With six matches set to take place in Toronto during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, restaurants and bars will be at capacity — after all, cheering on your team can work up quite the appetite. Rather than try to cram into some of the more popular eateries, there’s no better time to explore the global cuisine found across this city that mirrors the international lineup.
From hearty West African stews, to refreshing Belgian brews and bar bites, to savoury Spanish tapas that are perfect for sharing while watching a match, we’ve rounded up some of the best Toronto neighbourhood spots to get an authentic taste of the World Cup.
Teams playing in Toronto
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Highlighting Eastern European food and music, Drom Taberna, located at 458 Queen St. W., is a live music venue and restaurant that hosts up to 100 performances a month. On the menu, guests will find a wide range of global dishes, including, Bosnian beef cevapi served with ajvar (red pepper and eggplant).
West of the city, at 225 The East Mall in Etobicoke, Sarajevo Meat & Grill is one of the most popular spots to find a true taste of the Balkans in the GTA. On the menu, expect to find classic comfort foods like grilled ćevapi to cabbage rolls, stuffed peppers and burek.
Also in Etobicoke, Royal Meats Barbecue, located at 710 Kipling Ave., is a large-scale restaurant and bar offering Balkan and Mediterranean foods, including lamb and beef chevaps. There are also happy hour deals Monday to Friday and Sunday to Thursday, with discounts on cocktails, wine and shareables.
Ghana
A staple for local Ghanaian food north of the city, African Chop Bar is located in North York at 2503 Finch Ave. W. It’s open every day except Tuesday and is just steps from Duncanwoods Station. It’s known for its comforting mains like jollof and peppered goat, fufu with soup, and grilled whole tilapia. You can also wash it down with a bottle of Malta Goya, one of Ghana’s most popular non-alcoholic malt beverages.
Also in North York, at 2965 Islington Ave., Nyamekye is an intimate sit-down restaurant that focuses on divulging a seasonal approach to West African fare, featuring classics like beef suya (spiced and marinated beef skewers) and sides like attieke (grated and fermented cassava, similar to couscous).
Panama
While authentic Panamanian cuisine is tricky to find in Toronto, there are plenty of Latin American spots that offer a mix of familiar favourites. La Bella Managua, located at 872 Bloor St. W., has been around for more than 20 years, and is a nod to Nicaraguan cuisine. Here, you’ll find hefty plates like chicken and gallo pinto (rice and beans), a selection of ceviches and carne asada, alongside soups, salads and appetizers like tacos and yucca empanadas.
Pura Vida Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, located at 730 St. Clair Ave. W., is a lively spot that highlights Costa Rican food. There are plenty of shareable plates like ceviches, yucca fries and patacones, as well as signature tropical cocktails like the pineapple margarita and the coco fizz, which uses coconut rum and lime juice.
Germany
Pull up at one of the communal tabletops at WVRST for a bratwurst sausage or a German beer. This spot, which has been a staple in Toronto since it opened in 2011, has two locations — the original at 609 King St. W., as well as inside of Union Station, making it a great pick for fans visiting from out of town.
For a more refined taste of German cuisine, head to Barnsteiners, located at 1 Balmoral Ave. German chef and owner Herbert Barnsteiner has created a menu full of “homeland” favourites, including breaded veal wiener schnitzel and kaese spätzle with gruyère. Bavarian beers and German wines are also readily available, and the restaurant does a happy hour from 3 to 4:45 p.m. Monday to Friday.
A staple in the streets of any German city, a good doner kebab can be hard to replicate. But at Otto’s Berlin Doner, located in Kensington Market at 256 Augusta Ave., it’s as close as you can get to the real deal. Open every day from 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m., the menu strictly offers variations of doner and currywurst, from veal and lamb to halloumi. Round out the meal with one of Otto’s famous sides, including fries or the couscous.
Côte d’Ivoire
For a taste of authentic West African cuisine in the city, head to Instant du Palais, found at 557 Mt. Pleasant Rd. in the heart of Davisville Village. Opened in May 2023, this spot specializes in barbecue and true Côte d’Ivoire dishes like gharba — a popular Ivorian street snack consisting of steamed cassava paired with fried, salted tuna and fresh vegetables, as well as whole grilled sea bass and the half firewood barbecue chicken served with plantain or attieke (fermented and ground cassava).
Closer to the downtown core, Nganda African Street Food at 254 Adelaide St. W. is where you’ll find a selection of West African dishes representative of not only Côte d’Ivoire, but other nations like Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The restaurant serves Halal meat as well as a handful of Afro-vegan options like their mbote — a hearty dish of pounded cassava leaves, stewed with eggplant, onion, beans and palm oil served with white rice and plantain.
