Toronto Life published its 44th annual ranking of the city’s best new restaurants on May 25, 2026. Writers Caroline Aksich, Erin Hershberg and Jessica Huras picked 20 places. Their No. 1 is Seahorse, a lively seafood spot in Summerhill. This page lists all 20 with the order Toronto Life singles out, plus addresses and hours from each restaurant’s Google listing, so you can plan a visit. One of them, Agak Agak, has since closed. For the full reviews, read Toronto Life’s list.
Updated Oct. 31, 2026 · 20 places, 19 still open
The magazine noticed a few trends this year: chefs with fine-dining backgrounds moving into casual formats, tighter menus, and plenty of burgers, pasta and wedge salads. Four of the 20 are on College Street in Little Italy. For Michelin’s take on the city, see our guide to Toronto’s 2026 Michelin selection.
| # | Restaurant | Area | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seahorse | Summerhill | 1226 Yonge St. |
| 2 | Brasserie Côte | The Annex | 400 Bloor St. W. |
| 3 | Bar Eugenie | Harbord Village | 89 Harbord St. |
| 4 | Oldeseoul Tavern | The Beaches | 1911 Queen St. E. |
| 5 | Punch | Entertainment District | 30 Mercer St. (Le Germain hotel) |
| 6 | The Onda | St. Clair West | 750 St. Clair Ave. W. |
| 7 | Radici Project | Little Italy | 588 College St. |
| 8 | N. L. Ginzburg | Little Italy | 548 College St. |
| 9 | Sammarco | St. Lawrence | 4 Front St. E. |
| 10 | Mozy's | Liberty Village | 114 Atlantic Ave. |
| 11 | Lunch Lady | Ossington | 93 Ossington Ave. |
| 12 | Agak Agak (now closed) | Cabbagetown | 253 Gerrard St. E. |
| 13 | Golden Horseshoe Barbecue | Seaton Village | 657 Dupont St. |
| 14 | The Frederick | Financial District | 10 Temperance St. (Dineen Building) |
| 15 | Eloise | St. Lawrence | 42 The Esplanade |
| 16 | Liliana | West Queen West | 1198 Queen St. W. |
| 17 | Makilala | Downtown | 105 Church St. |
| 18 | Nice Slice | Harbord Village | 196 Borden St. |
| 19 | Aangan | Little Italy | 556 College St. |
| 20 | Osteria Alba | Little Italy | 665 College St. |
1. Seahorse
A seafood room in a 130-year-old building near Summerhill station, from Richard Renaud, Simon Bower and champion shucker Eamon Clark, with ex-Quetzal sous chef Federico Garcia cooking. It took the top spot on the list.
Order: The one-tier icebox (from $66) and the Oroshi tuna tartare · Address: 1226 Yonge St. · Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 4–10 p.m.; Sunday, 4–9 p.m.; closed Monday (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm. · Phone: 437-538-4518
2. Brasserie Côte
Teo Paul (Union, Côte de Bœuf) and Eamon O'Dea's Parisian-style brasserie, with Lille-born chef Damien Cochez. No reservations, so expect a paper wait list.
Order: Vol-au-vent with chicken and escargot, or the chargrilled hanger steak · Address: 400 Bloor St. W. · Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, noon–10 p.m.; closed Monday and Sunday (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm. · Phone: 416-925-9333
3. Bar Eugenie
Three Alo Food Group alumni took over the old Harbord Room row house. Chef Rebekah Bruce works Filipino flavours into a short seasonal menu of shared plates.
Order: Scallop kinilaw and the fried calamari in green-peppercorn dressing · Address: 89 Harbord St. · Hours: Monday, 5–9:45 p.m.; Thursday to Saturday, 5–10:30 p.m.; Sunday, 5–9:30 p.m.; closed Tuesday and Wednesday (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm. · Phone: 416-923-6444
4. Oldeseoul Tavern
Leemo Han's Korean-leaning pub east of Woodbine, run with Dave Jung of Otherside Pizza. It's family-friendly early and a late-night crowd later.
