Bib Gourmand restaurants in Toronto and beyond

MICHELIN Bib Gourmand Award

The Bib Gourmand rating system began as part of the MICHELIN Guide, created in 1900 by brothers and car tire manufacturers Edouard and Andre Michelin. In 1955, MICHELIN Inspectors started marking restaurants with an “R” in the guide to recognize the ones they noted served high-quality food at affordable prices. This later became known as the Bib Gourmand Award.

The MICHELIN Guide describes Bib Gourmand restaurants as offering “a simpler style of cooking, which is recognizable, easy-to-eat and offers something you feel you could attempt to replicate at home.” The criteria for Bib Gourmand restaurants are tailored based on the cost of living in each country and region, making it a useful resource for diners looking to enjoy exceptional dining experiences at affordable restaurants.

A notable addition to the MICHELIN Star criteria is the Green Star, recognizing restaurants committed to more sustainable cuisine using eco-friendly practices.

Bib Gourmand Toronto

Here are the award-winning Toronto restaurants on the MICHELIN Bib Gourmand list.

Tiflisi

Located in the Beaches neighbourhood, Tiflisi celebrates the culinary diversity and heartfelt hospitality of Georgia. This family-owned restaurant serves authentic Georgian cuisine, ranging from tasty appetizers like assorted pkhali (vegetables in walnut sauce) to baje (tender pan-fried chicken).

To start, sample fluffy khachapuri, a cheese pie with different fillings like egg yolk, boiled beans or minced pork. For your main, choose from a wide selection of delicious Georgian dishes on the menu, including chanakhi (stewed lamb), ojakhuri (fried potatoes) and chakhokhbili (Georgian duck stew). Many vegetarian options are available.

Tiflisi is open Wednesdays to Mondays and only accepts walk-ins for tables of two from Friday to Sunday. To reserve a table, call 416-686-7389.

Location: 1970 Queen Street East, Toronto

White Lily Diner

Large windows filter in the light illuminating the wooden accents and natural decor of White Lily Diner, a Bib Gourmand and Green Star winner.

This cozy, old-school restaurant specializes in comfort foods made with quality local ingredients such as buttermilk griddle cakes, Caesar-ish salad, smoked turkey club, meatloaf dinner and so much more. The menu changes every week, so you can sample new meals every time you visit.

White Lily Diner smokes its own bacon, bakes biscuits and doughnuts daily, bottles homemade hot sauce and grows vegetables. Plus, the wine and beer list exclusively features Ontario producers, so you’ll support local businesses with every great drink you enjoy.

The diner is open on Wednesdays to Sundays and accepts walk-ins only.

Location: 678 Queen Street East, Toronto

BB’s

Bask in the relaxed vibe and pastel decor at Parkdale’s BB’s Diner. Opt for an intimate table for two, slide up on a stool at the omakase-style bar or sit on the heated patio, weather permitting.

This diner creates perfectly balanced sweet and tart Filipino-inspired dishes, from garlic rice and eggplant omelette for brunch to coconut curry, pork shoulder and adobo fried chicken for dinner.

Vegan and vegetarian meal options are available. Check the restaurant’s Instagram page for current weekly specials.

Brunch is walk-in only, but you can book dinner reservations.

Location: 5 Brock Avenue, Toronto

Sunnys Chinese

With pale green booths and black-and-white checkered floors, Sunnys Chinese may be reminiscent of a classic American diner. However, their Chinese cuisine is inspired by regional dishes from Sichuan, Shanxi, Guangdong and Hong Kong.

Experience homestyle food directly from the wok and charcoal grill like mapo tofu, silver needle noodles and twice-cooked pork. Order a glass of Baijiu (Chinese liquor) to go with your meal. And be sure to leave room for dessert—soft serve or Hong Kong-style French toast.

There’s a reason people consider it some of the best Chinese food in Toronto.

Sunnys Chinese is open for reservations from Wednesdays to Mondays.

Location: 60 Kensington Avenue, Units 6–14, Toronto

The Ace

Prepare to step back into the 1950s at this vintage diner in the heart of Roncesvalles Village. Owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Rafael Badell and Maggie Stackpole, The Ace serves classic brunch food such as eggs, French toast, omelettes and eggs Benedict.

