#FOOD: WORLD CUP TORONTO DINING OPTIONS ROUND-UP

World Cup frenzy is hitting the City of Toronto, with many international visitors looking for the best places to dine at while they’re in town. Here are some ideas in and around the City that showcase some of the best Toronto has to offer!

Takja BBQ House
Takja BBQ House, where chefs Jeff Kang and Edward Bang are continuing to raise the bar for Korean dining in Canada with an updated Hansang experience for spring/summer. The new menu features elevated seafood offerings, premium cuts grilled tableside, and a Mushroom Stone Pot Rice prepared in the Anseong Jumul Gamasot — a traditional Korean cast iron pot currently used at Takja exclusively in Canada. Reservations here.

Oroshi Fish Co.
Oroshi Fish Co. offers thoughtfully curated sushi platters for your World Cup viewing parties with family and friends! These stunning sushi sets come with chopsticks, seasoned soy, wasabi and gari which allows the party host to focus on spending time with friends and the game instead of worrying about food prep. Order here.

George Restaurant
GEORGE Restaurant is a MICHELIN-recommended fine dining destination located in a restored 19th-century chocolate factory in Toronto’s Old Town. Since 2003, Executive Chef Lorenzo Loseto has led the kitchen with a philosophy rooted in seasonal ingredients, sustainable sourcing, and deeply personalized tasting experiences. GEORGE is owned by the Verity Group of Companies, founded by Mary S. Aitken, C.M. Reserve here.

Chaiiwala of London
For those running to catch the game or want to order takeout for a World Cup watch party, Chaiiwala of London offers quick, easy and tasty traditional chai and South Asian street foods with a nod to contemporary food trends. Signature offerings include Karak Chaii, Pink Chaii, Karak Coffee, and street food favorites like Desi Breakfast, Bombay Toastie, and indulgent Gulab Jamun Cheesecake. Find your nearest location here.

Riley’s Toronto
Toronto’s hottest new opening is the Michelin-recognized Riley’s. It’s a sophisticated yet approachable steakhouse and seafood concept that reimagines modern dining through craftsmanship, comfort, and community. It combines the refined service and theatrical flair that Glowbal Hospitality is known for with a menu that celebrates premium Canadian beef, sustainable seafood, and a curated raw bar experience. Reservations here.

Black + Blue Toronto
Located in the financial district, Black + Blue is Canada’s premier steak dining experience. They offer the magic of a classic steakhouse combined with a modern and energetic twist. They take great pride in being Kobe Beef certified, in addition to offering our guests a selection of the world’s rarest cuts. Black + Blue has private dining room options to host your watch parties with friends and colleagues. Reserve here.

Isaan Der
Isaan Der is Toronto’s only Northeastern Thai restaurant, led by Chef Ko. During the World Cup, they are offering a World Cup Grilled Platter and Beer Tower at only $109!

The World Cup Special includes: Grilled short ribs, Grilled pork ribs, Moo ping, Isaan sausage, Wings, Som tum, Shrimp chips, Sticky rice Beer Tower!! The combo platter is perfect for sharing with 5–6 people as you cheer for your favourite team! More here.

Hello Nori
Hello Nori is a premier dining destination specializing in innovative Japanese hand roll sushi, aburi oshi, and premium sake experiences. With multiple locations in Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary, they are pioneers of the hand roll experience in Canada. The team is committed to using fresh, high-quality ingredients sourced both locally and directly from Japan while delivering exceptional hospitality.

The striking restaurant designs and attention to detail are central to their brand, creating a memorable atmosphere that captivates the guests’ imaginations. Focusing on sustainability, they proudly collaborate with local and Japanese import partners and have partnered with Ocean Wise to minimize their environmental impact. More here.

Simpl Things
SIMPL THINGS is a cozy, all-day cocktail, wine, and snack bar in Toronto inspired by vintage Miami design. Known for its playful seasonal menus, inventive drinks, and community-driven atmosphere, SIMPL THINGS celebrates connection through thoughtful food, genuine hospitality, and good vibes—from brunch to last call. Reserve now here.

(Photo credit: BMO Field)

#TIFF25: MR. WILL PRESENTS OFFICIAL PARTNERS FOR THE 2025 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

It’s Will Wong season, everyone! We are delighted to be back and at it in our thriving season as tiff50 is before us! We are so grateful for your many years of support. Having a loyal, passionate readership and following makes it all so worthwhile and we promise not to let you down! Team Mr. Will is ready to go, ready to deliver you reviews of all the hottest films to present at the Festival, and also stars, big and emerging to visit for the Festival!

Be sure to follow for all the updates:

Dave Baldwin (@dmabaldwin)

Amanda Gilmore (@gilmoreamanda)

Justin Waldman (@dubsreviews)

Nicholas Porteous (@picolas)

Mr. Will (@mrwillwong)

We are thrilled to present to you our amazing official partners for the Festival this year. We wouldn’t be able to bring you the Festival at the scale we do without their generosity and support. And there just might be something in it for you guys too! That’s why you need to be following on FB, IG and X.

CP24 – This will mark our 16th year contributing to CP24’s TIFF coverage. Stay tuned to Southwestern Ontario’s leading news channel for our exclusive sightings and updates, and as always we will be appearing live throughout the Festival. There may even be a beanie sighting! We’ll be on multiple times, starting with appearances on August 31, 2025 on Live at 5, September 4, 2025 and September 9, 2025 in the morning.

