Where to Eat in Toronto with Kids: My Favourite Restaurants in the City (2026)

Located inside a gorgeous historic mansion in the middle of Toronto’s LGBTQ+ Village, this super unique sci-fi fantasy themed restaurant is one you have to see to believe. The decor is insane - catacomb stairs, “sacrificial altar” changing pad in the spooky bathroom, Zoltar machine, submarine-themed Nautilus room, and even a Millennium Falcon. There’s a Kids Menu, but make sure you also order one of the glowing bubbling drinks and upgrade to a “Deluxe Dungeon Meal” to have their dish come out inside a treasure chest full of dry ice. Their faces will drop! 

A retro, quirky diner with red booths, counter seating, and a warm, character-filled atmosphere that feels like stepping into another era. The windowsills are lined with tons of vintage toys and little figurines, which naturally turn into a fun game of I Spy for kids. The menu reflects the diner’s Irish-Jewish roots, and favourites include the soda bread and full Irish breakfast.

A large and modern food hall in a beautifully restored heritage industrial building, kind of like a more upscale, vibrant food court. The hall has 20+ food vendors, bars, cafés, and communal seating, so a nice casual vibe where everyone can pick something they like and sit together. The playground backs onto the food hall, so in the summer you can eat outside while the kids play.

Don’t miss their authentic vintage 1980s photobooth and bring home a memory photo strip!

Some of myfavourites for the kiddos:

• Harry’s Charbroiled - for some of the best burgers, fries, and shakes
• Bello Pizza - for traditional wood oven pizza with seasonal toppings
• Musoshin Ramen - for ramen with in-house made noodles
• Rasta Pasta - for a food with the essence of both Jamaican and Italian culture creating really delicious and unique dishes

A mega-popular Chinese hot pot chain known for interactive, family-friendly dining. Don’t miss the dancing noodle man (order off the menu for $5) for a really fun tableside show. There are also robot servers delivering food around the restaurant, sometimes a mask-changing performance, and a playful culture around Haidilao “codes” you can say to unlock small surprises. They’re very kid-friendly and bring children toys, snacks, and little extras, with fun kids menus and lots of small touches that make the experience awesome for families. 

A great kid-friendly stop for fresh bread, pizza slices, and sandwiches to go. You can grab food and head across the street to Sackville Playground, or eat upstairs where you get a cool view of their massive kitchen and production space.

A popular Middle-Eastern/Mediterranean restaurant with a grab and go pantry shop as well. They have delicious bright green large falafels and my fave salad - the Parallel salad. The kids love their pita and hummus - so so good! Walk down the street to Blood Brothers Brewery, another solid choice for a drink and something casual to eat. Set inside a former horse stable, which gives it a fun, character-filled vibe.

Such a fun, interactive Korean BBQ spot where meats are grilled right at your table, and staff help with the cooking. Kids will love watching the grilling and sampling different things. The interior has an immersive Korean street-style vibe that feels like you’ve stepped in a different country. 

This gorgeous cafe has amazing food (the raspberry cream croissants and freshly squeezed blood orange juice are insane) but the BEST part is they can print anything you want on a coffee or hot chocolate! A total hit with the kids - we’ve had Harry Potter, Elsa, Woody and Buzz hot chocolates before. Just have an image saved on your phone and they’ll guide you through the easy process.

Baldwin Street Village is one of those small Toronto pockets that feels totally different from the streets around it. Baldwin Village is a short, quirky stretch lined with eclectic cafés, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and vintage storefronts, all tucked inside old converted houses and packed closely together. My favourite is Light Cafe that is known for their brunch plates and mini pancakes, which the kids love! Their Italian sodas, waffle fries and children’s utensils are also a hit. Note: they don’t take reservations, but they do offer take-away brunch boxes, so on a nice day you could bring it to the park.

If you’re a basketball fan - this one is for you. A basketball-inspired restaurant and sports bar. It’s the first NBA-branded restaurant in the world, celebrating everything basketball through design, art, and memorabilia. There’s lots to see and explore and fun little discoveries like tables made from game-used NBA courts. They have a great kids menu with activities and a build-your-own taco entree option.

Want more? Check out my full Toronto with Kids Guide. It’s packed with done-for-you itineraries, kid-friendly tips, neighbourhood specific recommendations, and detailed parent tips you don’t normally get in other guides (things like playgrounds, bathrooms, and kids menus). This was the guide I personally WISH I HAD … so I created it myself!