It’s no joke that Toronto is one of the world’s greatest hubs for foodies. I mean, we are the world’s most multicultural city, so of course we’ve got the best of the best from across the globe.
And with a title that big to live up to, the city’s food scene is constantly evolving: bringing bold flavours and boundary-pushing plates to every table.
2025 has been no exception. So, here are some of the hottest new restaurants you need to check out.
Taberna Lx
This new Dundas West spot is considered “a love letter to Portugal,” and honestly feels like you’re being transported to the narrow cobblestone streets of Lisbon.
Their modern Portuguese menu is designed to be shared, blending classic dishes and ingredients with innovative technique. And after visiting myself I can confirm that they’re doing it very well.
Standouts included their Meat Croquettes — super crispy (but not greasy), filled with the most tender slow cooked beef, and paired with the creamiest mustard dip — as well as their Shrimp Mozambique, featuring perfectly cooked shrimp and the most addictive madeira chili sauce.
Their Xodó cocktail was also delicious. My brother (who’s spent an absurd amount of time in Portugal) declared it “the most Portuguese cocktail [he’s] ever had.”
They also offer a “Dinner for Two” experience, perfect for a date night with a loved one. It’s a three-course prix-fixe menu designed for sharing, available between 5-7PM for $125 with an optional $35 per person drink pairing add-on.
Eloise
Unlike the majority of Toronto’s sought-after restaurants, Eloise sits on the east-end of the downtown core near the St. Lawrence Market — arguably one of my favourite neighbourhoods in the whole city.
The restaurant brings an elevated experience to The Esplanade and is “designed to be the heartbeat of the neighbourhood,” according to Dan Hnatiw, co-owner of Eloise and its sister speakeasy, Bar Cart.
The restaurant’s plush interior is designed for guests to linger, take in the atmosphere, and enjoy a smaller menu that is both global and seasonal. You can even snag a seat at their Chef’s Table for a front-row view of all the magic happening in the kitchen.
Open 7 days a week for both lunch and dinner, it’s a stunning upscale-casual spot fit for an intimate date night, business lunch, or grand celebration.
Makilala
Also an east-end newcomer, dining at Makilala feels like you’re being transported to a barangay in the Philippines — a community space for celebration, gatherings, and basketball (iconic!!).
Here, you’re being served traditional Filipino recipes and sipping San Miguel beer & ube cocktails at a bar styled like a sari-sari shop, all in a bustling, night market-style dining hall.
I did try the ube cocktail myself, and it instantly brought me back to my time backpacking Southeast Asia.
The restaurant is the latest venture from Toronto culinary legends Chef Nuit and Jeff Regular — the owners behind beloved Thai restaurants PAI, Tha Phae Tavern, Kiin and SukhoTHAI — and Jeff’s brother, Joel Regular.
The menu draws from Jeff and Joel’s Filipino heritage and the family recipes their mother has spent 20 years teaching Chef Nuit, so you can expect popular favourites like chicken adobo, lumpia, sinigang, and kare kare.
Oh and did we mention that they host late night karaoke sessions?! Yeah… this place is a VIBE.
Lunch Lady
This Vancouver-born restaurant might have just been my favourite opening of the whole year.
Following the tragic passing of its matriarch, Chef Nguyen Thi Thanh, the Lunch Lady opened on the Ossington strip in late June with an unforgettable commemoration of her life’s work. The restaurant is named after Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh herself and the nickname famously given to her by Anthony Bourdain in his series, No Reservations.
Their food blends Vietnamese classics with contemporary technique, drawing inspiration from Nguyen Thi Thanh’s original soup stall in Ho Chi Minh City.
Standout dishes include the Bò Lúc Lắc — easily one of the most tender steaks I have ever had — and their Chè Ba Màu, a reimagining of the traditional Vietnamese layered dessert as a pandan-infused sticky rice cake, complemented by coconut, condensed milk, strawberry, red bean, and streusel. I do, in fact, think about this dessert multiple times a week.
We’re keeping our eyes out for all the new Toronto openings of the new year, in the meantime make sure to check out all of the city’s latest food date ideas here!
