Looking for the best new restaurants in Toronto this week? The city’s dining scene keeps growing, and this week there are 11 new spots worth checking out. From Roman-style pizza in the Junction to Toronto’s first ancient claypot rice restaurant, here is your definitive guide to the 11 best new places to eat in Toronto right now.
1. Pizza Cantina
This new Junction restaurant is all about Roman-style pies made with high-hydration, 72-hour fermented dough. The pizza is baked in a stone oven, so you’ll get plenty of crunch with a lighter chew underneath. For your first order, the Diavola Stinger is the move thanks to its hot soppressata and hot honey drizzle, while the Burrata Truffle lets you indulge in roasted mushrooms and burrata! The Capricciosa is there for anyone looking for a full classic Italian comfort meal, and the house-made tiramisu is the obvious finish. 3011 Dundas St W.
2. Requinte Restaurant
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Requinte brings a big Portuguese menu to St. Clair West, with tons of seafood, grilled meats and family-style options. Start with the clams à Bulhão Pato or grilled Portuguese sausage, then decide whether you want to stay in seafood mode with grilled octopus, grilled butterflied sea bass or house-style cod. If you’re going with a group, the seafood cataplana and shoe rack filled with shark make perfect centrepiece dishes. There are meatier options too, like picanha with rice, fries and black beans. 1480 St Clair Ave W.
4. Kyma Mediterranean Grill
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Kyma opened in early March, making it one of the fresher additions on Dundas West! Expect a flavour profile rooted in Mediterranean staples like feta, tzatziki, olives, tahini, harissa and grilled meat. Its menu is heavy on bowls, so go classic with the Grilled Steak and Rice, or choose something with a little more punch, like the Harissa Fire Chicken, which layers harissa-honey chicken with feta, avocado, corn, cucumber, greens and harissa vinaigrette. The Spinach and Kale Falafel Crunch is a solid vegetarian order, especially with hummus, roasted veggies, pita crisps, tahini and garlic aioli all in the mix! 2865 Dundas St W.
5. Madras Marina
Madras Marina soft-launched in February and is already an Etobicoke fave for both South and North Indian cuisine! Its menu is filled with traditional dishes like dosa, biryani, tandoori plates, stir-fries, wraps and seafood. For your first visit, start with the special chicken momos or chicken pepper fry, then move into a Mysore masala dosa or the Madras chicken dum biryani. If you want something heartier, the mutton chukka and meen polichadhu are great picks. 21 Rexdale Blvd, Unit 4006
5. Rice & Flame
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Rice & Flame is Toronto’s first ancient claypot rice restaurant, and that alone makes it a place a lot of curious eaters will want to try! The restaurant just opened in January, and influencers have already highlighted amazing dishes like the Rainbow Braised Chicken Pot Rice and Golden Satay Beef Pot Rice, alongside Hakka pork belly and chicken corn soup. Dessert has its own lane here too, with options like the original rice ice cream and coconut purple glutinous rice ice cream. 3290 Midland Ave, Units 6R & 7.
6. Yonge Burger
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Yonge Burger’s new Midtown location gives the brand a second Toronto address, and the restaurant’s casual, burger-first approach makes it a perfect fit for St. Clair! The menu revolves around a signature 7.2-ounce patty, with each burger named after a Yonge Street stop or area. The most on-theme order is obviously the St. Clair & Yonge Burger (an egg-topped bacon cheeseburger). The Highway 401 & Yonge Burger, with caramelized onions and sautéed mushrooms, is another strong option, while the Queen & Yonge adds panko-crusted onion rings and cheddar. 44 St. Clair Ave E. | 6178 Yonge St.
7. Game Night Wings and Sports Bar
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The Birchmount Rd outpost offers wings, pub food, drinks, big screens and even billiards. If you’re in full sports-bar mood, go for one of the wing deals (the Quarterback Deal or the Game Night Deal both pair a pound of wings with fries and a pop). The resto-bar also serves Game Night Fries, Supreme Nachos, spicy mutton rolls, butter chicken rolls and chilli chicken, with wing flavours like Buffalo, Nashville hot, maple BBQ, honey garlic and Korean gochujang. 2260 Birchmount Road, Scarborough | 1347 Danforth Rd, Scarborough.
8. Hume
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This Riverside gem recently celebrated its grand opening with a menu focused on Turkish-Mediterranean comfort food with a few fun twists. Start with the Anatolian Trio Dip if you’re heading over with a group, or the pumpkin mücver fritters with tahini sauce if you want something snacky and a little different. From there, the köfte with potato purée is a house fave, while the Avunya mantısı (pulled chicken with baked Turkish phyllo, crispy chickpeas, yogurt and slightly spicy butter sauce) is ideal if you want richer, more distinctive flavours. 782 Queen St E.
