Looking for the best new restaurants in Toronto this week? The city’s dining scene keeps growing, and this week there are eight spots worth checking out. From an Indian Hakka newcomer in the Village to a covert Leslieville pie shop serving proper London-style comfort food, there are plenty of excuses to eat your way across the city! Here are the best new restaurants to check out in Toronto this week.
1. HES Lounge
What could be better than dining on Persian food by the waterfront? HES Lounge took over the former Blonboom Bar & Restaurant space on Queens Quay, and serves Iranian comfort food (think fragrant rice dishes, rich herb-forward stews, smoky eggplant and grilled meats) as well as generic burgers and pasta. Start with the mirza ghasemi, then go for either the cholo ghormesabzi or cholo gheyme for a rich stew-and-rice plate. If you’re in a celebratory mood, the lobio polo is a vibrant Persian dish served with green beans, spiced meat and saffron. 550 Queen Quay W, Unit 12.
2. Hakka + Co
If you’re craving wok-tossed Indo-Chinese comfort food, head to Church and Wellesley. Hakka + Co only opened in February and is already making an impression for classics like momos, noodles, fried rice and saucy wok mains! Start with the House Special Steamed Momos, available with veg, paneer or chicken, then add the Honey Chilli Potatoes for something crispy, sweet and spicy. For mains, the Desi Hakka & Co. Chow Mein is one of the menu’s standout signatures: think smoky, saucy noodles tossed with cabbage, onions, capsicum and green chillies in a spicy desi soy masala. Pair that with either the Burnt Garlic Noodles if you want something more aromatic and garlicky, or the Creamy Garlic Butter Noodles if you’re after a richer comfort-food pick. Oh, and if you like some serious heat, there’s even a wok main called Demonic – Hot as Hell! 555 Church St.
3. Koh Rawi
King West has no shortage of Thai food, but Koh Rawi stands out with richer noodle dishes and seafood-heavy starters. For your first visit, order a bit of everything across the menu. The Fried Chicken Laab is one of the more distinctive appetizers on offer: think crispy fried chicken tossed with mint, shallots, toasted rice, coriander, citrus and chilli. The noodle section is where Koh Rawi gets especially tempting: The Khao Soi features fresh egg noodles in a golden curry sauce layered with garlic, lemongrass, wild ginger, onions, coriander, pickles, crispy noodles and a hard-boiled egg, while the Pad Ki Maw, Guay Tiew Tom Yum and even the curry-laced Curry Pad Thai are perfect choices if you want to try something beyond the usual. 934 King St W.
4. Eastend Pie & Mash
You can now indulge in authentic London-style pie and mash behind a fake storefront in Toronto! Eastend Pie & Mash hides in plain sight, disguised as Martian Business System Consulting Inc. on Gerrard St E, but it delivers one of the city’s most transportive dining experiences. This is the place to go when you want a proper meat pie with mash and parsley liquor, as well as British snack-shop classics like sausage rolls, Scotch eggs, Cornish pasties and sticky toffee pudding tart! The menu is also a nod to the multicultural influences that shape British cuisine, with options like chicken tikka masala pies, doner kebab pies and mac and cheese pasties. Open Friday to Sunday, 11 a.m. until sold out. 1031 Gerrard E.
5. VBOW Pho Mi & More
VBOW Pho Mi & More is more than just a standard Vietnamese stop. The fast-casual spot opened earlier this month on College and serves the most comforting lineup of pho, banh mi, noodle bowls and rice plates, along with specialty cocktails, matcha drinks and Vietnamese coffee! The perfect first order here is the VBOW Bone Marrow Royale pho, which comes with bone marrow, ribeye, brisket and beef balls. Make room for salad rolls, papaya salad and banh mi in pork, beef, lemongrass chicken or tofu. 650 College St.
6. The Dialog Cafe
Dialog opened earlier this month with a tempting menu filled with specialty coffees and Mediterranean eats, so perfect if you’re looking beyond the usual drip-and-latte setup. Try a signature drink like Vanilla Raf, Espresso Tonic, Affogato, or the Saffron Honey Iced Latte! Food-wise, the menu includes meze like hummus, labneh and babaganoush, as well as salads and hot brunch dishes with some strong Middle Eastern and Mediterranean touches. And don’t ignore the pastry case. The café offers tasty butter, chocolate, almond and pistachio croissants, chocolate or cinnamon babka and potato burekas. 106 Mutual St.
7. Chaatokri
This Etobicoke Chaat spot is already drawing customers in for full chatpata street-food energy! Start with the pani puri, one of Chaatokri’s signature cravings, and pair that with the dahi puri for contrast: one crisp and punchy, the other creamy and chutney-heavy. The Amul Cheese-Loaded Cheese Puri is the perfect fusion snack if you’re craving something creamy, salty and savoury. For a fuller spread, add Indian chaats like bhel and dahi bhalla. 6628 Finch Ave W, Unit 1, Etobicoke.
8. Hinode Udon and Tempura
Hinode is nestled in Richmond Hill, but its dishes justify the detour! The restaurant makes its noodles in-house, with broth made fresh with dried fish imported from Japan. Keep it simple with kake or zaru udon, or go straight to the signatures like nikutama udon with beef and hot spring egg, duck meat udon, or curry udon. Or indulge in the Mapo udon with a spicy sauce that coats the soft cubes of silken tofu, with tasty bits of ground pork and scallion! Add an assorted tempura platter, shrimp tempura or takoyaki on the side, and pair it with a delicious strawberry matcha, and you’ll have the most comforting meal. 324 Hwy 7 #3, Richmond Hill.
