James AllenToronto’s East End is a pretty sizable district known for its sunny beaches and trendy shops. This area is also teeming with amazing restaurants, which is why I love coming here to host dinner parties or even just to treat myself to a nice meal.
There’s a good variety of them as well. Some are casual spots with affordable pricing, while others are so fancy you’ll feel like you’re transported to a different world!
I’ve tried many, and so far, these are the ones I consider the best!
Lake Inez
– From: lakeinez
Address: 1471 Gerrard St E
Operating Hours: Wednesday to Saturday—5:30 pm to 12 am
Restaurants with pretty aesthetics are my weakness, so it’s not a surprise Lake Inez has become one of my go-to dining spots in Toronto’s East End. This restaurant boasts floral wallpaper, adorable antiques, and shimmering chandeliers—perfect for Instagram!
When it comes to the food, I recommend the Spring and Summer’s Midnight Garden Waltz. It’s made with morels, sausage, and apricots on toast, so it tastes savory and sweet at the same time.
Ribs and Ranch is another great dish to try. The ribs are sweet, smoky, and spicy, and of course, the ranch dip makes every bite quite tangy.
| Pro Tip: You might want to try the restaurant’s Mystery Patio Tasting. As the name suggests, the menu is a mystery, so you’ll be at the edge of your seat the entire time! |
White Lily Diner
– From: whitelilydiner
Address: 678 Queen St E
Operating Hours: Wednesday to Sunday—9 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14169017800
Rustic and very much cottage-core, White Lily Diner is a cozy spot that makes you feel like you’re tucked away in the countryside. That’s why it works so well as a brunch spot!
Since I come here for brunch, my go-to order is the White Lily Standard, which is basically their take on a classic English breakfast. It has two eggs, bacon, hashbrown, toast, and sausage (or mushrooms), so you’ll be full in no time.
The Southern Breakfast is also a great choice. It’s similar to the White Lily Standard, except this time you have fermented greens, buttermilk biscuit, and gravy instead. It’s such a comfort meal!
| Pro Tip: This restaurant has a store called White Lily Farms that sells fresh produce. Be sure to check what weekly produce boxes are available. |
Descendant Detroit Style Pizza
– From: descendant_pizza
Address: 1168 Queen St E
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday—11:30 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +16473471168
If you’re crazy about pizza, then Descendant Detroit Style Pizza should be on your itinerary. This restaurant specializes in authentic Detroit-style pizza, which means you get to enjoy a chewy crust and mounds of cheese on top of a thick layer of red sauce.
My favorite flavor so far is the Electric Avenue, which has jerk chicken and fresh pineapple—an interesting combination. True enough, this pizza tastes savory, spicy, and sweet, and I love that!
Barese is another favorite of mine. It also packs quite a lot of heat, thanks to the peppers, but it’s also salty and savory because of the olives, barese sausages, and Pecorino Romano.
| Pro Tip: This restaurant offers catering services if you’re interested. |
Moti Mahal Restaurant
– From: motimahaltoronto
Address: 1422 Gerrard St E
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11:30 am to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11:30 am to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14164613111
Moti Mahal Restaurant is one of the oldest Indian restaurants in Toronto, so if you’re craving Indian cuisine, this place is worth checking out.
The butter chicken is the highlight here for me. The chicken chunks are tender, and I love how rich, buttery, and acidic the sauce is. Be sure to order a side of rice or naan to pair with the sauce. It’s such an elite combination!
If you have a sweet tooth, you should try the gulab jamun, a dessert made of soft and spongy milk solids that are soaked in sweet syrup. It’s a simple treat but oh-so indulgent!
| Pro Tip: This spot can get really busy in the evenings, so I recommend coming here in the afternoon instead. |
Tea N Bannock
– From: tea_n_bannock
Address: 1294 Gerrard St E
Operating Hours: Thursday to Saturday—12 to 8 pm
Contact Number: +14162202915
Restaurants focusing on Native American cuisine are rare in Toronto, which is a shame, so you can imagine how happy I was when I first discovered Tea N Bannock. Now, I’m a returning patron, and I always recommend it to anyone who would listen.
I really like the bison steak here. I never tried bison before, but it’s actually not that different from beef. It does taste lighter, more delicate, and even a bit sweeter than beef, and it pairs really well with the buttery mashed potatoes.
