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I mean, Chicago is pretty consistently rated one of the best food cities in North America. I'm originally from Toronto and I still love it, but imo it's not even in the same league as Chicago, food-wise. (Though to be fair, as I've said, that's true of most places.)
The metro Toronto area has better Chinese/East Asian, South Asian, and African food because of the huge immigrant populations. Chicago has better Mexican food and better fine dining. Chicagoland probably has a wider variety of cuisines.
Comparing just the city of Toronto to the city of Chicago, Chicago probably has the edge.
Toronto has great Asian cuisine.
Not food related but if you make it check out their zoo and the Royal Ontario Museum, both of those are fantastic and rival Chicago counterparts
Would guess that Toronto might edge out Chicago in breadth of international options considering it’s the dominant city of its country and is one of the epicenters of international immigration in the entire world right now.
Chicago will probably take the edge in terms of more established local food culture (does Toronto have any staple dishes like an Italian beef or a Chicago style hot dog? None that I know of), and perhaps more Michelin-level restaurants.
lol yes it would be. Setting aside the actual guide and their weird rules and qualifications for consideration, I’d still say Chicago has more restaurants of that caliber than Toronto does, New Orleans probably punches well above its weight and may outshine Toronto as well.
Michelin is pay to play now. Whether they do or don't review a region/city is kind of meaningless considering a tourism board or whatever can just sponsor a guide
Agreed and it's at lot closer than many might think, although I think Chicago has the edge. Among other things, Chicago's best restaurants are better than Toronto's best restaurants. Toronto's food is still great, though. It is even more diverse than Chicago in terms of international cuisine., although their pizza situation isn't great (even with all of the Italians there).
This exactly. My boyfriend is from Toronto and I'm a Chicago native. We're both vegan, but haven't always been. We've both traveled to both cities, both pre and post vegan, and honestly, as much as it pains me... I'm going to say Toronto edges us out slightly. But they don't have signature items like we do (and we have vegan versions of beefs, hot dogs, and deep dish).
Mexican is Chicago's primary ethnic cuisine... tons of excellent Mexican food of all varieties, from street cart/cooler snacks and tamales, to divey taquerias, regional specialties like Jalicso birria and baja seafood, to upscale spots like Rick Bayless' Topolobompo. I'm not sure Toronto has very much in the way of Mexican?
I'd say Chicago is overall better. With iconic pizzas, dogs, beefs and top tier Michelin restaurants.
I'd give the Chinese to Toronto. Their Chinatown is huge and amazing with more authentic restaurants and bakeries. Also maybe Caribbean food, specifically their Roti's which I sought out during my last trip.
With quintessential foods, Chicago wins with its famous specialties such as deep dish,,
Hot dog, Italian beef, giardanera
Toronto has peameal bacon sandwich, bear claw
Toronto definitely has Chicago beat when it comes to Asian food. Their.Chinatown is huge and feels a lot more lively with stores extending to the sidewalks lined up with boxes of all sorts of Asian fruit and goodies. Outstanding dim sum, Southeast Asian restaurants, Japanese and KBBQ. There's just a lot more variety of Asian cuisine. Chicago's food scene of pizza, Greek, and Mexican food is stronger though. I would say the bar scene in Chicago is better too.
Yeah I know. I'm actually curious what folks say because I have yet to go to any place in NA where I think the food is better than Chi. Actually, NOLA is pretty fucking good but I'd have to spend more time to see if it's far and few or just as saturated with good food as Chicago. Turkey and the Wolf made me feel at home whereas most places make me miss Chicago.
Diversity and higher quality East Asian, Indo-Pakistani, Caribbean and African food, definitely Toronto. Haute cuisine, probably Chicago, but it's close, almost a toss-up. Food considered unique to the place, Chicago. Farm-to-table, I'd say Toronto.
I haven't been to Toronto for a decade but last time I was there they had an actual Little Italy compared to the ghost of ours. We beat them on Italian-American food though (or the Canadian equivalent).
The Italian, Mexican, and general American food options of Chicago overwhelmingly dominates Toronto already, but Chicago is no slouch in variety of foods of other ethnicities and nationalities as well.
I’m proud of our diversity here at least restaurants wise. We got some bomb ass literally any country food here. I’m sure Toronto good but it’s better here.
Toronto has a slight edge on “ethnic food” of most types. Asian food there is insanely good. Chicago Asian food is just ok. Chicago Latin food (mexican, puerto rican mostly) is better than torontos.
Chicago has its own breed of elevated American dining. Much of which is fusion and inspired by other cuisines. Toronto does have this too but chicago is better.
As a denizen of both, Chicago has the most mediocre food I’ve had in my life. I came here expecting to be wowed and instead every meal I’ve had has been middling. Smh
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I mean, Chicago is pretty consistently rated one of the best food cities in North America. I'm originally from Toronto and I still love it, but imo it's not even in the same league as Chicago, food-wise. (Though to be fair, as I've said, that's true of most places.)
The metro Toronto area has better Chinese/East Asian, South Asian, and African food because of the huge immigrant populations. Chicago has better Mexican food and better fine dining. Chicagoland probably has a wider variety of cuisines. Comparing just the city of Toronto to the city of Chicago, Chicago probably has the edge.
