Just outside the city limits, Markham’s restaurant scene is a robust roster of diverse cuisines and experiences. The largest city in York Region, Markham might be best known for its abundance of authentic Chinese food and seafood restaurants, but you’ll also find sushi spots and Korean restaurants. And Asia isn’t the only continent represented in Markham’s restaurant scene — the types of cuisine span the globe, from French and Italian restaurants to Mediterranean and Colombian home-cooking.
Sure, it can be tempting to stay in the core, especially with all the new Toronto restaurants opening all the time. But Markham restaurants offer a different dining experience. Rather than the trend-obsessed spots you see on Instagram or the too-cool-for-you joints that serve a side of snobbery with every dish, Markham restaurants are a lot more down-to-earth. You’ll still find fine dining along with the cheap eats, but Markham doesn’t pine for the limelight the way Toronto does.
Similar to the amazing, under-the-radar restaurants in Scarborough, Markham’s restaurant scene is full of hidden gems. Here we’ve rounded up the top spots to try during any visit to Markham. Take a trip outside of the core for fresh food and a fresh perspective at the best Markham restaurants.
14 of the best Markham restaurants
1. Chiang Rai
Multiple locations
Named after Thailand’s northernmost province, Chiang Rai serves authentic Thai street food presented in such beautiful, colourful plates, you won’t want to eat them — but you must to taste the delicious flavours. The menu covers all the hits: tom yum, mago salad, khao soi, curry, fried rice and pad Thai. Wash it all down with Thai-inspired cocktails. Intricate Thai-style tiling and hanging bistro lights and plants add charm to this relaxed Markham restaurant.
2. Watercolour Restaurant
166 Main St.
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Cozy up with a date in this gorgeous Mediterranean restaurant on the main strip in Unionville. Fall in love with the soaring archways, the eye-catching gold light fixture, the fantastic food and, of course, your company. Outside the beautiful brick house, the charming patio is just as alluring. Dive into dishes like lobster tagliatelle, rack of lamb and whole grilled branzino in the enchanting atmosphere.
3. Ding Tai Fung
Multiple Locations
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Shopping in any mall always makes us ravenous; pair a visit to the Asian-inspired retail complex First Markham Place with a feast at Ding Tai Fung. The no-frills Shanghainese restaurant handmakes their fresh dumplings every day. Slurp up soup dumplings and noodles or chow down on hearty portions of rice, meat and seafood at this casual spot.
4. The Toston
35 Karachi Dr.
Squeeze into this simple Colombian restaurant for an authentic, homecooked taste of Valle del Cauca, Chocó and Eje Cafetero. Start with a traditional Colombian coffee before dining on mains like chuleta valluna (pork schnitzel); their namesake toston topped with pulled meat; and Bandeja Paisa, a mixed plate of plantain, sausage, pork belly, beefsteak, egg and arepa. Don’t sleep on their fresh empanadas either.
5. Big Beef Bowl
8362 Kennedy Rd.
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It’s all in the name. This casual Cantonese Markham restaurant hand pulls their traditional Lanzhou-style noodles behind a glass window and serves them piled into steaming bowls of broth, beef and vegetables. Choose between flat or round, and thin, thick or regular noodles, then prepare to be warmed up from the inside out.
6. Il Postino
186 Main St.
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For over two decades, this homey Italian restaurant has been welcoming guests into its warm atmosphere to dine on modern takes on the classics. Set in a converted house right on the main strip in Unionville, Il Postino draws guests with its gorgeous greenery-lined patio in warmer weather. Familiar favourites like diavola and margherita pizza, traditional wild boar ragu tagliatelle, seafood linguine and rigatoni vodka dominate the menu. The pasta is handmade, the ingredients are artisanal and the service is great.
7. Papa Chang's
5970 16th Ave.
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Authentic Taiwanese flavours are on the menu at Papa Chang’s in Markham. Order heaping portions of their signature comfort food plates, like Taiwanese sausage and minced pork on rice, crispy chicken leg bento, and their famous popcorn chicken bento boxes. Service is swift, friendly and best of all, affordable. We’ll be back.
8. Pig + Chick
190 Main St.
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This Korean restaurant, tucked away on Main Street in Unionville, is a hidden gem that you need to discover. After running Pork Hock in Seoul, South Korea for more than a decade, its owner brought the restaurant’s flavourful dishes to this Markham restaurant. Order a chicken lunch combo, or try their savoury jokbal (braised pig's trotters) and spicy tteokbokki.
9. Glass Kitchen
505 Hwy 7 Unit 98 & 99
Deciding what to order is a difficult decision when you see chef Keith Pears’s loaded menu of Asian fusion brunch dishes. From shakshuka and fried chicken with a bubble waffle to fluffy pancakes and lobster eggs Benny, there’s something for every sweet or savoury morning craving at this Markham restaurant.
Our favourite dish is the melt-in-your-mouth Korean galbi short rib slathered in gravy and served on a bed of rice, reminiscent of Hawaiian loco moco. Glass Kitchen doesn’t have a liquor license, so pair your meal with a fresh, cold-pressed juice or an espresso drink. The bright, modern atmosphere features plenty of subtle design touches, but lets the inventive dishes take centre stage.
10. The School Fine Dining
4121 14th Ave.
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Old-school, elegant fine dining set in an old converted school house? Sign us up. Stepping into the nostalgic building feels like going back to class, but luckily we’re A+ students in eating, especially with a stacked menu of steak and seafood dishes. All the classics are covered, from French onion soup, shrimp cocktail and oysters Rockefeller to filet mignon, chicken supreme and lobster tail.
11. Unionville Arms Pub & Grill
189 Main St.
Head to this Unionville institution for classic pub fare done well. The friendly, neighbourhood watering hole has been a gathering place for over 30 years and continues to support the community through charitable endeavours. Settle into the comfortable bar to watch the game, sip a cold beer and chow down on dishes like fish and chips, burgers, wings and nachos.
12. Peter’s Fine Dining
5701 Hwy 7
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Anyone longing for those old-school, classic steakhouses can relive the good old days at Peter’s Fine Dining. Jazz and 50s pop serenade guests in the patterned wallpaper and dark wood dining room where crystal chandeliers hang overhead. Waitstaff dressed in suits are experts in the art of table-side service, making the tossing, cooking, carving and finishing into a show for diners.
Steak and seafood are the specialties here; USDA Prime beef is aged for a minimum of 45 days and hand cut in-house, while scallops, sole, shrimps, lobster and even king crab legs grace the sea side of the menu.
Fun fact: The rock band Kiss has a history of dining here, and you’ll find a special shrine to them in the restaurant.
13. Zen Japanese Restaurant
7634 Woodbine Ave.
Omakase fans will be delighted to stumble across Zen, a Michelin-recommended sushi spot inside an unassuming Markham strip mall. Sit at the chef's counter and gobble up delectable scallops and uni flown directly from Japan.
14. Ambiyan
149 Main St., Unionville
Meaning 'green mangoes,' Ambiyan is known for its fresh take on Indian cuisine. Visit this Unionville staple, open since 2009, for classic biryanis and tandoor dishes prepared in a clay oven.
