Ontario is Canada's most populous province, home to the nation's capital Ottawa and its largest city Toronto. The province stretches from the Great Lakes in the south to Hudson Bay in the north, offering world-class urban experiences, stunning natural landscapes, and rich Indigenous and colonial heritage.
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Canoe Restaurant & Bar
Celebrated fine-dining restaurant on the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower with sweeping Toronto skyline views. Chef John Horne's modern Canadian cuisine features exceptional Ontario ingredients.
66 Wellington St W, 54th Floor, Toronto, ON M5K 1H6
Alo Restaurant
Canada's top-ranked restaurant for multiple years, offering a 7-course tasting menu of exquisite French-influenced Canadian cuisine. Intimate room with outstanding wine list.
163 Spadina Ave, 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 2L6
Edulis
Tiny 30-seat restaurant with a weekly-changing menu built around foraged Ontario ingredients. One of Canada's most intimate fine dining experiences, with exceptional mushroom dishes.
169 Niagara St, Toronto, ON M5V 1C9
St. Lawrence Market Food Hall
Toronto's beloved public market since 1803 with dozens of vendors selling peameal bacon sandwiches, cheese, baked goods, deli meats, and fresh produce. South Market open Tue–Sat.
93 Front St E, Toronto, ON M5E 1C3
Pai Northern Thai Kitchen
Toronto's best northern Thai restaurant, consistently packed with fans of authentic khao soi, pad see ew, and Thai street food favourites. Lively casual atmosphere.
18 Duncan St, Toronto, ON M5H 3G8
Bar Isabel
Rustic Spanish tavern on College Street renowned for exceptional charcuterie, pintxos, and wood-fired dishes. Warm candlelit atmosphere and outstanding natural wine list.
797 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1C7
Pizzeria Libretto
Toronto's gold standard for Neapolitan wood-fired pizza, certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. Thin, blistered crust with quality Ontario and Italian ingredients.
221 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 2Z8
Kensington Market Food Crawl
Toronto's bohemian open-air market with dozens of street food vendors, taquerias, Jamaican patty shops, empanada stands, and vintage goods. A multicultural food paradise.
Kensington Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2K6
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Modern Canadian
Richmond Station
Chef's Table winner Carl Heinrich's downtown Toronto restaurant celebrating Ontario farm-to-table cuisine. Excellent burger at lunch, innovative dinner menu with Ontario-sourced ingredients.
1 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5H 3W4
Fauna Restaurant
Ottawa's celebrated farm-to-table restaurant with a seasonal menu built around Ontario and Quebec ingredients. Outstanding wine list and intimate room in the Glebe neighbourhood.
425 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1Y8
Beckta Dining & Wine
Ottawa's most prestigious restaurant by chef Stephen Beckta, featuring an extraordinary wine cellar with 10,000+ bottles and modern Canadian cuisine. Popular with politicians and diplomats.
150 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1L4
AG Cuisine Niagara
Niagara's premier wine-country dining room at the Sterling Inn, featuring an 800-bottle local wine list and seasonal menus celebrating Niagara produce and proteins.
80 John St E, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0
Treadwell Farm to Table Cuisine
Outstanding farm-to-table restaurant celebrating Niagara's incredible bounty. Every dish features ingredients from local Niagara farms paired beautifully with VQA Niagara wines.
114 Queen St, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0
The Millcroft Inn & Spa Restaurant
Elegant countryside restaurant in a converted 19th-century knitting mill in the Caledon Hills. Classic Canadian cuisine with a French influence in a stunning heritage setting.
55 John St, Alton, ON L7K 0C4
George Restaurant
Intimate 44-seat restaurant in the Corktown neighbourhood offering a refined tasting menu of contemporary Canadian cuisine with classical French technique and Ontario ingredients.
111C Queen St E, Toronto, ON M5C 1S2
Union Restaurant
Cosy Ossington restaurant celebrating regional Canadian cuisine with a frequently changing menu. Exceptional natural wine list and intimate room.
72 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 2Y7
Canadian
Smoke's Poutinerie
Toronto's most famous poutine chain with 30+ poutine variations. Classic Quebec-style poutine with cheese curds and gravy, plus creative toppings from pulled pork to lobster.
555 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1Y6
The Black Hoof
Toronto's pioneering nose-to-tail restaurant by chef Grant van Gameren, featuring exceptional charcuterie and creative meat-centric dishes. Changed Toronto's dining scene.
928 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1W3
Willow Springs Winery
Charming Ontario winery restaurant featuring estate wines and seasonal cuisine. Beautiful countryside setting north of Toronto, ideal for a weekend escape.
13217 Tenth Line, Stouffville, ON L4A 7X4
Parts & Labour
West-end Toronto gastropub with an outstanding burger selection, craft beer wall, and lively atmosphere. Known for great music programming and local ingredients.
1566 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6R 1A7
The Elm Tree Restaurant
Niagara Falls favourite away from the tourist strip, beloved by locals for generous Canadian comfort food at honest prices — butter chicken pies, pot roast, and butter tarts.
5627 Ellen Ave, Niagara Falls, ON L2G 3P9
Chinese
Mother Dumplings
Popular Chinatown dumpling house where dumplings are made fresh to order in the window. Exceptional pork and chive dumplings at extraordinarily affordable prices.