The locally sourced dinner menu changes every week. It features dishes like hanger steak, pan-seared Spanish mackerel, steamed mussels, dandelion greens and “The Ace” burger (made with beef chuck, caramelized onions, iceberg lettuce and cheddar cheese).

The Ace is open Tuesdays to Saturdays for dinner and Saturdays and Sundays for brunch.

Location: 231A Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto

Alma

Savour mouth-watering Chinese fusion dishes and appetizers at Alma, led by Chef Anna Chen.

This minimalist, cozy restaurant in Bloordale Village gives you the comfortable feeling of home.

Menu items change frequently and seasonally, allowing customers to continuously try new and exciting dishes made with noodles, rice, bread, dumplings and more. Ask for suggestions from the extensive wine selection to pair with your food.

Alma is open for reservations on Tuesdays to Saturdays.

Location: 1194 Bloor Street West, Toronto

Bar Raval

Elegantly carved mahogany wood frames the cavernous interior of Bar Raval, an authentic pintxos bar serving small plates of vibrant Spanish cuisine. Order a drink at the counter, then gather with friends around the barrel tabletops illuminated by hanging red and yellow lights.

The menu is inspired by the cuisine of Barcelona and features small plates of shareable foods like razor clams, Marcona almonds, tomato bread, fried eggplants and Basque cheesecake. A full list of cocktails, beer and wine is also offered.

Bar Raval is open daily. Inside is standing only (seating is available on the patio) and the restaurant does not take reservations.

Location: 505 College Street, Toronto

Campechano

If you like tacos, you’ll love Campechano. This small, cozy restaurant at the corner of Adelaide Street West and Portland Street has a rustic charm that entices guests to return again and again. Take a seat inside the dining room among the retro-painted walls or on the outdoor patio decorated with string lights and hanging plants.

The wide variety of tacos are cooked with in-house tortillas and include grilled sirloin steak, chorizo, chipotle chicken, haddock, cauliflower, mushrooms and more. All of Campechano’s meat is ethically sourced, while the heirloom corn is imported directly from smallholder farms in Mexico. Pair your meal with popular cocktails such as margaritas and sangrias.

Reserve a table at Campechano.

Location: 504 Adelaide Street West, Toronto

Cherry Street Bar-B-Que

A popular counter-service style barbecue house, Cherry Street Bar-B-Que is located inside a historic former bank in the Port Lands district.

Authentic smoked meat is prepared on the patio over live oak fires, a cooking technique brought here by Pitmaster Lawrence La Pianta, who gained experience in the Kansas City Barbeque Society competitive cooking circuit. Order a portion of their barbecued meats like brisket, pulled pork, turkey breast, smoked chicken, sausages and ribs or get a large sampler platter to share.

Cherry Street Bar-B-Que is open on Wednesdays to Sundays.

Location: 275 Cherry Street, Toronto

Chica’s Chicken

Be sure to order some drinks before trying Chica’s Chicken’s famous Nashville-style spicy fried chicken. Run by husband-and-wife team Matt and Carolyn, this restaurant’s unique mixture of dry-brined chicken and in-house spice blend has created irresistible hot chicken that some call the best fried chicken in Toronto.

The average person can handle the mild and medium heat chicken pieces on the Chica’s Chicken menu, while spice lovers can go for the higher tiers spiced up with ghost peppers and Carolina Reapers. The chicken is locally sourced from grain-fed, free-run Ontario farms and is 100% halal.

Chica’s Chicken is open on Tuesdays to Sundays.

Location: 2853 Dundas Street West, Toronto

Conejo Negro

Proudly honouring a blend of Caribbean, Creole and Latin cultures, Conejo Negro boasts a thoughtfully crafted menu embodying the rich essence of all three cultures.

Vibrant small plate options include Brazilian cheese puffs, pork belly tacos and firecracker shrimp, while the larger dishes like jerk chicken, blackened fish and Caribbean-style braised beef don’t skimp on the bold flavours either.

The chefs also extend their culinary creativity to the cocktail menu, with original flavours like the Sanchez Sour, Wray n Ting or Spicy Pineapple Margarita.

Book a table in the cozy, sophisticated space and discover why it’s known as one of Toronto’s better date night restaurants.