Croatia
Serving the Yorkville community and A-listers alike since the 1970s, Joso’s, found at 202 Davenport Rd., is the only true Croatian restaurant in Toronto. Run by Leo (Joso’s son) and Shirley Spralja, the restaurant’s interior is worth a visit alone. A man of many talents, Joso, who the establishment is named after, was an accomplished musician, painter, sculptor and glass blower. The interior is filled with his many artistic creations and is so striking that Drake himself used a table upstairs for the cover of his album, Take Care. The seafood-dominated menu features Dalmatian favourites like crispy calamari served with fresh slices of lemon, the risotto nero — which gets its black colour from cuttlefish ink — pastas and whole grilled fishes like sea bream, snapper and octopus.
Senegal
Focusing on African, Caribbean and European flavours, Pendafrica, at 509 Oakwood Ave., opened in the fall of 2025 and is a go-to spot in Oakwood Village for a taste of Senegalese cooking. The restaurant features an intimate dining room that fits approximately 15 guests, as well as a larger dining room that’s perfect for hosting large-scale events. There’s also a TV near the bar (perfect for catching a FIFA match). On the menu, guests will find Senegalese favourites like mafé — slow-simmered chicken or beef in a peanut butter sauce, served with white rice and vegetables — and thièp bu dieu, a one-pot fish meal served with rice and tomato and other vegetables. There are also many other West African dishes to choose from, like fried whole fish, jollof and yassa chicken.
Iraq
With a menu that’s modelled after popular Iraqi street food and the comforts of your mother’s cooking, Alforat, found at 271 Yonge St., is a fast-service restaurant offering Middle Eastern favourites like shawarma, falafel and kebab. There are also plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Nestled right in the heart of downtown Toronto, this is the restaurant’s third location, with other outposts in Mississauga and North York.
Other popular teams Brazil
Some of Toronto’s best Brazilian restaurants can be found in Midtown Toronto, with some parts of it affectionately known as Little Brazil. Rio 40 Restaurant, located at 1256 St. Clair Ave. W., has been part of the neighbourhood for 18 years. The menu’s got a reputation for serving up authentic Brazilian foods like feijoada (black bean stew with smoked pork, ribs and sausages) and bacalhau assado (salted codfish).
Heading east, at 95 Danforth Ave., is Rodeo Brazilian Steakhouse Rodizio. It offers diners an authentic Brazilian steak house experience, featuring an all-you-can-eat menu where superior barbecued meats like juicy pichana and chargrilled seafoods, fresh salads and popular sides are on offer for a fixed price.
Japan
For Japanese food, Miku is known as one of the best fine dining spots in the city for aburi (flame-torched) sushi.
Miku
Miku, located at Toronto’s Harbourfront at 10 Bay St., is known as one of the best fine dining spots in the city for aburi (flame-torched) sushi. Miku is known for its seasonal tasting menus and gorgeous, photogenic plates that are almost too pretty to eat.
For a more casual spot that highlights Japanese fare beyond sushi and ramen, head to Kingyo Fisherman’s Market at 51B Winchester St. Hiding out in a residential part of Cabbagetown, this spot is a bit of a hidden gem that’s equal parts market and restaurant. Come for the high-grade sashimi found at the fish counter or the kaizen-don (rice bowls), but don’t forget to browse the wide selection of Japanese pantry staples, and maybe take home some frozen ramen kits, too.
Spain
For a laid-back vibe in a cosy setting, head to Bar Isabel at 797 College St. The menu highlights contemporary, small-plate Spanish dishes that are perfect for sharing — think pane con tomate, jamón Ibérico and patatas bravas. Heavier mains include grilled octopus, 45-day dry aged rib-eye and sea bream ceviche with chips.
Madrina Bar y Tapas, located in the Distillery District, is a contemporary tapas spot with Catalan influence, known for its house sangria, ham carving station and mix of hot and cold Spanish tapas. This spot also offers happy hour deals every day until 6 p.m., with $10 cocktails, Spanish wine and beers.
Closer to Little Italy, Casa Paco, located at 50C Clinton St., is a small neighbourhood restaurant that offers a simple Spanish-Italian menu that focuses on wood-fired cooking techniques and seasonal fare. Their menu offers well-known Spanish tapas like pan con tomate, Iberico ham, and most famously, their Sunday paellas.
Belgium
Just steps from the St. Lawrence Market, Petit Déjeuner by LPD Cafe, found at 191 King St. E., is a Belgian-Canadian breakfast and brunch spot. The owner, Johannes, is originally from Belgium and uses an antique waffle iron to make the fluffiest Belgian waffles and other Belgian staples, using old family recipes.
Just down the street at 18 King St. E., Beer Bistro is a laid-back restobar with more than 300 beers on offer, including a list of Belgian brews. All of the dishes are made in-house from scratch and pair well with just about whatever you’re drinking — the signature Belgian frites and gruyere cheese and lager fondue are not to be missed.