You might also like to get the Stew of the Day. The meat changes every day—either bison or elk—but you can expect to enjoy a stew that tastes rich, smoky, and garlicky, and loaded with all sorts of vegetables.
| Pro Tip: If you’re planning an event, you can have this restaurant as a caterer. |
Lazy Daisy’s Cafe
– From: lazydaisysto
Address: 1515 Gerrard St E
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Wednesday—8 am to 3 pm
- Thursday to Sunday—8 am to 3 pm, 4 to 8 pm
Contact Number: +16473414070
Lazy Daisy’s Cafe is another perfect example of a restaurant I checked out because it looks so pretty. I mean, the whole place is decked out in vibrant yellows and giant daisies on the wall. How can I refuse?
I love coming here for brunch because it just has the chill vibes I associate with brunch. The Rise N’ Fry is my ultimate recommendation. It’s a sandwich with spicy fried chicken and a sunny-side-up egg; the rich, spicy flavors are enough to keep me awake!
This restaurant also serves dinner if you don’t like brunch. I recommend the Due South, which is fried chicken served with a hearty helping of mac n’ cheese, buttermilk biscuit, and side salad. It’s such a comforting and satisfying meal!
| Pro Tip: This restaurant has a store that sells grocery items like bake-at-home biscuits, jams, spreads, and more. |
Ascari Enoteca
– From: ascarienoteca
Address: 1111 Queen St E
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—5 to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14167924157
Do you want to travel to a rustic wine bar in Italy without leaving the country? Visiting Ascari Enoteca is the closest thing you can do to experience that.
You can’t go wrong with any of the pasta dishes here. The spaghetti alla carbonara is a classic; it’s so creamy, rich, and peppery. But I also like the lumache con salsiccia, which is tangy and a bit spicy because of the tomato sauce and Italian sausage.
End your meal with Formaggi, which is a board with various artisan cheeses, candied nuts, and seasonal preserves.
| Pro Tip: This restaurant has patio seating. Take a seat there if possible because it’s a lovely, quiet spot. |
Bodega Henriette
– From: bodegahenriette
Address: 1801 Gerrard St E
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—8 am to 4:30 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—9 am to 4 pm
Contact Number: +14165466261
Bodega Henriette is another favorite spot of mine for weekend brunch.
My go-to order here is the eggs benedict because I love breaking the yolk and scooping the egg and hollandaise sauce using the croissant. I like to add house-smoked salmon to make the meal more well-rounded.
If you prefer a sweet brunch, get the sweet French toast. It’s topped with tangy berries and smothered with sugary maple syrup—yum!
This restaurant also has an impressive selection of wines (red, white, and sparkling). You might want to treat yourself to a glass or bottle.
| Pro Tips: Every weekend, the restaurant sells pre-made bowls for 50% off! These bowls are only available for take-out. They also host special events from time to time. Try attending one when you can. |
Dave’s Hot Chicken
– From: daveshotchicken
Address: 1130 Queen St E
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11 am to 11 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 12 am
Contact Number: +14167923283
Dave’s Hot Chicken is a popular restaurant chain in the United States of America, so as a person who loves all things fried chicken, I’m happy that there’s now a location in Toronto.
The chicken tenders are perfectly crispy and juicy. They also have a briny taste to them, probably from the marinade, and you can adjust the spice level to your preference. Your options are No Spice to Reaper.
When I’m especially hungry, I get the order with a chicken slider and fries. This combo is so filling (and probably burns my mouth from all the spice).
| Pro Tip: Be careful with the spice level you choose because this place doesn’t play around when it comes to spiciness. |
Samaira’s Kitchen
– From: samairakitchen
Address: 1056 Queen St E
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—10:30 am to 8 pm
- Friday—10:30 am to 9 pm
- Saturday—12 to 9 pm
- Sunday—12 to 8 pm
Contact Number: +14164660888
“Pizza, but make it gourmet” should be Samaira’s Kitchen’s motto because that’s exactly what this restaurant is doing.
My favorite flavor so far is Atene, which has a tomato sauce base and is topped with black olives, red onions, feta cheese, and mozzarella. Every bite is a symphony of tangy, salty, and savory flavors.
