With so many restaurants, cafés and shops in Toronto, choosing where to go can be overwhelming. Streets of Toronto’s annual Best Of list narrows it down with 79 winners, from longtime neighbourhood favourites to buzzy newcomers. Here is the full list by category.
Bakeries, sweets and desserts
- Baguette: Thobors, whose Parisian-trained bakers make baguettes with a slight sourdough tang and a crackling crust.
- Bagels: Bagel World, which hand-rolls and deck-bakes dense, seeded bagels at its North York and Thornhill locations.
- Butter tarts: Circles and Squares, a winner at the Ontario Butter Tart Festival.
- Cakes: Phipps Bakery Cafe, a Midtown favourite since 1986.
- Croissants: Tasso, which sells out of small batches every morning.
- Cookies: Midnight Cookie, at Yonge and Eglinton.
- Gourmet cookie: Le Gourmand, known for its chocolate chip cookie.
- Doughnuts: Better Days, on Dundas West.
- French bakery: Goûter, led by pastry chef Rodney Alléguède.
- Macarons: Nadège.
- Pastéis de nata: Bom Dia.
- Sourdough: Bartholomew Bakery in Vaughan.
- Gelato: Mizzica, known for Sicilian-style gelato.
- Ice cream (readers’ choice): Ed’s Real Scoop, with four locations.
- Soft serve: Tom’s Dairy Freeze, a Queensway drive-in since 1969.
Sandwiches, delis and comfort food
- Brisket sandwich: The Black Camel, in Rosedale.
- Club sandwich: Avenue Diner and Windfield’s.
- Deli sandwich: Pancer’s Original and Centre Street Deli.
- Jewish deli: Pancer’s Original, on Bathurst.
- Smoked meat: Centre Street Deli, in Thornhill.
- Italian sandwich: La Salumeria.
- Veal sandwich: Papamio’s.
- Hot dogs: Grandma Loves You, known for the Japan Dog.
- Poutine: Nom Nom Nom Poutine.
- Onion rings: Jumbo Burgers.
- Smash burger (readers’ choice): Rosie’s Burgers.
- Nachos: Sneaky Dee’s.
- Wings (readers’ choice): Duff’s.
- Fried chicken: Chica’s Chicken, a Michelin Bib Gourmand winner for its Nashville hot chicken.
- Southern BBQ: Cherry Street Bar-b-que, also a Bib Gourmand.
- Lobster roll: Buster’s Sea Cove, at St. Lawrence Market.
Breakfast and brunch
- Breakfast: White Lily Diner, in Riverside.
- Eggs Benedict: Lady Marmalade.
- Pancakes: Old School, in Little Italy, for its Blueberry Hill pancakes.
Italian, French and European
- Fresh pasta: Occhiolino, on Bathurst.
- Regional Italian: Osteria Giulia, 7 Numbers and Enoteca Sociale.
- Neapolitan pizza: Pizza e Pazzi.
- Pizza delivery: North of Brooklyn.
- Steak frites: Côte de Boeuf, on Ossington.
- Tableside Caesar: The Octagon.
- French gourmet shop: Douce France.
- Greek salad: Mamakas.
- Falafel: Fat Pasha.
Asian food
- Dim sum: Pearl Yorkville.
- Old school Chinese: House of Gourmet.
- Chinese delivery: C’est Bon.
- All-you-can-eat sushi: Matsuda.
- Go-to sushi (readers’ choice): J.San Sushi Bar.
- Ramen: Hakata Ikkousha.
- Pho: Pho Dac Biet.
- Bánh mì: Bánh Mì Huy-Ky.
- Pad Thai: Pai.
- Korean BBQ: Daldongnae.
- Bibimbap: Sunrise House, in Koreatown.
- Filipino: Mineral.
- Bubble tea: Chicha San Chen.
Indian, Caribbean and Middle Eastern
- Indian: Dil Se.
- Upscale Indian: Adrak Yorkville.
- Butter chicken: Banjara.
- Roti: Roti Cuisine of India.
- Doubles: Ali’s West Indian Roti Shop.
- Jerk chicken: Rap’s Restaurant.
- Shawarma: Flaming Stove.
Mexican
- Burritos: Comal y Canela.
- Tacos (readers’ choice): Taqueria el Pastorcito.
Seafood, meat and markets
- Butcher: Cumbrae’s.
- Fishmonger: Pisces.
- Fish and chips: Olde York.
- Oysters: Rodney’s.
Special picks
- Food hall: Waterworks Food Hall.
- Best restaurant you haven’t tried yet: Lake Inez.
- Best solo dining: Chantecler.
- Best kid-friendly restaurant: Rec Room.
- Gone but not forgotten: Famiglia Baldassarre, which closed in August.
Pick three places you’ve never tried, book them before December fills up, and tell us which ones earned their spot.
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