Toronto has the largest Korean population of any city in Canada. So much so that there’s a dedicated Koreatown district in midtown. The Korean dining scene boasts transportative flavours, unique concepts and adventurous dishes. From Korean barbecues for the whole group to enjoy to fine dining gems for special occasions, romantic destinations for date night and trendy hotspots, the best Korean restaurants in Toronto promise great food and fun times.
Some of Toronto’s best restaurants boast Korean influences on their menu, with long-standing recipes and creative takes on traditional staples. Check out a Mexican-Korean fusion joint in Riverdale, where the views from the patio are almost as good as the food. Or head on over to Yorkville, where there’s a fantastic sharing venue with a Korean-Japanese vibe. For straight-up Korean at its best, an acclaimed chef is just waiting to show you what he can do.
The best Korean restaurants in Toronto await, so book your spot before you go on OpenTable today.
The best Korean restaurants in Toronto – read on for a guide
For special occasions – check out Akira Back in the Entertainment District
Chef Akira Back opened his first eponymous restaurant in Toronto at the Bisha Hotel to much fanfare, in partnership with INK Entertainment. Here you can experience a menu that fuses modern Japanese with traditional Korean from Back’s origins, coupled with influences from international travel. A truly unique Eastern dining experience in the heart of Toronto. The tactile decor focuses on gold and black for an elegant and luxurious vibe, with a multi-awarded chef in the kitchen. While you can expect many of Back’s signature dishes to be on the menu, there will also be a few that are unique to this Toronto location. Seafood highlights include the toro tartare caviar, the sashimi tacos and the Hokkaido scallop kiwi with truffle paste from the cold sharing menu. For something hot, try the crispy octopus with salsa verde or the rock shrimp with sriracha ranch. And for the main, seared seabass with soy beurre blanc and crispy Brussels sprouts. Pair your dishes with a refreshing cocktail like a Hanami with Tanqueray, yuzu and organic foamer.
For Toronto’s best Korean restaurant for great barbecue – hit up Takja BBQ in Little Portugal / Dundas West
Inviting, imaginative and innovative, Takja BBQ celebrates the diversity of the Korean dining scene. The menu is brought to you by chefs Edward Bang and Jeff Kang, showcasing the very best of fresh seafood and in-house dry-aged meats, with a heavy focus on the traditional Korean process of fermentation. Expect farm-raised meats that have been dry-aged in-house and grilled at the table. Sip your soju and enjoy the spectacle of your server barbecuing your top-tier protein to perfection. Steaks are naturally a specialty, but you’ll also find plenty of quality fresh seafood and vegetarian options on the menu. Ideally situated in the West End of Toronto, this is the perfect venue for a pre-theatre drink and dine, or a post-movie scran. The A5 wagyu ribeye served with pickles, condiments and a scallion salad is a must-try. Or try the seafood pancake with soy vinaigrette, or the seafood tower with snow crab, oysters, scallops, shrimp and more. Add a strawberry bingsoo to finish – moist pound cake with citrus and almond white chocolate. Add to this a carefully curated wine and cocktail list and a cozy atmosphere and you have yourself a great night out.
For an intimate date night with award-winning Korean cuisine – try 156 Cumberland in Yorkville
A contemporary gem with an intimate, local vibe 156 Cumberland is one of the best Korean restaurants in Toronto for cosy date nights. The compact menu offers contemporary, modern Korean plates. Think peppers stuffed with glass noodles, coconut ssamjang, ground beef and chive cream and Spanish mackerel with charred kale, turnip and makgeolli cream. Or go for a Korean ssam platter featuring your choice of steak cut, served with seaweed rice, house pickles and white kimchi. The interior is minimal yet welcoming, with dusky pink accents and clean white tile.
For one of the best best Korean BBQs in Toronto for the whole family – book a table at Sariwon Korean BBQ in Vaughan
Experience Korean food at Sariwon Korean BBQ. Owned and operated by a Korean – Canadian family, this family-style restaurant encourages you to participate in your meal. All banchan and entrees are prepared fresh daily, with combo orders perfect for those times you can’t commit to one dish. Dishes are served family-style, with everyone sharing what’s on the table. Try the stir-fried chicken BulGoGi JungSik with a spicy sauce and mixed vegetables, or the DonKatsu pork cutlet with rice. The chicken soup with glutinous rice, ginseng, garlic and chestnuts is the perfect winter warmer, while the homemade dumplings with rice broth are a must-try. Or if you really can’t decide, try a fresh meat BBQ combo Korean-style – sirloin, ribs, boneless beef and a sesame marinated cut all cooked on the grill. The SsamBaps are also ideal for those times when you don’t want to stick to just one flavour – platters of sliced pork belly, mixed seafood and assorted vegetables with your choice of sauce.
For Korean-Mexican fusion dishes – don’t miss Tinga Kim Taqueria in Leslieville / Riverdale
Tinga Kim Taqueria may be mostly about the Mexican vibe, but there’s a strong Korean influence in the background. A real retreat from the hustle and bustle of modern life, this is the perfect venue for almost any occasion, from date night to a place to unwind after work with a group of friends.
Try the Korean-style wings to start, with two sauce options – Oro or Rojo. Move on to bulgogi – Korean sauteed beef with red radish and white cabbage with soy sauce and teriyaki. Add a Ruby Jalisco cocktail with tequila, sweet vermouth, lemon and hibiscus for a refreshing finish. Warm and inviting whether you choose to sit in the cozy dining room or on the verdant patio, which is dog friendly. Indoors, expect ambient lighting showing off gold trim around exposed brick for a contemporary yet laid-back atmosphere.
For one of the best Korean restaurants in Toronto for groups – visit KOKO! Share Bar in Yorkville
A meal shared is a conversation waiting to happen – KOKO! Share Bar is a place to make memories. With the most essential ingredient in every dish being love, you’re guaranteed the food will be great. Elegant yet casual, intimate and incredibly sociable, KOKO is where it’s at. Korean Japanese fusion at its best. Appetizer highlights include the spicy kimchi napa soup with beansprouts, the Asian pear salad with yuzu and watermelon dressing, and the seared tuna salsa salad with mango dressing. After that, try some sushi or sashimi – butterfish, wild yellow tail and Albacore tuna are just a few of the options. Then perhaps some miso black cod, oven-roasted with miso soup, or a sizzling stone bowl of Korean bibimap with crispy white rice and your choice of protein – meat, seafood or veggie.
With so many great restaurants to choose from in Toronto, you’ll be hard-pushed to know where to go. If Korean is your thing, then these top picks should give you an idea of where to get started. From ultra-spicy to relaxed and flavoursome, try something new today at one of Toronto’s best Korean restaurants.
Book your seat on OpenTable and discover some of the best Korean restaurants in Toronto right now
There’s more than just great Korean to be found in Toronto, so check out some of these guides:
- The 11 best budget-friendly restaurants in Toronto to book right now
- 10 of the best rooftop restaurants and bars in Toronto to know about
- 10 of the best vegetarian restaurants in Toronto
- 12 top-notch Italian restaurants to try in Toronto right now
- The best brunch in Toronto can be found at these top 10 restaurants
- The 10 best halal restaurants in Toronto to book ASAP
- The 10 best ambience restaurants in Toronto
- The 10 best Asian restaurants in Toronto to book right now
