Greektown on the Danforth: where to eat souvlaki, meze and grilled fish

Toronto's Greektown on the Danforth, how to order a proper meze table, and the phone number for every taverna.

Greektown on the Danforth: where to eat souvlaki, meze and grilled fish

Greektown runs along Danforth Avenue east of Broadview, and it is one of the oldest food strips in the city still doing what it was built to do. The Greek community that named it has spread out across the region, but the tavernas stayed, and on a summer night the patios still run the length of the street.

The mistake people make here is ordering like it is a steakhouse: one big plate each. Greek food is built to share, and the table is better for it.

How to order a Greek table

  • Start with meze, the small plates. Tzatziki, taramasalata, grilled octopus, saganaki (the fried cheese they sometimes flame at the table), dolmades, a village salad. Order a spread and tear bread through it.
  • Souvlaki is the skewer, grilled meat, usually pork or chicken. A gyro is the meat off the vertical spit, in a pita with tzatziki. Know the difference before you order.
  • The grill and the fish are where a good taverna shows off. Whole grilled fish, lamb chops, kokoretsi if they do it. This is the centre of the meal, not the start.
  • Finish with loukoumades, the honey doughnuts, and a coffee. If they offer you an ouzo, that is the room being friendly.

A taverna that grills over charcoal and makes its own tzatziki thick with garlic is the one to keep. Thin, sweet, watery tzatziki is the tell of a kitchen cutting corners.

The tavernas

These are the Greek restaurants in the directory, most of them on the Danforth.

  1. Alexandros Greek Taverna, greek kitchen at 484 Danforth Avenue in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Alexandros Greek Taverna484 Danforth Avenue, Old Toronto
    +1 416-461-3073
  2. Ali Baba’s Middle Eastern Cuisine - 113 Danforth Ave., greek kitchen at 113 Danforth Avenue in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Ali Baba’s Middle Eastern Cuisine - 113 Danforth Ave.113 Danforth Avenue, Old Toronto
    +1 416-461-8500
  3. Astoria Shish Kebob House - Danforth, greek kitchen at 390 Danforth Avenue in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Astoria Shish Kebob House - Danforth390 Danforth Avenue, Old Toronto
    +1 416-463-2838
  4. Athens Restaurant, greek kitchen at 707 Danforth Avenue in East York, Toronto
    Athens Restaurant707 Danforth Avenue, East York
    +1 416-465-4441
  5. estiatorio Milos Toronto, greek kitchen at 330 Bay Street in Old Toronto, Toronto
    estiatorio Milos Toronto330 Bay Street, Old Toronto
    +1 416-462-7260
  6. Horio Taverna, greek kitchen at 516 Danforth Avenue in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Horio Taverna516 Danforth Avenue, Old Toronto
    +1 416-461-9000
  7. Kalyvia, greek kitchen at 420 Danforth Avenue in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Kalyvia420 Danforth Avenue, Old Toronto
    +1 416-463-3333
  8. Koutouki GiaMas, greek kitchen at 424 Danforth Avenue in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Koutouki GiaMas424 Danforth Avenue, Old Toronto
    +1 416-461-7774
  9. Mamakas Taverna, greek kitchen at 80 Ossington Avenue in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Mamakas Taverna80 Ossington Avenue, Old Toronto
    +1 416-519-5996
  10. Masa Buka Greek Restaurant, greek kitchen at 940 Pape Avenue in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Masa Buka Greek Restaurant940 Pape Avenue, Old Toronto
    +1 416-425-2020
  11. Messini Authentic Gyros, greek kitchen at 445 Danforth Avenue in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Messini Authentic Gyros445 Danforth Avenue, Old Toronto
    +1 416-778-4861
  12. Mezes, greek kitchen at 440 Danforth Avenue in Old Toronto, Toronto
    Mezes440 Danforth Avenue, Old Toronto
    +1 416-778-5150
All 26 greek restaurants →

Before you go

Ring first for a group or a patio table on a summer weekend, when the Danforth fills and the good tavernas turn tables all night. Hours run late in the warm months and pull back in winter. The number on each page is the restaurant's own.

Written by See The Six · kept current from the directory, last checked 2026-08-24

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