Star Food writer Karon Liu has put together an alternative Michelin Guide of longtime favourites and newer worthy additions.
The third annual Michelin Guide to Toronto was announced this week, awarding coveted stars and recognition to the city’s (mostly) fine-dining establishments. And like every year, it encourages discourse on how Toronto’s culinary scene stacks up against the rest of the world and which restaurants should — or shouldn’t — be included.
It’s a worthwhile discussion. A city is often defined by its dishes, and a restaurant’s menu and clientele at its tables tells you a lot about the neighbourhood it’s in. Even if many of us can’t afford to eat at a lot of these star-worthy places on a regular basis, it’s an interesting peek into the different menus in our own city and what kind of culinary talent gets recognized by the secret Michelin inspectors that eat around the world.
But there’s no fine dining without the affordable takeout spots to contrast it with, and the GTA is full of the latter. These spots are places diners stop by often enough that they become special onto themselves. They are deserving of their own guide, which The Star created in 2022 and updates annually.
I have four more restaurants to add from my travels eating around the city this last year. This list will evolve, like Toronto’s dining scene itself, and will never be definitive. But I hope it will inspire you to explore the city as well, and create your own list of favourites to share.