Ashley’s guidebook
Asian food
Saku Sushi
478 Queen St WGreat value and quality of aburi torched sushi for the sushi lovers!
A bit on the pricier end, but Hanmoto has fantastic sharing plates and cocktails. The vibe is a bit grungy and hole-in-the-wall, one of my favourite spots in the city!
63 locals recommend
Hanmoto
2 Lakeview AveA bit on the pricier end, but Hanmoto has fantastic sharing plates and cocktails. The vibe is a bit grungy and hole-in-the-wall, one of my favourite spots in the city!
My favourite ramen spot in the city. Great value and flavours, but be prepared for a bit of a wait.
46 locals recommend
Ramen Isshin
421 College StMy favourite ramen spot in the city. Great value and flavours, but be prepared for a bit of a wait.
Pinky's Ca Phe
50c Clinton StVietnamese inspired food, very hole-in-the-wall atmosphere!
Korean inspired spot, very rustic and cool vibe. Definitely a great spot to check out!
87 locals recommend
ODDSEOUL
90 Ossington AveKorean inspired spot, very rustic and cool vibe. Definitely a great spot to check out!
Across the street from my building! Great aburi/torched sushi, a sister restaurant to Saku (another recommendation on this list).
the haam
342 Adelaide St WAcross the street from my building! Great aburi/torched sushi, a sister restaurant to Saku (another recommendation on this list).
Little Piggy's
469 Bloor St WMy go-to Korean bbq spot! Great quality meat and good side dishes.
Gyubee Japanese Grill (Bloor)
335 Bloor St WMy go-to Japanese BBQ joint!
This is one of the most popular spots in Toronto - a great Izakaya place, great for drinks and shared plates. Very warm/cozy but loud atmosphere!
96 locals recommend
KINKA IZAKAYA
398 Church StThis is one of the most popular spots in Toronto - a great Izakaya place, great for drinks and shared plates. Very warm/cozy but loud atmosphere!
Other favourite restaurants
I'm an avid Yelp reviewer, so feel free to check out my Yelp profile for other recommendations! https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=e-1OSEcJn4wEBwyx9Jzveg
Amazing spanish shared plates. Definitely one of my top restaurants in the city.
232 locals recommend
Bar Isabel
797 College StAmazing spanish shared plates. Definitely one of my top restaurants in the city.
If you're wandering Kensington market, these are my favourite tacos in the city. Note that there isn't a lot of sitting room, more of a grab and go spot!
115 locals recommend
Seven Lives
72 Kensington AveIf you're wandering Kensington market, these are my favourite tacos in the city. Note that there isn't a lot of sitting room, more of a grab and go spot!
A top-rated Toronto brunch spot - Maha's Egyptian brunch! Try the mind blowing chicken and cardemom latte!
108 locals recommend
Maha's
226 Greenwood AveA top-rated Toronto brunch spot - Maha's Egyptian brunch! Try the mind blowing chicken and cardemom latte!
Another of my favourite tapas spots in the city, located in the bustling King West area.
120 locals recommend
Patria
478 King St WAnother of my favourite tapas spots in the city, located in the bustling King West area.
Gusto 101
101 Portland StA must-go for Italian food! Also has a wonderful patio in the summer.
I love recommending this spot for tourists to skip the CN tower, grab a drink here and grab your Toronto skyline/CN tower photo here in the summer! Great rooftop spot and lovely patio.
69 locals recommend
KŌST
80 Blue Jays WayI love recommending this spot for tourists to skip the CN tower, grab a drink here and grab your Toronto skyline/CN tower photo here in the summer! Great rooftop spot and lovely patio.
Cuisine is considered "American", but just an all-in-all great spot to eat. Co-owned by a "Top Chef Canada" winner, this bustling spot offers a daily menu of seasonal cuisine.
58 locals recommend
Richmond Station
1 Richmond St WCuisine is considered "American", but just an all-in-all great spot to eat. Co-owned by a "Top Chef Canada" winner, this bustling spot offers a daily menu of seasonal cuisine.
Dessert, Coffee, and Tea
Many Asian inspired flavours of gelato - from Hong Kong milk tea, Vietnamese coffee, durian, black sesame, you name it!
