I don't need to be the one to tell you that 2020 was quite a year. Unfortunately, we all know that our beloved restaurants, bars and cafes suffered the brunt of it. With one too many closures to mention them all, we saw several Toronto institutions shutter their doors this year -- unable to keep up rent payments or negotiate with impossible landlords. Nothing is the same and this year, we have witnessed a major transformation in the Toronto food scene and the industry in general. From meal kits to pop-ups and the constant mantra delivered to owners to "pivot" and "adapt," -- this turbulent year has not been an easy one to navigate.
With a demand for comfort food and meals that are designed for takeaway, we have seen the success of several restaurants and shops that opened this year (believe it or not). So, as this end nears, we want to salute those who have managed to stay afloat, bow our heads for those who have lost their storefronts and commend those brave enough to open a new venture in the hardest 12 months the hospitality industry has ever faced.
Below is not an exhaustive list but we have compiled some of our favourite restaurants to open in 2020; whether it was prior to the March apocalyptic mayhem or in the midst of our "new normal," these new openings have all lent a slight glimmer of hope, that one day (hopefully not too far off), our industry will rebound.
923a Queen St W
Matty's Patty's Burger Club
From celebrity chef, cookbook author and all-around character, Matty Matheson's storefront opening, Matty's Patty's, was met with resounding excitement from the community.
1665 Dundas St W
Saint Island Pies - CLOSED
This popular pop-up took over Wallflower's Dundas West restaurant permanently this past November and is doling out Detroit-style pies with a Filipino twist. Saint's owners, Chuck Ortiz and Sean Santos, are bringing creative pies to the neighbourhood and are another example of just how many pop-ups turned storefronts we have seen this year.
847 Brown's Line
Kettleman's Bagel Co.
Kettleman's Bagel Co. is an Ottawa-based chain that specializes in traditional Montreal bagels. Ever since their first store back in 1993, founder and Montreal native Craig Buckley has been committed to making the best bagels you can find, all while doing it the old-fashioned way. After 27 years of serving the Ottawa community, Craig has finally opened up his first Toronto location in Etobicoke. Everything is made fresh on-site, including their baked treats and proteins. The only things they don't make are the smoked salmon and Montreal smoked meat obtained directly from Montreal.
1071 Shaw St
Maison T
Helmed by well-known Toronto chef Masayuki Tamaru and his wife, Carolina Avaria, comes Maison T, a cozy French bistro serving refined plates in the Annex. After years of experience and over a dozen restaurants under his belt, Tamaru is ready to open his own venture. Tamaru gets immense pleasure from giving other people memorable experiences from enjoying his dishes. You will find classic French bistro favourites like duck confit, endive salad, and braised short rib made using classic French cooking techniques on the menu. Maison T showcases chef Tamaru's years of professional experience and culinary finesse.
88 Dundas St E
Egg Club
Fluffy, rich eggs served sandwiched between Japanese milk bread is all I need to know when considering what spots deserve a notable mention for new 2020 restaurants. Located in Yonge-Dundas square, this tiny takeaway spot is a welcome addition to Toronto's roster of breakfast sandwiches. After two years of putting the name, concept and menu together, owners Jason, Tim and Jun have brought their business to life. To them, Egg Club isn’t viewed as a business but rather a start-up with the goal of bettering their customers’ daily life.
5 St Joseph St
Salvo
Simple, high-quality and affordable Italian food is not always easy to come by in the city, so we are thankful for Salvo's arrival. Find plenty of pasta, pizzas and salads at this spot near Yonge and Wellesley.
33 Powerhouse St
Century Park Tavern
Century Park Tavern, a haven for comfort food classics, officially opened October 16 in Davenport Village by business partners Jim Shelton and Paul Marshall, of fried chicken joint Love Chix. Century Park Tavern is winning over the neighbourhood with its creative menu and instant hits.
9 Charles St W
8Mile Detroit Style Pizza
Detroit-style pizza is having a moment, so what better time to open a pizza joint dedicated to the unbelievably thick and crisp-bottomed pies. Find 8Mile near Yonge and Bloor for insane cheese pulls and to fulfill insatiable hunger pangs.
