Bib Gourmand restaurants in Toronto

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 Édouard and André 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 recognisable, easy-to-eat, and offers something you feel you could attempt to replicate at home”. The criteria for Bib Gourmand restaurants is tailored based on the cost of living in each country and region, making it a useful resource for diners looking to enjoy an excellent meal in an informal, relaxed setting without going over budget. 

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

Restaurants in Toronto with a Bib Gourmand award

Here are the restaurants in Toronto that have received the MICHELIN Bib Gourmand award. 

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, which is 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 on Wednesdays to Mondays, from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and accepts walk-ins only.

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.

They also smoke their own bacon, bake their biscuits and doughnuts daily, bottle their own hot sauce and grow their own vegetables. Plus, the wine and beer list features exclusively Ontario producers, so you’ll be supporting local businesses with every great drink you enjoy.

White Lily Diner is open for reservations on Wednesdays to Sundays from 9:00 a.m.to 4:00 p.m. and accepts walk-ins only.

Location: 678 Queen Street East, Toronto

BB’s Diner

Bask in the relaxed vibe and pastel decor that embellish Parkdale’s BB’s Diner. Take a seat at a banquette, 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.

BB’s Diner is open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and for dinner on Thursdays to Saturdays from 6:00 p.m. to late. Brunch is walk-in only, book dinner reservations by texting (416)-668-2023.

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, the cuisine is inspired by regional Chinese dishes from Sichuan, Shanxi, Guangdong and Hong Kong.

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

Sunnys Chinese is open for reservations on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays from 5:00 to 11:00 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00 p.m. to midnight. Book a reservation by emailing reservations@sunnyschinese.com.

Location: 60 Kensington Avenue Units 6–14, Toronto

The Ace

Prepare to step back into the 1950s at The Ace, a vintage diner located 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.

Their dinner menu changes every week and features favourite 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). Their ingredients are locally sourced and come from farmsteads like Mount Wolfe Farm. 

The Ace is open on Fridays to Sundays for brunch and on Wednesdays to Saturdays for dinner. Check their website for exact hours. 

Location: 231A Roncesvalles Avenue

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 even regular customers to continuously try new and exciting dishes made with noodles, rice, bread, dumplings and much more. Staff are happy to suggest the best natural wine from their extensive selection to pair with your food. 

Alma is open for reservations on Wednesdays to Saturdays, from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. 

Location: 1194 Bloor Street West

Bar Raval

Elegantly carved mahogany wood frames the cavernous interior of Bar Raval, a Spanish pintxos bar run by Grant von Gameron. 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 are offered. 

Bar Raval is open daily from 11:00 to 1:00 a.m. Note inside is standing only (seating is available on the patio) and they do not take reservations. 

Location: 505 College Street

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 into returning again and again. Take a seat inside their dining room among the retro painted walls or sit in their outdoor patio decorated with string lights and hanging plants.

The wide variety of tacos are cooked with tortillas made in-house and include grilled sirloin steak, chorizo, chipotle chicken, haddock, cauliflower, mushrooms and more. All of Campechano’s meat is ethically sourced, while their 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 on any day of the week. Check their website for exact hours. 

Location: 504 Adelaide Street West

Cherry St. Bar-B-Que

A popular counter-service style barbecue house, Cherry St. 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 St. Bar-B-Que is open on Wednesdays to Sundays, from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 

Location: 275 Cherry Street

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 attracts guests from all over 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. Their chicken is locally sourced from grain-fed, free-run Ontario farms, and is 100% halal. 

Chica’s Chicken is open on Tuesdays to Saturdays from noon to 8:00 p.m., and on Sundays from noon to 6:00 p.m.

Location: 2853 Dundas Street West

Enoteca Sociale

Enjoy simple and delectable 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, carbonara and linguine nero di seppia.

Enjoy a light panna cotta or a 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 on Tuesdays to Sundays, from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. The restaurant’s private wine cellar can be booked for up to 14 guests for a more intimate dining experience. 

Location: 1288 Dundas Street

Fat Pasha

Wood-panelled accent walls, marble bar tops and a scenic Middle Eastern mural set the country-chic vibe of Fat Pasha. Here, you’ll find classic Middle Eastern foods such as falafels, hummus, baba ganoush, chicken shawarma, smoked whitefish cake and roast root vegetables.

