9 Best Toronto Food Tours in 2025
Looking for Toronto food tours? You’re in the right place.
Almost all Toronto food tours take place in the Kensington Market, which is the most quirky, vibrant, multicultural neighbourhood in downtown Toronto. (I highly recommend adding the Kensington market to your Toronto itinerary if you haven’t already.)
The Kensington Market has some of the most exciting, diverse food options in the city. Over the decades, it has has evolved from being a working class immigrant pocket into one of the city’s popular tourist attractions, because of its ambiance and its exciting food options.
The Kensington Market isn’t really a ‘market’, like the name implies, but a neighbourhood full of markets, cafés, hole in the wall family-owned restaurants, Victorian homes and colourful art.
I always make a point of walking through the Kensington Market whenever I visit Toronto, have been there more times than I can count.
Having tried several of the restaurants in the Kensington Market and walked through the neighbourhood countless times, I want to recommend food tours that would share some of the fascinating history of this little corner of Toronto, and introduce some the best of its culinary experiences.
So, let’s jump in – the best Kensington Market Toronto food tours!
Short on Time? My Top 3 Picks
✅ Toronto’s International Food Tour
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/2.5 hours/All food included
✅ Toronto’s Fusion Food Tour
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/2.5 hours/All food included
✅ Toronto Delicious Donut Adventure
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/2 hours/All food included
9 Best Kensington Market Food Tours in Toronto
Here are the 9 best food tours in Toronto that include the Kensington Market, and everything you need to know about them
1. Toronto’s International Food Tour at the Kensington Market
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This tour is perfect for foodies who want to sample different ethnic flavours. Skip the lines at the best eateries in the Kensington Market with a local guide and sample 6 different international cuisines – Jamaican patties, Momos from Tibet, and more. You will also be told some intriguing facts about the Kensington Market and its rich history.
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Food included?: ✅
Book your Toronto International Food Tour at the Kensington Market here
2. Toronto Food Tour in the Kensington Market
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stroll through the streets of the Kensington Market in this small-group tour with a local guide who will share with you some fascinating details about Toronto’s food history and how it has been shaped by cultures worldwide. Come hungry, because all food tastings at multiethnic restaurants are included in this expert tour.
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Food included?: ✅
Book your Toronto Food Tour at the Kensington Market here
3. Kensington Market and Chinatown Walking Tour
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This tour includes a guided walk with an expert through the Kensington Market and Chinatown, which is nearby. This group tour is designed to allow you to move at your own pace, appreciating the vibrancy of the environments, take photos, and admire the artwork. While food is not included, you will have time to purchase and enjoy the culinary experience.
- Duration: 2 hours
- Food included?: ❌
Book your Kensington Market and Chinatown Walking Tour here
4. Toronto Delicious Donut Adventure
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Explore the best bakeries in Chinatown and the Kensington Market, sampling fresh donuts and other baked goods made that day. Learn some interesting tidbits about some of the locations you’ll see. If you have a sweet tooth, then this tour might be for you.
- Duration: 2 hours
- Food included?: ✅
Book your Toronto Delicious Donut Adventure here
5. Toronto’s Fusion Food Tour
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This small group tour allows you to have a guide bring you to the best spots in the Kensington Market, trying some of the best eats on the menus. You’ll enjoy a variety of flavours, from savoury snacks to mouthwatering home baked sweets.
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Food included?: ✅
Book Toronto’s Fusion Food Tour in the Kensington Market here
6. Walking tour of the Kensington Market and Chinatown
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This walking tour will give you a chance to explore Chinatown, the Kensington Market and the Graffiti Alley in between in a small group. You’ll sample an array of foods, and will also sit down in a cozy hole in the wall café for a drink of tea or coffee.
- Duration: 3 hours
- Food included?: ✅
Book your Walking Tour of the Kensington Market and Chinatown here
7. Self-guided tour of Toronto’s artsy neighbourhoods
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If guided tours aren’t your thing, then this is a more flexible option. With this tour, you have lifetime access (it never expires) a smartphone audio file to take you through the Kensington Market and Chinatown, and tell you some of the most fascinating information about the landmarks, streets and businesses that you will see.