176 Bellwoods Ave
Lambo's Deli & Grocery
Deli sandwiches were undoubtedly a trend for the year, brimming with thinly shaved meats and stuffed into freshly baked loaves -- there is no better meal suited for on-the-go dining. With ridiculous wait times, a trendy convenient store turned takeaway shop and all in close proximity to Trinity Bellwoods Park, it is no wonder Lambo's was an instant hit.
1400 O'Connor Dr Unit 4 & 5
Slayer Burger
With an influx of burger joints making their way onto the scene this year (nothing screams comfort like meat and cheese) comes Slayer Burger. Slinging out indulgent and over-the-top creations, the demand for comfort is apparent in this opening.
10 Temperance St Fl 1
Planta Cocina
The pandemic had us all reevaluating what fare was best suited for takeout and patio dining and that was no exception for the Chase Hospitality Group. After retrofitting the old space that once housed The Chase Fish & Oyster (the lower-level, casual sister restaurant to The Chase) to a New Mexican vegan joint -- an extension of the Planta family -- the new spot welcomed a fresh start. Find plant-based tacos, tequila heavy cocktails and plenty of guacamole (as they like to quip).
1595 Bayview Ave
Bom-Bay Snack Bar
From celebrity chef and restaurateur Hemant Bhagwani comes another 2020 opening. Bom-Bay Snack Bar is introducing Torontonians to authentic, Bombay street food. This Irani-Indian snack bar is rooted in a long history dating back to the 19th century. Irani cafés were brought to Mumbai by Zoroastrian Irani immigrants escaping religious persecution. These cafés weren't only a place to enjoy food, but rather, they functioned as a social meeting place to connect with other Zoroastrian Irani refugees. Relish in an unfamiliar facet of Indian cuisine and find the likes of Parsi Akuri, a spiced scrambled egg, Bombay sandwiches, chaat, vada pau, and keema on the menu.
214 Augusta Ave
Birria Catrina
This tiny stall in Kensington Market specializes in birria, a Mexican dish from the state of Jalisco. This meat stew is traditionally made from goat meat but beef and mutton are also used. With limited options for birria in the city, it is nice to see a spot solely dedicated to it. Tacos filled with birria are ideal for dipping in a hearty bowl of birria consomé and must orders are the Gringa and Pizzadilla, crispy griddled tortillas filled with birria and cheese.
116 Atlantic Ave
Burger Drops
Founded by chef Greg Bourolias, comes this insanely popular word-of-mouth pop-up that finally opened a brick-and-mortar location back in August. The Liberty Village locale has become another destination to get a coveted smash burger and the team remains serious when it comes to the composition of a perfect burger.
567 King St W
Tut's Egyptian Street Food
A unique offering to the sometimes saturated Toronto food scene comes this minimal and bright spot for Egyptian street food. Specializing in sandwiches filled with falafel, fried cauliflower, grilled chicken, beef sausage, kofta and pan-fried liver -- all baked on a house-made fluffy bun. An immediate hit that has resonated with Toronto patrons Tut's is the ideal to-go offering.
132 John St
Marked
Another sprawling addition to the buzzy Entertainment District comes this 10,000 square-foot South American restaurant and cocktail bar -- brought to you by the team behind Coffee Oysters Champagne. Even though the restaurant is definitely noteworthy because of its ambience and decor, the food is well-executed and adds to the landscape of South American fare in Toronto.
229 Carlton St
DOVA Restaurant
From chef Roberto Marotta (of popular Corktown establishment ARDO) comes an elegant and modern intersection of Sicilian and Mediterranean cuisines that highlights fresh, ethically-sourced and ingredient-forward dishes. Located in Cabbagetown, DOVA is a sophisticated neighbourhood spot equipped with a wine cellar, a beautiful indoor dining space and a lush back patio, tucked away in a hidden oasis.
