Best Lunch Restaurants in North York

Photo By: Owner/ Google Maps
Maps Data: Google

If you are in North York and craving for yummy lunch, it is recommended that you visit the famous Haida restaurant to have a great experience in tasting Persian and Middle Eastern style food. Haida is a small, somewhat hidden shop that packs a lot of good stuff into the food they make. You can also order your food online from their website or make a phone call, and you can easily register your order and have no worries about the quality of food or delay in sending your food.
This place is fantastic. Their lunch plates are not only unique but also delicious. There is no compromise in the taste despite their extensive and crazy menu. Those looking for beef alternatives will still find plenty to enjoy, like grilled chicken and vegan burger patties. The restaurant has a tremendous menu, one of their unique meals is “Haida Pizza Sandwich,” made up of chicken and beef Deli, green pepper, mozzarella cheese, ketchup, potato sticks, and mushroom, which are covered by Haida special sauces.
The food is simply 10/10 on every level and does not require further discussing- just come and eat here. This place has a unique ambiance matched with excellent food. Often places cheap out on the filling-in sandwiches but NOT Haida! Their menu is incredibly authentic; the restaurant’s meat has a unique taste and quality to it. Their special sauce makes the whole sandwich incredibly delicious, and the potato chips’ sticks bring out a salty flavour to the sandwich. Haida is the best place to grab a quick, delicious, and healthy meal. The staff is courteous and helps with suggestions if it is your first time there. This restaurant has made it very easy to find a place where anyone can delight their taste buds cause the food is fabulous, from preparation to presentation. Give it a try!

Photo By: Sheryl Kam/ Google Maps
Maps Data: Google
Petit Potato is a Taiwanese-Japanese restaurant found in the Finch-Leslie Square plaza, offering a collection of Asian dishes and inspiring desserts. If you are craving for fabulous lunch, here you are; Petit Potato is the best. A delightful selection of desserts, both Asian and fusion, along with an extensive menu of main courses and snacks, make this place a charming choice for customers’ lunch.
The menu here is endless. The restaurant has everything from hot plates of rice or noodles, ramen, risotto, desserts of all different kinds, and a variety of drinks. One of the most recommended dishes to order for lunch in Petit Potato is the Omurice, consisting of an omelet made with fried rice and thin, fried, scrambled eggs, usually topped with ketchup. The sauce is delicious, and the velvety smooth omelet goes well with the seasoned rice. If you are thirsty, go for the Ice Honey Chrysanthemum and Rose Tea. This impressive-looking drink comes in a tall clear jar and is subtly flavoured with rose and chrysanthemum blossoms, giving it a floral taste with a hint of honey.
Inside, a collection of bare lightbulbs is suspended from the ceiling, while light wood finishes offer a bit of warmth. Is not it great to go into a restaurant feeling welcomed? Every time you leave Petit Potato’s, you are more than satisfied with the customer service and food quality. Great care is taken here to have the ingredients fresh; it always makes a difference. It all feels very modern and welcoming. The service is exceptional and defiantly recommend the place to anyone who wanted a good meal with excellent service. They are also licensed, which is a big bonus! It is worth every penny and every minute you may have to wait. It is highly recommended. Give it a try!!

Photo By: 김양일/ Google Maps
Maps Data: Google
Eat BKK Thai Kitchen is a Thai restaurant with multiple Toronto locations, including this one in North York, offering tremendous lunch dishes. The first thing you notice when you walk in is the decor; it sets the ambiance nicely with fishnets levelling off the floor. They do a great job of making it feel like you are on a boat. Now at Eat BKK Tai Kitchen, traditional dishes like chicken satay, tom yum, and khao soi are on the menu, along with fusion foods that incorporate western flavours and ingredients.
One of the most recommended lunch dishes to order in this place is the Spaghetti curry, which is an unexpected winner. The simple combination of Italian-style pasta, chicken, and green Thai curry is much tastier than the sum of its parts. The curry is not saucy; instead, it clings to the noodles like pesto – it is like the ultimate comfort food. You can also order Khao soi poutine for your starter, which is among the most intriguing dishes on offer. The fries come topped with cheese curds and chunks of beef, and everything’s smothered in coconut curry.
This place will not disappoint for sure. You will get excellent friendly service, and you will love the home town feel of this place. The dining room is decorated with a hand-drawn Bangkok map and an illustrated glossary of Thai ingredients. The service is amiable. You can tell they take pride in what they do and the food they serve – and they should. Because everything we tried was superb. If you are looking for a pleasant clean atmosphere to go along with some good tasty food, Eat BKK Thai Kitchen is the spot. Overall, a fantastic place. I recommend going for lunch, it is very filling, and you will want plenty of time to digest it!

