There are numerous reasons to visit Toronto. But there's another reason to put it on your travel plans: the food. Here are a few reasons why Toronto is a great culinary destination for all tastes.
Alongside its local delicacies like poutine and maple taffy, Toronto offers a sheer variety of options. With such a diverse population comes a culinary landscape that offers the potential for a trip around the world every time you go out to eat. Whether you go to Koreatown, Chinatown, the Danforth for Greek, Little Italy, Little India, Parkdale for Tibetan eateries, or any other part of Toronto, you'll certainly find any cuisine you're looking for, Sri Lankan to Vietnamese.
Little Italy/Portugal Village
Little Italy, which is located on College Street, is known for its many Italian Canadian restaurants, pubs, stores, and businesses. Locals and visitors to the city flock here to eat at Italian restaurants that serve delicious, authentic, and creative meals. The Little Italy shopping district on College Street, between Shaw Street and Euclid Avenue, features authentic Italian restaurants and European fashions.
Little Italy is not an exclusively Italian neighborhood, as its name might suggest. While there is still a strong Italian community in this neighborhood, there is also a large Portuguese population.
The Portugal Village shopping district on Dundas Street includes fresh fruit and vegetable markets, mouth-watering bakeries, as well as seafood restaurants, and cafes that feature authentic Portuguese cuisine.
Greektown
The Danforth, also known as Greektown, is the largest Greek neighborhood in North America. The Grecian influence and culture, which is visible in both subtle and overt ways, emits a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The Danforth is an excellent place to visit because of its proximity to the downtown center, convenient subway access, a mix of modern and classic retail, and a large number of fantastic restaurants.
You can visit one of the many restaurants, lounges, cafes, or bakeries in Greektown that serve traditional Greek cuisine, as well as the other multi-ethnic establishments in the region that offer a diverse range of tastes to tempt anyone's taste buds.
Chinatown
One of the most exciting neighborhoods to explore in Toronto is Chinatown. Walking through a festival of fruit and vegetable markets, fish markets, exotic crafts, and herbal remedy stores is a sensory experience that immerses visitors directly into the city’s Asian community.
It’s hard to visit Chinatown in Toronto without stopping somewhere to eat. With the population changes of recent years, it has come to reflect a diverse set of East Asian cultures through its shops and restaurants, including Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai. These restaurants range from hole-in-the-wall and fast-casual spots to fine dining restaurants and all-day dim sum. The best thing to do is to walk around reading menus until you find what appeals to you.
Little India
Gerrard India Bazaar, popularly known as Little India, is no exception. Over 125 stores and restaurants showcasing South Asia's numerous regional diversities, including culture, food, music, and more, can be found here.
It’s always a good idea to bring your appetite to Little India. You'll find a diverse selection of eateries here serving cuisine from North and South India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. In recent years, more contemporary bars, restaurants, and cafes have opened in the area, resulting in an even more diverse range of dining alternatives.
Koreatown
Bloor Street is home to Toronto's Koreatown shopping sector, which runs from Bathurst Street west to Christie Street. A multitude of Korean restaurants, Karaoke bars, and Korean cuisine, and gift shops stand out in this bustling commercial district.
The Korean community has stood by their own culture amidst Toronto's melting pot of cultures, and in that process, have enriched the existing neighborhood with a diverse, cosmopolitan vibe.
Try the chobab (sushi) bars serving some delicious dishes or the canteens specializing in the signature Kimchi cuisines to get a taste of the actual flavor of this magnificent Asian nation.
Alongside this variety of options, Toronto also features ethnic supermarkets, farmer markets, cultural or diet-specific festivals that celebrate its cultural diversity. Don’t forget to check out these timed events as well.