9. Petty Cash
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Petty Cash earns a spot this week because its relaunch looks substantial enough to feel new again. The King West hangout has reopened with an elevated space featuring a photobooth, a billiards table, live sports, curated live bands Thursday through Saturday, and happy hour daily from 5 to 8 pm! Head over with a group of friends and make it a shareable night: order one of the house pizzas, like the Margherita if you want something classic, or the Eggplant Parmigiana if you want something a little heavier, as well as wings or another app while you settle in. If you go midweek, the $17 Steak & Frites Wednesday special is a good excuse to make a return visit. 487 Adelaide St W (entrance on Portland).
10. Aangan
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Little Italy just got a much glossier Indian option in Aangan! This modern restaurant on College St boasts an intimate dining room, a curated beverage program and a private Mandala Room for groups. The food is a styled-up take on regional Indian cooking, but the obvious order is the Signature Smoky Butter Chicken, finished with fire-roasted red peppers! If you’re heading over with a large group, try the Sweet Potato Chaat layered with yogurt, tamarind and pomegranate, the Coconut Prawn Curry with lemongrass and coastal spices, or one of the charcoal-oven signatures like the Kokum Chicken Tikka. For the rest of March, Aangan is also offering a three-course tasting menu for $55! 556 College St.
11. Eden Garden Resto & Bar
Eden Garden Resto & Bar is the place to be if you’re looking for a suburban hangout with comfort-food-heavy options. The menu is packed with burgers, pastas, fried starters and steakhouse mains. Start with the lamb spring rolls or coconut green chilli shrimp, and then go for the Spicy Burger with chipotle mayo, BBQ sauce, fried onions and jalapeños or opt for the Seafood Pasta or Cajun Salmon if you want a heartier dinner. 1806 Pharmacy Ave.
5. Taco Factory
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Taco Factory is one of the more casual additions on this list, but that’s part of its appeal! The street-style stop on Widmer St has combo-friendly pricing with the perfect eats rotation, including tacos, burritos, quesadillas and nachos, with proteins like chicken, beef, beans, fish and steak, as well as sauces like salsa verde and guacamole salsa. The $10 lunch power box is a good option if you’re trying it for the first time, but the Fries Supreme, chips and guac, or a Mexican Walking Taco will round out your experience nicely. Open 6 days a week (Tuesday-Sunday). 11 Widmer St.
6. Bánh Mì Journey
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This compact Vietnamese bánh mì and café shop on Queen E sits across from the Fox Theatre. Try delicious sandwiches like the betel leaf beef and Nha Trang fish cake bánh mì, along with drinks like egg coffee and a salted matcha latte. If you’re going for the first time, go for the grilled pork, grilled chicken or grilled meatball bánh mì, as well as a Vietnamese phin coffee and a rotating mix of matcha-coffee hybrids. 2383 Queen St E.
7. Hinode Udon and Tempura
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Hinode is nestled in Richmond Hill, but its dishes justify the detour! The restaurant is a new udon and tempura spot that makes its noodles in-house, with broth made fresh with dried fish imported from Japan. Keep it simple with kake or zaru udon, or go straight to the signatures like nikutama udon with beef and hot spring egg, duck meat udon, or curry udon. Or indulge in the Mapo udon with a spicy sauce that coats the soft cubes of silken tofu, with tasty bits of ground pork and scallion! Add an assorted tempura platter, shrimp tempura or takoyaki on the side, and you’ll have a comforting meal that doesn’t feel too heavy. 324 Hwy 7 #3, Richmond Hill.
8. Pho Golden Star Premium
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Pho Golden Star Premium is one of the more interesting Vietnamese spots to put on your radar, especially if you don’t mind a drive to Markham! The restaurant has been active since last September, but it’s getting fresh attention now for doing more than the standard pho-house script. Start with the spring rolls or fresh shrimp-and-pork rolls and then opt for more distinctive specials like crab sticky rice, Vietnamese beef stew with baguette and mountain jelly salad. 4500 Steeles Ave E, Markham.
9. Mieluna
Mieluna is a chic new restaurant and café that’s nestled in the heart of the Financial District, blending European and Middle Eastern influences with a 100 per cent halal menu. Go for the truffle eggs Benedict with turkey bacon, lathered in a rich, truffle-infused hollandaise, or the citrus mascarpone French toast topped with orange zest and blueberry. For lunch, the melty cheese burger, served in a cast-iron skillet with a decadent cheese sauce, is a win. 483 Bay St, South Tower.
10. Aangan Toronto
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Aangan brings a sophisticated touch to Indian dining. The restaurant focuses on authentic flavours and regional specialties that elevate traditional Indian comfort eats into a high-end experience. The butter chicken and lamb Rogan Josh are early faves for their depth of spice, and pair perfectly with fresh, garlic-brushed naan. For something more exotic, try the Shakarkandi chaat, highlighted with sweet potatoes, spices, yogurt and pomegranate seeds, topped with crispy potato salli. 556 College St.
