Last Updated: Feb 09, 2025.
Toronto’s Union Station is more than just a travel hub—it’s also a gateway to some of the city’s best dining experiences. Inside the terminal, you’ll find a selection of eateries popular with local commuters, while the surrounding area boasts an even wider range of dining options on all sides. Whether you’re just passing through or exploring the neighborhood, the restaurants in and around Union Station offer a variety of culinary delights to cater to every taste.
Table of Contents: The Best Food Around Toronto’s Union Station
- WVRST – the commuter’s favourite sausage & beer hall
- Amano Italian Kitchen – serving fresh pasta made by hand
- Blue Bovine Steak + Sushi House – the finest dining in Union Station
- The Loose Moose – legendary bar and music venue
- Byblos – inspired Eastern Mediterranean cuisine
- Pizzeria Libretto – true Neapolitan wood-fired pizza
- Impact Kitchen – 100% gluten free kitchen
- Amsterdam Brewhouse – Toronto’s largest waterfront brewery
WVRST
The commuter’s favourite sausage & beer hall
One of our favourite places to visit on our Must-Do Toronto Food Tour is WVRST, a German-style sausage and beer hall situated within Union Station in the underground York Street Promenade. Frequented by many commuters who pass through the station, it has become a popular destination for those looking to unwind. With its inviting atmosphere, WVRST is an excellent place to grab an after-work drink and a tasty snack while waiting for the rush hour traffic to pass by.
WVRST boasts an impressive variety of sausages, offering everything from traditional Chorizo made with pork and chili powder, to South African Boerewors crafted with beef and coriander, and even game sausages like Bison with blueberry maple. Beyond their selection of sausages, WVRST is also known for their Dirty Fries, which are fried in duck fat and topped with peppers, melted cheese, and currywurst sauce, making them a must-try item for anyone visiting.
Local tip: If you don’t have time to have dinner at Union, you can grab a set of 4 frozen sausages to take home too. Makes for an especially great meal to share during the Summer grill season.
Amano Italian Kitchen
Serving fresh pasta made by hand
Also located in the underground market of Toronto’s Union Station is Amano Italian Kitchen, which offers a delightful dining experience for commuters and visitors alike. The name “Amano” comes from the Italian phrase “a mano,” meaning “by hand,” which reflects the restaurant’s dedication to making fresh pasta from scratch. With a cozy open kitchen and a walk-up bar, diners can watch as all the pasta is expertly handcrafted, adding a touch of authenticity and charm to every meal.
One simple yet amazing dish is the Mushroom & Truffle Spaghetti, made up of just the house spaghetti, roasted mushrooms, Grana Padano cheese, and a couple of herbs for extra flavour. For those craving something meatier, the Rigatoni Bolognese topped with pecorino cheese and tomato sauce is an excellent choice.
Local tip: As a thank you to local commuters, Amano offers a 20% discount to their food menu if you present your Presto card.
Blue Bovine Steak + Sushi House
The finest dining in Union Station
65 Front St W | bluebovine.com
We move upstairs to the main floor of Union Station to visit Blue Bovine Steak + Sushi House. Blue Bovine combines the best of both worlds to create a modern dining experience that caters to the diverse palate of Toronto. Situated in the East Wing of Union Station, this restaurant occupies a massive 10,000 square foot venue, providing a fine dining experience in a truly grand setting.
For a lighter midday option, visit Blue Bovine at lunchtime to enjoy a diverse surf and turf menu, featuring Sirloin Steak Frites or the Chef’s Special Maki Nigiri Plate. Alternatively, make a reservation for an elegant dinner experience and choose one of their steaks, selecting from their premium imported Kobe or Wagyu to domestic Canadian AAA steaks.
Local tip: If you’re a bit intimidated by the price, go at happy hour from 3-6PM on weekdays for some great Wagyu Beef Sliders and drinks at a price that won’t break the bank.
The Loose Moose
Legendary bar and music venue
146 Front St W | theloosemoose.ca
Just outside of Union Station stands The Loose Moose, a legendary bar and grill that’s been serving locals and travelers alike since 1989. For 35 years people have been coming for the selection of beers on tap as well as the underground music hall downstairs dubbed “The Antler Room”.
More importantly however, people come for the food. The Loose Moose features a savory burger menu with everything you could ever want, from the classic cheeseburger to the “Epic” Bacon Mushroom Melt. Brie and roasted mushrooms are sandwiched between two Angus beef patties and smoked bacon. And what pairs better with burgers than fries? Share a plate of their Fully Loaded Poutine, featuring that classic combo of cheese curds and gravy, but fully loaded with sour cream, bacon, and green onion.
Local tip: The Antler Room music hall has music on Fridays and Saturdays at 10PM. If you’re looking for something rocking after dinner, check their online calendar to see what acts are playing here.
