20 Best North York Restaurants You Gotta Visit

The neighbourhood of North York boasts one of the most diverse and fastest growing areas in Toronto. As a result, you’ll find some of the most exciting and international cuisines here. To help you in your quest to find the best eats in Toronto, these are the best North York restaurants you absolutely must try.

20 Best North York Restaurants

North York is one of those neighbourhoods that makes up the amalgamated Greater Toronto Area (GTA). It’s bordered by Steeles in the north, the Humber River to the west, Victoria Park to the east, and is very zig-zaggedy to the south, so I won’t even try to describe it.

I’ll be honest, like Scarborough, North York doesn’t get a lot of attention. Downtown Toronto often gets all of the love and accolades but as someone that grew up here, there are many list-worthy restaurants in this neighbourhood.

A big part of it comes down to the dovetailing of numerous nationalities throughout distinct pockets of North York along with the history, growth, and evolution of this suburb.

This started off as a short list of restaurants that I love but as I continue to consider new startups, international imports, tried and true, and old classics, I realized that there’s way more than a top 5 here when it comes to the best North York Restaurants.

The below is a list of restaurants but it is in no particular order.

1. Konjiki Ramen

If you’ve watched our Japan series and seen the best ramen in Tokyo, you’ll know that one of my favourites was the ridiculously good clam soup base of Konjiki Hototogisu. The easily lived up to their Michelin Star when we visited.

Well, good news! Chef Yamamoto has brought his famous ramen to Toronto with now 3 locations in the GTA. The first location is located on Yonge Street in North York and not only brings his meticulously built harmony that combines ingredients such as clam, pork chashu, porcini sauce, black truffle sauce, braised bamboo shoots.

What they’re best known for is their clam-based broth. In Canada, they use cherrystone clams instead of hamaguri clams but the flavour is still strong and delicious. All of the sauce or “tare” in Japanese comes straight from Japan and so is the white truffle oil and porcini past which most ramen restaurants can’t claim.

When you try their signature ramen, you’ll be blown away by how unique, distinct, and intense the clam and truffle flavours sit on your palette. It doesn’t sound like it but it works incredibly well together when balanced by the house-made noodles, braised bamboo shoots (menma), chashu, spring onion, and leek.

I’m not kidding, Konjiki is THE ramen to have in the city.

In Toronto, they’ve also partnered with a Tokyo-based dessert shop named Saryo. They’re best known for their parfait of green tea sort serve, mochi, and red bean. They also have an assortment of hojicha and sencha drinks and speciality cakes that do an incredible job of highlighting uji matcha.

Before you come, make sure to read how to eat ramen to learn about all of the etiquette that you may not know about.

2. Babel

Babel has some of the finest Mediterranean dishes in the city. Located in the upscale Bridal Path area, this is certainly an unexpected North York restaurant that brings their food to life with their live-fire cooking.

Their current chef is Rosalin Keshishian, hailing from Syria, and brings a passion to the kitchen that really shows in their freshly baked breads, yummy hummus, juicy lamb, perfectly crisped falafel, and tender beef kebabs.

The outdoor patio space is comfortable and shaded while their indoor space is elegantly decorated with modern touches.

Babel is part of the O&B family.

3. Nomé Izakaya

There are a ton of restaurants along the drag of Yonge between Finch and Sheppard but when it comes to Japanese Izakaya, Nomé sits atop when it comes to sharable Japanese dishes and super fresh seafood.

There are two locations in North York – one on Yonge and another at Shops at Don Mills. Both have an understated and modern Japanese design with clean cut lines, warm natural wood, and sleek black.

What sets Nomé apart from some of the other izakayas is that they boast their own oyster bar and many of their dishes are more modern takes on traditional Japanese dishes but infused with other Asian cuisines.

If you’re looking for a great patio space, the Shops at Don Mills location has a large space and Yonge Street has a awning that makes sure it stays open even when raining.

