hence the warning on the menu).
The chef at Khao San Road, Top Srisomphan, grew up in Bangkok and learned to cook from her mother. She attended a culinary school before moving to Canada and taking over the role of a chef at the newly opened Khao San Road. The restaurant is not too big, has high ceilings, large windows, and is decorated with tiles imported from Thailand. If there’s a line of people you can always wait for your table at the bar.
Khao San Road — 11 Charlotte St
Situated right in downtown Toronto, Pigeon Cafe is the new kid on the block. The location on King Street opened in 2023 and is part of a small chain of cafes that started out in Montreal. The original Pigeon was an espresso bar, but their Toronto branch is a full-on restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as coffee and cocktails.
Their tagline is “The World’s Worst Coffee”. The founder, Johnatan Dresner, explains that he was tired of seeing third-wave coffee shops competing for attention and claiming they have the best coffee, the real deal. So he came up with a sarcastic tagline for his business.
I have to say, the coffee was ok, but I expected a bit more from an espresso bar. It was possibly an exception since I only dined here once. The food, on the other hand, was great. I tried the halloumi and labneh shakshuka which made for a perfect brunch. I wouldn’t necessarily make a trip out here just for the restaurant, but if you are in the area, it’s a good option.
Pigeon Cafe and Bar — 337 King St W
This casual Toronto restaurant was an accidental find, as I was out and about with my two kids. Cafe Landwer was buzzing but looked relaxed enough to feel comfortable with a toddler and a baby, so I walked in.
Immediately, the vibe I felt was that of an American diner, most likely because of the red leather booths. Probably not what the owners aimed for as the company has roots in Israel and started out in Germany. The first Landwer Cafe was opened by Moshe Landwer in 1919 in Berlin. In 1933, for obvious reasons, he had to move to Tel-Aviv, where he opened the first roasting company in Israel. Over the years, it grew into the second-largest coffee roaster in the country, started a chain of casual restaurants, and expanded into North America. They have 4 locations in Toronto.
The menu is extensive! It is influenced by Mediterranean and Italian cuisines, with everything from meze to pizza to salads to pasta on offer. I went for a meze platter with falafel, baba ganoush, halloumi sticks, and pita bread.
They have a children’s menu, but my kids happily ate the meze with me. The coffee is great too (I tried a cappuccino). They offer a halva latte on their menu. Halva (sweet sesame spread) is blended with almond milk and poured over a shot of espresso. Something I am looking forward to trying next time.
Cafe Landwer — multiple locations in Toronto, check Google Maps.
Buster’s Sea Cove is one of the long-time favorites at Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market. They have a great range of classics like New England clam chowder, lobster bisque, and New Orleans shrimp po’boy.
But the most popular items on the menu are, not surprisingly, the East Coast lobster roll and hand-made crab cakes. Both were excellent, but I’d say piping hot crab cakes were more satisfying on a cool windy day. We had the food at one of the tables on the terrace outside. The lobster roll had a generous amount of lobster meat, but they only serve it cold and I much prefer a warm version. Still, it was delicious.
If you are looking for a casual restaurant in Toronto, dining at St. Lawrence Market can be a great idea. There are multiple options for amazing food. Everyone can choose what they crave, then sit together for a meal. It can get a bit crowded, but in a cheerful fun way.
Buster’s Sea Cove — inside St. Lawrence Market
Torch sushi serves exquisite Japanese food made with premium ingredients in a fast-casual setting. What’s special about this place is that they combine a centuries-old Japanese technique called Oshizushi with Aburi, a modern, innovative method of preparing sushi.
Oshizushi, literally translated, means “pressed sushi”. A wooden box is used to make it. The ingredients are layered inside: first the toppings such as raw fish and vegetables, then sushi rice on top. The layers are then pressed tight with the help of a lid and the mold is removed. What you have in the end is a block of sushi. For convenience, it’s cut into smaller pieces.
Aburi is a new technique of flame-searing sushi that adds a new dimension of flavor to the ingredients.
At Torch (now you know where the name comes from), they do Oshizushi-Aburi style sushi, using fresh, thick-cut fish and top-grade rice. They also make their own sauces. Apart from sushi, you can also order a rice bowl or a bento box here.
Loga’s Corner is considered the best place in town for Tibetan-style momos. The tiny restaurant on Close Avenue is so unassuming you could easily pass it by. It’s most popular with locals for take-out since the space is not too big.
