A dozen new restaurants to check out right now
Where to eat ceviche, matcha pancakes, fried chicken and Wagyu
Mira
420A Wellington St. W., 647-951-3331, mirarestaurant.com
More on Mira
At Mira, ICONINK’s splashy new Peruvian venue off King West, chef Stuart Cameron (Byblos, Patria) serves up Nikkei-inspired dishes including yuca fries, suckling pig on chaufa-inspired fried rice and all kinds of ceviche. To drink: plenty of pisco, of course.
Walrus Pub and Beer Hall
187 Bay St., 416-363-7261, donnellygroup.ca/walrus
More on the Walrus
Bay Street’s newest place for a pint comes in the form of the Walrus, a 13,000-square-foot, multi-level space complete with 20 big-screen TVs, shuffleboard and a 150-seat patio. If that’s not enough, apparently there’s a beer hall, private dining room and even a barber shop planned for the lower level.
Momofuku pop-up at Pusateri’s
Saks Food Hall, 176 Yonge St., 416-365-3130, @momofukutoronto
More on Momofuku's pop-up
Since Daishō and Shōtō closed earlier this year to make way for the newest (and as of yet still secret) Momofuku concept, fans have been able to satisfy their cravings at this pop-up in Pusateri’s Champagne Bar. The temporary menu has a selection of favourites, like the popular pork buns and rice cakes, but also new items, including bing (griddled Chinese flat bread served with dips and spreads).
Kaka All You Can Eat
655 Bay St., 416-979-3288, kakaallyoucaneat.com
More on Kaka AYCE
While the restaurant’s name might be good for a laugh, there’s nothing funny about all-you-can-eat quality sushi. The Markham-based sushi spot earned its popularity by charging customers only $34.99 for unlimited seafood, including thick-cut sashimi, tataki plated with flower petals and aburi nigiri torched to order.
Jollibee
15 William Kitchen Rd., Scarborough, 647-953-1100, Facebook
More on Jollibee
The long-awaited Toronto location of this Filipino favourite finally opened in April, drawing thousands of people who waited for up to 10 hours to try the chain’s crispy fried chicken, Jolly Spaghetti and mango-peach pies.
Meet Fresh
5315 North York, 416-546-5139, meetfreshcanada.com
More on Meet Fresh
This Taiwanese brand serves up traditional desserts heaped high with things like taro, boba (chewy tapioca balls), mung beans and herbal jelly (a slightly bitter jelly made from a member of the mint family). To drink, there’s tea (milk, green, black, winter melon), and guests can choose to customize theirs with herbal jelly, taro balls or boba.
Shunoko
1201 St. Clair Ave. W., 647-748-7288, shunoko.com
More on Shunoko
Roncesvalle’s favourite little sushi shop, Sushi Nomi, closed, moved north and gave itself a new name. There’s way more space at the St. Clair location, but the emphasis on high-quality seafood and friendly service remains the same. Co-owner and chef Jun Kim offers an omakase menu ($90 for 18 courses) and takes delight in introducing people to lesser-known fish like Japanese half beak, horse mackerel, and fluke.
Constantine
15 Charles St. E., 647-475-4436, constantineto.com
More on Constantine
The dishes at chef Craig Harding’s (Campagnolo, La Palma) new restaurant inside the (also-new) Anndore House hotel incorporate Mediterranean flavours: Moroccan, Greek, Egyptian and Turkish (although the menu is dotted with a few La Palma favourites like cacio e pepe pizza), and nearly everything comes into contact with live flames, thanks to a wood-fired oven and a parilla grill.
Giulietta
972 College St., 416-964-0606, giu.ca
More on Giulietta
Rob Rossi’s successor to Bestellen, his College Street restaurant with a meat-heavy menu, is Giulietta, an Italian restaurant serving thin-crust pizzas and house-made pasta, as well as things like grilled octopus and goat with polenta with truffles and artichokes. “I grew up Italian and I always wanted to have a beautiful, simple Italian restaurant,” says Rossi.
Tsujiri
4909 Yonge St., 647-341-6622, tsujiri-global.com
More on Tsujiri
The massive lineups at Tsujiri, a 155-year-old Japanese brand, are owed to their matcha-packed meals, drinks and desserts. Almost everything on the menu is a verdant green, including noodle bowls, soft serve and jiggly pancakes (a new trend for 2018) that come served with brown sugar syrup and a few scoops of ice cream.