30 locals recommend
Kekou Gelato
394 Queen St WMany Asian inspired flavours of gelato - from Hong Kong milk tea, Vietnamese coffee, durian, black sesame, you name it!
Tsujiri Dundas
147 Dundas St WFor the matcha lovers out there!
This is a popular spot in the summer, ice cream sandwiches with many cookie and ice cream flavours to choose from! You can also opt for a bubble waffle option!
171 locals recommend
Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery
93A Ossington AveThis is a popular spot in the summer, ice cream sandwiches with many cookie and ice cream flavours to choose from! You can also opt for a bubble waffle option!
I've had visitors from far and wide always put this down on their must-try list. It's a nice, light, fluffy, Japanese cheesecake for $10. Take one home and have it throughout your stay or I've had visitors bring some home for family and friends! There are a couple locations - you can get it at the Angel cafe on Dundas/University, Union Station, and Bay/Dundas (flagship).
59 locals recommend
Uncle Tetsu
595 Bay St.I've had visitors from far and wide always put this down on their must-try list. It's a nice, light, fluffy, Japanese cheesecake for $10. Take one home and have it throughout your stay or I've had visitors bring some home for family and friends! There are a couple locations - you can get it at the Angel cafe on Dundas/University, Union Station, and Bay/Dundas (flagship).
Connected to my favourite record store, Sonic Boom, this spot has great coffee and is a great spot to sit!
188 locals recommend
Dark Horse Espresso Bar
215 Spadina Ave.Connected to my favourite record store, Sonic Boom, this spot has great coffee and is a great spot to sit!
Quantum Coffee
482 King St WClose by! Unique and modern decor with great coffee.
Another spot close by that I love, great pastries and coffee. Only a small amount sitting room so tends to be quite busy sometimes.
18 locals recommend
Strange Love Coffee
101 Spadina Ave.Another spot close by that I love, great pastries and coffee. Only a small amount sitting room so tends to be quite busy sometimes.
If you're a boba / bubble tea lover, this is the best spot in the city in my opinion! Try the Royal No 9, Deerioca, or The Alley Trio!
9 locals recommend
The Alley
5431 Yonge StIf you're a boba / bubble tea lover, this is the best spot in the city in my opinion! Try the Royal No 9, Deerioca, or The Alley Trio!
This place is beautifully decorated, Japanese inspired, and a lovely place to relax.
7 locals recommend
ICHA TEA
235 Spadina Ave.This place is beautifully decorated, Japanese inspired, and a lovely place to relax.
Nightlife
A very popular spot in Toronto, known for playing great hip hop music! Often frequented by visiting hip hop artists (e.g. A$AP Rocky recently).
29 locals recommend
Apt 200
1034 Queen St WA very popular spot in Toronto, known for playing great hip hop music! Often frequented by visiting hip hop artists (e.g. A$AP Rocky recently).
Mixed crowd, usually no cover, and often frequented by Shawn Mendes. A very popular spot, so go early (10-11pm) to avoid lines and cover!
22 locals recommend
Petty Cash
487 Adelaide St WMixed crowd, usually no cover, and often frequented by Shawn Mendes. A very popular spot, so go early (10-11pm) to avoid lines and cover!
This is a cool Asian-inspired spot, which gets to be very crowded on weekends so go early. Cheap cover ($5) and located in the heart of Chinatown. A more casual bar, very jeans friendly.
9 locals recommend
Big Trouble
460 Dundas St WThis is a cool Asian-inspired spot, which gets to be very crowded on weekends so go early. Cheap cover ($5) and located in the heart of Chinatown. A more casual bar, very jeans friendly.
This place gets very very crowded but is a popular Toronto favourite for the hip-hop crowd.
538 locals recommend
The Drake Hotel
1150 Queen St WThis place gets very very crowded but is a popular Toronto favourite for the hip-hop crowd.
Set up like a convenience store at the front, this bar has a cool interior and photogenic downstairs area.
19 locals recommend
Convenience
1184 Queen St WSet up like a convenience store at the front, this bar has a cool interior and photogenic downstairs area.