The best neighbourhoods for food in Toronto, and what to eat in each

Toronto is often called one of the most diverse cities in the world, and you can taste it. Whole neighbourhoods grew around communities from China, Korea, Greece, India, Portugal, Italy, the Caribbean and many more, and their restaurants are still the best way to understand the city. Here is a map to start from.

Where is the best food in Toronto?

There is no single food district, but there are some neighbourhoods that every serious eater ends up in:

Neighbourhood	Go for	Good to know
Kensington Market	Global snacks, patties, tacos, bakeries	Small independent shops on narrow streets, very walkable
Chinatown (Spadina and Dundas)	Dim sum, noodles, Cantonese and regional Chinese	One of the densest Chinese food corridors on the continent
Koreatown (Bloor near Christie)	Korean barbecue, stews, late-night food	Busiest in the evening
Gerrard India Bazaar	Chaat, dosas, curries, sweets	A long South Asian commercial strip in the east end
Greektown (the Danforth)	Souvlaki, grilled fish, Greek bakeries	One of the largest Greek corridors in North America
Little Italy and Little Portugal	Espresso, pasta, Portuguese custard tarts	West of downtown, along College and Dundas West
St. Lawrence Market	Market food, peameal bacon sandwiches	A historic market hall near downtown
Scarborough and Markham	Chinese, Hakka, Sri Lankan and wider Asian food	A drive or long transit ride, very rewarding

What is Kensington Market known for?

Kensington Market is a compact, walkable area just west of downtown, full of independent food shops, bakeries, cafés and vintage stores. In a few blocks you can find Jamaican patties, Portuguese pastries, tacos, empanadas and more. It is one of the best places in Toronto for a snack crawl. In summer, the streets close to cars on certain Sundays for Pedestrian Sundays, with music and food stalls.

Where is the best Chinese food in Toronto?

Chinatown along Spadina Avenue is the classic downtown choice, with dim sum, noodle shops and Cantonese restaurants that have served the area for decades, alongside newer Sichuan and Shanghainese spots. For the biggest range, many locals head north and east to Scarborough and Markham, where large Chinese malls and plazas are home to some of the best Chinese food in the region.

In Toronto, the suburbs are not a step down. Some of the best places in the region are in Scarborough and Markham plazas.

Where should you go for Korean food in Toronto?

Koreatown on Bloor Street West, around Christie, is compact and walkable. It comes alive in the evening, when Korean barbecue grills are going and stew and fried chicken spots fill up. It is also a good area for a late-night bite.

Where can you find Indian food in Toronto?

The Gerrard India Bazaar, on Gerrard Street East, is a long strip of South Asian restaurants, sweet shops and grocers. Look for chaat counters, dosa places and mithai shops. Brampton and Mississauga, west of the city, also have very large South Asian communities and many places.

What is the Danforth known for?

The Danforth, east of the Don Valley, is Toronto's Greektown. Expect souvlaki, grilled octopus, whole grilled fish, Greek salads, spanakopita and bakeries selling galaktoboureko and loukoumades. The neighbourhood holds a big Greek food festival in summer.

How do you plan a food day in Toronto?

1. Morning: St. Lawrence Market for a peameal bacon sandwich and coffee.
2. Late morning: walk or take the streetcar to Kensington Market for snacks.
3. Lunch: dim sum or noodles in Chinatown, a short walk away.
4. Afternoon: espresso and pastries in Little Italy or Little Portugal.
5. Evening: Korean barbecue in Koreatown or Greek food on the Danforth.

How do you get around Toronto for food?

The TTC subway and streetcars reach most of these neighbourhoods. Kensington, Chinatown, Little Italy and Little Portugal are all close to each other west of downtown. Koreatown and Greektown sit along the Bloor-Danforth subway line. For Scarborough and Markham, a car is easier, though transit works with more time.

What should you know about eating out in Toronto?

• Tax: restaurant meals in Ontario carry 13 percent HST.
• Tipping: 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax bill at a sit-down place is normal.
• Drinking age: 19 in Ontario.
• Bookings: popular places book up, especially on weekends, so reserve ahead where you can.

Mosey is built around the places people actually ate at, dish by dish. In a city this big, a precise tip, such as which dumpling at which Chinatown restaurant, is worth more than any list.

More guides to read next:

• Mississauga and Brampton food guide: Punjabi, Pakistani and Caribbean food in Peel Region
• Cheap eats in Toronto: how to eat well without spending much
• Dim sum in Toronto: Chinatown, Scarborough and Markham

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.