🍁 Toronto Food Guide

Toronto is one of the world's most ethnically diverse cities — over 200 languages spoken, and every one of them comes with food. The food scene is world-class and completely underrated globally. St. Lawrence Market, Kensington Market, and Scarborough's ethnic enclaves are among North America's best food destinations.

35+

Food Guides

Hidden Gems

CAD$8+

Budget From

Ontario, Canada

Region

Must-Try Dishes

What to Eat in Toronto

The essential Toronto dishes — from street food to signature plates.

🍟

Poutine

CAD$10-18

🥧

Butter Tarts

CAD$2-4

🥟

Dim Sum (Scarborough)

CAD$5-10/dish

🍗

Jerk Chicken

CAD$12-20

🫓

Roti

CAD$10-16

🥓

Peameal Bacon Sandwich

CAD$8-12

🥞

BeaverTails

CAD$5-8

🥩

Korean BBQ (Koreatown)

CAD$25-45

Food Neighborhoods

Where to Eat in Toronto

The neighborhoods with the most interesting food scenes — ranked by Otto.

🏛️

St. Lawrence Market

The best indoor food market in North America. Saturday mornings: peameal bacon sandwiches, fresh bread, local cheese, prepared foods from 120 vendors.

🌍

Kensington Market

The most diverse food neighborhood in Toronto — Portuguese custard tarts, Caribbean roti, South American empanadas, and vintage everything.

🥢

Scarborough

The real Toronto food secret — the best Chinese, Tamil, Sri Lankan, Caribbean, and Pakistani food in the city, at a fraction of downtown prices.

🍕

Little Italy / Dundas West

Independent restaurants, cocktail bars, Portuguese food culture, and some of the best pizza in Toronto.

🥩

Koreatown (Bloor St)

One of the best Korean food corridors in North America — BBQ, Korean fried chicken, tteokbokki, bingsu.

Food Guides

Otto's Toronto Articles

Deep dives into the food culture, street food scenes, and local secrets.

🏛️

St. Lawrence Market: Toronto's 200-Year-Old Food Hall

Saturday morning, peameal bacon, local cheese — the complete guide.

MarketHeritage

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🥢

Scarborough Food Guide: Toronto's Best-Kept Secret

The best Tamil, Chinese, Caribbean, and Pakistani food — all better than downtown.

Hidden GemScarborough

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🍟

Toronto Poutine Guide: From Classic to Creative

Who makes it right, where the cheese curds are squeaky, and which gravy wins.

HeritageStreet Food

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🥩

Koreatown Toronto: The Korean BBQ Guide

Which restaurants, which cuts, how to order like a local.

Korean BBQBloor St

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Local Knowledge

Things to Know Before You Eat

The insider context that changes how you experience Toronto's food culture.

🐷 Peameal Bacon

Peameal bacon is a Toronto original — back bacon (Canadian bacon) rolled in peameal (cornmeal). Served on a bun at St. Lawrence Market. It's not American bacon. It's not Canadian bacon. It's specifically a Toronto thing.

🌍 200 Languages

Toronto is one of the most linguistically diverse cities on Earth. The practical effect: every cuisine is available, and most of it is cooked by people who grew up eating it. Scarborough has better Tamil food than many restaurants in Tamil Nadu.

💸 Budget Reality

Peameal bacon sandwich: CAD$5-8. Kensington Market food: CAD$5-12. Restaurant: CAD$20-40. Toronto is cheaper than New York for equivalent quality.