Frankie’s Italian
892 Queen St. E., 647-812-7747, frankiesyafrankies.com
More on Frankie's Italian
Long-time Leslieville favourite Lil’ Baci closed and reopened as Frankie’s, an also-Italian restaurant. The menu is made up of shareable snacks and small plates, a trio of daily $10 pasta dishes and pizza made from Lil’ Baci’s 10-year-old mother dough. A negroni list offers a whole bunch of twists on the classic Italian cocktail, including one made with rose hip and ginger.
Shinta Japanese BBQ
280 West Beaver Creek Rd., Unit 37-39, Richmond Hill, 905-597-0305, shinta.ca
More on Shinta
What’s better than Wagyu? All-you-can-eat Wagyu, that’s what. Shinta’s regular AYCE menu features things like miso-marinated salmon, Angus Gold kalbi short ribs, lemongrass-marinated organic pork loin and New Zealand lamb racks. The more-baller Wagyu menu gets you all of the above plus Australian Wagyu sirloin and U.S. Wagyu brisket.
 on May 7, 2018 at 5:00pm PDT
Mira
420A Wellington St. W., 647-951-3331, mirarestaurant.com
[sjmcm layout="content_more_split_3" calling_post="456299" posts="1:post_id:451754:1:" label="More%20on%20Mira"]
At Mira, ICONINK's splashy new Peruvian venue off King West, chef Stuart Cameron (Byblos, Patria) serves up Nikkei-inspired dishes including yuca fries, suckling pig on chaufa-inspired fried rice and all kinds of ceviche. To drink: plenty of pisco, of course.
A post shared by mvastudios (@mvastudios) on Apr 9, 2018 at 4:20pm PDT
Walrus Pub and Beer Hall
187 Bay St., 416-363-7261, donnellygroup.ca/walrus
[sjmcm layout="content_more_split_3" calling_post="456299" posts="1:post_id:451834:1:" label="More%20on%20the%20Walrus"]
Bay Street's newest place for a pint comes in the form of the Walrus, a 13,000-square-foot, multi-level space complete with 20 big-screen TVs, shuffleboard and a 150-seat patio. If that’s not enough, apparently there’s a beer hall, private dining room and even a barber shop planned for the lower level.
A post shared by momofuku toronto (@momofukutoronto) on Apr 27, 2018 at 8:10am PDT
Momofuku pop-up at Pusateri’s
Saks Food Hall, 176 Yonge St., 416-365-3130, @momofukutoronto
[sjmcm layout="content_more_split_3" calling_post="456299" posts="1:post_id:452020:1:" label="More%20on%20Momofuku's%20pop-up"]
Since Daishō and Shōtō closed earlier this year to make way for the newest (and as of yet still secret) Momofuku concept, fans have been able to satisfy their cravings at this pop-up in Pusateri's Champagne Bar. The temporary menu has a selection of favourites, like the popular pork buns and rice cakes, but also new items, including bing (griddled Chinese flat bread served with dips and spreads).
A post shared by KAKA All You Can Eat (@kakaallyoucaneat) on Feb 16, 2018 at 5:10pm PST
Kaka All You Can Eat
655 Bay St., 416-979-3288, kakaallyoucaneat.com
[sjmcm layout="content_more_split_3" calling_post="456299" posts="1:post_id:452437:1:" label="More%20on%20Kaka%20AYCE"]
While the restaurant's name might be good for a laugh, there's nothing funny about all-you-can-eat quality sushi. The Markham-based sushi spot earned its popularity by charging customers only $34.99 for unlimited seafood, including thick-cut sashimi, tataki plated with flower petals and aburi nigiri torched to order.
A post shared by Curiocity Toronto (@curiocitytoronto) on May 3, 2018 at 8:37am PDT
Jollibee
15 William Kitchen Rd., Scarborough, 647-953-1100, Facebook
[sjmcm layout="content_more_split_3" calling_post="456299" posts="1:post_id:452580:1:" label="More%20on%20Jollibee"]
The long-awaited Toronto location of this Filipino favourite finally opened in April, drawing thousands of people who waited for up to 10 hours to try the chain's crispy fried chicken, Jolly Spaghetti and mango-peach pies.
A post shared by Meet Fresh Toronto (@meetfreshtoronto) on Mar 11, 2018 at 5:15pm PDT
Meet Fresh
5315 North York, 416-546-5139, meetfreshcanada.com
[sjmcm layout="content_more_split_3" calling_post="456299" posts="1:post_id:453830:1:" label="More%20on%20Meet%20Fresh"]
This Taiwanese brand serves up traditional desserts heaped high with things like taro, boba (chewy tapioca balls), mung beans and herbal jelly (a slightly bitter jelly made from a member of the mint family). To drink, there's tea (milk, green, black, winter melon), and guests can choose to customize theirs with herbal jelly, taro balls or boba.