4. Dal Dong Nae

One of my current favourite Korean BBQ joints in the city. Dal Dong Nae seemingly came out of nowhere, taking over the likes of Korean Grill House or another local gem, Cho Won.

Dal Dong Nae is authentic to a tee including the nostalgic decor that originates from the name itself which is a nod to the government-sanctioned slums built during the Korean War. That’s why you see a lot of vintage posters, metal cladding, and rustic wood features.

When it comes to the food, all of the beef and pork cuts are ridiculously good, and so are the classics like Seafood pancake and Kimchi cold noodle soup. The best part of course with any KBBQ are the unlimited side dishes. Along with the usual suspects, you’ll love the extra large grills they use which also hold the sweet corn, steamed egg, garlic, and kimchi.

As if one location along Yonge Street was enough, they’ve gotten so popular that there are 3 in the span of 3 kilometres. The first two locations also have an outdoor space to eat which makes it a great option for North York patios.

5. Comal y Canela

Finding really good and really authentic Mexican food in Toronto is no easy task. While this one will seem a little out of the way, Comal y Canela is a rare star in the city that many people haven’t heard about.

Their mission is to bring the highest quality Mexican indigenous and contemporary cuisine and everything is legit made from scratch by Yasmen De Leon and her team.

The most recent craze around Mexican food are the Tacos de Birria which these addictively sweet, sour, spicy, and savory fried crispy tacos with tender pulled beef and accompanied by a dipping broth. If you REALLY like Birria, you’ll also find Birria Poutine, Birria Quesadilla, and a Birria main. Just be prepared to make a bit of a mess eating these.

6. Mantra

Shops at Don Mills is one of my new favourite places for food in North York. As a counter to traditional shopping malls, this revitalized area is an open-air complex of plazas with pedestrian streets, and trendy restaurants and stores.

The Host is an institution in the city as one of the most successful chain of Indian restaurants. The owner’s son, Ashish Sethi, has now taken the mantle with a new concept which brings all of your must-eat classics but also injects his own creativity, other cultures, and training in New York working with some of the top chefs there.

Mantra is basically everything you’ve loved about The Host but with a more modern spin and in both the menu, decor, and atmosphere.

7. PROJECT:FISH

Located near North York Centre Station, PROJECT:FISH is a Japanese restaurant that focuses on aburi which is a flame-seared sushi. The other style you’ll see is oshizushi which is pressed torched sushi which always comes out nice and rectangular.

Their focus is on the quality of the fish they use, unique garnishes, and always well-presented.

There’s something unique about torched sushi that you just don’t get with regular sushi. You’ll love how the fish just melts in your mouth and how packed with flavour it is.

They have a make-shift patio which isn’t the greatest so indoor dining is preferred.

8. Katsuya

Katsu is a traditional Japanese dish where they take something like a pork cutlet, bread it with panko, deep fry it, and then serve it with a thick tonkatsu sauce, and served with a bed of rice, and shredded cabbage.

Katsuya specializes in everything katsu. Their breading is perfect every time, and everyone says that there’s no need to mess around with any of their other sauces and just go with their Katsuya Original with their house-made sauce.

Katsuya does a really good job with the katsu where they drench one half with their special sauce and the other is left super crispy. The original sauce has a sweet tangy flavour that is utterly addictive!

Don’t let the photos deceive you, their portions are pretty large so expect to go home full.

9. Auberge du Pommier

When one thinks of fine dining in Toronto, Auberge du Pommier has to be at the top of the list. Serving guests since 1987, this is a restaurant that exudes excellence with its traditional French fare infused with culinary innovation from North American influences.

The restaurant is set in two 1860’s woodcutters’ cottages. From that history, there’s a rustic quality to its surroundings while also providing the coziness of a country cottage. In the summer, the outdoor patio is one of the best in North York with its floral terrace, lush with greenery and colour.

This restaurant is always a hit when Summerlicious or Winterlicious runs in the city if you’re looking to try Auberge du Pommier at a fraction of the cost.

