These 23 restaurants are the best in Toronto already this year, according to a food magazine
One of Toronto’s largest food and drink magazines revealed what they think the best restaurants are in the city this year. These 23 spots cracked the list for 2026.
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Twenty-three restaurants among this year’s best Foodism, one of Toronto’s largest food and drink magazines revealed the top 23 restaurants of the city for this year. Katie Bridges, the editor of the magazine, says they considered three factors to determine their list: consistency, flavour and originality. (Foodism)
How Foodism determined their best restaurants list “Flavour, we want something that’s incredible,” Bridges told CP24 Breakfast. “Originality, we want something that feels really distinct, and consistency, we want from the first bite to the last sip to be incredible.” Take a look at the restaurants that made the 2026 list. (Foodism)
23. MSSM, multiple locations Guests can dine on premium edomae-style omakase, surrounded by graffiti-lined walls, at MSSM. For the magazine, the nigiri is the “main event.” There are two locations for MSSM: one in Toronto's west end (1221 Dundas St. W.) and another in Yorkvile (154 Cumberland St.). (Instagram/@foodismca)
22. Stefano’s Diner, 1265 Dundas St. W. Vegans craving a cold-cut sandwich can head over to this restaurant, which serves all-vegan diner food. Foodism noted that Stefano’s red fife focaccia sandwich is filled to the brim with mortadella and the house-made vegan meatball sandwich is “flooded” with sugo. (Foodism)
21. Ricky + Olivia, 996 Queen St. E. This east-end restaurant has been honouring Ontario’s “bounty” long before the buy local movement, Foodism noted, adding that commitment is what makes it one of Toronto’s best restaurants. Plus, they pair seasonal ingredients with local wines. (Foodism)
20. The Berczy Tavern, 69 Front St. E. On top of its ambience, with the restaurant nestled in a heritage building by Berczy Park, Foodism says this tavern infuses French, Italian and Spanish flavours, has top-tier cocktails and attentive service. (Foodism)
19. Hawker, 291 Augusta Ave. Though Hawker serves a la carte options, Foodism says the restaurant’s chef’s table is where it’s at. The menu features seasonal and locally foraged produce for its plant-based plates, with the magazine calling it a “food nerd’s dream.” (Foodism)
18. The Lunch Lady of Saigon, 93 Ossington Ave. Based on the Saigon street stall that launched to critical acclaim after a visit by Anthony Bourdain, Foodism applauds The Lunch Lady for its premium Vietnamese ingredients. The magazine recommends opting one of the noodle soups, which rotates daily, as the beef broth is steeped for 24 hours. (Foodism/Sue-lee Wright)
17. Bernhardt’s, 202 Dovercourt Rd. Diners looking for a cozy, neighbourhood spot might want to opt for this Dovercourt gem. While this west-end restaurant is known for its chicken, Foodism says they have incredible vegetables that make “even the staunchest carnivores swoon.” (Instagram/@bernhardtstoronto)
16. Belle Isle, 1455 Gerrard St. E. Coined as the restaurant that stole Foodism’s hearts “in an instant,” Belle Isle was applauded for its dan dan noodles, which were credited as “unapologetically saucy.” The Gerrard Street spot is also lauded for its creative cocktails, including a NSFW Jell-O shot dessert. (Instagram/@belleisle__)
15. Louf, 501 Davenport Rd. Louf is one of Toronto’s few restaurants that’s celebrating Palestinian culture through “excellent and innovative cooking,” according to Foodism. The restaurant serves classics and inventive dishes and has “intriguing” cocktails to boot. (Foodism)
14. Morrellina’s, 146 Christie St. Lovers of fresh, handmade pasta can step inside this Seaton Village spot, where the menus are seasonal and the dishes are ever-changing. It could also serve as an ideal date-night spot, Foodism says, as only 18 people can fit inside. (Instagram/@AlexUA)