Photo By: TT L/ Google Maps
Maps Data: Google
Baretto Caffe is a wonderful coffee shop in North York with a wide variety of bagel, sandwich, and pizza food items, all at reasonable prices. So, if you are craving a delicious lunch, here you are; Baretto Caffe is the best. The menu is simple, but the food is mouth-watering. The soups and salads are perfect and make lunchtime a treat. The food is terrific as usual, and the service is exceptional; they have always been consistent in terms of quality and professionalism.
One of the most recommended dishes to order in this place is the Lasagna, which is delicious and served quite a large portion. The side of greens is fresh, and the garlic toast is excellent. Another great thing about Baretto Caffe is that you are able to pick what kind of pasta you like to eat (rotini, fettuccini, penne, etc.). One of the best plates of pasta to try is their rosé rotini pasta, and it is to die for. It tastes very authentic to their culture, and it is excellent for its price. Their veggie pizza (the menu says they use whatever seasonal veggies they have on hand) is the star of the show – medium crust, nice and crispy crust, and you can see the veggies – mushrooms, peppers. Not like some veggie pizzas where everything is diced up so fine you cannot see anything. It comes with a bit of side salad.
The space is elegant and clean. Very spacious – tables are set a fairly good distance apart, giving you the feel of privacy. The decor is excellent, and the music is a mixture of classical and European pop. Since its location inside a laboratory building in the Don Mills area, it is not easy to find it. Parking near the premise is a bit limited, but there are plenty of spaces at the back of the building. The inside decor is ultra-modern with nice tables and chairs. You will enjoy eating there, give it a try, you will not be disappointed!

Photo By: Julia/ Google Maps
Maps Data: Google
Cafe Landwer is one of the most famous Mediterranean/ Israeli lunch spots in North York. Cafe Landwer a relaxed, diner feel and atmosphere. The portion sizes are enormous, so you definitely can pack the rest of the food and enjoy it for one more day. You will have a fun vibe with people at the bar on laptops having a working lunch and others enjoying themselves with friends. The prices are incredibly reasonable, especially given the huge portions and fresh quality.
One of the most recommended lunch dishes to order is the Sinia kebab, a hot stone oven-baked focaccia bowl with beef kebab, smoky charbroiled eggplant, tomato, and onion that’s flavorful but curiously has a few tattered tiny roots left on, chickpeas, and parsley all drizzled with tahini. You can also order chicken shawarma hummus, which is yummy. The chicken is very juicy and flavorful, while the Hummus is melt-in-your-mouth delicious! Blended to a very smooth and creamy consistency and seasoned with cumin and paprika, it is honestly the perfect dip. This order also will come with a few slivers of pickles that are flavorful or sour.
Space is designed in a modern vintage style with a tiled branding wall on one side advertising the place’s hundred-year heritage and old photos elsewhere. There is also a pleasant patio out front for nice days. Though this location’s view is of a strip mall, if patios are included in future downtown locations, those surroundings are sure to be a little more exciting and metropolitan. If you have yet to try Cafe Landwer, I recommend you try this location because the food and service are pretty amazing. Give it a try! You will not be disappointed.