Order: The OS Tavern Burger with galbi jjim jus, and the squash poutine · Address: 1911 Queen St. E. · Hours: Daily, 5 p.m.–midnight (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm.
5. Punch
Chef Mandar Kulkarni, formerly of Don Alfonso 1890, cooks Indo-British dishes in the Le Germain hotel's dining room.
Order: The butter chicken pot pie and the Mumbai chaat slaw · Address: 30 Mercer St. (Le Germain hotel) · Hours: Monday to Wednesday, 5–10:30 p.m.; Thursday to Saturday, 5–11 p.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–10:30 p.m. (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm. · Phone: 416-883-3431
6. The Onda
A nine-seat Japanese omakase counter with one seating a night and 20 courses. Brothers-in-law Yoongil Choi and Sunil Woo cook, and Korean flavours turn up along the way.
Order: The omakase is the only format · Address: 750 St. Clair Ave. W. · Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, 6:30–8:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5–10:30 p.m.; Sunday, 12:30–9 p.m.; closed Monday and Thursday (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm. · Phone: 437-429-7600
7. Radici Project
Italian-Japanese cooking from chef Emiliano Del Frate and sake sommelier Kayo Ito. More in our Little Italy and College Street food guide.
Order: The $180 eight-course tasting menu, or the stuffed karaage wings at the bar · Address: 588 College St. · Hours: Wednesday and Thursday, 5–10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5–11 p.m.; Sunday, 5–10 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm. · Phone: 416-792-1550
8. N. L. Ginzburg
A Little Italy trattoria from Zach Kolomeir and Carmelina Imola (Dreyfus, Bernhardt's, Vilda's), with a little Jewish influence. More in our Little Italy and College Street food guide.
Order: The half chicken, and the mushroom ravioli · Address: 548 College St. · Hours: Monday to Saturday, 5–11:30 p.m.; closed Sunday (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm. · Phone: 416-929-4646
9. Sammarco
An Italian steakhouse from Rob Rossi and David Minicucci (Giulietta, Osteria Giulia), with four Cumbrae's cuts.
Order: The $78 Cento Uova fettuccine · Address: 4 Front St. E. · Hours: Monday to Saturday, 4:30–10:30 p.m.; Sunday, 4:30–10 p.m. (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm. · Phone: 416-964-2120
10. Mozy's
Former Alo chef de cuisine Barbode Soudi runs a counter-service charcoal chicken shop.
Order: Spatchcocked chicken with confit garlic oil, chicken-salt fries and bazlama with labneh · Address: 114 Atlantic Ave. · Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, noon–9 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm.
11. Lunch Lady
The Toronto outpost of the Saigon soup stall Anthony Bourdain made famous. It serves lunch from the late Nguyen Thi Thanh's recipes, and at dinner chef and co-owner Benedict Lim cooks his own menu. Read our Lunch Lady profile.
Order: Saturday-only banh canh cua at lunch · Address: 93 Ossington Ave. · Hours: Monday and Tuesday, 5–10 p.m.; Wednesday to Friday, noon–3 p.m. and 5–10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–10 p.m. (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm. · Phone: 647-748-9550
12. Agak Agak (now closed)
Closed. Jeanne Chai and David Burga's sit-down Singaporean restaurant served its last day on Sept. 6, 2026, citing rising costs, and the space was still vacant in October. The couple have since opened Kiss the Beast, a Hainanese chicken rice shop at 713 College St. Read our Kiss the Beast profile.
Order: Go to Kiss the Beast instead · Address: 253 Gerrard St. E.
Closure report (blogTO) Google Maps
13. Golden Horseshoe Barbecue
Andrew Golden's counter-service Texas-style barbecue at Dupont and Christie, now a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Read our Golden Horseshoe Barbecue profile.
Order: Brisket by weight with tallow bread, and Doris Golden's banana pudding · Address: 657 Dupont St.
14. The Frederick
Cory Vitiello's first sit-down restaurant since the Harbord Room, with a menu of nostalgic hits.
