The Michelin Guide is considered by many to be a global authority on the best in food and drink in the world. The good news for Torontonians is that dozens of Toronto restaurants have been recognized by Michelin for their mouth-watering menus, standout service, and amazing atmosphere.
A common misconception about the Michelin Guide is that it only highlights elevated fine dining experiences, but there are plenty of Michelin-recognized spots in Toronto that offer simpler fare at surprisingly affordable prices.
Here are a few favourites when it comes to Michelin Guide Toronto restaurants that will be sure to impress you without breaking the bank!
Mother’s Dumplings
Price: đź’¸
Cuisine: Chinese
Address: 421 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Thousands of strong Google reviews and heaps of acclaim on top of the Michelin notice do not lie: this cozy Spadina spot for terrific and unpretentious Chinese fare is one of Toronto’s foodie gems.
As the name would suggest, one of the most noteworthy dishes at Mother’s is the ever-popular dumplings, made by hand by a team under the stewardship of chef and owner Zhen Feng, who has been serving her family recipe dumplings for nearly two decades.
A satisfying order of boiled, steamed, or pan-fried dumplings won’t set you back more than $15, and flavour options like pork and dill, or melon, tofu, and vegetable noodle keep devotees coming back over and over.
BB’s
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Filipino
Address: 5 Brock Ave, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: There aren’t a ton of Toronto spots dedicated to Filipino cuisine, but this cozy and playful Parkdale dining room is all about elevated Filipino comfort foods crafted with a chef’s hand.
With BB’s, Chef Robbie Hojilla – formerly of other hot Toronto kitchens like Lake Inez and Harbord Room – employs well-honed, modern culinary technique to traditional Filipino flavours and recipes with noteworthy dishes including adobo fried chicken with a house habanero pineapple hot sauce; Filipino spaghetti made with beef ragu, cheddar, and an all-beef hotdog; and pancit canton, which is sort of like a Filipino version of chow mein made with tofu, vegetables, sweet soy, lemon, and chili oil.
Complemented by a compact list of house cocktails, the offerings at BB’s have well earned their Michelin nod.
Campechano
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Mexican
Address: 504 Adelaide St and 460 College St, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: With two popular Toronto locations, Campechano is all about authentic Mexican eats in the form of tacos and other simple bites like chips and guac or a refreshing branzino ceviche.
But the food at Campechano is given some extra culinary love that you might not find at other Toronto taquerias. For instance, the restaurant makes their tortillas fresh with heirloom corn sourced from Mexico and uses high quality ingredients for their taco creations, whether it’s the Carnitas made with delectable whole pig confit and raw tomatillo salsa; the Pescado with beer-battered haddock with red cabbage; or the Tochihongos with sauteed mushrooms and double-smoked bacon.
Sunnys Chinese
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Regional Chinese
Address: 60 Kensington Ave, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Modern and multi-regional Chinese cuisine is the name of the game at Sunnys Chinese, which implements creative ingredients in a menu that’s built to be as playful and fun as it is delicious.
This casual Kensington eatery pumps out plates that offer twisty takes on dishes native to Hong Kong, Sichuan, Dongbei, Guangdong, Shunde, and beyond that implement intense flavours, thoughtfully sourced ingredients, and simple construction.
Offerings to watch out for include the silver needle noodles with black mushroom, scallion, and soy sauce; the mapo tofu with dry-aged beef, Sichuan peppercorn, and garlic chive; or the stir fry made with lamb from Beverly Creek Farms.
Cherry Street Bar-B-Que
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Southern BBQ
Address: 275 Cherry St, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Lovers of all things smoked, saucy, and slow-cooked will be in heaven at this award-winning Toronto BBQ joint that takes meat very, very seriously.
Whether you’re getting a heaping platter of meats and accompaniments to share with friends or savouring a straightforward handheld like the brisket sandwich or Big Mac-style Cherry Mac burger, the eats at Cherry Street emulate multiple regions of American Southern cooking.
Though simple and no-frills the way smokehouse eats ought to be, make no mistake: the food here is made with plenty of care and craft. After all, you don’t get Michelin recognition for barbecue unless it’s pretty freaking great!
Pho Tien Thanh
Price: đź’¸
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Address: 57 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: There’s little in this world more comforting than a hearty bowl of Vietnamese pho, and according to the Michelin Guide, this family-owned Ossington outpost – nearly 30 years old – is making some of Toronto’s best.
Pho Tien Thanh makes all sorts of Vietnamese classics, but the biggest draw is, of course, the pho: served in generous portions with a wide variety of options at extremely affordable prices. No bowl of pho will run you more than $15, and you’ll more than get your money’s worth in both quantity and quality. “I Love Pho Forever” reads a prominent sign on the restaurant’s interior; and the food that hits the table more than lives up to that sentiment.
SumiLicious Smoked Meat & Deli
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Montreal-style smoked meat
Address: 5631 Steeles Ave, Scarborough, ON
Why You Need To Go: If you think the Michelin Guide wouldn’t throw praise at an unassuming, casual joint in a Scarborough strip mall, think again.
SumiLicious Smoked Meat & Deli is headed by Sumith Fernando, who learned everything about quality smoked meat while working at the famous Schwartz’s Deli in Montreal and developed his own approach. Now, he’s brought those delicious skills to the Toronto area, and the food easily meets the high expectations: Sumith’s smoked meat is marinated for days in his own blend of spices, then smoked for hours for some serious depth of flavour. It’s arguably as good as you’ll find outside of Montreal.
The Ace
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Canadian
Address: 231A Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: This homey, lived-in Roncy diner has changed hands multiple times in its three-quarter-century history, and today, it’s hailed as a prime destination in Toronto’s culinary scene for its thoughtful menu of comfort dishes for brunch, dinner, and late-night snacks and sips.
The vintage charms of this cozy eatery host an outstanding brunch menu that consists of merely a half-dozen dishes that are done oh-so well and won’t drain your bank account.
The duck confit and mushroom toast with poached eggs and whipped ricotta is particularly decadent, as is the deadly French toast that tops brioche with caramelized pear, vanilla bean whipped ricotta, crème anglaise, almond crumble, and Ontario maple syrup. Can you think of a better way to start your morning? I certainly can’t, and apparently, neither can the Michelin Guide!
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