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Toronto Heatmap: Where to Eat Right Now

by Eater Staff
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by Eater Staff

It's time to update the Toronto Heatmap, where we seek to answer the eternal question that plagues all food lovers: Where should I go to eat right now? Restaurant obsessives want to know what's new, what's hot, which favorite chef just launched a sophomore effort. And while the Eater 38 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighbourhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the "it" places of the moment. That's what the Eater Heatmap is for! It will change continually to always highlight where the crowds are flocking to at the moment.



12/09/13: Added: Barrio Coreano, Fonda Lola, Pukka Restauarant

— Hana Hussein, Carolyn Grisold

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Barrio Coreano

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The highly anticipated fourth outpost from David Sidhu is a perfect mélange of its Mexican Playa Cabana lineage and its new Korea-town location. On the menu you’ll find the likes of Korean beef tacos and kimchi “juice” cocktails. Be sure to expect the signature small sharing plates and a packed rowdy atmosphere. [Photo Credit]
642 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Fonda Lola

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This latest take on Mexican cuisine comes from former Milagro Cantina partner Andres Marquez. Offering a healthier take on classic Mexican dishes, chef Howard Dubrowsky will also tie in his molecular cuisine artistry. Standout offerings include kombucha cocktails, as well as having the popular beverage available on tap. [Photo Credit]
942 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M6J, Canada

Pukka Restaurant

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Boasting both a chef and sommelier with Scaramouche pedigree, this St Clair contemporary Indian eatery is a welcomed addition to the area. The menu offers classic bold flavored dishes with an emphasis on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Going a step above most, Pukka focuses on wine pairings offering a solid and growing international selection. [Photo Credit]
778 St Clair Ave West, Toronto, Ontario M6C1B6, Canada
(416) 342-1906
(416) 342-1906

Bar Isabel

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Little Italy's Bar Isabel was just named Best New Canadian Restaurant by Air Canada's enRoute Magazine, and with Grant van Gameren's colourful, creative Spanish tapas-style fare, it's no wonder why. [Bar Isabel/Yelp]
797 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
(416) 532-2222
(416) 532-2222

Drake One Fifty

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The highly-anticipated outpost of The Drake Hotel is still making waves after bringing its own brand of cool to the downtown core. Attracting a clientele of Bay Street boys and West End girls, maybe the Fifty will become the glue that holds Toronto together? [Photo Credit]
150 York Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Rhum Corner

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It's getting mixed reviews but you know everyone will still go because this is Jen Agg and she's Toronto's resto-darling. Trinity Bellwoods' Rhum Corner delivers Haitian nostalgic food with a twist. [Photo: @TheBlackHoof]
9926 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The Chase

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The Chase's head bartender, Shane Mulvany, won the Hogtown Shakedown in October as part of Toronto Cocktail Week. Another reason to don your fanciest suit and head over to this decadent resto. Downstairs you'll find The Chase Fish & Oyster, a more casual option. [Photo Credit]
10 Temperance St, Toronto, On M5H 1Y5, Canada

The Huntsman Tavern

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The Huntsman's bar manager, Aja Sax, is responsible for drawing attention to this College Street gastropub lately with her infamous Scotchy Scotch Scotch. But its cool decor and creative comfort fare will keep you coming back well after the Anchorman 2 buzz dies down. [Huntsman/Yelp]
890 College St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

La Cubana

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Roncesvalles is like Ossington for civilized people; those west-enders have their pick of multiple great restos including the latest: La Cubana, coming from the owners of Delux on Ossington. Its look is clean and bright, with diner stools and 1950s-Cuba-inspired snacks, sandwiches and desserts. A welcome addition. [La Cubana/Yelp]
392 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto, ON M6R 2M9, Canada
(416) 538-7500
(416) 538-7500

Momofuku Shōtō

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David Chang's Momofuku culinary cube will likely be hot for years, with the focus shifting from Noodle Bar to Milk Bar, et cetera, as tastes dictate. Right now the heat's on Shōtō; the tasting-menu-only resto placed second on enRoute Magazine's Best New Restaurants list. [Shoto/Yelp]
190 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5H 0A3, Canada
(647) 253-8000
(647) 253-8000

Electric Mud BBQ

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Brought to you by the owners of Grand Electric, this Parkdale BBQ joint is around the corner from, and arguably serves up much better fare than, its taco-centric cousin. enRoute Magazine agrees: Electric Mud came 10th in its list of Best New Canadian restaurants. [Electric Mud/Yelp]
5 Brock Ave, Toronto, ON, Canada
(416) 516-8286
(416) 516-8286

Estrella Taqueria

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Who knew you had to go north to get good Mexican in Toronto? Insisting it's not a Mexican restaurant, but a "bourbon, tequila and taco restaurant," Estrella Taqueria is worth the drive to Willowdale. [Estrella Taqueria/Facebook]
4899 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M2N 5N4, Canada
(416) 222-1500
(416) 222-1500

Hogtown Smoke

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Food truck favourite Hogtown Smoke has opened a bricks-and-mortar restaurant in the Beach. This "true BBQ joint" is part of the movement of mobile food inside, and its location in the east end is sure to continue being a hit well into next summer. [Hogtown Smoke/Yelp]
1959 Queen St East, Toronto, ont, Canada
(416) 691-9009
(416) 691-9009
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Barrio Coreano