13. Lyla, 60 Sudbury St. Lyla has been “flying under the radar” since it opened, Foodism says, but the magazine said it is one of the best in Toronto for its Mediterranean-Asian fusion dishes. One plate that caught the magazine’s eye is the carpaccio, made with bluefin tuna, blood orange and a wasabi aioli. (Foodism/Lyla Toronto)
12. The Chase, 10 Temperance St. Those looking for the “freshest, most succulent seafood” can head to The Chase, according to Foodism. A must-try dish for the magazine is the lobster spaghetti, which they say is “drenched” in lobster sauce, topped with la half-butter-poached-lobster and made with squid ink pasta. (Foodism)
11. Bar Prima, 1136 Queen St. W. This West Queen West spot serves Italian-American dishes in a stunning setting, Foodism notes. The magazine said it gets “misty-eyed” for the Scallops Rockefeller, which is topped with bechamel, prsciutto and gremolata. (Instagram/@barprima.to)
10. Henry’s Restaurant, 922 Queen St. W. Diners can sip from an expansive wine list—even packed with some rare finds—in this “effortlessly cool” fine-dining restaurant. Foodism says it is particularly obsessed with the “earth-shatteringly crispy shrimp toast.” (Foodism)
9. Arbequina, 325 Roncesvalles Ave. Arbequina blends Jordanian and Palestinian cuisine, serving “beautifully plated” dishes in a dining room with olive trees and Palestinian birds displayed on the walls. Guests can sip on mocktails or dealcoholized wines, as the restaurant is alcohol-free. (Foodism)
8. Yan Dining Room, 195 Dundas St. W. The multi-course menus at this Cantonese restaurant infuses Canadian ingredients with regional Chinese influences, Foodism says. Eva Chin, Yan Dining Room’s chef, will “reshape how you think about food entirely,” the magazine said. (Foodism)
7. Radici Project, 588 College St. Diners looking for a “whimsical” meal can step inside Radici Project for Italian-Japanese fare. The restaurant’s menu serves seasonal, farm-to-table ingredients, offering up dishes like a risotto made with Japanese rice and a crispy chicken karaage on top of a creamy, sorrel sauce. (Foodism/Valentina Tretiak)
6. Akin, 51 Colborne St. Foodism says this Japanese restaurant is more than a good meal, it serves an experience. The newest Michelin-starred restaurant serves “top-notch dining,” putting up plates like hot pot on a spoon. (Foodism)
5. Sushi Kiwami, 599 Yonge St. Executive chef Yuta Ararese brings decades of experience to this sushi spot and flies in seafood from Japan about three times a week. Foodism says the food lineup is constantly changing, but diners may find otoro, pufferfish or uni on the menu. (Foodism)
4. Don Alfonso 1890, 1 Harbour Square What started off as a pop-up has turned into a permanent fixture at the Westin Harbour Castle, serving mouthwatering Italian plates (so delicious that Don Alfonso 1890 has been crowned the best Italian restaurant outside of Italy). (Foodism)
3. Alo, 163 Spadina Ave. Foodism applauds Alo for its impeccable service and its multi-course blind tasting menus representing a “masterclass in seasonality, flavour combinations and inventive execution.” The magazine says it still dreams of the restaurant’s foie gras, as it had a texture “so smooth it could have got us into bed.” (Foodism)
2. Sushi Yugen, 150 York St. Diners can feast on a 16 to 18-course kaiseki and omakase meal at this Sushi restaurant. The restaurant’s backroom, which hosts eight guests at the chef’s counter, can immerse themselves in a culinary journey while eating flavourful morsels of fish. (Foodism/Rick O'Brien)
1. DaNico, 440 College St. Inside of what used to be a bank building on the corner of Bathurst and College streets is an upscale Italian restaurant, clinching the top spot of Foodism’s best restaurants list for Toronto this year. The magazine says the tasting menu is where chef Daniele Corona’s “creations shine the brightest,” with the 20-course signature menu serving various canapes and multiple desserts. (Foodism)
