25 Toronto restaurants to eat at during Summerlicious 2025
Summerlicious 2025 is right around the corner for Toronto, bringing with it a crop of droolworthy deals to devour.
Summer really creeps up on you, doesn’t it? One moment, you’re loaded down like a pack mule with knee-high boots and ankle-length jackets, and the next, you’re working out ways to leave the house in as little clothing as possible to beat the heat without breaking any laws.
It’s also the time of year when Toronto’s annual city-wide food festival, Summerlicious, kicks off. This event sees hundreds of local restaurants offering exclusive prix fixe menus for three weeks straight. We couldn’t be more excited to get into the 2025 offerings.
From new-kids-on-the-block to tried-and-true staples, there are too many participating restaurants worth trying to even name, but we’ve compiled a list of 25 picks sure to satisfy every craving.
Reservations for Summerlicious 2025 have officially opened as of June 19, so you’ll want to act fast to get your name on the list of the city’s hottest spots. You can check out the complete list of participating restaurants by visiting the City of Toronto‘s website.
Here are some of the restaurants you need to check out at Summerlicious 2025.
Top picks
If you’re struggling to narrow down all the options, these spots are always a safe bet.
est ($55/$75)
This chic spot stands firm on its commitment to bring consistently delicious and high-quality fine dining to Riverside, and Summerlicious 2025 will be no exception. Their lunch menu includes options like steak tartare and dry-aged duck breast, while, for dinner, you can dig into the likes of charred octopus, foie gras parfait, and 12-hour braised beef short rib.
DaiLo ($75)
Little Italy is where you can find a slew of the city’s best restaurants, like this long-running Asian spot that’s been a staple for over a decade. Head there for dinner, and you’ll be able to choose from appetizers like their crispy octopus taco or pea dumplings and mains including Hainanese chicken or whole fried Giggie trout.
Little Sister Portland ($45)
Head down to Portland Street, which is packed with a number of top Toronto restaurants, and you can dine on a dinner menu featuring Dutch-Indonesian dishes like green coconut seabream ceviche, Jakarta-spiced lumpia, and Indonesian-style steak frites.
Le Select Bistro ($48/$65)
When all else fails, a French bistro will never do you wrong, and this cozy spot on Wellington is among the top of its class. Their lunch menu offers options like escargots Bourguignons and the signature Le Select burger, while, for dinner, you can opt for the likes of steak tartare, asparagus risotto, or steak frites.
Indian Street Food Co. ($34/$45)
A Michelin Bib Gourmand can only mean two things: it’ll be tasty, and it won’t cost a fortune. That’s exactly what you can expect at this Leaside restaurant that’s offering up favourites like Piri Piri shrimp, rhara mutton curry, and paneer methi chaman.
New this year
Meet the new kids on the block, appearing on the Summerlicious lineup for the first time this year.
Fareen Karim at Piano Piano Bloor.
612 Harlowe ($34/$45)
This Italian-fusion spot just off King West is serving up eats like mushroom arancini, spaghetti Bolognese, miso tofu and a particularly decadent homemade blueberry cheesecake among the options for their Summerlicious debut.
National ($27/$35)
Mosey on down to The Well for comfort food classics with a side of fun in the form of bowling and arcade games at the newly-opened Toronto location of this Calgary-based chain. As for eats, you can choose from options like cheese empanadas, tuna tostada, quarter chicken dinner (a la Swiss Chalet) and blueberry lavender lemonade sorbet.
Piano Piano Bloor ($34/$45)
Piano Piano may already be a goliath on the Toronto food scene, but their recently opened Bloorcourt location is the latest (and, perhaps, swankiest) to enter the fold. For their dinner and lunch menus, they’re letting you choose from appetizers like chopped salad and burrata al Campagnolo and mains including egg yolk ravioli, mushroom cavatelli and a whole host of their much-loved pizzas.
AYLA ($65)
This Dundas West spot comes to you from the team behind Patois, and just so happens to be located directly on top of it. This time, they’ve put a focus on Hong Kong cuisine, and their dinner prix fixe includes dishes like crispy dill pickle tofu, prawn toast, Iberico pork char siu and drunken wild sablefish.
Kadak ($27/$35)
Head up to Midtown to get a taste of Indian cuisine that’s almost as good to look at as it is to eat at this vibrant restaurant. With an affordable lunch menu featuring options like butter chicken arancini and murg malai korma, and dinner options like Parsi lamb kunafa and Goan fish curry, you won’t regret adding this one to your roster.
Old favourites
Surviving in the city isn’t easy, so these long-running spots have got to be good.
Jesse Milns at Lee Restaurant.