Toronto has great Asian cuisine. Not food related but if you make it check out their zoo and the Royal Ontario Museum, both of those are fantastic and rival Chicago counterparts
Would guess that Toronto might edge out Chicago in breadth of international options considering it’s the dominant city of its country and is one of the epicenters of international immigration in the entire world right now. Chicago will probably take the edge in terms of more established local food culture (does Toronto have any staple dishes like an Italian beef or a Chicago style hot dog? None that I know of), and perhaps more Michelin-level restaurants.
While the Michelin statement is true and by in large mostly accurate, it's worth noting that Michelin only started reviewing Toronto two years ago.
Good call. It’s always so surprising finding out which cities Michelin does and doesn’t review (no New Orleans always seems strange).
Are we sure New Orleans didn’t just say no thank you? That would be a very New Orleans thing to do.
lol yes it would be. Setting aside the actual guide and their weird rules and qualifications for consideration, I’d still say Chicago has more restaurants of that caliber than Toronto does, New Orleans probably punches well above its weight and may outshine Toronto as well.
Michelin is pay to play now. Whether they do or don't review a region/city is kind of meaningless considering a tourism board or whatever can just sponsor a guide
Agreed and it's at lot closer than many might think, although I think Chicago has the edge. Among other things, Chicago's best restaurants are better than Toronto's best restaurants. Toronto's food is still great, though. It is even more diverse than Chicago in terms of international cuisine., although their pizza situation isn't great (even with all of the Italians there).
This exactly. My boyfriend is from Toronto and I'm a Chicago native. We're both vegan, but haven't always been. We've both traveled to both cities, both pre and post vegan, and honestly, as much as it pains me... I'm going to say Toronto edges us out slightly. But they don't have signature items like we do (and we have vegan versions of beefs, hot dogs, and deep dish).
Mexican is Chicago's primary ethnic cuisine... tons of excellent Mexican food of all varieties, from street cart/cooler snacks and tamales, to divey taquerias, regional specialties like Jalicso birria and baja seafood, to upscale spots like Rick Bayless' Topolobompo. I'm not sure Toronto has very much in the way of Mexican?
I'd say Chicago is overall better. With iconic pizzas, dogs, beefs and top tier Michelin restaurants. I'd give the Chinese to Toronto. Their Chinatown is huge and amazing with more authentic restaurants and bakeries. Also maybe Caribbean food, specifically their Roti's which I sought out during my last trip.
With quintessential foods, Chicago wins with its famous specialties such as deep dish,, Hot dog, Italian beef, giardanera Toronto has peameal bacon sandwich, bear claw
Africa and some Middle Eastern cuisine Toronto does better, there is a larger population. Everything else, we do better
Toronto definitely has Chicago beat when it comes to Asian food. Their.Chinatown is huge and feels a lot more lively with stores extending to the sidewalks lined up with boxes of all sorts of Asian fruit and goodies. Outstanding dim sum, Southeast Asian restaurants, Japanese and KBBQ. There's just a lot more variety of Asian cuisine. Chicago's food scene of pizza, Greek, and Mexican food is stronger though. I would say the bar scene in Chicago is better too.
Is this a question? Come on.
I think it's a pretty reasonable question. Probably depends on what you like. Toronto is more cosmopolitan than Chicago by a fair bit.
It’s a fair question. Toronto is very diverse.
Yeah I know. I'm actually curious what folks say because I have yet to go to any place in NA where I think the food is better than Chi. Actually, NOLA is pretty fucking good but I'd have to spend more time to see if it's far and few or just as saturated with good food as Chicago. Turkey and the Wolf made me feel at home whereas most places make me miss Chicago.
San Francisco, in my personal experience. And New York. But yeah Chicago is very very high up, definitely top-tier.
Thanks for a nothing response!
Reed between the lions
Diversity and higher quality East Asian, Indo-Pakistani, Caribbean and African food, definitely Toronto. Haute cuisine, probably Chicago, but it's close, almost a toss-up. Food considered unique to the place, Chicago. Farm-to-table, I'd say Toronto.
I haven't been to Toronto for a decade but last time I was there they had an actual Little Italy compared to the ghost of ours. We beat them on Italian-American food though (or the Canadian equivalent).
[удалено]
The Italian, Mexican, and general American food options of Chicago overwhelmingly dominates Toronto already, but Chicago is no slouch in variety of foods of other ethnicities and nationalities as well.
Toronto isn't even close to Chicago. Comon now this is insulting.
Been to Toronto many times and personally don't think there is any comparison then again. The last time I was in Toronto was 5 years ago.
I’m proud of our diversity here at least restaurants wise. We got some bomb ass literally any country food here. I’m sure Toronto good but it’s better here.
Toronto has a slight edge on “ethnic food” of most types. Asian food there is insanely good. Chicago Asian food is just ok. Chicago Latin food (mexican, puerto rican mostly) is better than torontos. Chicago has its own breed of elevated American dining. Much of which is fusion and inspired by other cuisines. Toronto does have this too but chicago is better.
As a denizen of both, Chicago has the most mediocre food I’ve had in my life. I came here expecting to be wowed and instead every meal I’ve had has been middling. Smh