Location: 838 College Street, Toronto

Enoteca Sociale

Enjoy simple and delicious Italian small plates at Enoteca Sociale. Led by Chef Kyle Rindinella, this family-friendly restaurant draws inspiration from Roman culinary practices and serves traditional dishes such as spaghetti cacio e pepe, gnocchi pomodoro and bucatini all’ Amatriciana.

Treat yourself to a chocolate terrine or classic tiramisu for dessert. Italian-focused wines that are difficult to find anywhere else in Ontario are available at the bar and optional pairings can be curated for your meal.

Enoteca Sociale is open for reservations daily. For a more intimate dining experience, the restaurant’s private wine cellar can be booked for up to 14 guests.

Location: 1288 Dundas Street West, Toronto

Favorites Thai

Located west of Trinity Bellwoods Park on Ossington Avenue, Favorites Thai BBQ can be difficult to find—hidden behind a small coffee shop.

Once you find this restaurant, you’re in for a treat with any of the delicious items on the menu: sticky rice spring rolls, fried chicken wings, calamari and coconut rice salad and much more. The narrow dining room, natural lighting and minimalist decor give the place a cozy, intimate feel.

Favorites Thai BBQ is open for reservations from Tuesdays to Saturdays.

Location: 141 Ossington Avenue, Toronto

Grey Gardens

Soak in the lively atmosphere at one of Toronto’s favourite seafood restaurants in the heart of Kensington Market.

Owned by restaurateur Jen Agg, this restaurant has a spacious dining room and a charming outdoor patio. It boasts an extensive list of wines: pair one with a sit-down dinner or taste test them all by booking the private wine cellar for eight to 14 people.

The menu features small plates and main dishes. The chief attraction is its seafood dishes, which include scallops with cucumbers, raw oysters and smoked fish.

Grey Gardens is open for reservations on Mondays to Saturdays.

Location: 199 Augusta Avenue, Toronto

Indian Street Food Company

Tucked among the packed row of shops lining Bayview Avenue, the Indian Street Food Company is a neighbourhood hotspot—and for good reason. A tribute to old Indian coffee shops, this restaurant offers a comfortable, homey atmosphere with its reclaimed wood walls, collection of photographs and soft lighting.

Explore its varied menu of imaginative dishes inspired by India’s street vendors, with small plates featuring exciting variations of thali, tandoori, curry and cooked vegetables. Other great main course options include lasooni cauliflower, savoury chaats served with chutneys and the famous pav bhaji.

Indian Street Food Company is open for reservations.

Location: 1701 Bayview Avenue, East York

La Bartola

Simple, fresh and high-quality locally sourced ingredients are on full display at La Bartola, Chef Ivan Castro’s ode to Mexican cooking and authentic Mexican flavours. This trendy taqueria specializes in Mexican cuisine and is also completely vegetarian.

On the dinner menu, find black aguachile, green chileatole soup and Oaxacan tetelas filled with pistachio pipian. A curated list of Mezcal, cocktails and Mexican-style beer can be paired with your meal.

La Bartola is open for reservations from Tuesdays to Sundays.

Location: 588 College Street, Toronto

Puerto Bravo

Puerto Bravo began as a small home business that took orders through Facebook. Its popularity encouraged head Chefs Luis Bautista and Viridiana Cano to open a permanent restaurant in busy Little India—you’ll spot it from the sparkling blue crab on the front window. One of the best new restaurants in Toronto, it specializes in regional cooking from Tampico in the Gulf of Mexico.

It features dishes like wera tostadas, carne asada tacos, mashed potatoes with asadero cheese and carlota (Maria cookies layered with lime, condensed milk and cream cheese). Salsa is made in-house and a variety of cocktail options rotate on the weekends, ranging from papaya lime to cucumber mint.

Puerto Bravo is open on Tuesdays to Sundays and serves a brunch menu on weekends.

Location: 1425 Gerrard Street East, Toronto

R&D

Vibrant graffiti-covered walls and hanging pendant lights set the rebellious, daring vibe of R&D. Owned by famous Chinese-Canadian Chefs Alvin Leung and Eric Chong, this restaurant is in downtown Toronto’s Chinatown.