Families or groups with 4-5 guests can order the Pasha Family Dinners (available with meat or vegetarian) for samples of the most popular dishes on their menu. Top off your meal with arak, a traditional Middle Eastern anise-flavoured alcoholic beverage.

When the weather is nice, take advantage of the restaurant’s beautiful patio with communal tables, wooden trellises, hanging flower baskets and fairy lights. 

Fat Pasha is open for reservations. Book for dinner on Tuesdays to Sundays from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m., or for lunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Location: 414 Dupont Street

Favorites Thai BBQ

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

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

Favorites Thai BBQ is open for reservations on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. and Thursdays to Saturdays from 6:00 to 10:30 p.m. 

Location: 141 Ossington Avenue

Fonda Balam

Authentic Mexican cuisine and culture is showcased at Fonda Balam with foods inspired by classic home-cooked meals and street foods. The restaurant is founded by celebrity Chef Matty Matheson and former chefs of the MICHELIN-starred restaurant Quetzal, Chef Kate Chomyshyn and Julio Guajardo. The trio wanted to bring regional ingredients and cooking traditions from Mexico to tables in Toronto. 

Tacos are the highlight of their menu, particularly the taco de birria and taco de lengua (beef tongue). Enjoy your meal with one of their many tequila cocktails and finish with a chocolate cake with coconut flan or an avocado and passion fruit sorbet. The bright yellow decor, baby blue counters and cacti plants make you feel like you’re in Mexico on a sunny day. 

Fonda Balam is open on Mondays to Sundays from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. and does not accept reservations. 

Location: 802 Dundas Street West

Grey Gardens

In the heart of Kensington Market, Grey Gardens is where anyone, whether a new couple on a first date or a large group of friends hanging out, can take delight in the food and lively atmosphere, with all their needs met.

Owned by restaurateur Jen Agg, this restaurant has both a spacious dining room and 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 Grey Gardens menu features several small plates and main dishes, but the chief attraction is its seafood dishes, which include scallops with cucumbers, spaghetti with mackerel, cod with broccolini and snacks of raw oysters and smoked fish. 

Grey Gardens is open for reservations on Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. 

Location: 199 Augusta Avenue

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 famous pav bhaji. 

Indian Street Food Company is open for reservations on Tuesdays to Sundays, from noon to 9:00 p.m. 

Location: 1701 Bayview Avenue

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 not only specializes in Mexican cuisine but is also completely vegetarian.

On the brunch menu, you’ll find black sesame tostadas, quesadillas, braised hibiscus tacos and more, while the dinner menu also offers black aguachile, green chileatole soup, tetelas filled with oaxacan refried beans, and roasted plantain tamales with red mole. A curated list of Mezcal, cocktails, and Mexican-style beer is available to be paired with the dish of your choosing. 

La Bartola is open for reservations. Book for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4:00 p.m. or for dinner on any day of the week from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. 

Location: 588 College Street

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 tostada, carne asada tacos, mashed potatoes with asadero cheese and carlota (Maria cookies layered with lime, condensed milk and cream cheese, topped with peach slices). 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, from noon to 9:00 p.m. and does not take reservations.

Location: 1425 Gerrard Street East

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 urban restaurant is located in the heart of 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, scallop siu mai, hamachi sashimi, lamb spiducci, chili crab tonnarelli, R&D fried rice (featuring mushroom XO and porcini butter) and much more. 

R&D is open for reservations on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. 

Location: 241 Spadina Avenue

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 own 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, they offer smoked meat plates, poutine and traditional sides like french fries, coleslaw and pickles. 

SumiLicious is open for casual dining and takeout on Wednesdays to Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location: 5631 Steeles Avenue East #5

Wynona

Chef Jeff Bovis is the owner of Wynona, a friendly and hospitable bistro where meals are 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, it creates a spacious, airy atmosphere.

The menu changes weekly and reflects the season but seafood and homemade pasta are the most popular choices, including dishes like albacore tuna crudo, cuttlefish ink tonarelli and Ontario sweet corn agnolotti. Staff are happy to recommend the perfect wine to go with your dish. 

Wynona is open for reservations on Mondays to Saturdays, from 5:00 to 9:45 p.m. Both the dining room and outdoor patio are available for reservations. 

Location: 819 Gerrard Street East

NOTE: All the 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.