202 Dovercourt Rd
Taverne Bernhardt’s
From Joe Beef alumn and the team behind Dreyfus, this spot that took over Julie's Cuban in Dovercourt became a local haunt for rotisserie birds, seasonal Ontario veg and plenty of excellent wine.
131 Bloor St W 2nd Floor
Amal Toronto
We may not have been able to relish in the grandiose and elegant dining room of this new Midtown restaurant, but at least we can enjoy takeout from this spot specializing in Lebanese cuisine. From Beirut-born Executive Chef Rony Ghaleb and owned by Toronto nightclub giant and Lebanese Canadian Charles Khabouth, the venture merges both style and taste.
371 Old Kingston Rd
Mark's Pizzas
Pizza and burgers seem to be all we want to eat this year and with plenty of new pizza joints opening in 2020, Mark's Pizza was definitely a diamond in the rough. This operation located in a tiny storefront in Scarborough is named after head pizza maker, Mark Alousis. After a slew of pop-ups and frequenting the festival circuit, Alousis finally opened this past spring -- with astounding demand from patrons wanting to try Mark's pies.
294 Dundas St W
Tala
Another addition to Filipino restaurants in the city, this Downtown joint specializes in Kamayan feasts, a communal-style spread of various grilled meats and seafood, traditionally served on a banana leaf and typically eaten without utensils.
536 Queen St W
Pizzeria Du
From the team behind Avelo Restaurant, this completely vegan pizza joint, which took over the space of Away Kitchen, was erected back in the spring. The venture is in honour of chef Dualco and replaced the grand opening of Vitalia, a plant-based Italian restaurant that the rest of the team didn't want to pursue without Dualco. Another welcome addition to the influx of high-end vegan dining options in the city.
760 College St
Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Pizza Bar
In Little Italy, this family-run Italian restaurant opened back in June and brought plenty of pasta, pizza, and carbs into our lives. Run by Executive Chef and owner Marianna Andreacchi, the restaurant offered a sprawling patio back in the summer and a market to shop.
Back lane entrance
Gianna's Patties and Pies
Helmed by Toronto restaurateur and chef Grant van Gameren, Gianna's Patties and Pies opened back in the summer after van Gameren closed Tennessee Tavern following the realization that people were looking for comfort food in the time of a pandemic. The Parkdale spot is slinging Detroit-style pies and stacked patties, with an Italian-American flair.
296 Brunswick Ave
Aunty Lucy's Burgers
A welcome addition to black-owned businesses in the city, this popular burger joint operating out of the Annex Hotel comes from the 29-year-old entrepreneur Chieff Bosompra in collaboration with Adrian Forte of Dirty Bird Chicken and Waffles. Smash burgers are at the heart of the menu at Aunty Lucy's, offered up in single- or double-patty style and dressed with melted American cheese, onions, lettuce, tomato and Lucy's special sauce.
308 Dundas St W
Dzo Viet Eatery
This shop for eclectic and creative Vietnamese dishes opened this summer in Baldwin Village, with the intent to introduce patrons to Vietnamese fare that goes beyond pho. Find tacos with Vietnamese flavours, poutine, hearty noodle soups and robust meat dishes.
823 Dundas St W
The Heartbreak Chef
Beloved chef Jerome Robinson, more widely known as The Heartbreak Chef, opened up his first brick-and-mortar location back in March. The extremely popular caterer and important figure in Toronto's food scene is slinging his fried chicken sandwiches, mac and cheese and other comfort food favourites from his Dundas West shop.
257 Queen St West
Ikkousha Ramen Chicken
Popular global chain, Ikkousha Ramen, known for its authentic tonkotsu (pork bone) broth ramen, opened up a second location called Ikkousha Ramen Chicken, solely dedicated to chicken ramen, making it the first of its kind in Canada.
76 Lippincott St
Happy Burger
Popular pop-up turned brick-and-mortar location for Toronto's latest craze -- smash burgers. This takeout-only spot in Little Italy is from chef Chris Kalisperas who previously cooked at both Mamakas Taverna and Bar Koukla.
