Top Six in the 6: International Platters

Korean barbecue may be the best way to end a night of revelry. Toronto has its share of options but our favourite is Kisa Korean BBQ. Kisa has all the necessary elements for a memorable meal of grilling with friends: a room made loud by the sizzles of several grills, high-quality meat and vegetables, and the best banchan. Any Korean barbecue aficionado will tell you that a good assortment of banchan – the steamed, marinated vegetables and kimchi served on the side – completes the experience.

Rendez-Vous is one of the city’s longest standing Ethiopian restaurants. They’re known for their classic vegetarian and vegan-friendly African dishes and their commitment to bringing in ingredients weekly from Addis Ababa. The Yetsom Beyaynetu is one of the most popular dishes here. It’s an Ethiopian combination platter where a number of stewed vegetable and meat dishes are laid out on injera, a spongy sourdough crepe made of fermented teff flour. Use the injera as a vessel to scoop up the meat and veg. Rendez-Vous is famous for their marinated lamb and beef, but the vegetable dishes shine brightly here so don’t be afraid to ditch the meat.

There are a few places in Toronto that present a traditional Filipino Kamayan experience, where large spreads of food are laid out on a banana leaf for Sunday feasts. The word itself lends to the notion of eating with your hands, something very common in Filipino dining culture where forks and chopsticks are retired and hands are used instead. Tinuno does it the classic way, a variety of grilled, fried meats and vegetables are served on a large banana leaf along with an assortment of dips and sauces. What’s great at Tinuno is the selection of seafood that makes its way on to the leaf, from grilled tilapia and milkfish to stuffed whole squid and mussels.

Parkdale’s hipster take on Eastern-European fare doesn’t pigeonhole itself with one specific cuisine, instead creating a Slavic smorgasbord with bites inspired by Poland, Bosnia and beyond. The menu at Tennessee Tavern has plenty of affordable small plates, but their platters are a great way to try a little of everything. The Soho Platter offers up a photogenic plate of smoked trout and mackerel, with pickled onion and kajmak for you to slather on dill and pumpkin seed pumpernickel bread.

If you're a fan of Otto's Berlin Doner in Kensington, consider Otto's Bierhalle on Queen West – their louder, rowdier older brother. Platters are the name of the game at this German-style beer hall, with five dishes on the 'Feast' section of their menu intended for sharing and in the region of $40-65. Our personal favourite is the Choucroute Alsace ($58) which comes with pork belly, bratwurst, sauerkraut, Brussel sprouts and house pickles. Grab one of the many local or imported beers on tap (all the better if it's served in a tankard) and soak up all that meat.