Insomnia ($34/$45)
Truffled cauliflower soup, lamb meatballs, chicken and waffles, and chocolate mousse are all among the options on the lunch and dinner menus at this Annex stalwart.
Lee Restaurant ($75)
Chef Susur Lee is among the best-known names on the Toronto food scene, so it’s only fair that his Richmond Street restaurant gets in on the fun. You can choose from appetizers like French lentil and potato fried dumplings, mains including slow braised beef brisket, and decadent desserts like Ontario apple tarte tatin for a luxe dinner.
Nami Japanese Restaurant ($55/$75)
This King East sushi staple has been cranking out nigiri, maki and more for nearly 40 years, and it’s still among the best in the city. For Summerlicious, they’re serving up an assortment of sushi, sashimi, tempura and teriyaki for you to choose from. The miso cheesecake for dessert is an absolute must.
GEORGE ($55/$75)
This Corktown icon has been around for over 20 years, making it a seasoned veteran on the Toronto food scene. Featuring a seasonal menu of Canadian-inspired cuisine, this year’s Summerlicious menus feature options like chilled maple smoked tomato soup, venison tartare, Cornish hen and a coconut cream and strawberry pavlova.
Biff’s Bistro ($41/$55)
When in doubt, restaurants by Toronto hospitality supergroup Oliver & Bonacini are always a trusty fallback. At this recently relocated French bistro on their roster, you can find delights such as tomato and burrata tarte tatin, moules Provençales, grilled Cornish hen, and Poached Niagara apricots.
Cheap and cheerful
Summer in the city can be expensive! These picks all offer the lowest possible prices for Summerlicious.
Hector Vasquez at Tokyo Grill.
Bar Bacan ($20/$25)
This female-led, family-run Roncesvalles eatery specializes in Argentinian and Venezuelan cuisines, and their prix fixe menus guarantee major bang for your buck — even if the “buck” in question is pretty light to begin with.
High Park Brewery ($20/$25)
There’s nothin’ fancy on the menu at this brewery just off the intersection of Jane and St. Clair, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Head over for a pocket-pleasing lunch or dinner, and you’ll be met with options like crispy fried Brussels sprouts, soft pretzels, smash burgers, chicken tenders and a hot brownie loaded with whipped cream and caramel sauce.
Tokyo Grill ($20/$25)
This stylish North York spot proves that being trendy doesn’t have to come with a huge price tag. For both lunch and dinner, they’re offering Japanese dishes like takoyaki, chilled tofu, a variety of bento boxes, and green tea cheesecake this July.
Bukhara Grill ($20/$25)
An extensive selection of Indian snacks and street food is on offer at this Etobicoke restaurant, all for the price of one drink at a trendy hotel bar. Onion bhaji, chicken pakora, chana masala, lamb madras, and gulab jamun are just a handful of the options you can choose from on your visit.
Kothur Indian Cuisine ($20/$25)
You can never have too much Indian food, and this Etobicoke restaurant is offering a menu packed with their greatest hits, like their chilly chicken and onion baija appetizers, dal Makhani and murgh Malai kabab mains, and a slew of sweet desserts.
Vegan-friendly
Whether you’re plant-based year-round or are just looking to experiment with a meatless Monday or two, these spots cater to you.
Pai Uptown ($34/45)
There’s a good reason why this northern Thai restaurant at Yonge and Eglinton is a hit with celebrities, and you can find out for yourself when you visit during Summerlicious. While their menu isn’t exclusively plant-based, they offer several dishes free from animal byproducts.
Ultra ($65)
A swanky supper club sitting atop a Toronto subway station might sound like something out of your wildest fantasies, but that’s exactly what you’ll get at this St. Clair restaurant. Their Asian-inspired menu includes vegan options like charred shishito peppers, mushroom japchae and a sorbet trio for dessert.
Bar Avelo ($35)
The entire menu is vegan at this Yorkville spot, so you can eat easy knowing your cantaloupe gazpacho, tomato gnocchi, and corn flatbread don’t include anything furry, feathered, or finned.
Tabule BV ($27/$35)
Middle Eastern cuisine is a favourite among those looking to reduce their carnivorous tendencies, and while this popular Toronto chain includes some meat and dairy-based products on its menu, its Summerlicious offerings feature plant-based dishes such as flash-fried cauliflower, falafel wraps, and rice pudding.
Hawker ($27/$35)
This quaint Kensington Market spot features an entirely plant-based menu of small, shareable plates. For the special occasion, they’re cooking up dishes like Lion’s Mane wings, banh mi, and a weekly selection of rotating ice cream flavours.
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