30 St Patrick St
Muni Robata
Opened back in March near Osgoode station, this Japanese barbecue restaurant specializes in cooking from the traditional robata open flame grill. Find wood-fired meats and seafood, tataki, sushi and maki.
501 King St E
Gusto 501
Another venture by the Gusto 54 Restaurant Group and the successor of popular King West Italian hotspot Gusto 101, comes this neighbourhood spot for Italian fare in Corktown. Find classic Gusto dishes like the Mafalde ai Funghi, as well as new additions like the Risotto Verde.
452 Kingston Rd
Boukan
An outpost for delicious French-Creole street food, native to Haiti, made its way onto the Toronto food scene back in March. Helmed by chef Marc-elie Lissade, Boukan is a representation of the passionate crusade Lissade took to introduce the community to his food. Located in the Upper Beaches, Boukan also showcases a curated collection of pieces by local artists.
1279 Bloor Street West
Conzo's
A highly anticipated opening, the team behind beloved Italian-American spot Sugo opened Conzo's back in February. Dishing out wood-fired pizza, with no one particular influence to reference -- a hybrid of New York-, LA- and Detroit-style pizzas -- this Bloordale Village pizzeria became an instant favourite.
2901 Bayview Ave
Pōpa
Another venture by celebrity chef Hemant Bhagwani, this Burmese fusion restaurant opened back in February. You'll find influences from Indian, Portuguese and Chinese cuisines in Burmese food, which is reflected on the menu. With quite an expansive selection, you'll find things like lamb leg buns, Burmese fried rice, eggplant mash, sopa de laksa and mint chicken -- to name a few dishes.
1006a Bloor St W
Osteria Rialto and Bar Biltmore
This sophisticated Italian restaurant and bar opened back in February inside the complex that houses the Paradise Theatre -- an old Art Deco relic. You'll find fluffy focaccia, fresh pasta, elevated proteins and veg, served alongside citrusy cocktails and finished with creative desserts on the menu.
I don't need to be the one to tell you that 2020 was quite a year. Unfortunately, we all know that our beloved restaurants, bars and cafes suffered the brunt of it. With one too many closures to mention them all, we saw several Toronto institutions shutter their doors this year -- unable to keep up rent payments or negotiate with impossible landlords. Nothing is the same and this year, we have witnessed a major transformation in the Toronto food scene and the industry in general. From meal kits to pop-ups and the constant mantra delivered to owners to "pivot" and "adapt," -- this turbulent year has not been an easy one to navigate.
With a demand for comfort food and meals that are designed for takeaway, we have seen the success of several restaurants and shops that opened this year (believe it or not). So, as this end nears, we want to salute those who have managed to stay afloat, bow our heads for those who have lost their storefronts and commend those brave enough to open a new venture in the hardest 12 months the hospitality industry has ever faced.
Below is not an exhaustive list but we have compiled some of our favourite restaurants to open in 2020; whether it was prior to the March apocalyptic mayhem or in the midst of our "new normal," these new openings have all lent a slight glimmer of hope, that one day (hopefully not too far off), our industry will rebound.
923a Queen St W
Matty's Patty's Burger Club
From celebrity chef, cookbook author and all-around character, Matty Matheson's storefront opening, Matty's Patty's, was met with resounding excitement from the community.
1665 Dundas St W
Saint Island Pies - CLOSED
This popular pop-up took over Wallflower's Dundas West restaurant permanently this past November and is doling out Detroit-style pies with a Filipino twist. Saint's owners, Chuck Ortiz and Sean Santos, are bringing creative pies to the neighbourhood and are another example of just how many pop-ups turned storefronts we have seen this year.
847 Brown's Line
Kettleman's Bagel Co.
Kettleman's Bagel Co. is an Ottawa-based chain that specializes in traditional Montreal bagels. Ever since their first store back in 1993, founder and Montreal native Craig Buckley has been committed to making the best bagels you can find, all while doing it the old-fashioned way. After 27 years of serving the Ottawa community, Craig has finally opened up his first Toronto location in Etobicoke. Everything is made fresh on-site, including their baked treats and proteins. The only things they don't make are the smoked salmon and Montreal smoked meat obtained directly from Montreal.
