26 hidden gems worth the trip across Canada, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Canada guides.
Phnom Penh ★ 4.8 · Vancouver
chinatown · 244 East Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1Z7
Phnom Penh on East Georgia since 1985 runs the Cambodian and Vietnamese kitchen the city sets its bar by, plus the Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022 in BC.
Tip: Cash takes a discount; the wings sell out by the late seating. Avoid lunchtime on Saturday.
Le Petit Alep ★ 4.7 · Montreal
villeray · 191 Rue Jean-Talon Est, Montreal, QC H2R 1S8
Tip: Order muhammara, sujuk and the grilled meats; it takes no reservations, so arrive a touch early.
Sushi Hil ★ 4.7 · Vancouver
mount-pleasant · 3330 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5V 3M8
Sushi Hil on Main Street is chef Daniel Kim's 8-seat omakase counter since 2019, Michelin recommended in the 2022 BC guide, the city's reference modern sushi.
Tip: Tock reservations open 30 days out at 09:00 PST and book within minutes; counter omakase only.
Burdock & Co ★ 4.7 · Vancouver
mount-pleasant · 2702 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5T 3E8
Burdock & Co on Main Street since 2013 is chef Andrea Carlson's foraged-and-fermented kitchen, Michelin-starred in the 2022 BC guide, only 30 seats.
Tip: Reservations on Tock open 30 days out; the bar walks in for the small-plates menu.
Hodo Kwaja ★ 4.6 · Toronto
koreatown · 656 Bloor Street W, Toronto, ON M6G 1L1
Hodo Kwaja on Bloor West Koreatown bakes walnut-shaped pastries since 2005, fresh chestnut-mold red-bean and walnut pastries at 12 for $5, the counter view.
Tip: Cash and card. The counter sells out on busy Korean-festival nights at the Mod Club next door.
Dachi ★ 4.6 · Vancouver
strathcona · 2455 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V5K 1Z2
Dachi on East Hastings since 2018 sits past the Downtown Eastside in a corner room with a 12-seat counter, Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022 in the BC guide.
Tip: Tock reservations open 30 days out; the counter walks in for the early seating.
Kingyo Izakaya ★ 4.6 · Vancouver
west-end · 871 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC V6G 2L8
Kingyo Izakaya on Denman since 2008 is the reference modern izakaya hidden in a residential basement room with sliding wood doors, EnRoute top Japanese.
Tip: Dinner books on OpenTable a week out; the chef's counter takes a separate omakase plate.
Salmon n' Bannock Bistro ★ 4.6 · Vancouver
south-granville · 1128 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 1G5
Salmon n' Bannock on West Broadway is Vancouver's only Indigenous-owned restaurant since 2010, run by Inez Cook, Eater Vancouver Restaurant of the Year 2023.
Tip: Reservations on OpenTable open 30 days out; the bar takes walk-ins for the bison and salmon plate.
Moccione ★ 4.5 · Montreal
villeray · 7495 Rue Saint-Denis, Montreal, QC H2R 2E5
Tip: Book ahead or aim for an early weeknight; the fresh pasta of the night is the thing to order.
Casavant ★ 4.5 · Montreal
villeray · 350 Rue de Castelnau Est, Montreal, QC H2R 1R1
Tip: Book midweek and let the room steer the wine; the daily plats change with the market next door.
Bang Bang Ice Cream and Bakery ★ 4.5 · Toronto
ossington · 93A Ossington Avenue, Toronto, ON M6J 2Z2
Bang Bang on Ossington has been the strip's reference ice cream and Hong Kong egg-waffle counter since 2014, burnt toffee and matcha among the staples.
Tip: Closed Monday. Cash and card. Saturday line stretches a full block; weekday afternoons the calmest entry.
Don't Argue Pizzeria ★ 4.5 · Vancouver
cambie-village · 3240 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5V 3M8
Don't Argue Pizzeria on Main from chef Phil Scarfone since 2018 is a 12-seat New Haven-style pizza counter, hand-tossed pies plus a chicken parm sub special.
Tip: Walk-in only; the Main and Cambie branches have a takeout window for whole pies. The chicken parm is the kitchen's reference plate.
