Best new restaurants in the King West area of Toronto
Published March 14, 2025 at 3:25 pm
New restaurants in Toronto’s King West neighbourhood are fighting for the attention of crowds of people strolling along the busy strip. It’s an area frequented by both tourists and locals alike, where you can indulge in anything from a quick happy hour drink to an elaborate multi-course dinner with expensive cocktails and champagne.
Here are the best new restaurants in the King West neighbourhood.
Escape bustling King and Portland by ducking into this corner space that’s a cheeky nod to horse track betting parlours. You’ll find far better libations and food here than at any off track betting place, though.
Huge ballooning chalices of draft beer are served alongside surprisingly good Tex Mex that’s exactly what you want after a few cocktails, including the wide range of margaritas on offer from spicy to mango, melon, black currant and passion fruit.
Guacamole is a little chunky thanks to pico de gallo piled on top and has a mild heat, served with crunchy tortilla chips. Chorizo tacos feel true to late night Tex Mex with a double stacked hard and soft shell and classic shredded lettuce and pico, finished off with a kick of chipotle and a creamy three-cheese blend.
Toronto now has its own locations of a hand roll bar brand from British Columbia. The King West location brings a little west coast serenity to the busy neighbourhood with an airy, high-ceilinged space decorated with minimalistic wooden swirls.
Belly up to the wraparound bar, the only seating in the restaurant, and watch hand rolls be assembled and presented to you one at a time before your very eyes.
It’s as much an experience as it is a meal, as you’re taken on a journey through courses of handrolls from negitoro to melt-in-your-mouth salmon, luxurious snow crab and spicy salmon.
If you’re looking to feel fancy, head to this restaurant on Portland with a greenhouse-like glass wall and skylight at the back that feels like it was transported straight from Paris. They’re unique as a French restaurant, seeing as the menu mainly revolves around a selection of pasta dishes.
Their ravioles de Dauphine dish has gone viral for its distinct look with lots of golden brown mini raviolis served in a single connected sheet absolutely swimming in a decadent pool of nutty butter sauce with parmesan cheese and black pepper.
If you really want to ball out, they also have a spaghetti with uni cream and a gnocchi with caviar, as well as bottles of champagne on the drinks menu that cost hundreds.