Where Toronto chefs and bartenders eat the morning after a late night

Regardless of how you spend the holidays, chances are you’re going to stay up a little too late, eat a little too much and drink one too many nogs. It all poses a problem for the morning after: how do you sort yourself out after a big and boozy night?

Related: “I would absolutely hate to see it close”—Toronto chefs on their favourite (older) restaurants

We asked Toronto’s chefs and bartenders—who are in the business of late nights—where they go for bleary-eyed morning brunch. Here’s what they had to say.

Richmond Station

1 Richmond St. W., richmondstation.ca

Dennis Peckham, corporate executive chef of fancy Financial District steakhouse Black and Blue, parks himself at Richmond Station after a late night.

“It’s run by my friend Hayden Johnston, who I competed against on Top Chef Canada,” he says. “I also think it’s one of the most under-appreciated restaurants in Toronto. They bring in one whole cow every week and butcher it on-site, using every part of the animal. The result? The best burger I’ve had in the city. It’s made with ground chuck and shoulder, stuffed with braised beef from the neck. Top it with a sunny-side-up egg and you’ve got an incredible brunch dish.”

White Lily Diner

678 Queen St. E., whitelilydiner.ca

Peckham can also be found holding court at this east-end staple. “I grew up in a small town and started flipping eggs at my dad’s diner when I was 13, so this place reminds me of home,” he says. “They use outstanding local products and run a true scratch kitchen—cured and smoked meats, house-made bread, fresh donuts and a killer sausage gravy. The OG Patty Melt is a must-order.” Tip: arrive early or join the wait list online before rolling up.

Alpha’s Shawarma

Multiple locations, alphasshawarma.ca

Jalil Bokhari and Emma Tanaka, the owners of Jamil’s Chaat House in Parkdale, spent the first year of business eating a lot of Syrian shawarma from this family-run spot on Queen West. They specifically love the chicken shawarma saj. (Though Tanaka also admits an addiction to late-night or morning-after Taco Bell.)

Le Sélect Bistro

432 Wellington St. W., leselectbistro.com

“After a busy holiday season, Le Sélect Bistro is my choice when I’m craving something indulgent and unmistakably Parisian,” says Aaron Hatchell, bar manager at the Ace Hotel. “I’ll usually order the croque monsieur or steak frites, paired with a crisp mimosa—or two. It feels equal parts comforting and celebratory after the holiday season. And the dining room has that timeless Left Bank energy that encourages you to slow down and linger. I love it because it’s elegant without being stiff, polished but unpretentious, with great food, great drinks and hospitality that always hits the mark.”

Ikkousha Ramen

Multiple locations, ikkousha.ca

“After a late shift, a bowl of ramen is the only thing on my mind,” says Ficoa chef Esau Garcia. “I usually go close to home because I don’t want to walk a lot, and Ikkousha Ramen Toronto is my go-to. A salty and rich broth brings me back to life. I always go for the black tonkotsu and ask for some ‘spicy fire’—it’s the best way to reset before doing it all over again. There’s just something about that heat and fat that brings me back more than any standard breakfast ever could.”

Rol San

390 Spadina Ave., @rolsan.to

“Rol San is a true hangover remedy, and it’s an institution in this city for good reason,” says Allan Lu, executive chef at Lunch Lady. “The menu hits every comfort note you need: soothing bowls of congee that settle you back into yourself, greasy fried bites and baskets of classic steamed dim sum meant for sharing. It’s cozy and chaotic in the best ways. Dim sum isn’t just food—it’s communal, restorative, and exactly what your body and soul are asking for during a holiday hangover.”

Lyla’s executive chef, Michael Medeiros, agrees with Lu. “I usually order the siu mai and crispy tentacles,” he says.

Dad’s Breakfast and Coffee

1473 Dundas St. W., @dads.goodmorning

“After a long evening, the move is a Dad’s classic breakfast sandwich with bacon, crispy hash browns and sausage,” says Robert Granicolo, who owns both Le Tigre and Cry Baby Gallery. “The staff are on point, it’s good value and they’ve got great merch. It’s also across the street from Cry Baby, which means I don’t have to move very far.”

Grab a takeout sandwich—whether it’s Granicolo’s favourite hashbrown-stacked sandwich or a lighter option like Dad’s Vacation, with black beans, pico, cilantro crema and crunchy tortilla chips. A coffee slushy is probably a good idea too.