Photo By: Bianca Devins/ Google Maps
Maps Data: Google
Finally – a great lunch spot in North York! Hazel’s Diner is better than all of the other soul food joints in the area. It is hard to show up to the Hazel’s Diner and not wait for a table. You will love how they offer good, tasty food – usually large portions, at a reasonable price. One unique thing you will love in this place is that they are predictable, with their traditional booths and inauspicious decor and down-to-earth servers.
One of the recommended dishes to order in this place is the Smoked Salmon Rosti, which is made up of crispy Rosti potato, sour cream, spinach, smoked salmon, red onions, and capers. So many choices! Something different every time you have been with some standbys. Their sandwiches are crunchy and meaty, which is surprising. There is an assortment of various meat, pickled vegetables, cheese, and spring mix lettuce, which are super yummy and fresh in this restaurant. Your tastebuds will guide you, and you shall never be hungry again – until you return, of course. Located in an obscure area of North York, one would expect to find such high-quality, creative food.
The place is a comforting mix of rustic and contemporary, feeling modern and airy yet a place where you could claim a corner and settle in for a bit. There is a decent amount of seating, and the cafe has tall ceilings and large windows to help make it light and bright inside; it seems to be a popular spot for studying and meetings. The service of the Hazel’s Diner is fabulous, and the staff moves at the speed of light, your orders up in a matter of minutes. The brunch dishes are simply 5/5 on every level and do not require further discussing- eat here. And so, the food is the reason that kept customers going back for all those years. What more can you ask for?

Photo By: Owner/ Google Maps
Maps Data: Google
Hay Sushi is located on Spring Garden Avenue, where the nearest big intersection is Sheppard and Yonge. Previously a local izakaya favourite is known as Ogadang. This spot has undergone a complete rebranding to reinvent itself as Hay Sushi, a restaurant offering a balance between traditional Japanese Moriawase and innovative fusion eats. Do not lose any time; let’s have lunch in this fabulous place.
One of the most recommended dishes to order in this place is the Salmon/ Tuna Nori Taco. The tacos are generously stuffed with chunks of fish and all of the accessory fillings. The salmon taco has a creamier undertone with garlic mayo, cilantro, and baby greens, while the tuna taco is sweeter and juicier with sweet soy sauce and Pico de Gallo. The taco shell is made with deep-fried seaweed (nori) akin to when you have Korean seaweed rolls, and it is so crunchy and flavorful, acting as the perfect complement to the soft sushi rice and smooth fish.
You can also try Ankake Egg & Crab Pasta for lunch in Hay Sushi. This one has a more subtle flavour compared to the Japanese Eggplant & Mushroom Pasta and a softer texture. It is still delicious. There are little pieces of zucchini and onion in the pasta, along with arugula and green onions. This is a unique one-of-a-kind item that you have not seen anywhere else, so I will say this is a must-try!
You will impress with this restaurant and its refreshing take on Japanese fusion as well as traditional Japanese offerings. All of the food is delicious, and you can tell they put a lot of care, thought, and innovation into their recipes. I Highly recommended this restaurant if you are looking for a different Japanese cuisine experience or a sushi restaurant different from the rest. Everything from the presentation to quality and taste lives up to the (high) expectations.

Photo By: Owner/ Google Maps
Maps Data: Google
Poke Eats is one of the best lunch places located inside Emerald Park plaza in North York. There are so many different combinations, and even the choice of protein: chicken, lamb, and beef, or even the veggie option sounded yummy. Great care is taken here to have the ingredients fresh; it always makes a difference. Poke Eats, still coming up with new ways to cook the simplest things yet make it a million times tastier!! Tips are included in the menu prices right now, which makes the experience so much more easygoing!
Poke Eats offers two options to choose from – build your bowl or signature bowl. One of the most delicious options you can have is making your own and choosing black sushi rice topped with maguro (tuna), spicy mayo, seaweed salad, avocado, spicy cucumber and all garnishes. You will like how it is freshly made right in front of you. With building your own, it is pretty much anything you want – and they offer a variety of ingredients like salmon, white tuna, bean curd, mango, crab salad, corn, and edamame. One of the most recommended dishes to order in this place is the Poke Eats – which has white sushi rice, tuna, maple sesame Shoyu, cucumber, sweet corn, crab salad, and edamame. This is delicious! You will love everything about it. It is tasty, and the tuna is fresh. The combination is great!
The ambiance of the restaurant is traditional Hawaiian. Poke Eats has a laid-back, quiet environment, which is nice to have a conversation with whoever you are with. The restaurant has friendly staff who get to know returning customers – and most customers do return again and again! The restaurant is exquisite, and they will usually accommodate reservations for specific tables/ areas. I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for an authentic, delicious, and sublime Hawaiian experience!