1071 Shaw St
Maison T
Helmed by well-known Toronto chef Masayuki Tamaru and his wife, Carolina Avaria, comes Maison T, a cozy French bistro serving refined plates in the Annex. After years of experience and over a dozen restaurants under his belt, Tamaru is ready to open his own venture. Tamaru gets immense pleasure from giving other people memorable experiences from enjoying his dishes. You will find classic French bistro favourites like duck confit, endive salad, and braised short rib made using classic French cooking techniques on the menu. Maison T showcases chef Tamaru's years of professional experience and culinary finesse.
88 Dundas St E
Egg Club
Fluffy, rich eggs served sandwiched between Japanese milk bread is all I need to know when considering what spots deserve a notable mention for new 2020 restaurants. Located in Yonge-Dundas square, this tiny takeaway spot is a welcome addition to Toronto's roster of breakfast sandwiches. After two years of putting the name, concept and menu together, owners Jason, Tim and Jun have brought their business to life. To them, Egg Club isn’t viewed as a business but rather a start-up with the goal of bettering their customers’ daily life.
5 St Joseph St
Salvo
Simple, high-quality and affordable Italian food is not always easy to come by in the city, so we are thankful for Salvo's arrival. Find plenty of pasta, pizzas and salads at this spot near Yonge and Wellesley.
33 Powerhouse St
Century Park Tavern
Century Park Tavern, a haven for comfort food classics, officially opened October 16 in Davenport Village by business partners Jim Shelton and Paul Marshall, of fried chicken joint Love Chix. Century Park Tavern is winning over the neighbourhood with its creative menu and instant hits.
9 Charles St W
8Mile Detroit Style Pizza
Detroit-style pizza is having a moment, so what better time to open a pizza joint dedicated to the unbelievably thick and crisp-bottomed pies. Find 8Mile near Yonge and Bloor for insane cheese pulls and to fulfill insatiable hunger pangs.
176 Bellwoods Ave
Lambo's Deli & Grocery
Deli sandwiches were undoubtedly a trend for the year, brimming with thinly shaved meats and stuffed into freshly baked loaves -- there is no better meal suited for on-the-go dining. With ridiculous wait times, a trendy convenient store turned takeaway shop and all in close proximity to Trinity Bellwoods Park, it is no wonder Lambo's was an instant hit.
1400 O'Connor Dr Unit 4 & 5
Slayer Burger
With an influx of burger joints making their way onto the scene this year (nothing screams comfort like meat and cheese) comes Slayer Burger. Slinging out indulgent and over-the-top creations, the demand for comfort is apparent in this opening.
10 Temperance St Fl 1
Planta Cocina
The pandemic had us all reevaluating what fare was best suited for takeout and patio dining and that was no exception for the Chase Hospitality Group. After retrofitting the old space that once housed The Chase Fish & Oyster (the lower-level, casual sister restaurant to The Chase) to a New Mexican vegan joint -- an extension of the Planta family -- the new spot welcomed a fresh start. Find plant-based tacos, tequila heavy cocktails and plenty of guacamole (as they like to quip).
1595 Bayview Ave
Bom-Bay Snack Bar
From celebrity chef and restaurateur Hemant Bhagwani comes another 2020 opening. Bom-Bay Snack Bar is introducing Torontonians to authentic, Bombay street food. This Irani-Indian snack bar is rooted in a long history dating back to the 19th century. Irani cafés were brought to Mumbai by Zoroastrian Irani immigrants escaping religious persecution. These cafés weren't only a place to enjoy food, but rather, they functioned as a social meeting place to connect with other Zoroastrian Irani refugees. Relish in an unfamiliar facet of Indian cuisine and find the likes of Parsi Akuri, a spiced scrambled egg, Bombay sandwiches, chaat, vada pau, and keema on the menu.
