There’s a long-standing tradition of Turkish food being a go-to meal in Canada, with it being part and parcel of a good night out. But, with more Turkish restaurants offering a sit-down service in Toronto, diners are now able to share the full experience, absorbing the culture of Turkish cuisine. From open-fire grills where to watch chefs in action, to fine dining gems and family-friendly dining destinations, the best Turkish restaurants in Toronto await.
From freshly made pide, slow-smoked chicken, lamb, and beef and unique desserts such as sarma baklava, the rice pudding sutlac, the cheesy kemalpasa or kunafa with ice cream, a Turkish feast sets the tone for a transportative meal out. Whether you’re looking for a laidback and casual dining experience, reminiscent of traditional Turkish dining halls, or you want to enjoy a more luxurious experience, the best Turkish restaurants in Toronto are sure to go above and beyond your expectations.
Explore the best restaurants Toronto has to offer, all bookable on OpenTable today.
Keep reading to dig into 8 of the best Turkish restaurants in Toronto
For a family-friendly feast – check out Turquoise grill house in Vaughan and Downtown
Vaughn is home to Turquoise grill house, a casual little eatery serving family-style platters of traditional Turkish recipes in a lively atmosphere. Charcoal-grilled specialities are the star of the menu, featuring budget-friendly meals that are perfect for sharing with friends and family, Start with the Istanbul mezze sampler featuring lentils kofta, hummus and muhammara with pita bread, or opt for the crispy Bodrum fried calamari with caramelized lemon. Charcoal favourite includes the Adana kebab, a knife-minced lamb and beef kebab with bulgar and a buttery pita. You’ll find wraps and oven-baked Turkish flatbreads topped with cheese, fresh Ontario beef or spinach, feta, and roasted eggplants and peppers for a vegetarian-friendly option. Go with a big group and order the family menus, offering a mix of everything from kebabs to skewers, salads and jasmine rice bulgur – the perfect option for a family feast to remember.
📍 Vaughan — Check availability
📍 Downtown — Check availability
For one of the best Turkish barbecues in Toronto – don’t miss Eat Meat – Turkish Smokehouse & BBQ in Mississauga
Indulge your senses at Eat Meat – Turkish Smokehouse & BBQ, one of Toronto’s best Turkish restaurants where hearty, smoky flavours enhance your brunch, lunch or dinner experience. Dine in an opulent dining hall decorated with faux trees and traditional Turkish decor, sure to transport you to Istanbul. Start your day with a traditional Turkish breakfast, with jams, cucumbers, tomatoes, deli meats, pides, and freshly prepared tea. For lunch and dinner, popular dishes include the smoked beef brisket, served with grilled potatoes, cherry tomatoes, and yellow rice, chicken smoke a whole smoked chicken, and beef ribeye steak. Kebab offerings such as the beef Adana kebab, and beef tenderloin are also tasty choices. All dishes at Eat Meat – Turkish Smokehouse & BBQ are also halal certified. End your visit with kunafe with ice cream, a honey-dripped wheat pancake topped with pistachio and vanilla ice cream.
For some the best Turkish kebabs in Toronto – book a table at Agha Turkish Restaurant in Mississauga
With both an exterior and interior Turkish-inspired design, you’ll forget you’re in Missauaga at Agha Turkish Restaurant, making it one of Toronto’s best Turkish restaurants. Here, kebabs and sautés are the name of the game, with a host of options to delight in. An authentic Turkish breakfast is served on the weekends, featuring kavurma and egg, meat cooked with egg, the classic egg and tomato dish menemen, and mihlama, a dish of melted cheese and cornmeal. Agha’s main menu offers sarma, vine leaves stuffed with rice, and beef iskender, sliced doner kebab meat served with tomato sauce and yogurt. Kebabs include chicken, pistachio kebab, and urfa kebab with ground veal and lamb. Savoury sautés such as the sav tava with beef, tomatoes and peppers, and shrimp tava make the perfect accompaniments.
