Discover some of the city’s best destinations for delicious eats that locals don’t necessarily want you to know about.
Some of Toronto’s best food spots are neither fancy nor flashy but are often local secrets hidden in supermarkets, strip malls and residential neighbourhoods.
From MICHELIN-recognized smoked meat in Scarborough to islander-approved meals you’ll need to make a lake voyage to experience, here are 10 secret food spots worth trying in Toronto.
The Riviera
Don’t want to pack a picnic for your day trip to the Toronto Islands? Make plans to wander over to Ward’s Island for The Riviera.
Cooled by Lake Ontario breezes, its sprawling patio is a lovely spot to relax and unwind with drinks and a satisfying selection of salads, burgers, sandwiches and piadina (Italian street-style mini pizzas).
Famiglia Baldassarre
The lineups for Famiglia Baldassarre start early as this pasta and grocery store/wholesaler is only open for lunch from 12:00–2:00 p.m. and only Wednesdays to Sundays.
Located a 10-minute drive from the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), it’s worth a stop for daily pastas that locals rave over. Pick up sugo, EVOO and local or Italian wines while you’re there.
Leslieville Pumps and General Store
Named after the gas station that once stood in its place, the Leslieville Pumps General Store & Kitchen is a rustic truck-stop-style shop.
Come hungry to enjoy some of Toronto’s best BBQ, including their signature pulled pork, slow-cooked beef brisket, oak-smoked turkey and hickory-smoked chicken, along with fixins like fried pickles and corn fritters.
ALMA + GIL
Tucked inside fine dining restaurant Ficoa in Little Italy, ALMA + GIL offers guests a casual brunch-style menu designed by Chef Gerry Quintero.
The pop-up started as a kombucha brewery, and its signature ‘booch pairs well with brunch choices like chorizo egg and cheese sandwiches or black sesame mini French toasts.
High Park’s Grenadier Cafe is the perfect spot for hikers and nature lovers looking for a bite to eat.
Open year-round, this family-friendly café has a ton of indoor and outdoor seating, plus an expansive menu of classic breakfast, sandwich and dinner items so you can refuel in comfort after birding, working out or playground hopping.
Gryfe’s Bagel Bakery
One of the oldest bakeries in the city, Gryfe Bagel Bakery garners weekend lineups down Bathurst Street as locals wait patiently to snag a dozen (or more) warm-from-the-oven bagels.
Their bagels have a uniquely fluffy, cake-like dough that’s so sweet and delicious that you can eat it plain. For the classic take, order a poppy seed bagel, or try cinnamon raisin with whipped cream cheese for something sweeter.
Windfield’s
Named after the Thoroughbred horse breeding farm once located nearby at Don Mills and York Mills, Windfield’s Restaurant harkens back to when family-style restaurants meant crowd-pleasing dishes, large portions and all-day breakfasts worth returning for.
You’ll want to come hungry because, in addition to classic diner-style sandwiches and daily specials, Windfield’s boasts a refrigerated glass case full of desserts for the sweetest nostalgia trip.
SumiLicious Smoked Meat & Deli
SumiLicious Smoked Meat & Deli, named after its owner, Chef Sumith Fernando, brings Montreal-style smoked meat to a strip mall in east-end Scarborough.
The marinated Halal-certified smoked meat has earned a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand, thanks to the mouthwatering flavours it develops over its 10-day marination and 8-hour slow cooking process. You’ll probably have to line up, but it will be worth it.
V’s Schnitzel House
Tucked away in the mixed industrial and residential Alderwood neighbourhood in westside’s Etobicoke, V’s Schnitzel House is best known for large portions of quick-fried cutlets along with other Czech staples like goulash and pierogis.
No meal is complete without a side of their homemade Magic Dill-icious Sauce. By popular demand, this crowd-fave condiment is now sold in bottles to take home and enjoy later.
La Salumeria
Uptown Yonge Street’s La Salumeria is one of the best spots to get an Italian sandwich. After stocking up on cheeses, canned goods, EVOO and other Italian staples, grab a bun from the bakery rack, take it to the deli counter and order a custom sandwich.
Or opt for “The Special,” made with prosciutto, spicy salami, creamy buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes, spicy peppers, fig jam, balsamic vinegar and olive oil on ciabatta.
Hungry for even more secret food experiences in Toronto? Follow Mystery Eats, for a unique supper club experience in hidden locations across the city.
