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8 of the hottest new restaurants in Toronto you need to try at least once

Phoebe Knight
Phoebe Knight
|
Sep 25 2025, 6:46 pm
8 of the hottest new restaurants in Toronto you need to try at least once

A new restaurant seems to pop up in Toronto every day, but we’ve got the scoop on which ones you actually need to try.

Summer 2025 has been a fruitful one for the Toronto food scene. Now that we think of it, every season is, but late summer has brought us some real gems we hope are able to stand the test of time.

Whether you’re in the mood for a one-of-a-kind luxury dining experience or a classic hot pot session with your friends, the Toronto food scene’s got you covered and well-fed.

Here’s our round-up of some of the best new restaurants in Toronto you need to check out.

Golden Horseshoe BBQ

If you haven’t been hearing the buzz about this new barbecue spot at the corner of Dupont and Christie, you need to wake up and smell the brisket.

All jokes aside, since opening its doors on Sept. 13, this spot from local barbecue wunderkind Andrew Golden and Carbon Bar executive Chef Kris Hansen has been enshrouded in lines, selling out near-daily. It’s not one to miss, but be prepared to wait your turn.

Address: 657 Dupont St.
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Lonely Diner

Talk about a power team. The folks behind this new Little Italy bar rival The Avengers when it comes to their culinary exploits, and it’s the brainchild of Midnight Snack Bar duo Andrew and Christine Pham.

Here, you’ll sink your teeth into Asian-inspired bar bites — think pork and beef sausage sliders and caviar-topped filet-o-fish — while sipping cocktails from Bar Chef and Bar Banane alumni.

Address: 432 College St.
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Bar Eugenie

 

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Hot off the presses! This chic Harbord Village restaurant opened for business on Sept. 11, and almost instantly became a new neighbourhood go-to.

There’s a good reason for that. Its pared-down Italian menu comes from former Alo chef Rebekah Bruce, with cocktails from fellow Alo alumn Lee Bonds and is managed by Ronnie Fishman, who, you guessed it, also has a history at Alo. Your next date night is written in the stars.

Address: 89 Harbord St.
Phone: 416-923-6444
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ORO Luxury Dining

 

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Chef Hemant Bhagwani has owned and operated somewhere in the neighbourhood of 60 restaurants worldwide, but his passion and attention are particularly evident in this latest Little Italy venture.

The menu and regional influences switch up every few months, while the restaurant’s entire concept will get an overhaul each year, so you can be sure you’ll never have the same experience twice. Oh, and did we mention there is tableside martini service?

Address: 501 College St.
Phone: 437-880-9831
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Peaceful Restaurant

With five locations spread across Metro Vancouver and a legacy nearly 30 years in the making, it was only a matter of time before this Chinese food classic made a journey east.

Now, it’s finally here, and it lives up to the hype. Its best-sellers include the Peaceful Beef Roll and Dan Dan Noodles, and rightfully so, but we’re partial to their glorious, glistening Sichuan String Beans.

Address: 515 Bloor St. W.
Phone: 416-530-0800
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Big Way Hot Pot Bloor

Another West Coast export, this self-serve hot pot concept is all the rage in British Columbia. It has already made a splash in Toronto with a Scarborough location, but now it’s open in the heart of The Annex.

Here, diners can peruse a selection of soup bases and over 100 different toppings to create an individual hot pot of their dreams; no need to debate the merits of beef over fish cakes with your posse.

Address: 559 Bloor St. W.
Phone: 416-646-5708
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Nakwon Kisa

When a restaurant gets so popular that it has to turn customers away, that’s when you know it’s tapped into something great. That’s the case at this hole-in-the-wall Korean spot from the people behind Nakwon.

A departure from their usual style, this restaurant only offers one meal a day: like it, or leave. As you may be able to suspect, no matter what the dish of the day is, people are liking it.

Address: 4895 Yonge St.
Phone: 416-223-1117
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The Frederick

 

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Prolific Toronto chef Cory Vitiello is back to his old tricks with this new Financial District venture. By tricks, we of course mean keeping the city fed with elegant eats.

This revival of the otherwise tired bar-and-grill-style restaurant takes classic dishes like burgers, salads and pasta, and gives them new life, all amid swanky yet accessible interiors.

Address: 10 Temperance St.
Phone: 647-701-7177
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