Medeiros seconds all of the above. “The morning after a night out, I’ll definitely be at Dad’s in sweats, a hoodie and sunglasses,” he says. “I’ll grab the Dad’s 48 and a latte—then go straight back to bed.”

Gateau Ghost

974 College St., gateaughost.com

“I love Gateau Ghost for lunch,” says Ronnie Xu, chef at Favorites Thai. “It’s creative but relaxed—thoughtful food without feeling heavy. It’s perfect when you want something interesting and well-made but easy enough to ease back into the day.” We highly recommend the bulgogi croque madame and the cereal-crusted shrimp toast.

Kaminari Ramen

1330 Queen St. W., @kaminari_ramen_bar

Xu here again: “If I’m out late, I’m going straight to Kaminari. It’s my favourite ramen in the city—rich, comforting and exactly what your body needs after a night out. I always order the duck ramen with extra green onions. It’s warming and instantly grounding.”

Cucina Buca

2 St. Clair Ave. W., suite 100, buca.ca

Daniele Corona is the chef-partner at the Michelin-starred DaNico, so obviously he spends his mornings in style—over a piccata di vitello at Cucina Buca at Yonge and Eglinton. “It’s like a traditional lemon veal scaloppine,” he says. “It reminds me of when I was little and my mom used to make them for me. Just perfect for the heart and palate.”

Manita

210 Ossington Ave. and 1164 Yonge St., manita.ca

You can also find Corona at Manita—a cool-kid day-to-night spot with locations on Ossington and in Rosedale. “It’s a local gem,” says Corona. “They do a fantastic croque madame.”

Sud Forno

Various locations, terroni.com/sud-forno

Davide Ciavattella, the executive chef at Don Alfonso 1890, has a specific order for a morning reservation at Sud Forno: a pizza, a bombetta (a stuffed Italian pastry), an espresso and fresh orange juice. “It’s just reliable, fast and exactly what you want after a long shift—carbs, caffeine and something fresh to reset,” he says.

Hanmoto

2 Lakeview Ave., @hanm0t0

Jacob Martin, the bar director for Liberty Entertainment Group (Paris Texas, Casa Loma, Cibo) gravitates toward Hanmoto. “Blessedly, she serves until 2 a.m.,” he says. His order: Dyno Wings (pork-stuffed duck wings), hand rolls, Moto Eggs (Japanese-style devilled eggs with fried chicken skin), and tuna tartare with pickled chilies and nori.

Pho Pasteur

525 Dundas St. W., phopasteur.ca

But Martin is also a big fan of this long-standing pho spot. “Give me life, liberty and soup,” he says. “Pho Pasteur is open 24 hours a day. It’s the perfect reprieve and is a veritable who’s who of hospitality professionals any day of the week. My order forever and always will be the short rib pho.”

Emma’s Country Kitchen

810 St. Clair Ave. W., emmascountrykitchen.com

“The atmosphere is homey, cute and comfortable,” says Donovan Gomes, founder of the Chicken Cartel. “You can arrive dressed how you are, which makes you feel like you’re still at home, but someone else is cooking for you.” His go-to order: the buttermilk biscuits smothered in creamy sage-and-onion sausage gravy and two eggs, all with the house hot sauce. “It’s savoury, decadent and a great fix for a hangover,” he says.

The Good Fork

1550 Dundas St. W., goodfork.ca

Chef Zach Kolomeir, who oversees Dreyfus, NL Ginzburg, Vilda’s and Taverne Bernhardt’s, goes healthy and gets a big hummus bowl from the Good Fork on Dundas West. It’s packed with house hummus (obviously) as well as picked cabbage, crispy brussels sprouts, sumac-spiced onions and a side of pita.

The Fry

Multiple locations, thefry.ca

Andy Nguyen, Lunch Lady’s beverage and hospitality manager, enjoys Korean fried chicken the morning after—especially if it’s from the Fry, which has about a dozen locations around the city. “It’s casual, approachable and damn delicious,” he says. “You can go at noon on the weekend or at 1 a.m. after your shift. There’s nothing like greasy food to fix a hangover—or a place with easy and quick service after a 12-hour workday.”