25 Toronto restaurants to eat at during Winterlicious 2026

Winterlicious 2026 is about to land in Toronto, with over 240 restaurants serving droolworthy prix fixe menus that'll bring a little heat to your winter blues.

Running from Jan. 30 to Feb. 12, Winterlicious sees dozens of the city's hottest restaurants team up to offer can't-miss set menus, running the gamut from the buzzy and brand-new to cheap and cheerful or tried-and-true.

Participating restaurants will serve lunch and/or dinner menus at set price levels ($20/$27/$34/$41/$48/$55 for lunch, $25/$35/$45/$55/$65/$75 for dinner), so no matter what kind of budget you're working with — or whatever you're craving – there's a restaurant on the list for you.

Reservations open on Thursday, Jan. 15, so I've gathered my top picks of the Toronto restaurants participating in Winterlicious 2026 to get you inspired. You can view the complete list of participating restaurants on the City of Toronto's website.

Pici at Sal's Pasta and Chops. Photo by Fareen Karim.

Top Picks

Whether they're hot off the press or are longstanding staples, these restaurants never fail to hit the spot.

Alder ($75)

Head to the Ace Hotel for a taste of wood-fired excellence from Alo chef Patrick Kriss. This year, the restaurant is offering a divine selection featuring the likes of scallop crudo, foie gras parfait, grilled short rib and lemon ricotta mezzelune to whet your appetite.

AYLA ($65)

Perched atop Patois, this cozy restaurant is a love letter to Hong Kong cuisine, which is on display at its absolute best during Winterlicious 2026. Diners can choose between a slew of favourites, including crispy dill pickle tofu, prawn toast okonomiyaki, Iberico pork char siu and Hong Kong-style egg custard.

Black & Blue Restaurant ($48/$65)

There's perhaps no better time to indulge in a meal at one of the city's swankiest steakhouses than during Winterlicious, when lunch options include a spicy bluefin tuna roll and 6 oz. prime striploin, while, for dinner, you can opt for the likes of beef carpaccio and Surf & Turf.

R&D ($65)

Helmed by Eric Chong (aKin), a rising star on the Toronto food scene, this Chinatown gem is offering a diverse selection of offerings, including (but not limited to) Kung Pao wontons, scallop ceviche, Kare Kare, Korean fried chicken, honey toast and chocolate cake, all coalescing into a meal you won't soon forget.

Sal's Pasta and Chops ($55)

This Little Italy newcomer specializes in Canadian-style Italian cooking, which, for their Winterlicious dinner menu, is played to the tune of their Really, Really Good Bufala mozzarella, fritto misto, Pici, bone-in pork chop picatta and, a personal favourite, coconut cream pie. 

Rooh. Photo by Fareen Karim.

New this year

These restaurants may be the new kids on the block, but they pack a punch. If they're still on your list, there's no time like the present to check them out.

Pii Nong Thai ($34/$45)

Opening its doors in early 2025, this Thai restaurant (which actually bills itself as an "experience" given that there's also a spa and marketplace attached) has made a major splash in recent months. You'll be able to choose between Thai street food staples like pad Thai, pad See Ew, pineapple fried rice and beyond, but massages aren't included.

Honey Chinese ($55)

Both this King West Chinese restaurant and its upstairs Italian sister, Primadonna, are participating this year, after catching plenty of buzz in the latter half of 2026. You'll be able to sink your teeth into the likes of Peking duck tacos, Beijing beef, Mapo tofu and crispy milk on its set dinner menu.

Hoyra ($27/$35)

Helmed by the team behind not-so-secret Heavenly Perogy, this Roncesvalles Village restaurant demonstrates the full breadth of Ukrainian cuisine. Expect staples like borscht, cabbage rolls, Deruny, schnitzel and Varenyky, all at a particularly pocket-pleasing price.

ROOH ($27/$35)

This Little Italy restaurant specializes in modern Indian cuisine, which will be on full display for both lunch and dinner during Winterlicious, with a huge number of selections for each course of your meal, from chicken tikka to burrata with garlic-infused saag.

ORO Luxury Dining ($27/$35)

Though the opening of this dynamic Little Italy restaurant was a quiet one, the food alone makes it worth a trip. Smoked avocado tartare, Burmese khowsuey, butter chicken pot pie and cardamom rice pudding are all among the must-try items.

Auberge du Pommier. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Old Favourites

You can't teach an old dog new tricks, but with tried-and-true staples like these, why would you want t0?