214 Augusta Ave
Birria Catrina
This tiny stall in Kensington Market specializes in birria, a Mexican dish from the state of Jalisco. This meat stew is traditionally made from goat meat but beef and mutton are also used. With limited options for birria in the city, it is nice to see a spot solely dedicated to it. Tacos filled with birria are ideal for dipping in a hearty bowl of birria consomé and must orders are the Gringa and Pizzadilla, crispy griddled tortillas filled with birria and cheese.
116 Atlantic Ave
Burger Drops
Founded by chef Greg Bourolias, comes this insanely popular word-of-mouth pop-up that finally opened a brick-and-mortar location back in August. The Liberty Village locale has become another destination to get a coveted smash burger and the team remains serious when it comes to the composition of a perfect burger.
567 King St W
Tut's Egyptian Street Food
A unique offering to the sometimes saturated Toronto food scene comes this minimal and bright spot for Egyptian street food. Specializing in sandwiches filled with falafel, fried cauliflower, grilled chicken, beef sausage, kofta and pan-fried liver -- all baked on a house-made fluffy bun. An immediate hit that has resonated with Toronto patrons Tut's is the ideal to-go offering.
132 John St
Marked
Another sprawling addition to the buzzy Entertainment District comes this 10,000 square-foot South American restaurant and cocktail bar -- brought to you by the team behind Coffee Oysters Champagne. Even though the restaurant is definitely noteworthy because of its ambience and decor, the food is well-executed and adds to the landscape of South American fare in Toronto.
229 Carlton St
DOVA Restaurant
From chef Roberto Marotta (of popular Corktown establishment ARDO) comes an elegant and modern intersection of Sicilian and Mediterranean cuisines that highlights fresh, ethically-sourced and ingredient-forward dishes. Located in Cabbagetown, DOVA is a sophisticated neighbourhood spot equipped with a wine cellar, a beautiful indoor dining space and a lush back patio, tucked away in a hidden oasis.
202 Dovercourt Rd
Taverne Bernhardt’s
From Joe Beef alumn and the team behind Dreyfus, this spot that took over Julie's Cuban in Dovercourt became a local haunt for rotisserie birds, seasonal Ontario veg and plenty of excellent wine.
131 Bloor St W 2nd Floor
Amal Toronto
We may not have been able to relish in the grandiose and elegant dining room of this new Midtown restaurant, but at least we can enjoy takeout from this spot specializing in Lebanese cuisine. From Beirut-born Executive Chef Rony Ghaleb and owned by Toronto nightclub giant and Lebanese Canadian Charles Khabouth, the venture merges both style and taste.
371 Old Kingston Rd
Mark's Pizzas
Pizza and burgers seem to be all we want to eat this year and with plenty of new pizza joints opening in 2020, Mark's Pizza was definitely a diamond in the rough. This operation located in a tiny storefront in Scarborough is named after head pizza maker, Mark Alousis. After a slew of pop-ups and frequenting the festival circuit, Alousis finally opened this past spring -- with astounding demand from patrons wanting to try Mark's pies.
294 Dundas St W
Tala
Another addition to Filipino restaurants in the city, this Downtown joint specializes in Kamayan feasts, a communal-style spread of various grilled meats and seafood, traditionally served on a banana leaf and typically eaten without utensils.
536 Queen St W
Pizzeria Du
From the team behind Avelo Restaurant, this completely vegan pizza joint, which took over the space of Away Kitchen, was erected back in the spring. The venture is in honour of chef Dualco and replaced the grand opening of Vitalia, a plant-based Italian restaurant that the rest of the team didn't want to pursue without Dualco. Another welcome addition to the influx of high-end vegan dining options in the city.
760 College St
Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Pizza Bar
In Little Italy, this family-run Italian restaurant opened back in June and brought plenty of pasta, pizza, and carbs into our lives. Run by Executive Chef and owner Marianna Andreacchi, the restaurant offered a sprawling patio back in the summer and a market to shop.
597 College St
Pompette
This refined and modern French restaurant and cocktail bar opened this summer in Little Italy with seasonal, no-fuss dishes rooted in French techniques. Find their "COVID Offer" on their website, which features a "Pomette At Home" offering, consisting of a 4-course meal.