642 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The highly anticipated fourth outpost from David Sidhu is a perfect mélange of its Mexican Playa Cabana lineage and its new Korea-town location. On the menu you’ll find the likes of Korean beef tacos and kimchi “juice” cocktails. Be sure to expect the signature small sharing plates and a packed rowdy atmosphere. [Photo Credit]
642 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Fonda Lola

942 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M6J, Canada
This latest take on Mexican cuisine comes from former Milagro Cantina partner Andres Marquez. Offering a healthier take on classic Mexican dishes, chef Howard Dubrowsky will also tie in his molecular cuisine artistry. Standout offerings include kombucha cocktails, as well as having the popular beverage available on tap. [Photo Credit]
942 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M6J, Canada

Pukka Restaurant

778 St Clair Ave West, Toronto, Ontario M6C1B6, Canada
Boasting both a chef and sommelier with Scaramouche pedigree, this St Clair contemporary Indian eatery is a welcomed addition to the area. The menu offers classic bold flavored dishes with an emphasis on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Going a step above most, Pukka focuses on wine pairings offering a solid and growing international selection. [Photo Credit]
778 St Clair Ave West, Toronto, Ontario M6C1B6, Canada
(416) 342-1906
(416) 342-1906

Bar Isabel

797 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Little Italy's Bar Isabel was just named Best New Canadian Restaurant by Air Canada's enRoute Magazine, and with Grant van Gameren's colourful, creative Spanish tapas-style fare, it's no wonder why. [Bar Isabel/Yelp]
797 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
(416) 532-2222
(416) 532-2222

Drake One Fifty

150 York Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The highly-anticipated outpost of The Drake Hotel is still making waves after bringing its own brand of cool to the downtown core. Attracting a clientele of Bay Street boys and West End girls, maybe the Fifty will become the glue that holds Toronto together? [Photo Credit]
150 York Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Rhum Corner

9926 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
It's getting mixed reviews but you know everyone will still go because this is Jen Agg and she's Toronto's resto-darling. Trinity Bellwoods' Rhum Corner delivers Haitian nostalgic food with a twist. [Photo: @TheBlackHoof]
9926 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The Chase

10 Temperance St, Toronto, On M5H 1Y5, Canada
The Chase's head bartender, Shane Mulvany, won the Hogtown Shakedown in October as part of Toronto Cocktail Week. Another reason to don your fanciest suit and head over to this decadent resto. Downstairs you'll find The Chase Fish & Oyster, a more casual option. [Photo Credit]
10 Temperance St, Toronto, On M5H 1Y5, Canada

The Huntsman Tavern

890 College St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The Huntsman's bar manager, Aja Sax, is responsible for drawing attention to this College Street gastropub lately with her infamous Scotchy Scotch Scotch. But its cool decor and creative comfort fare will keep you coming back well after the Anchorman 2 buzz dies down. [Huntsman/Yelp]
890 College St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

La Cubana

392 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto, ON M6R 2M9, Canada
Roncesvalles is like Ossington for civilized people; those west-enders have their pick of multiple great restos including the latest: La Cubana, coming from the owners of Delux on Ossington. Its look is clean and bright, with diner stools and 1950s-Cuba-inspired snacks, sandwiches and desserts. A welcome addition. [La Cubana/Yelp]
392 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto, ON M6R 2M9, Canada
(416) 538-7500
(416) 538-7500

Momofuku Shōtō

190 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5H 0A3, Canada
David Chang's Momofuku culinary cube will likely be hot for years, with the focus shifting from Noodle Bar to Milk Bar, et cetera, as tastes dictate. Right now the heat's on Shōtō; the tasting-menu-only resto placed second on enRoute Magazine's Best New Restaurants list. [Shoto/Yelp]
190 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5H 0A3, Canada
(647) 253-8000
(647) 253-8000

Electric Mud BBQ

5 Brock Ave, Toronto, ON, Canada
Brought to you by the owners of Grand Electric, this Parkdale BBQ joint is around the corner from, and arguably serves up much better fare than, its taco-centric cousin. enRoute Magazine agrees: Electric Mud came 10th in its list of Best New Canadian restaurants. [Electric Mud/Yelp]
5 Brock Ave, Toronto, ON, Canada
(416) 516-8286
(416) 516-8286

Estrella Taqueria

4899 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M2N 5N4, Canada
Who knew you had to go north to get good Mexican in Toronto? Insisting it's not a Mexican restaurant, but a "bourbon, tequila and taco restaurant," Estrella Taqueria is worth the drive to Willowdale. [Estrella Taqueria/Facebook]
4899 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M2N 5N4, Canada
(416) 222-1500
(416) 222-1500

Hogtown Smoke

1959 Queen St East, Toronto, ont, Canada
Food truck favourite Hogtown Smoke has opened a bricks-and-mortar restaurant in the Beach. This "true BBQ joint" is part of the movement of mobile food inside, and its location in the east end is sure to continue being a hit well into next summer. [Hogtown Smoke/Yelp]
1959 Queen St East, Toronto, ont, Canada
(416) 691-9009
(416) 691-9009