Toronto Life’s most popular Chefs in the Burbs of 2025
Our top neighbourhood food tours of the year
Over the course of 2025, we went on the road with some of the city’s top chefs and restaurateurs to explore their favourite hidden gems from Hamilton to Richmond Hill.
Here are our top 10 Chefs in the Burbs of the year.
No. 10: Where chef Jerome Robinson eats in Parkdale
When Jerome Robinson (a.k.a. the Heartbreak Chef) isn’t building gargantuan sandwiches at his Baldwin Street spot, he can be found eating his way through Parkdale. “My restaurant was here for six months before we moved to our new home in Kensington Market,” Robinson says. “There’s so much charm here. It’s definitely changed over the years, but there are still plenty of spots that only the locals know about.”
No. 9: Where chef Donnie Gomes eats in Mississauga
Donnie Gomes frequently goes viral for the inventive sandwiches he makes at the Chicken Cartel, which he opened in 2021 inside a converted shipping container on the grounds of an Oakville coin-operated car wash. But, when he has time on his sandwich-making hands, he doesn’t explore the west-end burb (or Etobicoke, where he opened a second restaurant); instead, Gomes heads to Mississauga, where he spent his teenage years, for Portuguese, Indian and Pakistani food.
No. 8: Where chef Braden Chong eats in Markham and Richmond Hill
Braden Chong spends most of his time bouncing between Mimi Chinese and its sister restaurant, Sunnys Chinese, but when he has a free afternoon, the chef and self-proclaimed homebody will travel from his place downtown to Richmond Hill and Markham in search of Chinese food. “I always make the effort if it means eating at some good restaurants,” says Chong. He took us to his go-to spots for mapo tofu, Shaoxing-marinated cold chicken and pan-fried pork buns.
No. 7: Where Desi Burger owner Abdul-Rehman “Sonu” Saleem eats in Little India
When he was just 18 years old, Abdul-Rehman Saleem took sole ownership of Desi Burger, a 30-year-old Pakistani street-food institution in Little India, from his parents. Owning the business had always been Saleem’s dream. “My older brother wasn’t as interested in taking it over—he went into law. I knew I could make Desi Burger a blockbuster success,” he says. And his love for food extends beyond his restaurant: the whole neighbourhood plays a role in his culinary DNA. During Ramadan, he took us for an after-sunset tour of three spots in the neighbourhood—all strategically close to Desi Burger—that he can’t live without.
No. 6: Where chef Victoria Rinsma eats in Parkdale and Little Portugal
Victoria Rinsma, the 28-year-old sous-chef of Oakville’s Michelin-starred Hexagon (and soon to be sous at Toronto’s 20 Victoria), likes to counteract the pressure of work and rising expectations with comfort food. She took us around the west end to some of her favourites spots for breakfast sandwiches, butter chicken momos and ice cream.
No. 5: Where chef Nizar El Ali eats in Mississauga
When Nizar El Ali isn’t cooking up a storm at one of his two restaurants, you’ll find the East Tea Can chef wandering around Mississauga in search of his next great meal. “I actually live in Burlington, but I just love this area and its vibe,” he says. “The people here are so food-centric, and meals are celebrations centred around being with loved ones. It’s why I opened my first restaurant here back in 2015.” Ali took us on a tour of his go-to spots for shawarma, mutabak and sushi.
No. 4: Where chef Clay Smith eats in Hamilton and Dundas
Personal chef Clay Smith was born and raised in Hamilton, and he still calls Steeltown home. He can now hop from one great grocery store or restaurant to the next, but it wasn’t always this way. “When I was growing up, Hamilton had the worst food scene,” says Smith. “There were a lot of chain restaurants run by corporate folks, but in the last 10 to 15 years, it’s definitely shifted.” He showed us where to get fresh seafood, birria tacos and cocktails.
No. 3: Where Pearl Morissette chef Eric Robertson eats in Hamilton
Early in his career, Eric Robertson—one of the chefs at the highly acclaimed Pearl Morissette—worked at Toronto’s Colborne Lane, followed by stints in a series of Michelin-starred kitchens in Spain, France, Sweden and Belgium. He moved back to Ontario a decade ago, settling in Hamilton. We had Robertson take us to his favourite spots in his hometown for oysters, Detroit-style pizza and chicken wings.
No. 2: Where Michelin-starred chef Vicky Cheng eats when he’s back home in Toronto
Nearly 20 years ago, Vicky Cheng left his hometown of Toronto for New York, where he worked under Daniel Boulud at Restaurant Daniel. In 2010, he returned to Hong Kong, where he was born. He stayed there for two and a half years, cooking his borderless take on Chinese cuisine. Cheng recently returned to Toronto to tour the neighbourhoods and restaurants that shaped him. “One of the things I miss most about Toronto is the diversity of its food scene,” he says. “There is absolutely no Jamaican food in Hong Kong.”
No. 1: Where chef Aaron Chen eats in Markham and Richmond Hill
When Frenchy chef Aaron Chen isn’t turning out brasserie staples for dinner or making finger sandwiches for the Hilton restaurant’s afternoon tea service, you’ll find him exploring the restaurants of Richmond Hill. “There’s a simple reason why,” he says. “I love exploring the suburb’s diverse dining scene.” He showed us where to find the best salt-and-pepper popcorn chicken, bún riêu and almond croissants.