The Mackenzie Room ★ 4.5 · Vancouver
strathcona · 415 Powell Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1G7
The Mackenzie Room on Powell in Railtown since 2014 is a heritage-room wine bar from chefs Alex Tung and Sean Reeve, BC natural list and small plates.
Tip: Reservations on Tock for the dining room; the bar walks in for a glass and snacks.
The Real Jerk ★ 4.4 · Toronto
little-india · 842 Gerrard Street E, Toronto, ON M4M 1Y6
The Real Jerk on Gerrard East is the Jamaican institution that has run since 1984, Lily and Edward Pottinger's jerk chicken and curry goat the canon.
Tip: Cash and card. The Rihanna 'Work' music video and Drake's 'One Dance' featured this venue.
Tri Express ★ 4.3 · Montreal
plateau · 1650 Avenue Laurier Est, Montreal, QC H2J 1J4
Tip: Let the chef send out specials rather than ordering off the menu; the room seats barely a dozen.
Nouilles de Lan Zhou ★ 4.3 · Montreal
downtown · 1006 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC H2Z 1J5
Tip: Watch the noodles being stretched at the counter and order the cumin-spiced beef soup.
Rhum Corner ★ 4.3 · Toronto
kensington-market · 926 Dundas Street W, Toronto, ON M6J 1W3
Rhum Corner on Dundas West is Jen Agg and Roland Jean's Haitian dive since 2014, pikliz cabbage, griot fried pork and a 50-bottle rum back bar.
Tip: Closed Monday. Reservation through Black Hoof sister-group; the bar takes walk-ins.
Pho Tay Ho ★ 4.1 · Montreal
rosemont · 6414 Rue Saint-Denis, Montreal, QC H2S 2R7
Tip: Go for the beef pho and a Vietnamese coffee; cash keeps the fast-moving lunch line moving.
Chalet BBQ ★ 4.1 · Montreal
ndg · 5456 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, Montreal, QC H4A 1V9
Tip: Dine in for the untouched retro room; the quarter chicken with gravy fries is the only order you need.
Lester's Deli ★ 4.1 · Montreal
outremont · 1057 Avenue Bernard, Outremont, QC H2V 1V1
Tip: It is calmer and roomier than the Plateau delis; a medium sandwich with fries is the play.
Bombay Mahal ★ 4.1 · Montreal
parc-extension · 1001 Rue Jean-Talon Ouest, Montreal, QC H3N 1T2
Tip: Bring beer from the depanneur next door and order broadly; the bill stays tiny even for a feast.
Tacos Frida ★ 4.1 · Montreal
saint-henri · 4350 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montreal, QC H4C 1R8
Tip: Order the al pastor with pineapple and load up at the salsa bar; three tacos is a real meal.
Qing Hua Dumpling ★ 4.1 · Montreal
downtown · 1019 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC H2Z 1J4
Tip: Nibble a corner to release the broth first; a dozen pork and crab is enough for one big lunch.
The Done Right Inn ★ 4.1 · Toronto
queen-west · 861 Queen Street W, Toronto, ON M6J 1G4
The Done Right Inn on Queen West is the strip's reference dive bar, $4.50 domestic bottles, $6 pints and a century-old tree shading the back patio.
Tip: Cash only. No food sold; bring your own. The century-old tree on the back patio shades the summer beer garden.
House of Gourmet ★ 4.0 · Toronto
chinatown · 484 Dundas Street W, Toronto, ON M5T 1G7
House of Gourmet on Dundas in Chinatown runs Cantonese roast meat and dim sum until 04:00 since 2000, a 30-page menu with BBQ pork rice the staple.
Tip: Cash and card. The post-club crowd files in after 02:00; lineup outside on Friday and Saturday.
Swatow Restaurant ★ 3.9 · Toronto
chinatown · 309 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2E5
Swatow on Spadina has run Chiu Chow Cantonese since 1979, the salted-fish fried rice and a 200-item menu including clay pots and seafood, late-night kitchen.
Tip: Cash and card. Late-night kitchen the city's reference for post-bar Cantonese.