For one of the best Turkish restaurants in Toronto for special occasions – visit Diwan at the Aga Khan Museum in North York / Don Mills
Boasting one of the most ornate dining rooms in Toronto, Diwan at the Aga Khan Museum welcomes you to upscale dining with an unforgettable menu to end a day spent at the Aga Khan Museum. Along with its dining room, adorned with 18th-century hand-crafted wood panels from Syria, Diwan’s outdoor summer patio has earned the honour of one of the prettiest patios by both the Los Angeles Times and Now Magazine. A Courtyard Café is also located in the museum’s atrium. Diwan’s executive chef Mark McEwan has designed a menu centred around Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine with both à la carte and prix fixe offerings. Share a plate of Lebanese zaatar fries, topped with feta cheese and served with garlic labneh or lamb and vegetable samosas with mint chutney. Mains such as the Moroccan spiced lamb shank with ezme and vine leaves, harissa glazed chicken with Persian rice and yogurt, and the vegan-friendly palak paneer with spinach will take you on a culinary journey to the Mediterranean and beyond.
For a transportative meal – head over to Sultan Ahmet Turkish Cuisine in Mississauga
Focusing on providing guests with the healthiest and freshest options, Sultan Ahmet Turkish Cuisine in Mississauga, invites you to a traditional Turkish diner serving local favourites, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Going beyond traditional kebabs, pides and doners, Sultan Ahmet Turkish Cuisine offers less-known yet flavourful dishes to a Canadian audience, including Haydari, a yogurt appetizer, sigara boregi a rolled cheese spring roll made with phyllo dough, and simit a ring-shaped bread encrusted with sesame seeds. Turkish favourites pide and doner come together in both chicken and beef doner pide. Beef and chicken bicak arasi pide, with small pieces of beef, cheese and vegetables is another popular choice. For dessert, delight your sweet tooth with sarma baklava, made with pistachio butter and reminiscent of marzipan, with your choice of vanilla or Turkish ice cream.
For a casual meal out – make sure to visit Bursa Kebap Evi Ltd. in Oakville
Bursa Kebap Evi Ltd. in Oakville is one of many locations of the growing Turkish chain restaurant, and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. Winner of the ITQI Superior Taste Award, Bursa Kebap Evi Ltd. serves no-frills classic Turkish dishes in a welcoming, casual dining experience. From classic sides like acili ezme, to exclusive dishes such as the royal Bursa signature kebab, with gyro meat, grilled meatballs and chicken in a tomato sauce and melted butter. The bursa special, features roasted AAA doner beef, and the pideli meatball minced beef with tomato sauce is another favourite. Unique dessert offerings include the kemalpasa, made with cheese and semolina and boiled in syrup, and katmer with pistachio and clotted cream.
For one of the best Turkish restaurants in Toronto for date night – book a table for two at Efendi Restaurant in Markham
Efendi Restaurant in Markham is backed by chef Zeki’s 17-year experience, offering guests a taste of homemade Turkish cuisine. Dine in style in Efendi’s luxurious dining room, perfect for dates and outings with friends. With a menu that changes with the seasons, you’ll be guaranteed a culinary experience uplifted by fresh ingredients. Enjoy the efendi meat shish kebab served on a hot plate with sizzling butter, or the ali nazik, meat shish served over eggplant, yogurt, and barbecued tomato and pepper. Perfect for sharing, the manti are small lamb and beef stuffed dumplings served with brown butter sauce, garlic, mint and yogurt. Dessert includes sutlac, a rice pudding baked in clay pots with a browned top that looks like creme brulee. Refresh with classic Turkish drinks such as uludag gazoz, a carbonated lemonade, salgam a black carrot juice that pairs nicely with all dishes.
For one of the best Turkish restaurants in Toronto for desserts – try Mado – Square One Mall in Mississauga
With a classic cafe interior perfect for a quick bite after a day of shopping, Mado – Square One Mall has earned its spot as one of Toronto’s best Turkish restaurants. Featuring a robust menu with plenty of breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes, as well as enchanting dessert options, Mado is sure to be a treat. Breakfast ranges from traditional Turkish offerings to classic eggs benedict, while mains include porsyon beef doner served with rice, celtic kebab with beef and grilled peppers, chicken schnitzel and grilled salmon. Plenty of pizza and pasta choices are also available, and gozleme, a flatbread stuffed with your choice of filling, such as potato or cheese. Mado’s famous baklava with ice cream comes in a variety of offerings to make everyone happy.
Toronto’s Turkish culinary scene is one to boast about, with plenty of options offering both well-known and lesser-known dishes that are equally as tasty. Covering the culinary delights from around Turkey, you’ll be sure to discover your next favourite dish at any of Toronto’s best Turkish restaurants.
Be sure to book your spot at one of the best restaurants in Toronto on OpenTable today
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