Byblos
Inspired Eastern Mediterranean cuisine
11 Duncan St | byblosdowntown.com
Byblos is an upscale restaurant near St. Andrew Station that combines local and classical influences to create its unique dining experience. One of the most popular and well-received fine dining restaurants in the area, Byblos has crafted a cuisine that showcases the regional flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean coast, which is then refined through traditional methods passed down through the generations as well as more modern techniques.
With its seaside influences, there are quite a few options from the sea to choose from such as the Tuna Tartare; a delicate starter of tuna, citrus chili tahini, watermelon and avocado that is then spread on lavash bread. Meat eaters have something to enjoy as well, with the short rib kebab as a standout sharable. Sliced chemen-spiced short rib is served alongside a truffle yogurt and topped with a mint and pine nuts.
Local tip: The menu doesn’t have entrées, but sharables. Order multiple dishes on the menu for the whole table and taste all the different treats Byblos has to offer!
Pizzeria Libretto
True Neapolitan wood-fired pizza
155 University Ave | pizzerialibretto.com
In August 2008, Chef Rocco Agostino and Max Rimaldi opened Pizzeria Libretto with the goal of bringing the pizza tradition of Naples to Toronto. Their culinary philosophy centers on the idea that food should be simple and made with passion, a belief rooted in their childhoods. At Pizzeria Libretto, they serve Italian classics crafted with seasonal local ingredients and infused with the chef’s personal touch, making each dish feel truly special. Over a decade and a half later, Pizzerie Libretto remains one of the foremost pizza restaurants in Toronto.
The pizza menu has a broad selection. You can get the classic Margherita, a Neapolitan sourdough crust topped with the 3 simple ingredients of cheese, tomatoes, and basil. Or opt for a New York style thin crust pizza with hot genoa salami, garlic, and hot maple. If you want a starter while waiting for the pizza, the arancini is always a great pick. The arborio risotto balls are filled with scamoroza cheese, topped with grana padano, and sit in a puddle of the house tomato sauce.
Local tip: Monday nights are wine night at their University and Ossington locations. Bottles are 50% off for just the one day a week.
Impact Kitchen
100% gluten free kitchen
88 Queens Quay W | impactkitchen.ca
Impact Kitchen was founded in 2015 by entrepreneur Frank Toskan and his personal trainer and nutrition expert Josh Broun with the belief that food has the ability to make a major impact on your daily life in a positive way. The duo created this 100% gluten free restaurant as a place where people can feel good about the food they eat, which is made with fundamental pillars of being clean, nutritional, and of course delicious.
The nutrient dense Power Bowls are the signature dish of Impact. They are all naturally vegetarian and some are even vegan such as the Hero, which is made up of kale, avocado, roasted veggies, nuts and pesto. All of their Power Bowls also have the option to add your own proteins with everything from chickpea falafels to chicken breast and even smoked chorizo. If you want something more savoury, try their Thai Chicken Curry; a naturally gluten free dish of Thai red curry and chicken breast served atop brown rice.
Local tip: It is worth getting the app, as they offer a number of app-exclusive deals. Pick up a free Chocolate Sea Salt Cookie with your curry or grab a discount on a smoothie to go with your Power Bowl.
Amsterdam Brewhouse
Toronto’s largest waterfront brewery
88 Queens Quay W | amsterdambeer.com
Amsterdam is a well respected brewery in Toronto that first opened its doors as Toronto’s original craft brewpub back in 1986. 30 years later, they built their lakeside brewhouse right on the Harbourfront to provide one of the best patio experiences in the city.
While Amsterdam is best known for its beer, its food menu has plenty to offer, with many dishes incorporating their brews as key ingredients. The Boneshaker Brisket Mac & Cheese features their signature Boneshaker cheddar sauce on macaroni, baked with a smoked brisket and a crispy breadcrumb and cheese topping. For a more traditional beer pairing, don’t miss their competition-style Baby Back Ribs. Smoked to perfection and coated with Amsterdam Beer-B-Q sauce, these ribs come with a hearty serving of all the potatoes, baked beans, and cornbread one could ask for.
Local tip: The patio is the main attraction here. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a meal in the sun, relax in their fully-covered second patio, or sip craft beers with friends on Adirondack chairs by the lake, there’s a perfect spot for everyone.
Tour Toronto’s Food Scene with Tasty Tours
If you are looking to get out and explore more of Toronto, join us on one of our Toronto food tours. You can hit up our Must-Do Toronto Food Tour featuring WVRST and its signature sausages. This tour ends at Union Station, making it the perfect activity to do before checking out one of the restaurants we recommended on this post, or jumping onto the train to your next adventure (or home). Alternatively, you can discover another area of the city entirely with our Kensington Market ‘Taste the World’ Food Tour. Why spend hours reading blog posts like this when you can just join us on a tour and experience firsthand all the amazing food that Toronto has to offer?
