Toronto Canada is one of the most exciting food cities in North America, and if you plan your meals well, eating your way through the city can be as memorable as visiting the CN Tower itself. For Singapore travellers, expats and investors, this guide to the Best Food and Restaurants in Toronto Canada combines trusted, up-to-date recommendations with practical tips on safety, budgeting, and how your Toronto trip can fit into a longer-term Singapore real estate journey with Homejourney.
This article is a focused cluster within Homejourney’s broader Toronto series and is designed to complement our main guide, “Things to Do in Toronto Canada 2025” Homejourney's Complete Guide to Things to Do in Toronto Canada 2025 .
Why Toronto Canada Is a Must-Visit Food City for Singapore Travellers
Toronto is often described as one of the world’s most multicultural cities, and you feel it first through its food. Within a 10–15 minute walk in downtown, you can move from Italian trattorias to Korean BBQ, Michelin-recognised tasting menus, Jamaican jerk chicken and late-night ramen.
From Singapore, it feels a bit like combining Tiong Bahru’s café culture, Jalan Besar’s edgy eateries and East Coast’s family haunts into one compact urban grid—then adding four distinct seasons and North American-style portions. For many Singaporeans who have visited, Toronto’s food scene becomes a benchmark when comparing other Canada travel destinations.
Best Food and Restaurants in Toronto Canada: Curated Shortlist
To keep this guide practical for a 3–7 day trip, here is a curated list of restaurant types and specific spots, organised by experience. Always check latest opening hours and prices before you go, as these can change seasonally.
1. Iconic Toronto Dining with a View: CN Tower 360 Restaurant
If you only splurge on one special meal in Toronto, many locals and repeat visitors recommend 360 Restaurant at the CN Tower for its combination of food and views. The dining room slowly rotates, giving you panoramic views of downtown, the waterfront, and on clear days, all the way across Lake Ontario.[6]
- What to expect: Contemporary Canadian cuisine featuring regional produce and seafood, curated wine list.[6]
- Location: At the top of the CN Tower, a core highlight among Toronto attractions.
- Budget: Expect a premium, similar to a special-occasion meal at an iconic Marina Bay Sands restaurant in Singapore.
- Insider tip: Book a sunset seating so you catch daylight, golden hour and night skyline in one meal. Reserving in advance is almost essential during peak Canada travel periods.
2. Michelin-Recognised & Fine Dining Highlights
Toronto’s Michelin Guide list is expanding, and for Singapore foodies used to curated lists from the Singapore Tourism Board and the MICHELIN Guide in Asia, the structure will feel familiar.
- Alder – A Mediterranean-inspired restaurant led by Chef Patrick Kriss, recognised in the 2025 Toronto Michelin Guide.[2] Known for a wood-fired grill, beautifully charred vegetables, and prime meats in a warm, modern room.
- Lucie – A modern French restaurant downtown, Michelin-recommended, focusing on seasonal ingredients and refined techniques in an intimate setting.[4]
Booking advice from a Singapore perspective: Think of these like Singapore’s hardest-to-book omakase or fine-dining spots—reservations can open 30 days or more ahead. If you’re flying 20+ hours from Singapore, lock in one or two Michelin meals before confirming your full itinerary.
3. Neighbourhood Gems Locals Actually Eat At
Beyond the big names, Toronto’s charm is in its neighbourhood restaurants. Recent local lists of top Toronto restaurants in 2025 highlight a strong mix of Asian, Italian and dessert-focused concepts.[3]
- Takja BBQ House (Korean BBQ) – Located along College Street, praised for its Hansang (a generous Korean feast with banchan, meats and seafood pancake).[3] For Singaporeans used to Tanjong Pagar K-BBQ, this feels familiar but with Canadian beef and local twists.
- Giulietta (Italian) – A well-loved Italian spot with house-made pasta and wood-fired pizzas, often mentioned among the city’s best Italian restaurants.[3]
- Rosie’s Burgers – A casual local chain famous for smash burgers and especially banana pudding, with several outlets including Queen Street West.[3] Great for a quick, satisfying meal between Toronto attractions.
Insider timing tip: Most Torontonians eat dinner earlier than typical Singapore diners—around 6–8pm. For walk-ins, aim to arrive by 6pm on weekdays to avoid waits, especially in popular areas like Queen West and King West.
How to Structure Your Food Days Around Toronto Attractions
To make your food choices easier, pair them with key things to do in Toronto so you minimise transit time and avoid expensive last-minute rideshare fares.
Downtown Core & CN Tower Area
- Daytime: Visit the CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium and the waterfront.
- Food options: 360 Restaurant at CN Tower for a special meal,[6] casual spots around the Entertainment District, and elevated North American concepts listed on platforms like OpenTable, which curates top-rated Toronto restaurants by neighbourhood.[1]
Queen West, King West & Ossington
This trio of neighbourhoods is often compared to a mix of Tanjong Pagar and Haji Lane—creative, slightly edgy, and packed with restaurants and bars.
- Expect trendy Mediterranean, Italian and fusion concepts, with some venues appearing in 2025 best-in-city lists.[1][3]
- Walkable streets make it easy to restaurant-hop or do dessert and coffee after a main meal.
Chinatown, Kensington Market & Koreatown
Singaporeans who miss home flavours will feel comfortable here: dumplings, bubble tea, hotpot, tacos, vegan cafes and casual bars sit side by side. Prices are often lower than in the Financial District, making these good choices if you’re watching your dollar cost after a long-haul flight from Singapore.
Ordering, Pricing & Tipping: Key Differences from Singapore
Unlike Singapore, where prices are typically NETT or clearly split into base price, GST and service charge, Toronto restaurants often list pre-tax prices, with GST/HST and tips added on top.
- Sales tax: Expect about 13% HST on your bill in Ontario.
- Tipping: 15–20% is standard for table service; many card machines suggest preset options.
- Budgeting guideline: For mid-range sit-down meals, plan roughly CAD 25–40 per person for lunch and CAD 40–70 for dinner, including tax and tip. High-end or Michelin venues will be significantly higher.
Practical habit from Singapore: Use a multi-currency card or app to track CAD–SGD rates in real time. On Homejourney, we adopt a similar transparent approach when helping international investors compare currencies for Singapore property purchases, so you always see the true cost in your home currency.
Safety, Booking & Food-Allergy Tips
Toronto is generally considered safe by global standards, and its dining scene is tightly regulated by local health authorities, similar to Singapore’s NEA food hygiene rules. Still, personal safety and clear communication are essential.
- Night safety: In busy districts like King West or the Entertainment District, stick to well-lit main streets after dinner. If you would normally Uber home in Singapore from Clarke Quay, adopt the same mindset here.
- Allergies & dietary needs: Most modern restaurants can cater to halal, vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free or nut-free diets if informed in advance. When booking, note your dietary needs in the reservation form and reconfirm with your server on arrival.
- Booking platforms: Sites like OpenTable list thousands of Toronto restaurants with ratings, cuisine type and instant booking options, useful when you’re planning from Singapore and want verified reviews.[1]
Sample 3-Day Food-Focused Toronto Plan
Day 1 – CN Tower & Downtown
- Lunch: Casual spot near Union Station or the Financial District, using crowdsourced ratings from platforms like OpenTable to filter by price and cuisine.[1]
- Afternoon: CN Tower and waterfront stroll.
- Dinner: 360 Restaurant at CN Tower for a special-occasion meal with views.[6]
