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AppSignal's guide to Toronto: Top places to eat in Toronto

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Ahmed Nadar is a Toronto-based Rails developer, founder of the RapidRails agency and creator of RapidRails UI components for Ruby on Rails.

AppSignal have enlisted Ahmed's help to write a series of guides to Toronto for fellow Rails World attendees.

In this guide I'll share my top tips for eating in Toronto with you. If you thought Toronto's skyline was impressive, wait until you meet its food scene.

I've gathered lists of my favorite restaurants, bakeries, and cafés in the city that cater to a wide range of tastes and dietary needs-whether you're vegan, gluten-free, there's something in this guide for everyone.

For Halal choices, even if a restaurant doesn't advertise it, it's always good to ask. I've noticed many places serve Halal food without advertising it, so if in doubt ask the servers!

Best Brunch Spots in Toronto

Brunch lovers, rejoice! I've trekked across Toronto to bring you a brunch list that's as diverse as the city itself. Whether you're craving vegan delights, hearty meaty dishes, or something in between, there's a spot here that'll satisfy your stomach.

1. Maha's Restaurant

My absolute favorite! If you're up for an Egyptian brunch adventure, Maha's is the place to be. Think mouthwatering foole (fava bean stew) and authentic Cairo classic sandwiches that'll transport your taste buds straight to Egypt.

2. Emma's Country Kitchen

This cozy spot offers hearty brunch dishes made from scratch. Favorites include their buttermilk biscuits, house-made preserves, and the classic "Emma's Benny."

3. The Federal

A hip café on Dundas West, The Federal offers a laid-back vibe and a menu featuring items like shakshuka and duck confit hash.

4. Eggstatic

A breakfast and brunch spot offering a wide variety of egg dishes, from omelettes to shakshuka.

5. Bonjour Brioche

A French bakery and café in Leslieville, Bonjour Brioche is famous for its fresh pastries, quiches, and croque monsieur.

Enjoy exploring these fantastic brunch spots across Toronto!

Best Halal Restaurants in Downtown Toronto

Craving some delicious Halal food in downtown Toronto? I've got you covered! From Middle Eastern delights to South Asian flavours, and even Halal burgers, there's something for everyone.

1. Paramount Fine Foods

Offering authentic Middle Eastern cuisine, Paramount Fine Foods is known for its fresh ingredients and warm hospitality. Enjoy dishes like shawarma, falafel, and a variety of grilled meats, all Halal-certified.

2. The Halal Guys

Originating from New York City, The Halal Guys serve up their famous platters of gyro, chicken, and falafel over rice, with their signature white and hot sauces.

3. Burger Factory

For those craving Halal burgers, Burger Factory offers a variety of juicy burgers made with 100% Halal beef. Don't miss their signature "Crusher" burger.

4. Sultan's Tent & Café Moroc

Enjoy a unique dining experience with Moroccan cuisine and live belly dancing performances. The menu features a variety of Halal dishes.

5. Sofra Istanbul

Experience authentic Turkish cuisine at Sofra Istanbul, offering a variety of Halal dishes including kebabs, pides, and baklava.

Enjoy exploring these fantastic Halal dining options across downtown Toronto!

Best vegan restaurants in Toronto

Toronto is a vibrant city with a diverse food scene, and its vegan offerings are no exception. From upscale dining to cozy cafés, there's something for every plant-based palate. Here are some of the best vegan restaurants in Toronto. My personal favorite is Fresh and I visit the Eglantine a lot too!

1. Fresh Restaurants

A pioneer in Toronto's vegan scene, Fresh offers a wide-ranging menu of plant-based dishes, juices, and smoothies. With several locations, it's a staple for vegans and non-vegans alike.

2. Avelo Restaurant*

Nestled in the heart of downtown, Avelo offers an upscale vegan dining experience with a focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. The minimalist yet warm ambiance sets the stage for artfully crafted tasting menus that showcase the creativity and depth of plant-based cuisine.

2. The Hogtown Vegan

The Hogtown Vegan offers comfort food classics with a vegan twist. From "unchicken" and waffles to mac 'n' cheese, it's the perfect spot for indulging in hearty, plant-based dishes.

3. Bloomers

Bloomers is a vegan bakery and café known for its handcrafted doughnuts and pastries. They also offer a selection of sandwiches and salads, making it a great spot for breakfast or lunch.

4. Fat Choi

An entirely vegan pop-up inside Soos Restaurant, Fat Choi offers Malaysian-inspired vegan dishes. The menu features items like laksa and nasi lemak, available on select days.

5 Veggie D'Light

A hidden gem in Kensington Market, Veggie D'Light serves Caribbean-inspired vegan dishes. Their rotating menu includes curries, patties, and fresh juices.

Enjoy exploring these fantastic vegan spots across Toronto!

Best Burgers in Toronto

I've scoured Toronto to bring you a mouthwatering list of the city's best burgers. Whether you're craving a classic cheeseburger, a plant-based patty, or a gourmet creation, there's something here for you.

1. GRUB SHACK

Grub Shack offers delicious Halal burgers with a variety of toppings and flavors. Known for their juicy patties and friendly service, it's a must-visit for those seeking Halal options in Toronto.

2. Shake Shack Toronto

The iconic American burger chain Shake Shack has finally arrived in Toronto, offering its famous ShackBurger, crinkle-cut fries, and shakes. Fans of classic burgers made with high-quality ingredients will not be disappointed.

3. The Burger's Priest

This iconic Toronto spot serves classic, no-frills burgers made with fresh, high-quality beef and simple toppings. Their secret menu is a hit among burger aficionados.

