Where to eat in London, Ontario
The Early Bird
This vibrant Southwestern city, known as “The Forest City,” is Canada’s first UNESCO City of Music, home to the historic Grand Theatre and recognized as the birthplace of insulin. Beyond its cultural credentials, London boasts a dynamic culinary scene worth planning a trip around.
At the heart of downtown, the Covent Garden Market has been a local landmark since 1845, uniting farmers, specialty vendors and artisanal producers under one roof. Guided tours and flavourful events with Forest City Culinary Experiences offer an insider’s perspective.
From there, explore the surrounding neighbourhoods. Wortley Village, Richmond Row and Old East Village serve up everything from farm-fresh fare and refined dining to comforting classics and global flavours.
Here’s a curated selection of some of London’s top restaurants and can’t-miss culinary stops. And if you’re catching a show at the Grand Theatre, bring your same-day ticket as select restaurants offer dining discounts through the theatre’s VIP program.
Breakfast and brunch
The Early Bird
A retro-inspired diner brings a punk and hip-hop twist to breakfast and brunch, made with fresh, local ingredients. Coffee and signature cocktails round out the unique menu.
This restaurant is part of the Grand Theatre VIP program.
Location: 355 Talbot Street, London
Spare Parts Diner
An all-day diner serving an inventive breakfast menu in one of London’s most playful interiors. Its eclectic garage-inspired decor features retro signage, vintage auto parts, bare bulbs and subway tiles.
Location: 63 Clarke Road, London
The Cappa
Cappadocia Breakfast & Cafe, also known as “The Cappa,” brings a Mediterranean flair to London’s brunch scene with warm gozlemes (stuffed flatbread), soft and flavourful menemen (Turkish scrambled eggs) and a selection of simit sandwiches layered with cream cheese, tomatoes or cured meats. Enjoy dining “outdoors” year-round on the enclosed patio.
Location: 1006 Gainsborough Road, London
East Asian cuisine
MORI Japanese Bar
A cozy Japanese bar and restaurant in Wortley Village, the intimate space is decorated with dark woods, glowing paper lanterns and a charming collection of unique sake cups.
Location: 147 Wortley Road, London
Thaifoon Restaurant & Bar
Offering an elevated Thai experience, the menu at this family-owned restaurant blends home-grown herbs, local produce and specialty ingredients imported from Thailand.
Location: 120 Dundas Street, London
Mr and Mrs Bao
Step into the natural wooden interior, accented with soft lighting and bamboo steamer lids decorating the walls and choose from a selection of inventive bao fillings, ranging from jerk chicken and popcorn shrimp to bulgogi beef and fried soy. Beyond bao, enjoy hearty rice bowls, ramen noodles and dumplings.
Location: 551 Richmond Street, Unit 1, London
KatsuMe
“Katsu” refers to a crispy fried cutlet of meat or seafood made with flaky breadcrumbs, and KatsuMe celebrates this popular dish with a wide range of katsu flavours and styles. Alternatively, enjoy comforting Korean favourites like tteobokki (simmered rice cake), bibimbap, tofu stew, rice bowls or udon noodles.
Location: 171 Queens Avenue, London
Indian restaurants
Cochin Delights
A contender for the best Indian cuisine in London, Cochin Delights welcomes guests with a bright, colourful interior and a menu that reflects the authentic flavours, dosa and curries of South India, as well as fusion Chinese dishes.
Location: 735 Wonderland Road North Unit 17/18, London
Karahi Point
Savour traditional Pakistani dishes full of depth and aroma, from the sizzling signature karahi available in chicken, paneer, fish and goat, to an assortment of halal-certified classics like chicken pakora, lamb chops, goat charsi and curries.
Location: 1389 Dundas Street, London
Classic Italian
Pizzeria Madre
Warm hospitality, rustic ambiance created from exposed steel beams and wooden booths and delicious Italian fare, including signature stone-fired, thin-crust pizzas, make this a great spot for date night.
Location: 320 Thames Street, Unit 106, London
Ellie’s Pizzeria
This neighbourhood eatery is popular for artisanal brick-oven pizzas, each one baked to achieve its signature “leopard-spotted” light and crispy crust as well as generous Italian meat subs.
Location: 389 Wharncliffe Road South, London
Dolcetto Risto
Bask in the relaxed vibe of a traditional European trattoria, serving modern Italian cuisine crafted with locally sourced ingredients, including herbs from the on-site herb garden.
Location: 3020 Colonel Talbot Road, London
Spageddy Eddy’s
An Italian gem, Spageddy Eddy’s has been a downtown London staple for over 25 years, with wonderfully kitschy decor and simple, authentic homestyle food.
Location: 428 Richmond Street, London
Mexican and Latin fare
Los Lobos
The festive decor matches the bold flavours, craft cocktails and premium tequila at this family-style modern Mexican restaurant.
Location: 580 Talbot Street, London
Soho’s Tacos and Tequila
Specializing in Latino-Mexican food fusion, Soho’s Tacos and Tequila brings bold flavours to a bright space decorated with a patterned ceiling and colourful wall paintings.
Location: 466 South Street, London
Ivano Poblano
Located in a converted heritage space, enjoy 100% organic Mexican dishes from the Ivano Egg Scramble for breakfast to tacos, tortas, tortivanos, mole enchiladas or grilled cheese sandwiches.