Auberge is part of the O&B family and arguably their crown jewel.

10. Paese Ristorante

If you love quality and authentic Italian food, Paese is a hidden gem along Bathurst that is part of the family that you might be familiar with – L-Eat Express, Great Gobbler, Upstream Salmon, and Elite Gifts.

Paese means “town or village” and they take this to heart with their “inspired in Italy, made in Canada” tagline. Their Italian dishes are authentic and made with the freshest of Canadian ingredients. You’ll find a nice blend of comfort foods and modern takes here.

Something unique about their dining experience is their massive cellar which carries over 800 labels.

Currently, they have a large patio set up that extends into the parking space which allows for comfortable outdoor dining.

11. Casa Manila

Casa Manila is one of the OGs of Filipino restaurants in Toronto. Once you step inside the restaurant, it feels like you’re being transported to the Philippines. Combined with their homely native decor, staff dressed in white barong shirts, you also have a menu that is ridiculously extensive with more choice than you know what to do with.

Their more recent claim to fame is being one of the first ones to serve Kamayan, a smorgasburg of grilled deliciousness that’s plated right atop banana leaf on your table. All you have to do is grab some rice in your hand, your protein and veggie of choice and eat!

If you’re not doing Kamayan, you’ll have your choice of rice combos, small dishes for sharing, fiesta platters, and so much more.

Casa Manila is my go-to whenever I’m craving for Filipino food.

12. Parcheggio

If you’re looking for a 5-star Italian dining experience, look no further than Parcheggio. They focus on handmade house pasta that is simply created to perfection. This is then layered with top-notch attentive service, interior that is inspired by Italian sports cars, and comfortable modular seating.

While their pastas are the best thing on the menu, you’ll also find a fine selection of steaks & chops, and mains such as Parmigiana, seared salmon fillet, and a delightful Caprese burger. Don’t sleep on their salads and appetizers such as Nonna’s meatballs, bruschetta, and proscuitto & melon salad.

Translating to “parking lot”, Parcheggio is literally located on the Bayview Village parking lot and shares a building with Beauty Eats which is next on our list.

This is another of Oliver & Bonacini concepts.

13. Beauty Eats

Beauty Eats shows off a delectable menu of Detroit-style pizza, fried chicken, burgers, BBQ, and smokehouse specials that almost a direct contrast from the Italian restaurant next door.

What’s Detroit-style pizza you ask? These are square-shaped pizzas cooked in deep steel pans with chewy 48-hour crust which is a core part of this Motor City invention. With substantial crust real estate, you’ll often find this style pizza withk loads of brick cheese, red sauce drizzled on top, and made in blue steel pans which is exactly how they’re made at Beauty Eats.

Beyond these made-by-scratch pizzas that take 25 minutes to be delivered to your table, you can’t miss their BBQ brisket, mac n’ cheese, creamy coleslaw, cornbread – all which screams authentic southern comforts.

Eating all of this deliciousness however you please, things’ll get sloppy and messy but that’s totally alright!

And yes, Beauty Eats is part of the O&B family which is why you’ll find a certain level of quality set here.

14. Yan Yu Chinese Dining

Hey, Scarborough, Markham, and Richmond Hill can’t be the only ones to have the best dim sum. If you haven’t been around the Consumers Road area, there’s a brand new parking lot with a fine collection of restaurants and shops on the ground floor.

Yan Yu Chinese Dining specializes in dim sum that rivals other competitors and also brings a fresh take on contemporary decor and quality service that is frankly lacking in many other restaurants.

Beyond dim sum, Yan Yu features a wide variety of Szechuan cuisine and other Chinese comfort foods.

The confusing part about this building is the parking. The parking lot takes you to the exterior part of ground level where you then have to circle the exterior to get to Yan Yu.

This is a follow up to their hugely popular The Red Sichuan Cuisine in Markham.

15. Burgers Park

If you’ve been to NYC, you would’ve heard of or been to Shake Shack, easily one of the most popular restaurants in New York.