  • More info: The Burger's Priest (website not available in Europe)
  • Location: Multiple locations

4. Rudy

Famous for their simple yet delicious burgers, Rudy's "Rude Dude" and "Rudy" burgers are must-tries for burger purists.

  • More info: Rudy
  • Location: Multiple locations

5. Holy Chuck

Offering gourmet burgers with inventive toppings, Holy Chuck is perfect for adventurous eaters. Try the "Go Chuck Yourself" if you're up for a challenge.

  • More info: Holy Chuck
  • Location: Multiple locations

Enjoy exploring these fantastic burger spots across Toronto!

Best Pizza Places in Toronto

Toronto is a city that loves its pizza, offering a diverse range of styles from classic Neapolitan to creative gourmet slices. These pizzerias are must-tries for anyone craving a slice.

1. Pi Co.

Offering personalized, artisan-style pizzas cooked in just 90 seconds, Pi Co. is perfect for a quick and delicious meal.

2. Pizzeria Libretto

Known for its authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, Pizzeria Libretto uses traditional wood-fired ovens to create perfectly blistered crusts topped with fresh ingredients.

3. Dino's Wood Burning Pizza

A cozy spot offering wood-fired pizzas with a focus on fresh ingredients and traditional recipes.

4. Mamma's Pizza

A family-owned chain offering a variety of pizzas with traditional and gourmet toppings.

5. Descendant Detroit Style Pizza

Specializing in Detroit-style deep-dish pizza, Descendant offers thick, cheesy pies with crispy edges and a variety of unique toppings.

Enjoy exploring these fantastic pizza spots across Toronto!

Must-Try Fall Foods in Toronto

It's finally time for fall and that means delicious baked goods and desserts. From apple pie to butter tarts, there are so many treats to choose from. Here's our list of the must-try fall foods in Toronto!

Apple Pie Cookie at Craig's Cookies Try this delicious apple pie cookie at Craig's Cookies. It's a chocolate chip cookie with apple pie filling.

Pumpkin Spice Cake at Bobbette & Belle Nothing says fall quite like an apple pie. This pie features fresh apples baked to perfection in a rich and creamy butterscotch caramel sauce. It's topped with their signature, golden brown oat crumble.

Vanilla Pecan Eclair at Nugateau Patisserie Nugateau is Canada's first all-eclair Patisserie. Get into the fall spirit with their vanilla pecan eclair. It has vanilla seed cremeux, vanilla glaze, and caramelized pecans.

Crème Brûlée Donut at Bloomer's Check out Bloomer's for handcrafted vegan donuts, made every morning! They recently announced their fall menu, including a mouthwatering crème brûlée donut

Espresso Nutella Gelato at Nani's Gelato Nani's Gelato offers a variety of artisanal frozen desserts and all of their products are made on site, from scratch, fresh daily. They just announced their new flavours, including espresso nutella.

Cute cafés in Toronto

There are tons and tons of nice coffee shops in Toronto, I've gathered a few of my favorite cafes for you to visit to enjoy their fantastic coffee and food menus.

1. Dineen Coffee Co.

This coffee shop franchise might be as famous for its tiled floors and shoe pics on Instagram as it is for its signature coffee blends. Dineen Coffee Co. has three locations, but the original is the most iconic: The Yonge Street and Temperance Street outpost, located inside the heritage Dineen Building, is full of architectural magic and its red leather banquettes pop. The Yonge st. location is my favorite, the staff are nice, friendly, atmosphere is great and location is close to Dundas square and Eaton center. I've recorded the first of my podcast there, the music was a bit loud though 😊

2. Cafe Pamenar

More than just a cute spot to grab a latte and a homemade cookie, Kensington Market's Pamenar is a hipster hangout and community gathering place. You'll find everything from live jazz, DJ sets and dance parties to stand-up comedy, poetry nights and protests within the whitewashed walls or out on the beautiful back garden patio.

3. Maha's Café

My favorite Egyptian Food 😋 One of Toronto's most beloved brunch spots has joined forces with a local clothing store for a unique and delicious partnership in Leslieville. Earlier this year, Maha's Egyptian Brunch opened its second outpost (the original is located at Greenwood Avenue) in the back of retail store, Kotn. The connection may seem like a head-scratcher, but the store's use of sustainably sourced Egyptian materials makes it a perfect pairing for Maha's, known for Egyptian comfort food like falafel and fava bean foole. Snuggle up in the cozy-cute aesthetic and dig into Egyptian sandwiches, sweet treats and specialty coffees. Location: 978 Queen St. E. (entrance from Carlaw Ave.)

4. 10 Dean

Inspired by their parent company's London, U.K. roots, 10 Dean is a gorgeous chain of Toronto cafés within Fitzrovia's luxurious real estate properties. We love the vibe of the Spadina location the most, though. The airy, modern space features a staircase leading up to a cozy mezzanine that's open for imbibing cocktails when 10 Dean transforms into a bar in the evening.

5. Tsuchi Cafe

Pass College Street's used bookstores and fruit markets to stumble upon Toronto's only vegan Japanese café. Using some clever key substitutions and a generous sprinkling of creativity, everything from creamy lattes to Japanese milk bread and eggy breakfast sandwiches are prepared completely plant-based, with excellent results. This quaint, serene oasis doesn't offer much seating, so take their mouthwatering katsu sandos, onigiri, tiramisu jars and creamy pistachio tarts to-go and scoff them down at the nearby Grace Avenue Parkette.

Enjoy exploring Toronto's food scene this Rails World

From mouthwatering brunch spots to the best Halal, vegan, and downright delicious eateries, Toronto's food scene is ready to take you on a unique culinary adventure, be sure to check out some of my favorite spots during your time at Rails World!

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