These 9 Toronto restaurants opened this summer and are worth the hype
Toronto welcomed a slew of new restaurants during the summer of 2025, and here are just a few that you need to visit.
We get it: the summer is busy, so we'll give you a pass if you haven't gotten the chance to get out there and try out the fresh crop of new restaurants that have opened in the city between the months of June and August.
That said, a lot of the new restaurants that have opened in Toronto this season are good. Really good. So, take our advice and make the reservation.
Here are nine restaurants that opened in Toronto this summer you need to try at least once.
Antylia
Officially opening its doors in early August, this Latin-American Bloorcourt restaurant quickly earned a reputation for being among the best new restaurants in the city, and there's good reason for that.
It's the brainchild of husband-wife duo Aldo Camarena and Ashley McKay, who previously made a major splash in the city with their pop-up concept, Xolo. Now in a permanent home, you can expect a corn-forward menu of dishes inspired by flavours from across the Latin Americas.
Antylia is located at 1059 Bloor St. W.
Sal's Pasta and Chops
Restaurateur Michael Sangregorio and Chef Fabio Bondi, the former owners of Lucia and Local Kitchen & Wine Bar, shuttered their last restaurant to go all-in on this Canadian-Italian joint in Little Italy. It paid off.
An ode to their upbringings in Italian-Canadian homes and to their fathers (both named Sal, go figure), the menu features pastas, meat-based dishes and wine on tap, all served within homey interiors.
Sal's Pasta and Chops is located at 614 College St.
Nakwon Kisa
This North York restaurant, by the people behind Korean chain Nakwon, shook up the chain's regular format, opting instead to offer a limited menu that changes every day, and people in the city ate it up.
After launching in July, the restaurant became so popular that its owners had to impose a two-seating schedule and a daily customer limit just to make sure there's enough food to go around, so don't blame us if it takes you a few visits just to get a seat at all. It'll be worth it, we promise.
Nakwon Kisa is located at 4895 Yonge St.
Makilala
Chef Nuit Regular is among the most notable chefs working on the Toronto scene today, as the kitchen wizard behind Pai and Tha Phae Tavern. Along with her husband, Jeff Regular, the pair have built a Thai food empire in Toronto.
Now, though, with the help of Jeff's brother, Joel, the pair have embarked on a new culinary journey in opening this colourful Filipino restaurant. Chef Nuit claims to have learnt everything she knows about Filipino cuisine from Jeff and Joel's family, and if that's true, they've taught her well indeed.
Makilala is located at 105 Church St.
Giragi
The team behind Michelin-approved Armenian spot, Taline, officially entered the ranks of The Well's Wellington Market Food Hall with its new fast casual kebab stand, Giragi, in early August.
While it may not be a full-blown restaurant, it still warrants a visit, thanks to its droolworthy menu of Armenian-Lebanese kebabs, flatbreads and house-made pickles. Whatever you do, order the hummus.
Giragi is located at the Wellington Market Food Hall — 486 Front St. W.
Uncle Pete's Bread Co.
You can take our word for it that this shop that serves its sammies on homemade focaccia is going to be the real deal.
In a city as sandwich-obsessed as Toronto, newcomers are always measured up to the heavy hitters, but with an established history as a pop-up before moving into Dipped Donuts' Kensington Market digs, we think they'll do just fine.
Uncle Pete's Bread Co. is located at 161 Baldwin St.
Portland Square
Technically, in the case of this new King West mega-establishment, we've got two restaurants to recommend, as each floor of this new spot houses a distinct concept.
On the third floor, Honey's Chinese serves up contemporary Chinese cuisine, while on the fourth floor and rooftop, Primadonna is a source for American-style Italian food. Whether you're in the mood for Peking Duck or pizza, they're only a floor apart.
Portland Square is located at 600 King St. W.
The Carbon Snack Bar
You may have heard of Toronto restaurateur Yannick Bigourdan from Moss Park's beloved Carbon Bar, and he's officially launched something entirely new in the heart of downtown.
Diverging from the Carbon Bar's barbecue-centric style, the snack bar features an expansive menu of lighter bites, like salads, sandwiches and breakfast foods, all of which are utterly satisfying.
Carbon Snack Bar is located at 460 King St. W.
Com Nuoc
If out-of-the-box dining experiences are your jam, this Vietnamese joint that operates out of a shipping container behind a hair salon (just trust us) will be right up your alley. Get it?
Here, you can get your hands on bowls of classic Vietnamese street food, like rice with grilled pork or chicken, noodle dishes or our personal favourite, chicken meatballs.
Com Nuoc is located at 639 Queen St. E.
Fareen Karim at Sal's Pasta and Chops