After eating dim sum at Yan Yu, I stumbled upon this burger joint that looks like a direct riff of Shake Shack down to the same shade of green and simple icon design. Sufficed to say, I was confused.

After some research, I confirmed Burgers Park isn’t Shake Shack’s entry into the Canadian market but instead just a really good burger restaurant that just “coincidentally” looks like the other. The menu is uncanny as well with their crinkle fries, milk shakes and mix of burgers and hot dogs. They even use the same metal tray.

That said, their burger is simply well done and if you’re craving for Shake Shack, it does a really good job of replicating the same type of juicy beefiness in the angus patty, cheese, toppings, and brioche bun.

I wonder if Shake Shack has noticed the resemblance???

16. Wilson’s Haus of Lechon

From humble beginnings comes this family-run Filipino restaurant specializes in Lechon which is a roasted suckling pig (baboy) but can also be cooked in a similar way for chicken (manok). Their traditional dishes are simply tender, juicy, and tasty.

You’ll usually find Wilson’s Haus of Lechon storefront with a smoking charcoal grill. Situated in a small strip plaza, parking might be challenging so be patient for a spot. They’ve also set up an outdoor patio for the summer.

Come here to get generous potions, crispy pork belly, and juicy chicken that are also super affordable.

17. TORA

We’ve covered another aburi restaurant in North York but if you’re looking for somewhere that brings high quality fish straight from Japan, a delightful futuristic way of serving dishes straight to your table, and is quite affordable for what you get, TORA can’t be missed.

What makes aburi and oshizushi so appealing is how much flavour is packed into each piece. The torching of fish that’s topped with house made sauces brings out the oils and makes them so juicy and melt-in-your-mouth.

TORA is tucked away upstairs inside Yorkdale Mall. Across from Sporting Life is an elevator that takes you up to the exclusive second floor.

Ordering is all done by a touchscreen tablet and the food is uniquely served directly to you by what they call a laneway (aka conveyor belt aka magic carpet). This is special technology that was custom built for this restaurant so it’s truly one-of-a-kind. Unlike in traditional conveyor belt restaurants where a medley of dishes get sent out, TORA provides a chef-to-table experience with your order coming straight to your table.

It’s also worth noting that their EdoPrime sushi is flown in from Japan daily so we’re talking about the highest quality fish here.

For vegetarians, they also have quite a few options for you that will absolutely surprise you.

18. Fabbrica

UPDATE: Their North York location is closed. Their Toronto location is at 66 Wellington St. West, Toronto (TD Centre).

From the creative mind of celebrity chef, Mark McEwan of North 44 fame is Fabricca which hearkens back to the style and fashion of the early 1950s in Italy and serves Italian cuisine by using the freshest of ingredients straight from Italy.

There’s a certain rustic authenticity here whether you’re having the piping hot pizza coming out of the wood-burning oven, freshly made pastas, and tasty assortment of primi appetizers.

19. Diwan

Right along the DVP is the Aga Khan Museum. Not only is this an architectural masterpiece, culturally significant, and incredibly educational visit, most people don’t know that there’s a restaurant here that draws inspiration from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia regions.

Diwan is under The McEwan Group and what makes this restaurant special is their outdoor patio in the summer with al-fresco dining that gives you superb views of the Aga Khan garden and the extraordinary work of Fumahiko Maki.

20. The Miller Tavern

For the last restaurant on this list, we have The Miller Tavern. Located on the less crowded side of Yonge Street, south of the 401, you have this classic restaurant that has seen a number of iterations since 1860s. Back in the day this was a local haunt for its bar and gambling.

Today, this tavern specializes in fresh seafood, market fresh dishes on land, and refreshing cocktails.

If you’re looking for that classic American tavern experience with quality eats and also a nice patio to boot, you should definitely put this restaurant on your radar.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Where are your favourite and best North York restaurants? Do you agree with this list? Are there restaurants you’d add to this list? Drop a comment below!