Aside from pizza, this restaurant also sells burgers and panzerotti. I recommend the Machine Gun, which has a juicy beef patty and is topped with bacon and grilled jalapeños, so it tastes salty and savory with a strong spicy kick.
| Pro Tip: If you don’t like any of the burger and pizza options available, you can customize your own! |
Eastside Social
– From: eastside_social
Address: 1008 Queen St E
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday—5:30 to 9 pm
- Friday—12 to 3 pm, 5:30 to 10 pm
- Saturday—11 am to 2 pm, 5:30 to 10 pm
- Sunday—11 am to 2 pm
Contact Number: +14164615663
Eastside Social is such a chill restaurant, which is why it’s one of my go-to places whenever I’m hanging out with family and friends.
I recommend getting the chicken piccata, which is crispy chicken thigh topped with a fried egg. A lemon beurre blanc sauce is drizzled on the chicken, giving it buttery and tangy flavors.
If you’re coming for brunch, you should get the chicken and waffles. The chicken is addictively crispy and savory, while the Belgian buttermilk waffles are fluffy and taste sweet. The savory and sweet combination is elite!
| Pro Tip: This restaurant often has weekly specials, such as 2-for-1 oysters, limited-time discounts, and more. |
Avling
– From: avlingto
Address: 1042 Queen St E
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday—4 to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 11 pm
- Sunday—11 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14164691010
Avling is such a unique dining spot in Toronto because it’s not just a restaurant—it’s also a brewery, a farm, and a shop!
I’m a big fan of the fish and chips here because it’s just so comforting. The fish (pickerel) is crispy, and the extra special beer malt vinegar and tartar sauce add a nice kick of sourness to the dish. The fries are also chunky, which I like.
If you want to come here for brunch, you should get the Farmer’s Breakfast because it’s jam-packed with eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, and more. You’ll feel full in no time!
| Pro Tips: This restaurant hosts fun events like tours on the farm every spring and summer. Be on the lookout for them! You can also book this restaurant as a party venue. |
Goods and Provisions
– From: goodsandprovisionsto
Address: 1124 Queen St E
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday and Thursday—5 to 11 pm
- Friday and Saturday—5 pm to 12 am
Contact Number: +16473401738
Goods and Provisions is a hidden gem in Toronto’s East End. In fact, it seems like only the locals know about this place because I personally only heard about it from a friend who lives in the area!
The main highlight for me is the Korean tacos, which are piled high with pork jowls and kimchi. They’re incredibly savory, sour, and spicy! I have to drink water every few bites because all that sourness and heat really makes my mouth dry.
I also really like the fries. These fries are deep-fried in duck fat, so they have a distinct rich flavor profile. The mayo dip adds a kick of heat to the fries if you want.
| Pro Tip: This place is pretty small, so you might have to wait in line before you can get inside. |
Maha’s Brunch
– From: mahasbrunch
Address: 226 Greenwood Ave
Operating Hours: Thursday to Tuesday—8 am to 4:30 pm
Contact Number: +14164622703
Craving Egyptian cuisine for brunch? Well, now you can satisfy your cravings by visiting Maha’s Brunch!
The shakshuka is a classic choice, and it’s a great one to start your meal. The tomato sauce is tangy and peppery, and the three eggs make it even richer. I recommend using the charred bread to scoop bits and pieces—it’s so satisfying!
Egga (Egyptian-style omelet) is another excellent dish. It only has a few ingredients, but it’s so delicious—herby and peppery. The omelet is also creamy, which is why I love pairing it with toast.
To wash everything down, get a refreshing drink. I recommend the Limonata, which is essentially lemonade, but with more minty and tangy flavors.
| Pro Tip: If you have a friend who loves Egyptian cuisine, give them a gift card from Maha’s Brunch. |
Maple Leaf Tavern
– From: mapleleaftavern
Address: 955 Gerrard St E
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday—4 to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—4 to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14164650955
Maple Leaf Tavern exudes vintage, old-school vibes, which isn’t a surprise since the building it’s housed in has been standing since 1910. The menu also sticks to the theme since it mostly features classic pub dishes.
My favorite thing to get here is the Tavern Pie, which is steaming hot and filled with tender braised short ribs and creamed potatoes. It’s such a hearty meal, and eating it always makes me feel like I’m back in my childhood home.
A dining experience in a tavern isn’t complete without a drink. I like getting the Chocolate Espresso Negroni cocktail because it has that rich, also kind of bitter chocolatey taste.
| Pro Tip: A gift card from Maple Leaf Tavern is a great gift to a fellow foodie. |
