Toronto’s dining scene keeps growing, and this week there are 11 amazing new spots worth checking out! From handmade Sicilian street food to authentic Kerala cuisine and oversized Mexican tortas, there’s no shortage of reasons to plan your next meal out. Here are the best new restaurants to check out in Toronto right now.
1. Ammucca Sicilian Street Food
Ammucca is bringing a taste of Palermo and Catania to St. Clair West. The space just opened in May, and influencers are already raving about the scratch-made arancini, panelle (crispy chickpea fritters), stuffed baked pastries and traditional Sicilian desserts (seriously, it’s the perfect stop whether you’re after a decadent lunch or an afternoon cannoli).
Start with the Catanese arancino, stuffed with ragù, peas and mozzarella, or the pistachio arancino filled with mortadella, mozzarella and béchamel. The cartocciata parmigiana, packed with fried eggplant, tomato, eggs and mozzarella, is another standout dish. Finish your meal with freshly filled ricotta cannoli, a slice of cassata or a soft brioche col tuppo.1154 St Clair Ave W, Unit B.
2. Himalayan Kitchen
Himalayan Kitchen has been serving up authentic Himalayan food since 2010, but it recently relocated to a larger home on Queen West (thankfully, we can still expect the same dishes that built its loyal following). The extensive menu covers everything from Indo-Chinese faves, curries and chow mein to Tibetan-inspired comfort food, but momos remain the star attraction!
If it’s your first visit, order a basket of jhol momo, which pairs steamed dumplings with a thin, spicy and tangy achar, or the indulgent butter chicken momo, smothered in a rich butter chicken sauce. For bolder flavours, try the spicy Schezwan momo or tandoori momo, while mains like Chicken 65, Himalayan special chow mein and chicken curry with rice round out the meal. Wash it all down with a mango lassi or one of the house mojitos. 1439 Queen St W.
3. The Gemini
This intimate upstairs restaurant is a hidden gem on Dundas West, with a menu that’s all about “the fish, the wine and the martini”! Plates change regularly, but you can expect seasonal catches from Ontario’s lakes, local farms and Canada’s coastlines. Recent highlights have included seabream crudo, torched mackerel with cherries, fresh lake trout, battered shrimp tempura and crudité with bagna cauda! Pair dinner with a glass of red, an amaro, or an ice-cold martini, and call it a night. 1209A Dundas St W.
4. Hao’s Bistro
If you’ve been seeing Insta reels of noodles suspended dramatically over a lobster, they’re likely coming from Hao’s Bistro! The new Chinese restaurant on Spadina specializes in Sichuan, Cantonese and wok-fired specialties ranging from sizzling iron pots to dry pots and handmade dumplings.
Apart from the famous 70-centimetre lobster flying noodles, there are tons of dishes worth ordering, including the cheesy rice cake beef ribs pot, signature Maggi beef with crispy garlic and spicy chicken tossed with dried chillies and house seasoning. Go with a group and share the mini pan-fried buns, xiao long bao, and salted egg yolk chicken wings, or build your own combo of veggies, proteins and sauces with a customizable wok-fired dry pot! 339 Spadina Ave.
5. The French Kitchen
One of Toronto’s most acclaimed French chefs has returned with an intimate new 20-seat restaurant in the Junction. Chef Didier Leroy, formerly of the celebrated LSL, opened The French Kitchen as an homage to the neighbourhood restaurants of France, where hospitality, seasonal ingredients and thoughtfully priced wine take centre stage.
The tasting-style menu changes regularly, but several signature dishes remain, like the steak tartare, La Caille (quail), creamy riz au lait (rice pudding) and le gâteau de sandre, a signature dish that includes pike perch. Wine is another major draw, with bottles intentionally priced at just a small markup, encouraging guests to linger over multiple courses rather than rush through dinner. 3054 Dundas St W.
6. Piravi Indian Bistro
Piravi Indian Bistro is a new Scarborough spot that’s all about South Indian and Kerala cuisine. The menu includes delicious curries, of course, as well as kothu roti, seafood specialties, Hakka faves and traditional Kerala breakfasts.
For a first visit, try one of the restaurant’s banana leaf kothu dishes, like the beef or chicken kothu versions, or opt for the Kerala Pothichoru, which comes with rice, multiple vegetable sides, curries, fish, beef fry and payasam. Other highlights include the fragrant mutton biryani, flaky porotta with beef curry, fish pothichoru, and classic Chicken 65. Finish with a glass of Sharjah shake or cardamom chai. 4053 Sheppard Ave E.
7. Okay Maguey
Okay Maguey takes its motto seriously: Nobody eats small here; if you’re going to cheat, cheat right! And really, the new Kensington Market restaurant lives up to that promise with giant tortas, available with fillings ranging from beer-marinated pork and breaded pork cutlet to the towering Cubana, stacked with chorizo, sausage, ham, breaded pork and egg. Don’t skip the pambazo, a soft bun dipped in guajillo chilli sauce and stuffed with potato and chorizo, or the enchiladas, enmoladas and house-made tamales with fillings like pork in morita sauce, chicken in green sauce or shrimp. Weekend visitors can also order the slow-cooked lamb barbacoa served with consommé. 235 Augusta Ave.
8. Y Not Italian
A new neighbourhood Italian spot has opened where Little Italy meets Little Portugal. Y Not Italian Food-Bar comes from restaurateur Peter, whose previous restaurants, Spuntini and EVOO, built loyal followings uptown. The menu sticks to the classics, with handmade-style pastas, seafood, meat dishes and Mediterranean-inspired starters like beef carpaccio, grilled sardines and mussels. Save room for tiramisu or an affogato, then linger over one of the restaurant’s 30 wines priced at $30.
9. Gyoza & Go
A new spot near Wellesley Station is putting Taiwanese-style dumplings front and centre. Gyoza & Go serves handmade pan-fried dumplings in flavours ranging from classic pork and chive to purple sweet potato wrappers, alongside Taiwanese beef noodle soup and crispy shrimp wontons. Combo meals come in under $20, and a DIY sauce bar stocked with black vinegar, soy paste and sweet chili lets diners customize every bite.
10. Habanero
Etobicoke has a new destination for late-night Mexican food. Habanero on Browns Line serves tacos, burritos, burrito bowls and enchiladas, with everything from smoky house salsa to mango habanero sauce made fresh in-house. Most menu items range from $4.50 to $12, making it an easy stop for an affordable meal, and don’t skip dessert—the tres leches cake is quickly becoming a customer favourite.
11. Almas
A new restaurant is bringing the intricate flavours of Hyderabad to the city with a menu that blends Indian and Lebanese influences. Almas Indian Cuisine specializes in slow-cooked biryanis, mandi platters and tandoor favourites, alongside dishes like lamb shank biryani, full tandoor fish anand chicken shish tawook. Start with crab-stuffed shrimp or mutton marag, then finish with an Irani chai or mango lassi for a meal that spans regional traditions.
