Canada’s food scene is booming, with exciting chefs drawing on regional specialities and cultural influences to create unforgettable dishes.
There is no better proof of this than the recent introduction of the Michelin Guide in Canada, marking a major milestone in recognising Canada’s culinary excellence. The fact that many restaurants have earned coveted stars shows just how strong and vibrant the country’s restaurant sector has become.
Toronto
Toronto was the first Canadian city to earn Michelin Guide recognition, in 2022, and now has 16 starred restaurants, and a growing list of Bib Gourmand [awarded to restaurants that serve familiar, comforting dishes made well] and Green Star selections [awarded for sustainable gastronomy and eco-friendly practices alongside culinary excellence].
Sushi Masaki Saito, a high-end traditional sushi omakase restaurant tucked inside a Victorian townhouse in the Toronto neighbourhood of Yorkville, was the first in Canada to earn two Michelin stars. Other two-star restaurants in the city include Alo in the downtown area, serving a French-inspired tasting menu in an intimate setting; Italian fine dining DaNico; and Aburi Hana, a modern Kyo-Kaiseki experience, serving multi-course haute cuisine originating from Kyoto.
Vancouver
Vancouver’s Michelin recognition confirms the city’s status as a culinary hub combining sustainability and creativity and the guide has uncovered some hidden gems, such as Sushi Masuda, an intimate five-seat dining room hidden behind the glass doors of a print shop.
Kissa Tanto brings together Japanese and Italian influences in a chic space inspired by 1960s Tokyo jazz cafes, serving dishes such as spaghettoni with ragu of Wagyu, nut-fed pork, tomato, Japanese curry, and spiced pangrattato.
Another Japanese-inspired restaurant, Okeya Kyujiro, is described as ‘part performance, part dinner’, while Published on Main, in Mount Pleasant, features seasonal ingredients such as elderflower and morels from local areas.
Other Michelin restaurants in Vancouver include AnnaLena, serving contemporary Canadian fare and creative cocktails in a stylish, modern setting; French-Canadian inspired St Lawrence and Chinese restaurant iDen & QuanJuDe Beijing, where the Beijing roast duck is a speciality.
Quebec
Quebec is the latest region to become a Michelin Guide destination, when the guide expanded into the area in 2024.
Tanière³, in Québec City, has become the first in the region to earn two Michelin stars. The restaurant serves a tasting menu of between 12 and 18 courses and each dish remains a mystery until the plates are revealed.
Eight other restaurants were awarded one star, while 17 were awarded the Bib Gourmand for delivering standout food at great value. Altogether, 102 restaurants across the province made it into the guide.
Other regions
Elsewhere in Canada, other stand-out gourmet experiences are on offer, including a growing number of indigenous restaurants or upmarket cooking classes.
Prince Edward County, for example, is known as the ‘gastronomic capital of Ontario’ and here guests can guests can book onto an all-day Bounty of the County adventure, where they can choose their menu, shop locally and make lunch at the From the Farm Cooking School.
Another option is the Island Flavours Culinary Bootcamp in Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, where guests can cook a locally inspired creation at the Culinary Institute of Canada. For something different, the Cork & Cast is Atlantic Canada’s only floating restaurant and serves local seafood.
Meanwhile, in Labrador, Mamattuk, a new, contemporary dining indigenous restaurant, part of the Royal Inn + Suites in Labrador, has recently won a 2025 Indigenous Tourism Award.