A post shared by rayz76 (@followrayeat) on May 7, 2018 at 5:42pm PDT
Shunoko
1201 St. Clair Ave. W., 647-748-7288, shunoko.com
[sjmcm layout="content_more_split_3" calling_post="456299" posts="1:post_id:453684:1:" label="More%20on%20Shunoko"]
Roncesvalle's favourite little sushi shop, Sushi Nomi, closed, moved north and gave itself a new name. There's way more space at the St. Clair location, but the emphasis on high-quality seafood and friendly service remains the same. Co-owner and chef Jun Kim offers an omakase menu ($90 for 18 courses) and takes delight in introducing people to lesser-known fish like Japanese half beak, horse mackerel, and fluke.
A post shared by Constantine (@constantine_toronto) on Apr 14, 2018 at 10:51am PDT
Constantine
15 Charles St. E., 647-475-4436, constantineto.com
[sjmcm layout="content_more_split_3" calling_post="456299" posts="1:post_id:454284:1:" label="More%20on%20Constantine"]
The dishes at chef Craig Harding's (Campagnolo, La Palma) new restaurant inside the (also-new) Anndore House hotel incorporate Mediterranean flavours: Moroccan, Greek, Egyptian and Turkish (although the menu is dotted with a few La Palma favourites like cacio e pepe pizza), and nearly everything comes into contact with live flames, thanks to a wood-fired oven and a parilla grill.
A post shared by Toronto Life (@torontolife) on Apr 27, 2018 at 11:54am PDT
Giulietta
972 College St., 416-964-0606, giu.ca
[sjmcm layout="content_more_split_3" calling_post="456299" posts="1:post_id:454739:1:" label="More%20on%20Giulietta"]
Rob Rossi's successor to Bestellen, his College Street restaurant with a meat-heavy menu, is Giulietta, an Italian restaurant serving thin-crust pizzas and house-made pasta, as well as things like grilled octopus and goat with polenta with truffles and artichokes. “I grew up Italian and I always wanted to have a beautiful, simple Italian restaurant,” says Rossi.
A post shared by Tiffany (@ltiffe) on May 5, 2018 at 2:15pm PDT
Tsujiri
4909 Yonge St., 647-341-6622, tsujiri-global.com
[sjmcm layout="content_more_split_3" calling_post="456299" posts="1:post_id:455242:1:" label="More%20on%20Tsujiri"]
The massive lineups at Tsujiri, a 155-year-old Japanese brand, are owed to their matcha-packed meals, drinks and desserts. Almost everything on the menu is a verdant green, including noodle bowls, soft serve and jiggly pancakes (a new trend for 2018) that come served with brown sugar syrup and a few scoops of ice cream.
A post shared by FRANKIE'S (@frankiesyafrankies) on Apr 15, 2018 at 2:32pm PDT
Frankie’s Italian
892 Queen St. E., 647-812-7747, frankiesyafrankies.com
[sjmcm layout="content_more_split_3" calling_post="456299" posts="1:post_id:455551:1:" label="More on Frankie's Italian"]
Long-time Leslieville favourite Lil' Baci closed and reopened as Frankie's, an also-Italian restaurant. The menu is made up of shareable snacks and small plates, a trio of daily $10 pasta dishes and pizza made from Lil’ Baci’s 10-year-old mother dough. A negroni list offers a whole bunch of twists on the classic Italian cocktail, including one made with rose hip and ginger.
A post shared by Shinta Japanese BBQ (@shintabbq) on Apr 15, 2018 at 3:58pm PDT
Shinta Japanese BBQ
280 West Beaver Creek Rd., Unit 37-39, Richmond Hill, 905-597-0305, shinta.ca
[sjmcm layout="content_more_split_3" calling_post="456299" posts="1:post_id:456074:1:" label="More%20on%20Shinta"]
What's better than Wagyu? All-you-can-eat Wagyu, that's what. Shinta's regular AYCE menu features things like miso-marinated salmon, Angus Gold kalbi short ribs, lemongrass-marinated organic pork loin and New Zealand lamb racks. The more-baller Wagyu menu gets you all of the above plus Australian Wagyu sirloin and U.S. Wagyu brisket.
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