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GOOGLE PIXEL & GEMINI LIVE – Google Pixel is an official partner of TIFF ’25 and we are thrilled also to using this wonderphone for our TIFF coverage, including those “world famous selfies”! Together with its Circle Search to see what celebs are wearing (and hence, finding affordable dupes) and also Magic Editor to remove unwanted distractions from photos, this is the perfect phone for us! The star of the show will be Gemini Live on our phone, will help us quickly whip together a schedule for TIFF, plus which films suit our personal preferences!

HONDA CANADA – We are teaming-up with our friends at Honda Canada to drive a 2025 Honda Accord Touring Hybrid this year at TIFF. Where will our chariot take us? We soon will see! The midsize luxury sedan with a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, 16-Valve DOHC with Dual Variable Timing Control (VTC) engine, Luxury and purpose, a perfect drive for our every day and hectic lifestyle. Incredible fuel economy at 5.0/5.7/5.3 litres/100 km and a litany of active and passive safety features.

STARBUCKS CANADA – We are proud to partner once again with our longtime supporters once again. TIFF and PSL Season are synonymous with one another! The PSL is back for its 22nd year at Starbucks, while TIFF is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Fun fact – The PSL is the #1 limited-time offering in Starbucks history. New to the Fall menu this year are the Pecan Oat Cortado & Mini Everything Bagels!

HARBOUR SIXTY – This Toronto icon is known as THE SPOT that stars go to while in the City, to enjoy the creations of Chef Solomon Mason and team. After a gorgeous renovation and the introduction of new event spaces and superb Italian by Ariana, this icon is reborn and better than ever! Exceptional beef, ambience, and a top-tier dining experience.

FICOA – Situated in the heart of Little Italy, FICOA is re-defining Latin cuisine with an inspired flare under Chef Esau Garcia (Madrina Bar y Tapas), who is known for his Michelin-recognized work. Brunch, A la Carte and Tasting Menus are available, with a strong focus on their outstanding cocktails.

RADICI PROJECT – Also in Little Italy and founded by culinary power couple Chef Emiliano Del Frate (Don Alfonso) and Kayo Ito (Nobu), this beautiful spot fuses Italian and Japanese influences together for exquisite tasing experiences and more!

HELLO NORI – This sensation from BC quickly have made a splash in Toronto since arriving earlier this year, expanding already to a third location in the bustling downtown core. They are one of our favourites for delicious, elevated and fuss-free dining. We will never turn down a hand roll and nobody is doing it better than them! Their house Sake and Draft Matcha also are luscious.

OEB BREAKFAST CO. – The Brunch authority from Calgary has found a welcome home in Toronto, with two thriving locations in the City already. In addition, they are a returning official TIFF hospitality partner again this year. Hands down, our favourite spot to brunch at with the most drool-worthy poutines, blue plates, benedicts, and more.

ETIKET – After some amazing results last TIFF, we are delighted to partner again with this amazing results-driven skincare spa and boutique, selling rare and hard-to-find beauty products and fragrances. Proudly hailing from Montreal, and located at Toronto’s THE WELL, this is an experience unlike no other. Being able to go into the Festival with a fresh face gives us rejuvenation and confidence to approach this very hectic time.

SHEIN – This marks our first time collaborating with this online fashion giant, which has propelled to the forefront these past few years. Even before collaborating with them, I could not resist their chic designs and inclusive sizing. beanie even sports SHEIN. We look forward to showing-off some of our TIFF ’25 looks for you.

PALM SUNDAY – Combining technology, innovation and artistry, this hair salon on Harbord Street delivers not just a look, but a statement! They offer scalp assessments for individual scalp care, transformational hair cuts and colouring.

MANDY’S – The salad queens from Montreal continue to revolutionize the way Torontonians are eating, and well they are eating. Now serving breakfast, and also starring Smoothies, Bowls, and the best cookies too! Three very popular locations in Toronto, and two more to come!

Our top tips to surviving TIFF50!

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We told you there’d be something it it for everyone! One lucky reader will walk away a grand prize winner. Not only will we hand-deliver your prize to you during the Festival, you will win:

-$200 The Radici Project Gift Card
-$150 Ficoa Gift Card
-$100 Hello Nori Gift Card
-A VIP Brunch for 2 at OEB Breakfast Co.
-$25 Mandy’s Salads Gift Card
-$25 Starbucks Canada Gift Card
-Oversize Tote Bag from SHEIN

A value of over $650 CAN!

Throughout the Festival, stay tuned to our social media as there will be additional opportunities to win a $250 gift card at Harbour Sixty, $25 Starbucks Canada Gift Cards, and an OEB Breakfast Co. VIP Brunch as well! You won’t want to miss this!

To enter to win MR. WILL’S TIFF ’25 SURVIVAL PACK, “like” this post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK, IG or X. Tag a friend in the comments you’ll share some of the goodies with. Multiple entries permitted. You MUST be following on Social Media.

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You must be in the Greater Toronto Area or willing to coordinate a visit to pick-up your prize. You must be following on these channels.

Rules and regulations here.