Branding itself as a modern Canadian-Asian restaurant, it draws inspiration from French, Chinese, Korean and other international cuisines to produce a unique fusion of unconventional flavours. The diverse and creative menu includes French onion spring rolls, pork and crab siu mai, kalbi beef bao, lamb spiducci, R&D fried rice (featuring mushroom XO and porcini butter) and more.

R&D is open for reservations on Wednesdays to Sundays.

Location: 241 Spadina Avenue, Toronto

Rasa

Rasa is a relaxed, sharing-style gastropub with a vibrant menu that MICHELIN describes as offering “hearty, unfussy flavours in abundance.”

From the chickpea fritters with mascarpone and wasabi to the sea bream ceviche with chilli oil to the hanger steak cippolini—flavours and portion sizes are big, so bring friends and stay a while.

Catch Tiki Hour Sunday to Thursday, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. and try an original cocktail, including an Apricot Gin Smash or Banana Bread Old Fashioned. A full mocktail menu is also available.

Reserve your spot through OpenTable. Contact events@rasabar.ca for larger groups.

Location: 196 Robert Street, Toronto

SumiLicious Smoked Meat & Deli

Located inside Scarborough’s Milliken Crossing outdoor shopping mall, SumiLicious Smoked Meat & Deli brings a passion for high-quality deli meat to the Greater Toronto Area.

Owner Sumith Fernando worked in Montreal’s famous Schwartz’s Deli before creating his signature spice blend recipe. Fluorescent lighting and red-and-white checkered decor give the impression of a classic deli.

The enticing combination of peppery brisket, soft rye bread, yellow mustard and delicious Montreal smoked meat have made SumiLicious a popular staple in the community. In addition to sandwiches, choose from smoked meat plates, poutine and traditional sides like french fries, coleslaw and pickles.

SumiLicious is open for casual dining and takeout from Wednesdays to Sundays.

Location: 5631 Steeles Avenue East #5, Scarborough

Wynona

Chef Jeff Bovis owns Wynona, a friendly and hospitable bistro serving meals inspired by Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. Large front windows allow plenty of natural sunlight to pour in, and combined with the restaurant’s high ceilings and light wood, creates a spacious, airy atmosphere.

The menu changes weekly and reflects the season but seafood and homemade pasta are the most popular choices. Staff are happy to recommend the perfect wine to go with your dish.

Wynona is open Mondays to Saturdays. Both the dining room and outdoor patio are available for reservations.

Location: 819 Gerrard Street East, Toronto

Bib Gourmand Restaurants outside Toronto

In 2024, the MICHELIN Guide expanded to include Bib Gourmand restaurants in Hamilton and Mississauga.

Berkeley North

Berkeley North was born after co-owners Matt and Diana Webber travelled the coast of California and felt inspired by restaurants that highlighted sharing plates, consciously sourced ingredients and prioritized guest experience.

Mouth-watering small plates include mushroom dumplings, teriyaki eggplant and chana rolls, while the large plates offer a feast of flavours from some of the best fried chicken you’ll taste to homemade, hand-cut gnocchi to Manitoulin Island trout pan-seared with brown butter.

Reserve a table online (call ahead for groups of six and over).

Location: 31 King William Street, Hamilton

Guru Lukshmi

Guru Lukshmi is a South Indian restaurant that serves vegetarian dishes with authentic South Indian flavours.

This family-run business has created a menu inspired by secret recipes passed through generations. Dishes hit the perfect of blend of flavour, fragrance, taste and visual appeal. In addition to popular Southern India dishes like idli, uthapam and sambar, the dosas are out of this world.

Although walk-in guests will try to be accommodated, reserving a table in advance is highly recommended.

Location: 7070 Saint Barbara Boulevard, Mississauga

Restaurants recognized by the MICHELIN Guide are guaranteed to see a dramatic increase in customers and reputation. You may need to check back regularly for reservation or table availability.

These Bib Gourmand restaurants are a tasty part of the endless smorgasbord of internationally inspired and locally sourced dining experiences in Toronto and throughout Ontario.

Explore the many diverse and delicious places to eat in Toronto and find the most foodie-forward places to stay in the city using the MICHELIN Guide to Toronto Hotels.