#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)

#FOOD: ISAAN DER LAUNCH NEW SEASONAL SUMMER 2026 MENU

This May, Chef Ko launches Journey to Isaan, a seasonal menu running through August 2026 at Isaan Der’s Spadina location. Rooted in fermentation, open fire, and the bold, sour flavours of Northeastern Thailand, a cuisine rooted in a landlocked region that shares its culture with Laos and Vietnamese, and has almost nothing in common with the Thai food most Canadians know. Where other restaurants grade by chilli heat, Journey to Isaan is graded by fermentation, from the curious to the deeply traditional.

“Isaan Der is a cultural ambassador of Thailand to Toronto. We are the unseen part of Thailand,
and we are very proud of that,” says Chef Ko, Chef and Co-Owner, Isaan Der.

JOURNEY TO ISAAN
Since opening in 2017, Isaan Der has introduced Toronto diners to the distinctive flavours of
Isaan cooking that most Canadians have never tasted. Journey to Isaan moves from grilled
dishes and salads to soup, rice, and noodles, ending with traditional desserts like Kanom Krok
or Mango Sticky Rice.

● Yaang Platter: Grilled over open fire, featuring street food found across Thailand including Isaan sausage, a regional specialty made of pork and rice.
● Mhok Pla: Isaan-style steamed sea bass cooked in a banana leaf, flavoured with
aromatic Thai herbs and pla ra.
● Gaeng Aom Moo: A light, clear soup made with seasonal vegetables, herbs, and pork
short ribs. No coconut milk.
● Laab Ped with Sticky Rice: Minced duck salad with herbs, rice powder, fresh lime, and
chilies. Chef Ko’s after-school favourite and one of Isaan’s most iconic dishes.
● Khao Piak: House-made rice noodles in a silky pork bone broth.
● Pad Si Ew and Khao Soi: Both made with fresh homemade noodles using techniques
and recipes Chef Ko learned from locals in Chiang Mai.

THE DRINKS
Each drink is made with fresh Thai ingredients, built around the same spirit as the food.
● Mangolicious: Inspired by mango sticky rice, made with perfectly ripe mangoes.
● Lychee Fizz: Light and fresh, lychee balanced with a sparkling lift.
● Isaan Der Fresh Coconut (Non-Alcoholic): Served fresh, sourced directly from Thailand.

THE HEART OF ISAAN CUISINE: FERMENTATION
Isaan cooking is shaped by fermentation, a preservation technique passed down through
generations of riverside communities in Northeastern Thailand.

The process starts with freshwater fish, caught from the region’s rivers. It is salted, combined
with sticky rice powder, and left to ferment for over three years, developing pla ra, a fermented
fish paste that defines Isaan cooking.

“It smells and tastes like blue cheese or anchovies. It is very pungent and has lots of umami. It
is cooked from the heart and takes years of patience. Pla ra is the hero of our menu, and gives
a salty, funky taste found nowhere else in Toronto,” says Ko.

ABOUT CHEF KO
A former journalist at Thailand’s major national news stations for 15 years, Chef Ko travelled the
country and ate in fine restaurants and at the tables of rural families. Trained at Kasetsart
University and at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel’s cooking school in Bangkok, she moved to
Toronto in 2011 with her husband Donald. She opened Isaan Der in 2017 with a mission to
introduce Toronto to Northeastern Thailand.

ABOUT ISAAN DER
Isaan Der is Toronto’s only Northeastern Thai restaurant, led by Chef Chatsuda “Chef Ko” and
her husband Donald. Since opening in 2017, Isaan Der has been the city’s sole introduction to the fermented, fire-kissed cuisine of Thailand’s largest region. Three locations across the GTA.
Reservations at isaander.com. Instagram @isaan_der.