Where to enjoy the slow and delicious ritual of Turkish breakfast in Toronto

Breakfast in Türkiye isn’t just the first meal of the day — it’s a slow, abundant ritual that captures the rhythm of Turkish life. A traditional Turkish breakfast goes far beyond a quick bite: kahvaltı (“before coffee”) is a deliberate, communal experience designed to be savoured. It’s one of the reasons Türkiye topped Taste Atlas’ list of the world’s best breakfasts this year and why the tradition of Turkish Breakfast has been proposed for UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Rather than arriving as a single plate, Turkish breakfast unfolds as a colourful landscape of flavours: sharp and creamy regional cheese, olives in every shade of green and black, crisp vegetables, cured meat, warm börek, oven-fresh simit, and small bowls of jams, honey and clotted cream that turn the table into something resembling a morning feast. Egg dishes add even more personality to Turkish breakfast — from the softly stewed menemen to fried eggs with spicy sucuk, to the deeply comforting çılbır with its swirl of yogurt and butter.

Toronto recently caught a glimpse of this ritual when Turkish Airlines turned Soho House into a full-morning celebration of Turkish breakfast flavours. Chef Isil Okcu, flown in from Hong Kong, curated a spread that introduced members not just to the food, but to the unhurried spirit of kahvaltı itself — an experience rooted as much in generosity and time as in taste.

As Toronto’s appetite for global breakfast culture continues to grow, a handful of local spots now offer their own interpretations of this warm, communal tradition. We share the standouts where Turkish breakfast in Toronto comes alive, one shared table at a time.

5 spots to try Turkish breakfast in Toronto

1. Turquoise Restaurant 

431 Richmond St. W.

A long-standing fixture of Toronto’s Turkish dining scene, Turquoise Restaurant on Bloor Street delivers a Turkish breakfast rooted in tradition and executed with restraint. The menemen is slow-cooked and well-balanced, served with freshly baked bread designed for dipping. A selection of pastries and Turkish coffee rounds out the table. It’s a composed, unfussy breakfast that prioritizes flavour and authenticity over trend.

2. Simit & Chai Co.

787 King St. W.

Simit & Chai Co. brings pure Istanbul nostalgia to King West, from the smell of fresh simit to tea steaming in tulip glasses and pans of menemen bubbling behind the counter. Their sucuklu yumurta is the star, all crispy edges and bold spice, but nothing beats the simplicity of a warm simit served the way it should be. It’s an honest, everyday Turkish breakfast at its best.

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3. Pera Café 

62 Nassau St.

Pera Café is the definition of cozy — the kind of place in Kensington Market where breakfast feels more like a warm welcome than a meal. Their börek is flaky perfection, and the Turkish eggs are classic and comforting, but it’s the whole table spread that wins you over. Olives, cheese, fresh bread, steaming tea… it all comes together like a Turkish breakfast you’d have at a family table in Istanbul.

4. Sibel

1997 Avenue Rd.

Sibel is where Turkish breakfast in Toronto gets dressed up. Located on Queen West, their boards — complete with kaymak and honey, slices of simit and beautifully cooked eggs — look like something out of a brunch editorial. It’s elevated without losing its soul; the flavours are classic, but the presentation makes everything feel special. It's perfect for anyone who loves a little style with their morning spread.

5. Lokum Eats

23 St Johns Rd.

Lokum Eats brings colour and charm to Toronto’s west end, with a Turkish breakfast menu that’s as pretty as it is delicious. The sucuklu eggs come out sizzling, the pastries are glossy and irresistible, and the simit with honey feels like a small luxury. It’s the spot you recommend when someone says they want a “hidden gem,” because that’s exactly what it is.