We still dream about the very first steaming, doughy pide we pulled apart several years ago. It was soothing and warm, like a good hug, but spicy and crispy at the same time. From there, we were hooked on Turkish food and have been tracking down Toronto's best Turkish restaurants ever since.
There's no Toronto neighbourhood, from Scarborough's hidden gems to Ossington's hotspots, that we won't explore to get our paws on some succulent kebabs, Turkish shawarma or sweet baklava that could save us from any 3 p.m. slump.
Whether you're craving a strong Turkish brunch or an even stronger cup of Turkish coffee, you're in luck with our fave Turkish restaurants in Toronto — OK, Mama Fatma is just outside of Toronto in Vaughan, but trust us, it's worth the trip.
7 Turkish restaurants in Toronto that you have to try
1. Mama Fatma Turkish Cuisine
10385 Weston Rd. Unit 7B
Although it’s just north of Toronto, Mama Fatma Turkish Cuisine in Woodbridge is close to our hearts. Where do we even start? Their glorious plate of kayseri mantisi (tiny beef dumplings with a giant dollop of garlic yogurt sauce), juicy charcoal-grilled kebab skewers, or comforting shakshuka? The entire menu is packed full of soul-soothing dishes offering a taste of Türkiye. Save room for their handmade pistachio kadayif, a shredded buttery phyllo pastry soaked in house syrup.
2. Kismet Turkish Restaurant
782 Queen St. E.
If you’ve dropped in to the Riverside neighbourhood recently, you may have noticed the newly opened Kismet. In case it’s not clear from the very large “Chicken, Kebab, Doner” signage on the front, they’re really good at those three specialties. The whole roast chicken is perfectly moist (sorry, but that word just works) and beyond satisfying. Or try one of their five different kinds of mouthwatering kebabs, each served on a platter with rice, blistered vegetables and bread.
3. A la Turk
3443 Yonge St.
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The moment you stroll into A La Turk on the corner of Yonge Street and Glen Echo Road, you’re greeted with the scent of their wood-burning oven. Pide, a Turkish flatbread that looks like a flattened canoe loaded with toppings, is the name of the game here. The mushroom and cheese is our emotional support pide.
4. Pasaj
1100 Queen St. E.
Leslieville’s glass-walled Pasaj might just take the cake for prettiest brunch spot in town. Speaking of cake, their bakery is full of sweet treats like chocolate crackle cookies and baklava. Stop by for savoury Istanbul-style brunch and sugary delights like milky soft Grandma’s Pancakes with sour cherry jam and tahini helva.
5. Leziz Kitchen
418 Horner Ave.
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Leziz is a perfect grab-and-go lunch spot for Turkish falafel, pitas and shawarma — with an extra side of garlic sauce, of course. Alternatively, there is some seating in this snug Etobicoke spot if you prefer to stay awhile and spread out with a combo appetizer of dips: hummus, baba ganoush, eggplant dip, garlic dip and cacik (a.k.a. tzatziki, the yogurt and cucumber dip).
6. Mustafa
866 Wilson Ave.
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Don’t be fooled by Mustafa’s strip mall plaza exterior because inside lies... a cave? Yup, its twisted walls and textured ceiling dips with moulded stalactites to evoke the feeling of being inside a grotto, but in North York. Here you’ll find excellent platters of food like iskender kebap: sliced döner kebab meat (Turkish shawarma) slathered in hot tomato sauce and yogurt — with bread to sop it all up.
7. Flame Food+Design
2197 Bloor St. W.
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This Bloor West Village house is more than a restaurant. The first floor is dedicated to modern takes on Anatolian dishes. Think lots of charcoal-grilled meat and mezze. The second floor is a café where you can indulge in rich Turkish coffee (and free wifi) and shop for eclectic houseware goods in the attached shop. And you can savour dinner under the stars on a quiet back patio during the summer months.
