Toronto’s 9,000 restaurants are a maze of must-try dishes. We’ve cut through the clutter to bring you the top bites your out-of-town guests can’t afford to miss this summer.
Here are 10 eats that are sure to impress.
1. Cereal shrimp toast from Gateau Ghost
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Gateau Ghost, the latest haunt by Toronto’s own chef Jayden Park, perfects the classic Madeleine, which we definitely recommend. But the true standout? Their cereal shrimp toast: cornflake-crusted, slathered in shrimp head aioli and topped with chives. This dish, a fusion masterpiece from Hong Kong, marries the city’s love for prawn paste with Western toast. Trust us, this one’s a game-changer.
2. Pistachio tiramisu from Nonna Lia
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Toronto’s obsessed with a tiramisu that’s melting hearts. With a 100-year-old family recipe and a fresh twist, it’s the top pick for dessert in the city. Nonna Lia’s tiramisu, loaded with imported Italian mascarpone, delivers the goods. And the pistachio flavour? It’s next-level.
3. Italian trio from Lambo’s Deli
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Inspired by the killer deli sandwiches he devoured in New York, Lambo’s Deli owner Justin Leon is bringing Toronto a hoagie with some serious attitude. Forget your old-school bagged lunches—Lambo’s sandwiches are a whole new ball game. With house-made veggies, meats and cheese, plus scratch-made pickles, pesto and black olive tapenade, this is deli perfection in every bite.
4. Vanilla raspberry bow croissant from Bomou
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Founded by sisters Azar and Negar Sabzeva, Bomou is the bakery where Negar Sabzevari, who trained in France, brings their dreams to life. Their latest creation, the vanilla raspberry bow croissant, is a showstopper: a bow-shaped pastry brimming with house-made vanilla cream and raspberry jam, delivering a flavour experience that stacks up against the best in Paris.
5. Corned beef hash from Masa Deli
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Masa Deli is slinging sandwiches with a South American kick from their Dovercourt Village spot. Check out their corned beef-hash breakfast sandwich: an omelette, American cheese, aioli, pickles and hot sauce piled high in a potato roll. It’s a spicy, saucy mash-up that hits all the right notes.
6. Chocolate granita from Futura Granita + Gelato
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At Futura, granita is the star, and their chocolate granita is a standout. Crafted with just cocoa powder, water and organic cane sugar, it’s like a silky cold chocolate pudding. Topped with a generous layer of panna, it’s the ultimate summer treat.
7. Lobster roll fries from Friends Fries
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The buzz around this spot at Toronto’s Harbourfront is impossible to ignore — you’ve got to try it! Friends Fries’ lobster roll-style Fries are the real deal: crispy smoky fries heaped with succulent lobster, vegan seaweed “caviar” and a zesty squeeze of lemon.
8. Pistachio Kunafa chocolate bar from Daily Ritual Cafe
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Grab the Dubai viral pistachio Kunafa Chocolate Bar at Daily Ritual Café in downtown Toronto. This viral treat fuses creamy pistachio chocolate with crunchy kunafa, creating a flavour explosion that started in Dubai and took social media by storm!
9. Pesto Genovese from Famiglia Baldassarre
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Famiglia Baldassarre is a no-reservations, no-share-plates spot with just 10 seats, and it’s notorious for its epic pasta and long waits — sometimes up to two hours. The new pesto genovese on the menu is anything but basic. This rich sauce blends crushed garlic, pine nuts, salt, fresh basil, and cheese, all drizzled with olive oil. Yum.
10. Banana pie from Bridgette Bar
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Sure, banana pudding is beyond delicious, but Bridgette Bar’s banana pie is next-level. This gem from Calgary expat Bridgette Bar mixes coffee, pretzel crust, and rum caramel into a pie that’s pure genius
