If you’re wondering whether you can still pull off a cool, candlelit Valentine’s Day dinner without the eye-watering price tag, the answer is yes. Book one of these spots and you’ll save the night — without draining your savings.
Hanmoto
While the rest of the city panic-books $150-per-head tasting menus, you’re heading to Hanmoto, the Lakeview hole-in-the-wall that feels like a secret Tokyo basement and looks even better under the glow of its red neon. For exactly $71, you can dodge the prix-fixe meny and order a full, heavy-hitting feast for two: start with the mandatory Moto Eggs ($9) for that Japanese devilled-egg fix, followed by the deboned, dumpling-stuffed Dyno Wings ($16) and a Katsu Box ($18) that anchors the meal with panko-crusted pork belly, rice and slaw. Finish with the Tempura McFly ($11) chicken bun, and you’ll still have exactly enough left in the budget for two Sapporo drafts ($9 each) or a Left Field Greenwood IPA to share.
Libretto
If you don’t think it’s possible to pull off a proper, three-course sit-down dinner on Valentine’s Day without the sticker shock: Libretto is your go-to. While the city’s Winterlicious deals wrap up on the 12th, Pizzeria Libretto is pivoting straight into a Valentine’s Day Prix Fixe for just $30 per person. It’s the ultimate romantic hack: you start with the Montanara — pillowy, lightly fried pizza dough topped with sugo and creamy stracciatella — or a beet & goat Cheese salad, followed by a choice of mains like the spicy, honey-laced ‘Nduja pizza or th Tartufo with gorgonzola cream and truffle paste. Since the food for two comes to exactly $60, you have a precise $15 left in the budget for drinks. That’s enough to split a large San Pellegrino ($8) or grab two Brios ($4 each) and still have enough left over to tip your server.
Flame Sushi & Bar
If you want to feel like you’re winning at Valentine’s Day, this Queen West spot is your secret weapon. While other sushi spots are charging eye-watering prices for a basic meal, Flame is running a high-value 3-Course Tasting Menu for just $38 per person. Included is a delicious starter like the beef tataki with truffle oil or a sashimi salad, followed by an impressive main like the smoke-infused bara chirashi don or a spicy Dan Dan chashu Udon. Because the food for two comes to exactly $76, you’re just a hair over budget before drinks— but here’s the hack: their cocktails like the Tamamo (gin, melon, and yuzu) are world-class, but to keep the total bill tight, you can skip the $20 martinis and share a Hakutsuru Hot Sake ($10) or grab a couple of Sapporos on tap.
Okonomi House
If your idea of a perfect date is “timeless, cozy and hidden in plain sight,” this Charles Street legend has your name written on all over it. The spot has looked exactly the same since 1978, which — in the fickle world of Toronto dining — is the ultimate romantic flex. You can share a pork okonomi-yaki ($13.50) and a plate of yakisoba ($16.99) and still have over $40 left in the budget. Since they aren’t licensed, spend the rest on two Itoen cold green teas ($4.25) and a side of edamame ($4.35), then use the leftover $30 to grab a fancy cocktail at a nearby Yorkville bar.
Queen Mother Cafe
You don’t have to settle for a bland chain restaurant just to keep your Valentine’s bill under $75. This Queen West institution offers a cozy, dark-wood interior that feels worlds away from the downtown bustle, while you dig into their delicious Laotian-Thai fusion. Share an order of Nam Jeun spring rolls ($11.95) to start, then try two of their heavy-hitting noodle bowls: the Chicken & Shrimp Pad Thai and the Khao Soy Gai ($21.95 each). This puts your food total at roughly $56, leaving you exactly enough room for a round of 3 Speed Lagers ($7) or a Steamwhistle ($6.50) while staying strictly within budget.
