Pearl Harbourfront is a cantonese restaurant in Financial District, Toronto.
Pearl Harbourfront on Queens Quay runs Cantonese dim sum overlooking Lake Ontario from the Queen's Quay Terminal, the city's waterfront dim sum room.
Signature dishes: Dim sum, Peking duck
Must order: The shrimp dumplings, BBQ pork buns and a half Peking duck.
Tip: Lunch dim sum runs 11:00-16:00; the window tables fill first. Tower views and the wharf below justify the slight premium over Spadina.
Address: 207 Queens Quay W, Suite 200, Toronto, ON M5J 1A7
Pizzeria Libretto University on University Avenue is the downtown business-lunch branch of the AVPN-certified Neapolitan chain, vegan and gluten-free pizzas.
Signature: Margherita, Vegan and gluten-free pies
Order: The Margherita or the Diavola with hot calabrese salami.
Tip: Lunch the easier walk-in. The downtown crowd thins after 14:00.
Lai Wah Heen reopened on the second floor of the DoubleTree Hilton in July 2025 after a two-year hiatus, chefs Heyden Sin and Huang Zhenqing.
Signature: Refined dim sum tasting, Cartless dim sum
Order: The dim sum tasting; the kitchen still presses every dumpling to order.
Tip: Reservation-only since the 2025 reopen. The NYT once called it the best dim sum in North America under founder Canson Tsang.
Pho Hung on Spadina is the Chinatown Vietnamese counter the Nguyen family opened in 1985, with a 30-year broth recipe and the famous fried chicken wings.
Signature: Pho tai, Bun bo Hue, Fried chicken wings
Order: The pho tai with brisket, plus a half order of fried chicken wings on the side.
Tip: Cash discount under $20. Three locations in Toronto; Spadina is the original and busiest.
Pizzeria Libretto on the Danforth is the AVPN-certified Neapolitan pie chain since 2009, the Margherita with San Marzano DOP and fior di latte.
Signature: Margherita pizza, Verace Pizza Napoletana certified pies
Order: The Margherita pie or the Funghi with mushrooms and pecorino.
Tip: Walk-ins easier weeknights. Sister University, Yonge and Etobicoke locations carry the same pizza; the Ossington original is now Bar Libretto, late-night pivot.
Pizzeria Libretto University on University Avenue is the downtown business-lunch branch of the AVPN-certified Neapolitan chain, vegan and gluten-free pizzas.
Signature: Margherita, Vegan and gluten-free pies
Order: The Margherita or the Diavola with hot calabrese salami.
Tip: Lunch the easier walk-in. The downtown crowd thins after 14:00.
Cafe Diplomatico on College Street is Little Italy's reference patio room since 1968, wood-fired pizza and veal sandwiches with the city's longest-running.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Veal sandwich
Order: The veal sandwich and an espresso at the patio bar.
Tip: Patio seats fill by 18:00 in summer. Inside booths take walk-ins year-round; the espresso bar opens at 09:00.
Bitondo Pizzeria on Clinton Street has run a Little Italy storefront since 1960, panzerotti and meatball sandwiches with hot sauce and sweet peppers.
Signature: Panzerotti, Meatball sandwich
Order: The panzerotti, folded over and fried with mozzarella and tomato.
Tip: Cash only. Closed Sundays and Mondays. The tiny room seats six; most customers eat on the curb.