Auberge du Pommier ($55/$75)

A North York staple for nearly 40 years, this French restaurant never disappoints. You can expect classic dishes like potato and leek soup, pork terrine, boeuf bourguignon and chocolate tort.

Canoe ($55/$75)

Lauded among the country's best restaurants for over 30 years, you can't go wrong with this Michelin-recommended Financial District spot specializing in Canadian cuisine. This year, the restaurant's offerings include heirloom beet salad, beef tartare, crispy pork belly, Atlantic salmon and a seasonal pavlova with mulled wine cranberries and rosemary.

Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie ($41/$55)

This Distillery District staple serves up its own distinct take on French cuisine, to deeply delicious results. If you go during Winterlicious, you'll be able to tuck into the restaurant's signature French onion soup, The Cluny burger, handmade gnocchi and berry cheesecake eclair.

Pukka ($45)

This St. Clair West Indian restaurant has been a go-to for over a decade, beloved for its hefty portions and impressive wine list. This year, its dinner menu includes options like Gunpowder prawns, chicken kebab, butter chicken, Hakka tofu and cardamom pistachio rice pudding.

Salt Wine Bar ($55)

Often obscured by louder, buzzier spots on the ever-happening Ossington strip, this cozy wine bar serves a blend of Spanish, Portuguese and Canadian cuisines. During Winterlicious, you'll be able to choose from options like Iberico pork pate, steak tartare, grilled Spanish octopus, crispy duck confit, and Madagascar vanilla creme brulee.

Eggplant Parmesan at Stefano's Diner. Photo by Fareen Karim.

Vegan-friendly

Whether you're a full-blown vegan or simply toy around with the occasional meatless Monday, these restaurants serve a sweet lineup of animal-free eats.

PAI Uptown ($34/$45)

You can always count on this Toronto Thai food icon to keep you well-fed, even when faced with dietary restrictions. Nearly every item on their set lunch and dinner menus can be made vegetarian or vegan, with a considerable number also available as gluten-free options. Not too shabby!

Kadak ($34/$45)

You'll have to head to this Midtown Indian restaurant for dinner if you hope to take advantage of their vegan offerings, which include a kale and brussels sprout medley, eggplant nirvana and seasonal sorbet.

Kasa Moto ($75)

Feeling fancy? This Yorkville Japanese restaurant is the place to be. Plant-based diners will be able to dine on a meal of spinach Goma-ae, mushroom udon and yuzu shiso granita, while non-vegan options include hamachi crudo, miso black cod and the chef's selection of sushi.

Casa Madera ($75)

This Mexican-Mediterranean restaurant at the base of the 1 Hotel offers a number of vegan options as part of its Winterlicious dinner menu, including Mayan hummus, guacamole, truffle risotto and raspberry pavlova.

Stefano's Diner ($27/$35)

It doesn't get much better than this Dundas West diner for the city's vegan crowd, because everything on the menu is 100 per cent plant-based. That means when you tuck into bites like arancini, rigatoni bolognese, meatball sub and tiramisu, you can rest assured knowing zero animal products went into them.

Bar Bacan. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Cheap & Cheerful

Having a great meal doesn't have to break the bank, and this lineup of restaurants is the proof.

Mannat ($20/$25)

This Little Italy Hakka restaurant is offering three-course lunch and dinner menus during Winterlicious, all at a price that won't leave you with sticker shock. Expect options like hot and sour soup, butter chicken, Shahi paneer and kulfi.

High Park Brewery ($20/$25)

This Junction brewery and restaurant is a neighbourhood staple, and during Winterlicious, they're offering classics like soft pretzel, potato and bacon soup, smash burgers and a hot brownie. You'll probably want to splurge on a pint or two to wash it all down, too.

Kothur Indian Cuisine ($20/$25)

Head to this Etobicoke restaurant for an Indian feast that will neither disappoint your taste buds nor decimate your budget. Its options include favourites like paneer pakora, onion baija, yellow dal, korma and gulab jamun.

Bar Bacan ($20/$25)

This female-led Parkdale restaurant is serving up a full suite of Argentinian and Venezuelan eats, including spinach buñuelos, arepas, rice bowls and alfajores, all at a price that won't leave you winded.

Tokyo Grill ($20/$25)

Japanese and Korean cuisines are on display at this North York eatery, which is offering options like takoyaki, katsu teriyaki and a selection of droolworthy cheesecakes during Winterlicious 2026.