Order: The Shrimp Louie wedge and the dry-aged burger · Address: 10 Temperance St. (Dineen Building) · Hours: Monday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m.; Friday, 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m.; Saturday, 4–11 p.m.; Sunday, 4–10 p.m. (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm. · Phone: 647-601-7177
15. Eloise
A contemporary Canadian restaurant from the Hnatiw family (Old Spaghetti Factory), with ex-Alo chef Akhil Hajare and the Bar Cart cocktail lounge out back.
Order: Chicken in guajillo jus, and the potato pavé · Address: 42 The Esplanade · Hours: Monday to Friday, 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5–10 p.m.; Saturday, 5–10 p.m.; closed Sunday (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm. · Phone: 416-900-1437
16. Liliana
Chef Marvin Palomo runs an Italian-looking menu through his Filipino background, in the old Dandylion space.
Order: Aglio e olio with chili crisp and burrata · Address: 1198 Queen St. W. · Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 5–11 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm. · Phone: 416-539-0101
17. Makilala
Filipino food from Nuit, Jeff and Joel Regular, with karaoke and live music on a stage.
Order: Kare-kare and sisig · Address: 105 Church St. · Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.; Friday, 11:30 a.m.–11:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m.–9 p.m.; closed Monday (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm. · Phone: 416-366-7444
18. Nice Slice
Nick White's small pizza shop with only a few seats; slices or whole pies.
Order: The vodka pep · Address: 196 Borden St. · Hours: Wednesday and Thursday, noon–9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon–10 p.m.; Sunday, noon–9 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm. · Phone: 647-438-8287
19. Aangan
A Mumbai-born team cooking lesser-known Indian dishes with fine-dining technique. More in our Little Italy and College Street food guide.
Order: Paneer terrine and the Mangalorean cod · Address: 556 College St. · Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, 5–11 p.m.; Thursday to Sunday, 3–11 p.m.; closed Monday (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm. · Phone: 825-460-3748
20. Osteria Alba
Adam Pereira (Cano) in the former Vivoli space at College and Beatrice, with a rooftop patio. More in our Little Italy and College Street food guide.
Order: Gnudi in truffle cream, or a wood-fired pizza · Address: 665 College St. · Hours: Monday to Thursday, 5–10 p.m.; Friday, 5–11 p.m.; Saturday, 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. (Google listing). Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm. · Phone: 416-395-3999
FAQ
What is the best new restaurant in Toronto in 2026?
Toronto Life ranked Seahorse, at 1226 Yonge St. in Summerhill, No. 1 on its 2026 list.
Which neighbourhood has the most picks?
Little Italy, with four on College Street: Radici Project, N. L. Ginzburg, Aangan and Osteria Alba. See our College Street guide.
Do any take no reservations?
Brasserie Côte doesn’t take reservations, per Toronto Life.
Related on YumYak
Sources
Show 23 sourcesHide sources
Details and hours were checked against these sources on Oct. 31, 2026. Hours may change, so call ahead to confirm.
- Toronto Life: These are Toronto's best new restaurants of 2026 (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- Google Maps listings for each restaurant (hours and phone numbers) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- Seahorse (official) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- Brasserie Côte (official) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- Bar Eugenie (official) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- Oldeseoul Tavern (Instagram) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- Punch (official) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- The Onda (official) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- Radici Project (official) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- N. L. Ginzburg (official) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- Sammarco (official) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- Mozy's (Instagram) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- Lunch Lady (official) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- Golden Horseshoe Barbecue (official) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- The Frederick (official) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- Eloise (official) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- Liliana (official) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- Makilala (official) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- Nice Slice (official) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- Aangan (official) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- Osteria Alba (official) (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- blogTO: Kiss My Pans and Agak Agak closing (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
- TorontoToday: Kiss My Pans and Agak Agak to close over rising costs (accessed Oct. 31, 2026)
YumYak curates from public sources, press releases and community reviews. We haven’t visited these spots ourselves — always check the restaurant’s own channels for hours and prices.