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.
Liliana
Liliana has quickly made a name for itself as one of the city’s most polished new openings. Named after Chef Marvin Palomo’s mentor from Italy, it’s the kind of restaurant where you can dress up a little, linger over some good conversation, and enjoy a bottle of wine or two.
The menu leans shareable Italian, with scattered Asian influences throughout (see: tamari, xoxo sauce, dashi vinaigrette, etc.), as reflected by Palomo’s rich history of global culinary experience. It’s also FULLY halal.
Popular standouts include their Octopus with tamari, new potato, and shishito, as well as their Stuffed Chicken Wings served on a bed of mushroom conserva, carnaroli rice, and black truffle. It’s the type of place where every dish feels intentional, but never overthought: ideal for a slow, romantic dinner that turns into a late-night date night.
Alfie’s Sandwiches
If you’re a fellow doomscroller like myself, you absolutely must recognize this Toronto sandwich spot that opened this past summer. We all know that Toronto is obsessed with a good sandwich (think Lambo’s, Grandma Loves You, Good Behaviour etc.) and the fact that this one went crazy viral says something.
Alfie’s feels like a love letter to classic Italian sandwiches, with a menu that is diverse in options and uses the freshest, most high-quality curated ingredients — from premium burrata to 24-month aged prosciutto. Each sandwich is served on freshly baked sourdough focaccia that is fermented for 72 hours, built to elevate the sandwiches in both flavour and texture.
Susie’s Rise & Dine
This Asian-inspired retro diner might just be one of my personal top picks for 2025. Think nostalgic diner vibes meets playful, innovative comfort food.
The restaurant is named after Adam Lore’s (one of the owners) grandmother, and pays homage to the warm welcomes of family and simpler times. And I can most definitely confirm that their food mirrors this. Their double-stack, zesty pancakes served with a burnt honey maple syrup might have been the fluffiest and most drool-worthy pancakes I’ve had in the entire city, and their Mapo Frito Pie brings flavours of mapo tofu into a bag of Fritos, reflecting the nostalgic comfort of a family day out at the carnival. I also MUST shoutout their Filet-O-Shrimp for exceeding the beloved McD’s Filet-O-Fish ten times over.
It’s a must-visit for a brunch date that feels like home or to try out their newly released dinner menu that still includes all of the incredible dishes mentioned above.
Danny’s Next Door
Approximately three years after Danny’s Pizza Tavern took Little Italy by storm, the owners have opened a bar right next door to help accommodate the never-ending popularity of the neighbourhood tavern. Danny’s Next Door is walk-in only, built to be a casual space for social gatherings where standing is encouraged and dinner is followed by late-night drinks, sports watching, and hot dogs.
All of the favourites from the original restaurant are on the menu here too, including their tavern-style pies and iconic caeser salad, but it turns the focus more towards shareable bar food: steak tartar, garlic knots, pickle-on-a-stick, and old-school meatballs, just to name a few.
Rayah
I love a good café by day, restaurant by night-type spot. I find it so fascinating how a single place can just morph its vibe as the day goes by while still serving up excellent food & drink along the way. Especially when it’s built on culture and upbringing like Rayah is.
Located in the historic Cabbagetown, the French-Moroccan café/restaurant blends classic Parisian bistro dishes with North African influence, serving up mint teas, strong coffee, and mouthwatering pastries in the mornings, followed by mezze-style starters and hearty tajines in the evenings. The space reflects Chef and Owner Wafa El Rhazi’s Parisian childhood and annual visits to Morocco with her family through bistro chairs, subway-tiled hallways, colourful lanterns, patterned walls, and woven baskets. They’ve even got a patio for summer dates in better weather, while still feeling like you’re being transported to the streets of Marrakech.
It’s also 100% halal!
PUNCH
inside the Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer
As someone with an Indian background and family ties to the UK, this new 2025 opening intrigued me the most. PUNCH is inspired by “the eclectic pulse of modern London where Indian influences weave through every detail.” The restaurant, located inside the Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer, is designed to evoke the spirit of a British guild hall with rich textures and warm tones.
The menu blends the best of both cultures, with dishes such as a Steak Tartare with a Jal Jeera (cumin water) aioli, a Butter Chicken pot Pie, and a Beef Wellington with a rogan josh jus.
The fusion spot makes for the perfect luxurious dinner date for those looking to dine in style and try something new.
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!
