The Best Restaurants in Toronto’s Koreatown

There’s no shortage of cheap and cheerful Korean mom-and-pop eats at Sunrise House. This cash-only joint often has a line, and it’s easy to understand why. Sunrise House has quick service and good food, and most of their dishes cost about $10. The menu is teeming with Korean favorites such as noodles, dumplings, bulgogi, and bibimbap, but everyone loves the pork-bone soup.

The star on the menu at this lively Korean restaurant is soon tofu—a warm and comforting dish of stewed tofu, vegetables, and often meat and fish that comes with a stone bowl of rice and banchan. The food here is a little more expensive than what you might normally expect at a Korean restaurant, but the portions are huge!

Soon tofu | © T.Tseng / Flickr

Another favorite soon tofu restaurant in Koreatown is Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu. This modest restaurant’s sizzling tofu hot pots and yummy Korean fare have guests coming back again and again. Their simple menu only has about nine items, and most of the dishes are a variation of their soon tofu. However, you can also get some bibimbap or bulgogi.

Apiecalypse Now! is a vegan pizzeria that also sells sandwiches and donuts. Omnivores needn’t be put off though. It’s more of a bonus that the restaurant is vegan, and it’s worth checking out even if you don’t follow a plant-based diet. Indeed, a lot of non-vegan Toronto locals go out of their way to grab a slice here. Their pies are renowned for being super creative and delicious. Donuts are also a must.

Kinton Ramen has a bunch of locations in Toronto, and every single one is rated highly. If you ever find yourself craving a bowl of hot steaming ramen in Koreatown, this is the place to go. Grab a spot on one of their bar stools while the open kitchen makes you a custom bowl of ramen and munch on hot or cold Japanese tapas.

Madras Masala just misses the cusp of Koreatown, but it couldn’t be left off the list! Come here for the South Indian cuisine, wonderful customer service, and bang-for-your-buck portion sizes! Their menu is full of delicious dishes, but do order at least one dosa. There are so many different types of dosas to choose from, with the classic masala dosa being a crowd-pleaser, and they are huge. The paper-thin rice crepes are stuffed with spiced potato, meat or cheese and served with a sour lentil soup known as sambar and a selection of fresh and fragrant chutneys.

Dosa | © gillnisha / Pixabay

Tacos El Asador’s no-frills Salvadoran fare has received rave reviews, and the pupusas, in particular, get a lot of love from frequent customers. This family-run joint might be an oddity on a strip that is known for its Eastern flair, but residents of Toronto have been going to Tacos El Asador for years.

The White Brick Kitchen serves up comforting alternative eats in Koreatown. The restaurant dishes out hearty burgers and sandwiches, tasty staples like mac and cheese, and are renowned for their battered chicken. Their Sunday brunch menu even features a fried chicken benny. Wash down your food with wine or cold beer, or try one of their milkshakes.