6 Toronto brunch spots worth the wait right now
A local food writer rounds up her favourite neighbourhood spots, from the cult-hit Little Italy diner blending North American comfort with Asian flavours to an upscale Nikkei restaurant on Bay Street.
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Toronto's brunch scene keeps shifting, but a few spots have locked in their place as go-to destinations. Here are six worth making plans for.
Susie's Rise and Dine (Little Italy, 539 College St.) opened just last year and has already become a neighbourhood fixture. Three childhood friends designed the menu around classic North American diner food with Asian flavours they grew up eating. The space honours co-owner Adam Lore's grandmother Susie with nostalgic floral patterns and family stories woven throughout. The Big Trouble Breakfast Sandwich (inspired by Big Trouble in Little China), a mapo Frito pie, and pancakes have developed loyal followings. The deep-fried tower of onion rings and plural hashbrowns are worth a visit alone. It feels designed for sharing plates.
Chotto Matte (Bay Street, 161 Bay St.) swings the opposite direction — this is brunch as celebration, not recovery. The Japanese-Peruvian space combines live DJs, dramatic plating, and one of the most stylish dining rooms in the city. The menu ranges from dulce de leche pancakes and shakshuka to ceviche, sushi, and wagyu sliders. It's the more upscale option here, best for treating yourself or marking an occasion.
Maha's remains the heart of Toronto's brunch culture — a reliable anchor that keeps drawing regulars back.
Other standouts include a trendy Japanese-inspired café and an old-school diner that locals swear by, each bringing their own angle to weekend morning eating. The city's brunch scene has matured enough that you can pick based on mood: casual neighbourhood spot, elaborate celebration venue, or something in between. The hardest part now is choosing which one to hit first.