You can choose between beef, chicken, lamb, or pork momos. They also have two vegetarian-friendly options: veggies and potatoes. All momos come with their signature hot sauce. A pack of 10 cost me $9 (at the time). The portion makes for a filling lunch or dinner. They have recently opened a second location on Queen Street.
Loga’s Corner — 216 Close Ave (the original location) and 1407 Queen St W
Not only was this my favorite meal in Toronto, this was one of my favorite meals of the year! The restaurant is helmed by chef Victor Ugeweke who immigrated to Canada over a decade ago from his home city of Lagos. Walking in, I had no idea what to expect of a Nigerian restaurant. I didn’t know what their specialties are or what ingredients are used in Nigerian cuisine.
We chose sticky suya hot wings for a starter, their signature dish. Chicken wings are fried until crispy, then tossed in sticky honey glaze and finally coated with a spicy peanut rub. The main was party jollof, paella-style rice served with fried plantains, slaw, and boneless chicken. I was blown away by the bold and rich flavors.
The space is not too big, but they have a sizable patio in the back of the restaurant. We had no problem getting a table for early dinner, right at the opening time. But it gets busier later at night, so do make a reservation.
Afrobeat Kitchen — 1510 Queen St W
Golden Patty is not a casual restaurant in Toronto, per se, but definitely a relaxed place to eat delicious food. This bakery, located at Kensington Market, is a neighborhood favorite for Jamaican-style patties. Flaky dough is filled with juicy flavorful fillings, like spicy beef, curry shrimp, and jerk chicken.
The space is simple and resembles a grocery store more than it does a bakery. But don’t let the humble appearance fool you, the flavors are incredible. A few patties make for a satisfying snack that you can enjoy while exploring Kensington Market since there’s no sitting inside.
Golden Patty — 187 Baldwin St (at Kensington Market)
Another great spot at Kensington Market for a relaxed snack or a meal is Latin Taste, a small unassuming joint that offers incredible Peruvian specialties. The chef behind the restaurant is Lorena Ramos Paz, a native of Huaral, a town about 80 km North of Lima. Her love of good food was inspired by her family, but she later pursued her dream of becoming a professional chef by studying at Le Cordon Bleu.
Latin Taste offers traditional Peruvian (and popular Latin) dishes like ceviche, pupusas, papa rellena, tamales and so much more. They offer lunch plates which are best enjoyed right away (mind you, there are only a few tables inside). You can also get a few of their freshly baked goods to go. Empanadas are especially popular, which is what we tried.
Latin Taste — 200 Baldwin St
Tiflisi is an incredible place serving traditional Georgian specialties, like pkhali (minced vegetables with walnut sauce), all kinds of khachapuri (Georgian cheese pies), and, of course, khinkali (soup dumplings).
We made a stop here after visiting the Scarborough Bluffs. The restaurant is located in the Beaches neighborhood of Toronto, about halfway between Toronto downtown and the famous park. This makes it a convenient lunch (or dinner) option if you are planning a day trip to the Bluffs.
The place was quite busy at lunchtime, but we managed to get a table inside. Given that I grew up in Russia where Georgian food is highly esteemed, I’ve had my share of khinkali and khachapuri. And I can confidently say the food here was authentic, fresh, and delicious.
Tiflisi — 1970 Queen St E
Forno Cultura is considered one of the best bakeries in Toronto and was at the top of my list of places to try. In fact, Bon Appetit magazine named Forno Cultura “bread porn for sourdough fanatics”.
The bakery was founded in 2013 by Andrea Mastandrea who is a third-generation baker with Italian heritage. In short, Forno Cultura (forno means “oven” and cultura means “culture”) is a modern Italian bakery that respects tradition and uses only natural ingredients and organic flours. As Andrea Mastandrea said in an interview to Bakers Journal, “Mother yeast is the base of all baking that we do.” I was beyond excited to try the sourdough bread, but even more so to bite into biscotti (Italian cookies) and I was not disappointed.
They have multiple locations in Toronto, but not all are exactly the same. There’s Biscotteria Forno Cultura which specializes in biscotti. There’s foccaceria Forno Cultura that offers — you guessed it — focaccia. But you’ll find their signature baked goods at any location. I visited the one on King Street, a charming casual spot in downtown Toronto, and tried a mix of biscotti. But they also offer a range of sandwiches made with freshly-baked focaccia and great coffee.
Forno Cultura — multiple locations in Toronto, check Google Maps.