421 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2G6
Rol San Restaurant
Toronto Chinatown's best dim sum destination, open daily until 4am. Legendary har gow, siu mai, and BBQ pork buns served from trolleys in a buzzing, no-frills room.
323 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2E8
Steakhouse
The Keg Steakhouse + Bar
Canada's iconic steakhouse chain at its original Toronto location, serving prime cuts and classic sides in a warm, clubby atmosphere. A quintessential Canadian dining institution.
165 York St, Toronto, ON M5H 3R8
Harbour Sixty Steakhouse
Toronto's most glamorous steakhouse in a stunning heritage Harbour Commission building on the waterfront. Exceptional USDA prime and Canadian prime beef, famous for celebrity sightings.
60 Harbour St, Toronto, ON M5J 1B7
American
Zak's Diner
Ottawa's most famous 24-hour diner in the ByWard Market, beloved for late-night milkshakes, all-day breakfast, and old-school diner charm. An Ottawa institution.
14 ByWard Market Square, Ottawa, ON K1N 7A8
Bbq
Buster Rhino's Southern BBQ
Ontario's most celebrated BBQ restaurant outside the city, known for exceptional smoked brisket, ribs, and pulled pork slow-cooked for 14+ hours. A pilgrimage destination for BBQ lovers.
400 Consumers Dr, Whitby, ON L1N 9S6
Burgers
The Works Gourmet Burger Bistro
Ottawa's favourite gourmet burger chain with 60+ creative burger combinations and hand-cut fries. A weekend staple in the ByWard Market neighbourhood.
57 Clarence St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5P7
Canadian Café
Café 1842
Popular Kingston café in a historic limestone building near the waterfront. Excellent coffee, fresh-baked pastries, and light lunches. A favourite of Queen's University students.
67 Brock St, Kingston, ON K7L 1R9
Canadian Pub
Chez Lucien
Ottawa's beloved dive bar and burger joint in ByWard Market, famous for their outrageous specialty burgers and laid-back atmosphere. A true Ottawa institution since 1991.
137 Murray St, Ottawa, ON K1N 5M8
European
Riviera Restaurant Ottawa
Chic Parisian brasserie-style restaurant on Ottawa's Sparks Street pedestrian mall. Excellent steak frites, moules frites, and an acclaimed brunch served on weekends.
62 Sparks St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5A8
French
Le Moulin de Provence
Ottawa's most charming French bakery in the ByWard Market, famous for the Barack Obama cinnamon roll and exceptional croissants, tarts, and baguettes.
55 ByWard Market Square, Ottawa, ON K1N 9C3
Greek
Mamakas Taverna
Modern Greek taverna on Ossington Avenue celebrating the flavours of the Greek islands. Outstanding whole roasted fish, grilled octopus, and family-style sharing plates.
80 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 2Y7
Italian
Terroni
Toronto's definitive Southern Italian restaurant — no modifications to the menu allowed, as the kitchen's integrity is non-negotiable. Exceptional pasta, pizza, and Italian wines.
720 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1E7
Japanese
Sushi Kaji
Toronto's most revered Japanese restaurant, serving omakase sushi of outstanding purity by Chef Mitsuhiro Kaji. The ultimate Japanese dining experience in Canada.
860 The Queensway, Toronto, ON M8Z 1N7
Jewish Deli
Schwartz's Montreal-Style Deli (Toronto)
Toronto outpost of Montreal's legendary smoked meat deli. House-cured brisket piled high on rye bread is the star — a pilgrimage for smoked meat lovers.
3034 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M8X 1C5
Middle Eastern
Byblos Toronto
Sophisticated Middle Eastern restaurant in the Entertainment District with an extensive mezze menu, cocktail bar, and beautiful room. One of Toronto's most celebrated restaurants.
11 Duncan St, Toronto, ON M5H 3G8
Plant
Copper Branch
Popular Canadian plant-based fast-casual chain with power bowls, wraps, and burgers made from whole plant ingredients. Clean, nutrient-dense meals at accessible prices.
120 Eglinton Ave E, Toronto, ON M4P 1E2
Portuguese
Nando's PERi-PERi
Popular flame-grilled PERi-PERi chicken chain with excellent fire-roasted chicken at accessible prices. Multiple locations across Ontario.
329 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2A4
Tex
Lone Star Texas Grill
Popular Tex-Mex chain known for sizzling fajitas, fresh guacamole, and margaritas. A Canadian casual dining favourite for families and groups.
185 Bloor St E, Toronto, ON M4W 3J5
Vegan
Pure Kitchen
Ottawa's beloved vegan and vegetarian restaurant with a globally-inspired menu of wholesome, flavourful plant-based dishes. Excellent smoothies and fresh-pressed juices.
340 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1N2
Vietnamese
Banh Mi Boys
Toronto's favourite banh mi shop fusing Vietnamese sandwiches with Canadian flavours — teriyaki chicken, pulled pork, and kimchi toppings on crisp baguettes.
392 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2A9
Food tours & tastings in Ontario
Eat your way through Ontario with a guide.
Browse food experiences in OntarioWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Tipping practices vary — check local customs. Service charge is often included.
Restaurants may close between lunch and dinner. Plan meals around local dining hours.
Popular restaurants may not take reservations — arrive early or be prepared to wait.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $5-15/meal | Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants. |
| Mid-range | $15-40/meal | Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus. |
| Upscale | $40+/meal | Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences. |