Photo By: Owner/ Google Maps
Maps Data: Google
KoSam Korean Restaurant & Bar is a famous restaurant in North York. KoSam’s menu features items you would typically find at a Korean restaurant with a few extra things like KFC, Samgetang, and surprisingly, millefeuille tonkatsu! They have a pretty good variety of dishes, so there is something for everyone. It looks upscale from the outside, but the prices are pretty reasonable. Everything is presented very cleanly and minimalistic. The food, good down-to-earth familiar and yet in the ranks of fine-dining, so darn good. Overall, this place is quite lovely, with a good variety of choices on the menu.
Their signature is the Korean ginseng soup, which is a whole small chicken with stuffed purple rice in the middle, very healthy and tasty. It can easily be shared with two people. Another recommended dish to order is the Samgyetang, a whole chicken stuffed with ginseng, and other herbs, simmered in broth, served to bubble in a hot stone bowl. It is imperial cuisine (high-class cuisine), so the prices are not the cheapest you will find, but the quality is there, and the taste is delicious. Samgyetang will come unsalted so that the person can control the amount of salt they want. Also, proper Samgyetang does not come with red sauce to dip the chicken in – The King did not eat spicy foods, So Korean imperial food is not spicy.
This place has a lot more seating than you would think looking from the outside. Being a bar, they can easily merge tables for larger groups as well. The restaurant establishment is neat, and the staff is friendly, and its ambiance is so relaxing and comfortable. You are looking for a memorable lunch experience at a reasonable price; any of the Browns locations will meet your needs. No hesitation in recommending!

Photo By: Jason Lin/ Google Maps
Maps Data: Google
Ichiban Fish House is kind of hidden on a side street off Yonge Street, North York, but they have been in business for a long time. Ichiban is a charming little Japanese restaurant that offers excellent service, fresh food, and a charm that some of the new “trendy” places do not provide anymore. As it is near Yonge and Sheppard, parking is always a hit or miss situation, but if you are patient, you can usually find street parking nearby.
One of the most recommended dishes to order in this place is the sushi combo, which is served on two massive plates. You will quite surprise by the wide variety of fish used in the sushi set. On the sushi plate, there is one sushi roll with crab and avocado. The rest is all nigiri sushi, and the fish used included tuna, salmon, surf clam, some sort of fish roe, octopus, shrimp, Tai (sea bream), and some other fishes. The fishes are really fresh. Each nigiri sushi also has a dab of wasabi, so you do not have to add it yourself.
The place is pretty quiet, suitable for small group conversations. If you can make a reservation on busy nights, then do that. But most of the time, you will be okay just walking in and getting a table for smaller groups of 2- 6 people. The decor is what you expect a sushi place to be as decorated back in probably the ’90s. The service is top-notch. They usually check in on tables sometimes a few times throughout the night, just enough that you know they are there, but not too much that it becomes annoying. Ichiban is a gem and a North York sushi institution! Give it a try! You will not be disappointed!