- Duration: approximately 75 minutes
- Food included?: ❌
Book your Self-Guided Tour of Toronto’s Artsy Neighbourhoods here
8. Best of Toronto Food + Sightseeing Tour
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
During this tour, you’re escorted around Toronto in a comfy SUV seeing some of the notable landmarks, and a few ‘off the beaten path’ gems. All your tastings at the foodie hostpots at the Kensington Market and Chinatown (lunch and dinner) are included.
- Duration: 3-5 hours
- Food included?: ✅
Book your Best of Toronto Food + Sightseeing Tour here
9. Toronto Custom Private Walking Tour
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This tour is perfect for if you’d prefer to have your own private expert guide who can customize a tour that fits your interests, based on a questionnaire that you’ll answer upon signing up. Its perfect for second-time visitors to Toronto who have seen the landmarks, but are looking for in-depth local knowledge and intriguing details about them.
- Duration: 3-5 hours
- Food included?: ❌
Book your Toronto Custom Private Walking Tour here
Good Places to Stay near the Kensington Market
If you prefer to be as close as possible to the Kensington Market, then I don’t blame you. The area has an artsy, bohemian vibe; its a foodie paradise and a good place to stay.
Here are some of the best accommodations (non chain hotels) near the Kensington Marker and Chinatown.
- Budget: Samesun Toronto – 5 minute walk to the Kensington Market
- Mid-Range: Kensington Market House – 7 minute walk to the Kensington Market
- Luxury: Luxury Properties at Paul Lane – 11 minute walk to the Kensington Market
Staying overnight? Read my post on Toronto’s best breakfasts
Notice that none of the places I recommend staying are hotel chains? This is because there are no chain hotels nearby. Part of what allows the Kensington Market to keep its character is the absence of chains, and that includes chain hotels.
So if you’re looking at staying within close walking distance of the Kensington Market, then you’ll need to consider independently-owned, ma and pa accommodations. If you prefer a hotel chain, then you’ll have a minimum 20 minute walk to the Kensington Market.
Pro Tip: Don’t need to be right near the Kensington Market? When people ask me where to stay in Toronto, I always suggest a hotel near Union Station. Being near Union Station allows you to take a quick TTC ride to wherever you want to go; including the Kensington Market.
How to Get to the Kensington Market
Part of what makes the Kensington Market unique is its location in a corner of the city that isn’t immediately next to any subway stop or bus station. That also means that getting there usually requires a bit of walking.
Via Public Transit
Depending on where you’re located, the cheapest and easiest way to get to the Kensington Market is to do a combination of taking the TTC, and some walking.
There are a few different subway stations that could bring you to the Kensington Market. They are:
- Spadina station (this is how I get to the Kensington Market every time- see instructions below.)
- College Station
- St Patrick’s Station
How I Get to the Kensington Market via Public Transit
I take the subway to Spadina. Once I’m at Spadina station, I walk to where the street cars leave. It is a large station, so depending on where you are, it can take about 5 minutes to walk to the streetcar area, depending on how fast of a walker you are.
From the streetcar platform, I get on the 510 Streetcar heading south. (If you just got off the subway ride, then you do not need to pay extra for this ride -your fare is included in the journey.)
Ride the streetcar for about 10 minutes until you reach College street, and then get off. You are now on Spadina avenue and you’ll want to walk west along College towards the Market. It will take 5-10 minutes before you’ve reached the north part of the Kensington Market.
Driving
You can drive to the Kensington Market, but keep in mind that there is limited parking near the market.There are just three small lots within a 10 minute walk of the market.
I would recommend that you take public transit rather than drive and risk not being able to find a parking spot. Click here for parking and other transit options to the Kensington Market.
Is Kensington Market in Toronto worth visiting?
The Kensington Market in Toronto is absolutely worth visiting. It has certain character and charm that is unique to anywhere else in the Toronto.