Sud Forno has been around for over a decade and has two locations in Toronto. The first one was opened in 2013 on Queen Street. It has the vibe of a beloved neighborhood bakery: the space is compact and cozy, with a few tables, lots of Italian pastries, pizza stirata (stretched-out foccacia bread with toppings), and good coffee.
Their second location at Yonge and Temperance in Toronto’s downtown is quite different from the Queen Street bakery, both in atmosphere and size. The enormous space features not only freshly baked Italian pastries but also full meals: salads and pasta that you can eat inside or take away. There’s fresh bread, sandwiches, and pizza, too.
I visited this location several times, both for breakfast and lunch, and it was always busy, nevertheless, we always managed to get a table. The quality of all the baked goods I tried, including bread, cornetto, and bomboloni, was unmatched.
Sud Forno — 132 Yonge St (the bigger space) and 716 Queen St W (the bakery)
Maha’s is a small and cozy cafe serving Egyptian specialties. This was, hands down, one of the best casual restaurants in Toronto I tried on my trip. It’s particularly popular for brunch but is a good option for lunch or early dinner, too (they close at 6 pm).
Maha’s Cafe is a sister cafe of the popular Maha’s Egyptian Brunch. The latter is, unfortunately, notorious for long waiting time. Since we were in Toronto with two little kids, we decided to check out Maha’s Cafe instead. We got a table right away and the food was just as mind-blowing.
Both restaurants are run by the head chef Maha Barsoom and her two kids. The menu at Maha’s Cafe focuses on meze. We ordered classic hummus, avocado hummus, and baba ganoush served with pita bread, all of which were great.
But the highlight of our meal were drinks and dessert. Maha’s specialty lattes are particularly impressive — we tried the honey cardamom latte (silky, smooth, with a hint of spice). Make sure to order baklava for dessert. The one with pistachio cream was probably the best baklava I have ever tried in my life (and I try baklava pretty much every time I see it).
Maha’s Cafe — 978 Queen St E
Karahi Point serves incredible Pakistani karahi, but you need a car to get here, as it is located in Thorncliffe neighborhood of Toronto. We chose this place for lunch because we did a day trip to the nearby Science Center with our kids, which has since closed, unfortunately. But if you are planning to visit the Aga Khan Museum, Karahi Point is only 7 minutes away by car. The public transport connection is, sadly, not great.
If you do make it here, ordering their signature karahi is a must. You can choose between chicken, goat, lamb, fish, prawn, and paneer (if you are vegetarian). If you choose a meat karahi, they offer bone-in and boneless options.
Karahi is one of the most popular curries in Pakistan and India. It is named after the pan in which it’s prepared: a thick round cooking pot often made of cast iron. Traditionally, the curry would be made in this pot over an open fire. It features a distinct rich tomato-based gravy and is finished off with slivers of ginger and cilantro leaves.
Karahi is prepared to order, so the waiting time was about 40 minutes. The rich intense flavor of the gravy and the melt-in-your mouth meat was totally worth it, in my opinion. We also tried a few other dishes, including chicken tikka biriyani, which were only ok. The true star of the show was, without a doubt, karahi.
Kimchi Korea House is the place to get your bibimbap and kimchi pancakes fix. A family-run business, it has been around since 2012. It was opened by Michelle Lee, an immigrant from South Korea, who is affectionally known as Mama Lee in Toronto.
She runs the place with her daughter Diana, who is responsible for social media, and her nephew Jin, the kitchen’s head chef. During Covid, Diana helped her mother build a strong social media presence with videos of her cooking in order to find new customers. Mama Lee’s popularity has grown to a point where she is often recognized in the streets.
Kimchi Korea House makes it a point to show authentic Korean cuisine to its patrons that goes beyond Korean BBQ. We ordered our food as take-out (hence no pictures), but it is definitely a good choice if you are looking for a casual restaurant in Toronto, simple and unpretentious.
Kimchi Korea House — 149 Dundas St W
A Weekend in Toronto: All You Have to Do (and Eat) in 48 Hours
Toronto With Kids: 10 Things to Do for The Whole Family
I write stories about food, travel, and my life as a mom of two boys. Home is Russia, but somehow also Sri Lanka and Hamburg, Germany. Go figure.
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Great recommendations, thank you for your detailed reviews and photos! Excited to try these out – I just moved to Toronto :)
Hey Kaileigh,
I am so glad the guide is helpful! You live in a wonderful city, hope you enjoy the many many amazing foods it has to offer!
Yulia