The top 10 new restaurant openings in Toronto for June

New restaurants debuted all over Toronto in June. Among the many food items to add to your summer bucket list are poke and steamed lobster dinners, Filipino snack foods, BBQ, tacos and pub grub.

Here are my picks for the top new restaurant openings in Toronto for June.

Platito
Filipino soul food landed in Baldwin Village this month and Platito is serving up brunch, lunch and an array of tapas-style small plates in the evening. Ube waffles with fried chicken are among the many good reasons to go.

Big Tuna Poke Bar
This eatery on Bloor crafts signature poke bowls, like the Big Katuna featuring plump chunks of tuna. In addition to pre-designed bowls, you can customize yours with tuna, salmon and tofu as well as with house dressings, vegetables and garnishes.

J&J Bar-B-Que
New to Kensington Market this month is a Central Texas-style BBQ pit serving up brisket, sausage, ribs and more on trays piled with pickles, slaw and slabs of white bread.

Lbs.
This restaurant in the Financial District offers lobster dinners, lobster rolls, lobster topped salads and cheeseburgers for $22 each. On a budget? Hit up the walk-up window for a $16 lobster roll to go.

Gyu-Kaku
The popular yakiniku boasts over 600 locations around the world and now Toronto has an outpost too at 81 Church St. Multi-course menus feature starters like chicken karaage and bibimbap followed meaty BBQ items like miso-marinated skirt steak, white soy pork belly and kalbi short ribs.

Cherry Street Bar-B-Que
Just north of the beach and in close proximity to top summertime attractions like Cabana Pool Bar, this new BBQ joint in the Port Lands is serving up slow-smoked ribs, brisket and burgers on a sunny patio.

Al Pastor
Former Modus chef Enrique Gonzalez has opened this casual new taqueria in the Junction at 2932 Dundas St. W. Scratch-made tortillas topped with spit-roasted pork or chicken tinga are on the menu.

Her Father's Cider
Toronto's first cider-focused bar is home to a dozen rotating taps pouring local craft cider plus almost 100 bottles and cans culled from near and far. Seasonal menus at brunch, lunch and dinner offer dishes like beef tartare, mini raclette and pork rillette all designed to pair perfectly with fruity brews.

Three Hands
Jerk octopus salad, module frites and watermelon-wasabi fried chicken are highlights on the menu of this charming new Dundas West restaurant. Best of all, the kitchen is open until last call.

Belfast Love
The Donnelly Group from Vancouver opened this new watering hole that has instantly attracted a Toronto following with its draught beer selection and menu of upmarket pub fare.

Photo of Belfast Love by Hector Vasquez.

by Liora Ipsum via blogTO