The Kensington Market is a great place to explore Toronto’s multicultural food options, find a gift for someone or get unique (non generic) Canadian souvenirs. I’ve bought many gifts for people in the Kensington Market, and it feels good to know that you’re supporting a local business in the process of finding things that are artisan.
The Kensington Market is popular with students and tourists, but is also safe and family-friendly. You can find restaurants from a mix of cultures, many of them are family-friendly restaurants that have kids menus, high chairs and a welcoming atmosphere for people of all ages.
What is so Special about the Kensington Market?
One thing people might be wondering is, what makes the Kensington market so special? What is so great about it? The Kensington Market is special for a few reasons:
It has resisted change
The Kensington Market didn’t start as a tourist attraction – back in the 1800s, it was just another working class, immigrant neighbourhood. Many neighbourhoods in Toronto looked similar to it.
Unlike other neighbourhoods, the Kensington Market has resisted against the gentrification, and soaring rent costs that has altered the social fabric of many other parts of the city.
Aside from motorized vehicles which drive through, the Kensington Market has a similar feel now as it did 100 years ago. It still has a ‘working class market environment, with a multitude of cultures, hole in the wall businesses and an array of different colours and flavours.
It’s close to Chinatown and Graffiti Alley
The Kensington Market is popular for its street art and environment alone, but its also located in a pocket in Toronto with other things worth seeing too.
There is so much unique art, graffiti and only independently owned businesses and shops between the Kensington Market and Chinatown. Its also very close to the Art Gallery. So, for tourists interested in foodie and art experiences in Toronto – the Kensington Market/Chinatown area is a natural place to stop.
The foodie experience
Toronto is celebrated as being the most multicultural city in the world. many of these cultures are separated into distinct neighbourhoods. The Kensington Market has splashes of cultures and flavours from around the world – from North American fast-food, to European cuisine, spicy flavours of the Caribbean, and mouth-watering Asian food – you can find it all in the Kensington Market.
FAQs about the Kensington Market
Here are the most commonly asked questions about the Kensington Market, and how to plan a visit there
What time does Kensington Market open?
The Kensington Market is open 24/7, because its not really a market – but a neighbourhood. There are houses, shops, cafés and restaurant and each business has their individual hours, which tend to be between the hours of 11am and 7pm. You can visit the Kensington Market year round, seven days a week but you should stick to these hours if you want to find the businesses open.
What is the best day to go to Kensington Market?
One of the most popular times to visit the Kensington Market is the last Sunday of every summer months when the neighbourhood becomes ‘car free.’ However, I prefer walking through the Kensington Market on weekdays in the fall or summer, when its less busy.
How long do you spend at Kensington Market?
You can spend hours walking around the Kensington Market; even more if you decide to sit down to eat in a restaurant. I would recommend at least 2 hours for taking your time to explore the neighbourhood, and up to 3 if you want to sit down to enjoy a meal.
Is Kensington Market cash only?
Each business in the Kensington Market will have their own preferred payment methods. From my experience, most businesses in the Kensington Market accept debit and credit card. However, there are some small market stalls that may prefer cash. I would recommend bringing some cash to the Kensington Market.
Conclusion: Best Kensington Market Food Tours
he neighbourhood was once a working class Jewish quarter, and evolved over the years into a multicultural mosaic of so many colours and flavours from around the world.I hope that some of the tour options above will work for you, and allow you to experience to essence of the Kensington Market.
Regardless of the time of year you visit Toronto, you should make a stop at the Kensington Market. At the beginning of winter, there is a winter solstice event to kick off the longer nights and colder weather. Throughout the winter, the shops and restaurants will remain open, but outdoor patios will be closed.
As the weather warms up in May, the outdoor eating areas will start to open again. During the warm months, the Kensington Market becomes pedestrian-only on the last Sunday of the month, which makes it less busy in terms of traffic, but more busy in terms of crowds. I’ve never seen anything like the Kensington Market.
I have done a few food tours and sampled many of the variety of cuisines. I almost always grab a coffee and cinnamon bun from Bunner’s Bakery before heading home.