Toronto Through Its Food: 60+ Authentic Restaurants Recommended by the People Who Call It Home

Looking for the most authentic restaurants in Toronto? We asked Torontonians from around the world where they eat when they miss home.

Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities on the planet. Walk a few blocks in almost any direction and you can hear different languages, discover new traditions, and find restaurants serving recipes passed down through generations.

But when you are looking for authentic food, who should you trust?

Instead of asking food critics, we asked people from different cultural backgrounds a simple question:

“What’s the best spot in Toronto for food from your culture?”

The answers created an incredible food map of Toronto. From Greek gyros and Peruvian ceviche to Sri Lankan mutton rolls and Bangladeshi biryani, these are the restaurants people recommended when they wanted food that tastes like home.

Latin America

Nicaraguan: La Bella Managua

For many Nicaraguans in Toronto, La Bella Managua is the gold standard.

Must-try dishes:

Carne asada
Bandeja típica
Ceviche
Fried cheese

Peruvian: Los Chicos Brasa

Peruvian cuisine is consistently ranked among the world’s best, and Toronto’s Peruvian community knows where to find it.

Must-try dishes:

Lomo saltado
Ceviche
Papa a la huancaína

Other Peruvian recommendations:

Colombian: Delicious Empanadas Colombian Restaurant

A favourite among Colombian Torontonians, especially for traditional dishes beyond just empanadas.

Also recommended:

Ave Maria Latin Café

Europe

Greek: Souv Like

Recommended by someone who grew up in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Must-try dishes:

Gyros
Greek fries
House sauce

Other Greek favourites:

Polish: Café Polonez

One of the strongest consensus picks in the discussion. Several commenters said the food reminded them of meals cooked by their grandparents.

Must-try dishes:

Pierogi
Goulash
Schnitzel

Also recommended:

Hastings Snack Bar

Hungarian: Budapest Restaurant

A longtime favourite for Toronto’s Hungarian community.

Maltese: Malta Bake Shop

Must-try dishes:

Pastizzi
Qassatat

Czech: Prague Restaurant

One commenter called it a hidden gem and one of the only places in the GTA serving authentic Czech cuisine.

Italian: Pizza e Pazzi

Recommended by Italian commenters for authentic Italian food.

Also mentioned:

Trinacria Bakery

Portuguese

Toronto’s Portuguese community had plenty of recommendations.

Top mentions:

British, Scottish and Irish

Recommended:

Asia

Cantonese: Congee Queen

Toronto is home to one of North America’s largest Cantonese communities, and Congee Queen was recommended as a reliable introduction to Cantonese cuisine.

Must-try dishes:

Fried turnip cakes
Fish congee
Beef brisket rice
Chow mein

Shaanxi Chinese: Taste of Qin

Known for liangpi, a cold noodle dish from Shaanxi.

Teochew / Chiu Chow: Chiu Chow Man

Recommended dishes:

Fried tofu
Marinated meat platter
Stir-fried water spinach

Vietnamese: Pho Ngoc Yen

A standout recommendation from Vietnamese commenters.

Must-try dishes:

Beef rib pho
Com tam
Traditional pho

Other favourites:

Korean: Pine Tree Sonamoo

Recommended dishes:

Kalguksu
Naengmyeon

Indonesian

Top recommendations:

Must-try dishes:

Rendang
Nasi padang
Nasi goreng
Satay

Malaysian: Canteen at Dragon City Mall

Recommended dishes:

Char kuey teow
Nasi lemak
Ikan bakar

Indian

Recommended:

Pakistani

Top picks:

Must-try dish:

Goat karahi

Bangladeshi

Scarborough was repeatedly mentioned as the heart of Toronto’s Bangladeshi food scene.

Recommended:

Must-try dishes:

Kacchi biryani
Bhuna khichuri
Chicken roast with pulao
Rasgulla
Golap jam

Sri Lankan Tamil

Toronto has one of the largest Sri Lankan Tamil populations outside Sri Lanka.

Top recommendations:

Must-try dishes:

Mutton rolls
Kothu roti
Rice and curry

Northern Thai: Larb Muang

Recommended dishes:

Nam ngiao
Larb kua

Lao

Recommended:

Middle East

Egyptian

Top picks:

Palestinian

Recommended:

Afghan

Recommended:

Persian: Kebab Bazari

Recommended for tender grilled meat and Persian kebabs.

Caribbean

Trinidadian

Recommended:

Guyanese: Caribbean Heat 3

Known for:

Chicken fried rice
Pepper shrimp

Caribbean: Simone’s Caribbean Restaurant

A recommended Caribbean spot on the Danforth.

Africa

Ghanaian: Nyamekye

Recommended dishes:

Waakye
Iced kenkey drink

Canadian Classics

Poutine: Mr. Tasty Fries

A classic Toronto food truck recommendation for poutine.

Poutine: Nom Nom Nom Poutine

Another Canadian comfort food favourite.

Steakhouse: Barberian’s Steak House

A classic Toronto steakhouse.

Steakhouse: Hy’s Steakhouse

Another classic downtown steakhouse.

Seafood: Oyster Boy

Recommended for oysters and seafood.

The Ultimate Toronto Food Challenge

Want to experience Toronto through food?

Try visiting:

One Latin American restaurant
One South Asian restaurant
One East Asian restaurant
One European restaurant
One Caribbean restaurant
One African restaurant
One Canadian classic

You will travel across the world without leaving the GTA.

Toronto Food Bucket List Map

Use this list to start building your own Toronto food map:

Cuisine	Restaurant	Google Maps
Nicaraguan	La Bella Managua	Open map
Greek	Souv Like	Open map
Peruvian	Los Chicos Brasa	Open map
Polish	Café Polonez	Open map
Vietnamese	Pho Ngoc Yen	Open map
Pakistani	Karahi Boys	Open map
Bangladeshi	The Spicy Grill	Open map
Sri Lankan Tamil	Quality Bread Bakery	Open map
Cantonese	Congee Queen	Open map
Korean	Pine Tree Sonamoo	Open map
Egyptian	Maha’s	Open map
Palestinian	Levant Pizza	Open map
Portuguese	Flor do Ave	Open map
Trinidadian	Ali’s Roti	Open map
Ghanaian	Nyamekye	Open map

FAQ

What is the most authentic food in Toronto?

Some of the most frequently recommended authentic restaurants include La Bella Managua, Café Polonez, Souv Like, Pho Ngoc Yen, Congee Queen, Karahi Boys, The Spicy Grill and Quality Bread Bakery.

What neighbourhoods are best for international food in Toronto?

Scarborough, Markham, North York, Mississauga, Roncesvalles, Greektown, Chinatown, Little India and St. Clair West are among the best places to explore.

What cuisine is Toronto known for?

Toronto is not defined by a single cuisine. Instead, it is known for being one of the few cities where residents can experience authentic food from nearly every corner of the world.

How can I find authentic restaurants in Toronto?

One of the best ways is to ask people from that culture where they eat when they want food that reminds them of home. Community recommendations often lead to smaller neighbourhood restaurants that may not appear on mainstream “best of” lists.

Final Bite

The best food in Toronto is not always found on “Top 10” lists.

Often, it is found in neighbourhood restaurants where families gather, communities celebrate, and recipes have been passed down for generations.

The recommendations above came directly from people who grew up eating these cuisines. That is what makes them special.

The next time you are looking for somewhere new to eat, skip the algorithms and follow the people who know the food best.