Top Ontario chefs share their picks for the 2026 Toronto Michelin Guide

The 2026 Michelin Guide for Toronto and the surrounding area is slated to be revealed next month, so I decided to ask some of the top chefs in southern Ontario — many of whom boast mentions on the list themselves — which restaurants they think deserve to be included.

Getting a nod from Michelin isn't everything: in fact, earning a star doesn't always even translate to more business, but for the scores of hardworking chefs, cooks, and front-of-house professionals who've made a career in the often thankless restaurant world, it's a coveted acknowledgement that can be a major boost to one's career.

And, let's be honest, who wouldn't walk into work with their head held extra high if the front door had that iconic shiny red plaque installed next to it?

Which restaurants have what it takes to join the Toronto Michelin Guide? Photo by Fareen Karim at Bar Eugenie.

Toronto has had its own Michelin Guide since 2022, and in 2024, the guide's boundaries expanded to include restaurants as far as Niagara and Creemore, exposing areas of the province to international eyes that may have otherwise overlooked parts of Ontario with culinary scenes that rival Toronto's.

The 2026 edition is set to be announced on Sept. 22, 2026, and will undoubtedly bring with it a new crop of rising stars and surprises, but before that happens, I wanted to hear from Ontario's chefs, the people who know the industry better than anyone else, who they think should be included or get a boost on the upcoming update.

Chef Ko, Isaan Der

A fast-growing Toronto institution for Northern Thai cuisine, Isaan Der is helmed by Chef Ko, a legend in her own right who, after spending more than a decade as a journalist, spent years mastering both rural and fine cuisine across Thailand, eventually opening the first Isaan Der location in Toronto in 2011.

It's only fair, then, that she believes another local institution deserves recognition in the Michelin Guide.

"George is a Toronto institution to me. I think they are one of the first restaurants that shaped fine dining in our city," Ko says. "Also, the way Chef Lorenzo always tells a story with his tasting menu really connects with me as a chef." 

For Eric Chong, Adrak is a clear winner. Photo by Fareen Karim.

Eric Chong, aKin

The first-ever winner of MasterChef Canada, 2025 recipient of Michelin's Young Chef of the Year and chef behind Toronto's R&D and Michelin-starred aKin, keeps it simple with his choice.

He tells blogTO that he'd love to see Adrak included on the Michelin Guide once again, claiming that the restaurant serves the "best Murgh Makhani I've ever had."

Zach Smith, Fat Rabbit & Bar Les Incompetents

St. Catharines, Ont., is quickly becoming recognized as one of the best food scenes in the province, and Smith, the chef behind buzzy restaurants Fat Rabbit and Bar Les Incompetents, is a major force behind the city's rising street cred.

When asked which restaurants he thinks belong on the upcoming Michelin Guide, he didn't hold back, offering up his top three picks.

"Takja takes Korean barbecue seriously without stripping away what makes Korean barbecue fun. The quality of the meat, the dry-aging, the fermentation and banchan are all incredible, but it still feels generous and communal," he tells blogTO.

He then goes on to give props to Jamil's Chaat House, stating that it "captures what Toronto's food scene is all about."

"It takes Pakistani flavours and traditions and puts them into a restaurant that's contemporary without losing soul. It's fun, loud, but underneath that there's really serious cooking happening. Michelin needs more restaurants like that."

Down Home offers a dining experience deserving of one star. Photo by Phoebe Knight.

Smith also argues that Markdale's Down Home, a fellow out-of-Toronto restaurant, deserves to be promoted from its 2025 "recommended" status to one-star.

"[Down Home is] one of Ontario's most unique dining experiences because Joel and Hannah have created something so connected to where they are. There's nowhere else like this. It's intimate, ambitious, but still warm and soulful. That's exactly the type of experience that should get the recognition." 

Joel Gray, Down Home

Speaking of Down Home chef Joel Gray, he makes the case for a selection of Ontario restaurants outside of Toronto's inclusions on the list.

"Lamonra is such a great example of why Michelin needs to expand its reach outside of the GTA. Ben Kersley's cooking is some of the best in Ontario, and his newly opened Lamorna will soon be a heavy hitter on many destination dining lists," he explains.

Gray also gives a nod to fellow Grey County restaurant, Marilynne, stating that it's "really perfect at showing a taste of place," and that "it should be top of the list for anyone visiting or planning to visit Grey County."

Finally, he looks to St. Catharines. "Les Incompetents is one of those restaurants that I have been rooting for this year. They cook food that just looks so indulgent and craveable in a captivating and fun environment," Gray explains.

George is a local staple for chefs and laymen alike. Photo by Fareen Karim.

Ambica Jain, Adrak

As she gears up to open her latest restaurant in Toronto, Adrak founder Ambica Jain, just like Chef Ko, pays homage to a longstanding local institution.

"A Toronto institution, George has long been one of the city’s most consistently exceptional dining destinations and, while recognized by the Michelin Guide, remains one of the city’s most deserving restaurants for a Star," Jain tells blogTO.

Jain, a vegetarian, specifically notes the restaurant's " thoughtful approach to creating equally delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes," or dishes that fit any unique dietary requirement, for that matter. 

"This level of care ensures every guest receives the same level of creativity and culinary excellence. Beyond the cuisine, George's historic charm and attentive service are a winning recipe," she says.

Lorenzo Loseto, George

So, with two chefs on this list rooting for George, what does George's own Executive Chef, Lorenzo Loseto, think?

"The two restaurants that need to be on that list would be Liliana and Bar Eugenie," Loseto tells blogTO.

Both restaurants, he notes, boast "very talented young chefs," and "very thoughtful, seasonal and precise" menus, and, of course, "great food."

The chefs at either establishment have also earned considerable attention from Michelin in the past: Liliana's chef Marvin Palomo at Vela and Bar Eugenie's Rebekah Bruce as the Chef de Partie at Alo.

Bruce, Loseto proudly adds, was an early apprentice of his. Talk about pedigree.

As for my picks? Well, you'll have to take me out to dinner first.