The mac and cheese you'll find at Toronto restaurants is a serious upgrade on Kraft Dinner. Find it on pub menus as the main event, as a staple side at barbecue joints, and jazzed up with all sorts of flourishes at dedicated mac and cheese specialists.

Here are my picks for the top mac and cheese in Toronto by neighbourhood.

Annex

Colby, gruyere and cheddar cheese combine at the Victory Cafe for this mac 'n cheese, loaded with caramelized onions and sun-dried tomatoes. Bread and a salad come on the side, so there’s even more bang for your buck.

Corktown

The Carbon Bar makes thier mac with cheddar, mozzarella, onion, garlic chipotle and topped off with breadcrumbs. Take it up a notch by adding proteins like beef brisket and fried chicken into the mix.

Danforth

The mac and cheese at Auld Spot Pub has all the makings of a stellar dish. It consists of bechamel, asiago, gruyere, parmesan and double smoked bacon.

Distillery District

The mac and cheese at Wildly Delicious comes with white cheddar and gruyère cheeses tossed with crumbled bacon and topped with roasted panko crumbs.

Dundas West

The Heartbreak Chef is known for their giant juicy fried chicken sandwiches but don't pass up the chance to try their mac. Their Big Ass Mac features a five cheese blend of creamy macaroni and cheese, topped with two pieces of fried chicken tossed in Carolina butter sauce.

Nashville hot chicken and mac and cheese are a match made in heaven at Chen Chen's.

East York

Texas-style smokehouse The BarBQ Factory offers mac and cheese as a side to their delicious barbecue offerings. 

Entertainment District

Meat & Pie Co. is a totally halal Texas-style BBQ joint that has a number of mac and cheese offerings available. Their French Onion mac n' cheese comes with caramelized onions, asiago cheese and crispy fried onions.

Etobicoke

Dope as Duck offers its award-winning mac and cheese at its brick and mortar location in Etobicoke. You can get a Loaded Bacon, Jerk Chicken, or the Signature Duck Mac and Cheese made with duck from King Cole Farm.

Harbourfront

You can discover fried chicken joint Chen Chen Nashville Hot Chicken inside Loch & Quay. While chicken may be the star they're serving it up on top of creamy mac. 

Moretti serves up an elevated take on a traditional mac and cheese. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

High Park

The mac and cheese at Mugshot Tavern consists of a five-cheese cream sauce, caramelized onions and smoked bacon with a house salad on the side.

Junction

Craft brewpub Indie Ale House offers two tasty versions of mac and cheese: one with short ribs, stout jus and cheese curds, or a vegetarian version with mushrooms, goat cheese and truffle oil.

King East

Uncle Ray's is a Southern-style restaurant serving comfort food including extra cheesy mac and cheese with white cheddar, cheese curds and gouda. 

King West

Montreal restaurant Moretti has brought their pricey mac to Toronto. For $30 the dish is taken to the ultimate level. Noodles are smothered in a sharp yet creamy mix of Mimolette, Fontina, aged cheddar, parmigiano-reggiano, finished off with truffle paste.

Leslieville

Restaurant and whisky bar Blackjack BBQ has two epic mac and cheese offerings available. Order up the Smoked Bacon & Parmesan or the Buffalo Chicken & Ranch. 

Little Italy

Hogtown Vegan is Toronto's source for vegan comfort food. Their baked Mac 'n Cheez is topped with herbed breadcrumbs and has a number of add-ons like Spicy unChicken. 

It's always a cheesy affair at Bobbie Sue's. Photo by Jesse Milns.

North York

United Bakers Dairy does the gooey, cheesy comfort food as an app and as a dinner with a side of Caesar salad and a bagel.

Ossington

Bobbie Sue's is a mac and cheese centric spot where the menu has an abundance of options. The classic starts with a five cheese blend, while the Camp Mac has yellow mustard mixed in along with a sliced all-beef hot dog.

Port Lands

It's all about Southern-style food at Cherry Street Bar-B-Que. Order up copious amounts of meat and complete the meal with a side of creamy mac and cheese. 

Queen West

Parka Food Co. is a plant-based restaurant with a mission to make eating veggies fun. One of their fun-filled dishes is Mac N' Cashew Cheese. You can get it classic or opt for their truffle mushroom.

Riverside

Prohibition Social House does a different take on traditional mac and cheese, featuring sriracha cream topped with parmesan panko.

Art of BBQ doesn't mess around when it comes to mac and cheese. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Roncesvalles Village

Any good barbecue joint in Toronto needs a tasty mac and cheese side. Barque is no exception to this. Cavatappi, smoked butter, cheese sauce, and seasoned, toasted panko make up their Cajun mac and cheese.

Rosedale

Ol' Macki's Back at the Rebel House is a mac and cheese casserole that features plum tomatoes and green onions in a cheddar cream sauce. Kettle fries comes on the side.

Scarborough

Art of BBQ is a smokehouse doing southern-style barbecue and soul food. When you order your main don't forget to get it with a side of mac and cheese with a tasty cheese crust. 

South Core

Harbour Sixty is one of the best steakhouses in Toronto. While the steak may be what you're going for it's the white truffle mac and cheese that you'll be praising at the end of the meal. 

Mac and cheese is the perfect side dish at Beach Hill Smokehouse. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Upper Beaches

Beach Hill Smokehouse is a Southern BBQ joint that offers a simple but truly phenomenal meat menu. Beyond meat, you'll discover one tasty Southern mac and cheese.

West Queen West

Whether you're getting the mac and cheese at Smoque N Bones as a side dish or the main event, you won't be disappointed. Each offering is made with sharp white cheddar and topped with garlic and herb breadcrumbs.

Yonge & Bloor

7 West serves up mac and cheese at all hours. The dish is simple and is made with aged cheddar and parmesan cheese, with elbow noodles.

Yonge & Dundas

One of Toronto's oldest restaurants, The Senator, has Macaroni & Cheese composed of elbow noodles with a mix of cheeses topped with breadcrumbs and parm, and served with salad on the side.

Yonge & Eglinton

Big People Mac 'n Cheese at Uncle Betty's features elbow macaroni in a homemade white cheddar sauce studded with crispy pancetta, crowned with crispy breadcrumb topping, and finished with truffle oil.

Yonge & St. Clair

Mary’s Mac + Cheese and Mary Be Kitchen has a mixed of sharp cheddar and gruyere cheeses then finished with crispy panko. Yum!