Photo By: Owner/ Google Maps
Maps Data: Google
If one day you wanted to treat yourself to the most memorable dishes in North York at a very reasonable price and get the most professional service in a friendly, clean, and efficient restaurant, then visit Sultan’s, Mediterranean Grill. It is a cute and quaint family-owned restaurant that serves a large variety of delicious foods! The restaurant also has a charming little environment, and the service is quick even though it be a busy lunchtime. You can feel the love in this place.
One of the most recommended dishes to order in this place is the Creamy Smoked Salmon Pasta, in which smoked salmon sauteed with herbs and spices, tossed in a rich and creamy white sauce. Other favourite dishes that never disappointed the customers are its “Shawarma” and “Falafel.” It is how exactly it should taste in the Middle East and at a great price. There is no fat on the meat, unlike other shawarma places. The meat is tender and flavorful. They also have coffee, snacks, chips, pop, candy, and Smoked Salmon in packages, as well as other pre-made deliciousness. So, different customers with different tastes will be satisfied with the gorgeous meals of this restaurant.
Their waitresses act so professionally that maybe you never experienced such professionalism in other restaurants nearby. They fix your place settings for you, so you do not have to. They are attentive, diligent, poised, and professional, and the restaurant service is pleasant and efficient. At last, the atmosphere is lovely with large windows looking outdoors. The impressive, gorgeous, and varied list of dishes is another crucial point of this restaurant. Sultan’s Mediterranean Grill has a cozy atmosphere, making it an excellent place to spend time with friends and families and taste the food with the Middle-Eastern civilizations’ history. Give it a try! You will not be disappointed.

Photo By: Isis Mascaranhas/ Google Maps
Maps Data: Google
Paisano’s is one of the most known restaurants in North York. Walking in Paisano’s is like coming home; you get what you order, the menu is broad and well described, and lunch is the specialty! Most of the lunchtime crowds are regulars from neighbouring office towers, and the busy dinner rush is mostly families, some of whom look like they may have been around when they first opened 50 years ago. The food is stunning here. It is so tasty and tastes so flavorful. The giant menu sticks to mostly Italian roots, with a decent selection of vegetarian and gluten-free kinds of pasta to round things out.
One of the most recommended dishes to order in this place is the Lasagna, with layers of pasta, ground beef, ricotta, and mozzarella cheeses all nestled into a giant platter and smothered with sweet tomato sauce. Make sure to up the cheese factor with tableside parm and a heavy hit of fresh ground pepper. Another signature lunch option to order in this place is the Chicken Carbonara. In this fantastic dish, a generous chicken breast comes tossed in a slice of bacon studded cream sauce, resting on al dente spaghetti. More parm and pepper bring balance to the rich, creamy alfredo-Esque sauce.
Everyone here is so lovely, and it is incredible how your server who takes your orders could memorize every single order you have. The staff is always so kind here. They uphold such a high level of customer service. Paisano’s is a small restaurant helping customers do not wait an unreasonable amount of time, even when busy and delivery orders are coming in, so customers have never left Paisano’s without having had a delicious meal and spending significant time. Give it a try! You will not be disappointed here.

Photo By: Jason Lay/ Google Maps
Maps Data: Google
If you are looking for the best places to eat a fabulous lunch, Mr. Greek restaurant can be your best choice. The Mr. Greek is cozy, makes you feel at home the minute you step into the door. The music is excellent and, more importantly – not loud so that customers can carry a conversation with ease. There is a wide choice of dietary needs, from lunch to desserts served up in a very quaint environment. Fast, fresh, tasty basic Greek food! What is not to like? No, it is not big on selection, but what they have is good!
One of the most recommended dishes to order in this place is the Chicken Souvlaki. The liquid in this souvlaki marinade is a combination of excellent extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and dry white wine. You can also order Hummus, which is selected as one of the customers’ most favourite meals. It is made of chicken thigh fillets, rice, pepper, and tomato, cooked with the restaurant’s unique appetizers for meat lovers. All the ingredients used in the restaurant’s food are fresh and healthy, and all the efforts of this restaurant are to keep all customers satisfied with different food tastes. In addition to great taste, Mr. Greek restaurant’s food is reasonably priced, making it easy to order food from this restaurant whenever you want.
The restaurant serves different lunch dishes with large portions of fresh and yummy ingredients, which are flavorful and healthy. This place is an excellent, quick restaurant where you order and pay at the counter with the option of sitting in, as there are many tables. It can be great for a casual outing with your family or even a date! I would recommend it when you are craving a quick and yummy lunch. Give it a try!