Back lane entrance
Gianna's Patties and Pies
Helmed by Toronto restaurateur and chef Grant van Gameren, Gianna's Patties and Pies opened back in the summer after van Gameren closed Tennessee Tavern following the realization that people were looking for comfort food in the time of a pandemic. The Parkdale spot is slinging Detroit-style pies and stacked patties, with an Italian-American flair.
296 Brunswick Ave
Aunty Lucy's Burgers
A welcome addition to black-owned businesses in the city, this popular burger joint operating out of the Annex Hotel comes from the 29-year-old entrepreneur Chieff Bosompra in collaboration with Adrian Forte of Dirty Bird Chicken and Waffles. Smash burgers are at the heart of the menu at Aunty Lucy's, offered up in single- or double-patty style and dressed with melted American cheese, onions, lettuce, tomato and Lucy's special sauce.
308 Dundas St W
Dzo Viet Eatery
This shop for eclectic and creative Vietnamese dishes opened this summer in Baldwin Village, with the intent to introduce patrons to Vietnamese fare that goes beyond pho. Find tacos with Vietnamese flavours, poutine, hearty noodle soups and robust meat dishes.
823 Dundas St W
The Heartbreak Chef
Beloved chef Jerome Robinson, more widely known as The Heartbreak Chef, opened up his first brick-and-mortar location back in March. The extremely popular caterer and important figure in Toronto's food scene is slinging his fried chicken sandwiches, mac and cheese and other comfort food favourites from his Dundas West shop.
257 Queen St West
Ikkousha Ramen Chicken
Popular global chain, Ikkousha Ramen, known for its authentic tonkotsu (pork bone) broth ramen, opened up a second location called Ikkousha Ramen Chicken, solely dedicated to chicken ramen, making it the first of its kind in Canada.
76 Lippincott St
Happy Burger
Popular pop-up turned brick-and-mortar location for Toronto's latest craze -- smash burgers. This takeout-only spot in Little Italy is from chef Chris Kalisperas who previously cooked at both Mamakas Taverna and Bar Koukla.
30 St Patrick St
Muni Robata
Opened back in March near Osgoode station, this Japanese barbecue restaurant specializes in cooking from the traditional robata open flame grill. Find wood-fired meats and seafood, tataki, sushi and maki.
501 King St E
Gusto 501
Another venture by the Gusto 54 Restaurant Group and the successor of popular King West Italian hotspot Gusto 101, comes this neighbourhood spot for Italian fare in Corktown. Find classic Gusto dishes like the Mafalde ai Funghi, as well as new additions like the Risotto Verde.
452 Kingston Rd
Boukan
An outpost for delicious French-Creole street food, native to Haiti, made its way onto the Toronto food scene back in March. Helmed by chef Marc-elie Lissade, Boukan is a representation of the passionate crusade Lissade took to introduce the community to his food. Located in the Upper Beaches, Boukan also showcases a curated collection of pieces by local artists.
1279 Bloor Street West
Conzo's
A highly anticipated opening, the team behind beloved Italian-American spot Sugo opened Conzo's back in February. Dishing out wood-fired pizza, with no one particular influence to reference -- a hybrid of New York-, LA- and Detroit-style pizzas -- this Bloordale Village pizzeria became an instant favourite.
2901 Bayview Ave
Pōpa
Another venture by celebrity chef Hemant Bhagwani, this Burmese fusion restaurant opened back in February. You'll find influences from Indian, Portuguese and Chinese cuisines in Burmese food, which is reflected on the menu. With quite an expansive selection, you'll find things like lamb leg buns, Burmese fried rice, eggplant mash, sopa de laksa and mint chicken -- to name a few dishes.
1006a Bloor St W
Osteria Rialto and Bar Biltmore
This sophisticated Italian restaurant and bar opened back in February inside the complex that houses the Paradise Theatre -- an old Art Deco relic. You'll find fluffy focaccia, fresh pasta, elevated proteins and veg, served alongside citrusy cocktails and finished with creative desserts on the menu.
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