Location: 390 Wharncliffe Road South, London
Mexicactus Bar & Grill
A family-run spot offering an impressive selection of tacos served with seasoned rice and beans as well as Mexican staples like enchiladas, fajitas, quesadillas, chimichangas and paella.
Location: 1392 Trafalgar Street, London
Sandwiches and burgers
BTRMLK
What started as kitchen experimentation and a pop-up shop in the family garage has become one of London’s best fried chicken restaurants.
Locations:
Renee's Sandwich Shop
When you’re craving an Italian beef, hot honey buffalo chicken, Caprese or turkey brie sandwich on freshly baked bread, Renee’s is the place to go.
Location: 1018 Dundas Street, Unit 1, London
Winks Eatery
Choose from crowd-pleasing shareables and a lineup of casual pub-style mains, including burgers, tacos and entrees like steak and baby back ribs, as well as a good selection of draft beer options. With live music on Thursdays to Saturdays and karaoke on Sundays, Winks buzzes with energy.
This restaurant is part of the Grand Theatre VIP program.
Location: 551 Richmond Street, Unit 12, London
Vegetarian and vegan
The Green Window
Savour fresh salads, bowls and wraps with a wide range of flavourful and nutritious toppings alongside a healthy smoothie.
Locations:
- 201 Queens Avenue, London
- 1876 Oxford Street West, Unit 6, London
- Masonville Mall, 1680 Richmond Street, London
Plant Matter Kitchen
Vegans will appreciate this entire plant-based menu, built around locally sourced, ethical ingredients that shine in both the popular salads and entrees. Pair your meal with organic kombucha in ginger, raspberry lemonade or strawberry apple.
Location: 162 Wortley Road, London
Elevated dining experiences
Papi’s Steakhouse
Behind a hidden speakeasy-style entrance, you’ll find one of London’s finest steak restaurants. Recently named one of OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants in Canada, the intimate interior with hanging chandeliers and live piano music creates a romantic atmosphere. But the star of the show is, of course, the exceptional selection of Canada AAA, USDA Prime and Wagyu steaks.
Location: 100 Kellogg Lane, London
Yaya’s Kitchen
Yaya’s Kitchen is a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Savour West African cuisine, drawn from African, Black and Caribbean culinary heritage, blended with contemporary techniques.
Guests are treated to a thoughtfully curated and well-informed blind seasonal tasting menu. Learn the cultural significance behind each dish, where the dish’s ingredients come from and how they’re traditionally eaten.
Location: 421 Ridout Street North, London
Garlic’s of London
As its name suggests, Garlic’s leans fully into bold, aromatic flavours. The famous slow-roasted garlic bulb appetizer is made with Ontario garlic, herbed Ontario chevre and Newfoundland sea salt. More garlic-infused menu items include black garlic fettuccine, beer tenderloin with a black garlic demi-glace and the unique house-churned garlic ice cream.
This restaurant is part of the Grand Theatre VIP program.
Location: 481 Richmond Street, London
Craft Farmacy
This contemporary farm-to-table restaurant blends local flavours with an elevated oyster bar experience, featuring a premier selection of oysters on the half shell plus petit and grand shellfish towers.
This restaurant is part of the Grand Theatre VIP program.
Location: 449 Wharncliffe Road South, Suite 1, London
Hard Rock Hotel
The Hard Rock Hotel is a recent addition to London’s culinary scene, with a stylish lobby bar, an upscale contemporary menu at Sessions Restaurant and a selection of curated mixologist-driven cocktails in 1913 Speakeasy.
This restaurant is part of the Grand Theatre VIP program.
Location: 100 Kellogg Lane, Unit 1, London
Desserts and sweet treats
Mustangs Dessert
From classic cakes and gourmet ice cream to waffles, crepes, milkshakes and more, Mustangs Dessert’s handcrafted treats emphasize flavour, quality and artistry.
Location: 276 Wharncliffe Road North, London
Boxcar Donuts
Boxcar Donuts has grown into London’s go-to doughnut spot for artisanal, limited-edition doughnuts cut and made by hand.
Locations:
Haven’s Creamery
Enjoy hand-crafted ice cream made with real and quality ingredients—with classic scoops like vanilla, mint chocolate chunk, cookie dough, strawberry and salty caramel.
Location: 226 Piccadilly Street, London
Late-night spots
Barney’s Patio
Enjoy flavourful and satisfying late-night bites and popular sharables like nachos and dips. On weekends, dance to live DJ sets playing high-energy dance tracks, country favourites or timeless rock and roll.
Location: 671 Richmond Street, London
Babaz Shawarma
Get your late-night shawarma fix at Babaz Shawarma or opt for something else from the Middle Eastern menu, including rice bowls drizzled with tahini, fresh salads with homemade dressing and the unique Babaz burgers.
Location: 243 Wharncliffe Road North, London
Burger Burger
Located on Richmond Row, London’s bustling nightlife street, Burger Burger stays open until midnight, Sunday to Tuesday and even later from Wednesday to Saturday. The quick-serve, brick-clad joint offers premium burgers made fresh in-house along with fresh-cut fries, poutine, onion rings and milkshakes.
Location: 633 Richmond Street, London
Dos Tacos
Another late-night hotspot on Richmond Row, Dos Tacos remains open until the early hours on weekends, serving fun taco flavour combinations.
Location: 611 Richmond Street, London
With so many incredible flavours across the city, these must-try places are a great starting point for anyone wondering where to eat in London.
Last updated: April 23, 2026