Alma in Toronto

1194 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6H 1N2, Canada

★★★★☆
(338 reviews)
Categories: Restaurant

About

Good food from an eclectic mix of influences based on the experiences of our team.

Website
almatoronto.com
Address
1194 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6H 1N2, Canada
Plus Code
MH56+RQ Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Sunday
Closed
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
Closed
Friday
5:30–10:30 PM
Saturday
5:30–10:30 PM

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating No-contact delivery Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Healthy options Small plates Spirits Wine
Dining options
Brunch Lunch Dinner Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets
Atmosphere
Cosy
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Parking
Paid parking lot Parking

Photos

$Alma
1194 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6H 1N2, Canada

Reviews

4.4
★★★★☆
338 reviews

Most Mentioned

radish cake (20) tapioca (19) char siu (17) fusion (13) wonton noodles (10) asian food (9) pork wonton (8) eggplant dip (7) pork steak (6) scallion bread (5)
5 stars
237
4 stars
46
3 stars
26
2 stars
18
1 stars
11
★★★★
December 7, 2024

Feeling like Asian fusion but want to step it up and turn it into a more upscale date without breaking the bank AND have great service? This is definitely an option. We got reservations on a Friday night, placed was packed and felt cozy. We tried a variety of small, mains and desert, paired with a nice glass of wine. Chef delivered one of our dishes, and whether by choice or not thought that was a nice gesture which added to our experience.

★★★★★
December 1, 2024

Fantastic restaurant with modern Asian cuisine that still manages to strike a fine balance between authenticity and contemporary. For 2, we ordered: - scallion bao - nasi goreng - duck leg vindaloo - brulee nian gao Everything was good and can't wait to come back to try other dishes.

★★
November 2, 2024

I visited this restaurant with high expectations, given its mention in the Michelin guide, but was ultimately disappointed. In my opinion, the food was average and overpriced. Four dishes, in particular, stood out for the wrong reasons. The pork wontons with noodles had thick, doughy wrappers, and the flavour was flat. The cod, priced at $45, was overcooked and paired with shriveled mushrooms—far from what I’d expect at this price point. The radish cake left me puzzled, with a chewy, grainy texture and a tangy plum(?) sauce that didn’t quite work. Lastly, the special of mustard greens was too salty and overcooked. Overall, the dishes we tried leaned toward being too oily and over-seasoned.

★★★★
October 29, 2024

For a fusion resto in the west end, it’s not bad. Enjoyed the depth of flavours in each dish. I found it to be pricier than what was being offered. I don’t mind paying what they charge but at least give more food. Plates were definitely disproportionate to the cost. You must book ahead though as it’s a small space and it’s quite popular. Our faves were the chili wings and the bbq pork. Noodles with wontons were also good but the wrapper we found to be too thick and not enough filling. Steak was sadly chewy.

★★★★★
October 3, 2024

Great spot in the west end of the city! Service was great and the food was delicious. Had a chance to try a number of items and all of it was great! Highly recommend coming a bit earlier in the evening, as it can get busy quite quickly. Serving sizes are decent, most dishes are good for two people at most, can stretch to three. If you’re looking for something a little different, definitely check them out. Don’t forget to get the dessert, it was awesome!

★★★
August 31, 2024

The food was not bad but the service was quite lackluster. There were less than 10 tables but it felt like we were not given much attention in comparison to other customers. We really wanted to try all 3 desserts on the menu but realized it would have most definitely taken an hour from when the server would have taken our order, to when the dessert would arrive at our table. We decided to just grab the bill, which took a good 10-12min in itself. I’ve received better service at Gusto 101.

★★★★
August 2, 2024

Chinese fusion is not easy to do. I believe that’s because Chinese food is fusion in of itself. You have so many regions in China that have a variety of flavours, textures, colours, it’s hard to establish what is a Chinese flavour. Alma does an admirable job but misses the mark a bit. And yes, portions are very small The fritter filled with cheese was quite tasty. Great texture with flavourful cheese that reminded us of Mac n cheese. Radish cakes with the rhubarb sauce was also quite nice. Scallions balls with the cheese were pretty chewy and flavourful. Their specialty noodle dish of the night with the cockles had a great level of spice and was definitely the highlight.

★★★
June 21, 2024

Food portions were way too small for what they charge. While the tapioca fritters and nasi goreng fried rice were good, it didn’t justify the price. We were most disappointed by the char siu steak as its flavour was very one dimensional and the texture of the meat itself wasn’t quite succulent like how you’d expect a char siu to be. The black cod was good but not out of your mind good. It would have only been enough for one person even though they categorized it as a $44 “large” plate. Ambience was nice and welcoming with service that was pleasant. Booked us in for dinner and made a note that it was a special occasion for my husband’s birthday. This detail was not acknowledged at all. Overall, nothing wow-ed us and it’s not a restaurant we would recommend friends to go to.

★★★★★
December 18, 2024

What a fabulous experience! The TRUST ALMA picks were so delicious and it was such a special night out. Strongly recommended.

★★★
Local Guide
December 15, 2024

The food was interesting but agree with many comments that it was overpriced. Small piece of cod for $48 just didnt feel right..

★★★★★
December 15, 2024

Exceptional.

★★★★★
December 8, 2024

The bao are so good! The wontons and noodles are also so flavourful, I loved the sauce

★★★★★
December 1, 2024

the ambiance is such a vibe for a sultry date night or girls night! the small plates were delectable and our server made the evening that more fun with his wine reccos (shoutout Ethan). char siu pork, steak, manti, and baos we re a highlight!

★★
November 24, 2024

I was excited to try this place because of all the buzz, but left disappointed. Took my partner for his bday dinner, and with five shareable dishes and two glasses of wine, it cost more than $100 per person. Not only was it very expensive, but the food wasn t that tasty. Two of the dishes were actually a bit bitter: the eggplant manti in black bean sauce, which had fried garlic chips that may have been overcooked; and the radish cake, a play on Chinese turnip cake I believe but also oddly bitter with its accompanying sauces. The cod in ajo blanco was very good, though pricey at $45. Maybe these are just standard gourmet restaurant prices these days. I also understand that it s supposed to be modern Chinese . However, the experience wasn t anywhere near extraordinary enough to justify $100 per person, three times as much as a meal at a very decent Chinese resto.

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

I went there and I had a blast great to go really good food

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Everything was delicious and service was great

★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

We both got the Trust Alma tasting menu ($80) and felt the place and the food lacked some charm. As some of the comments here already mention, the service was lacklustre and I felt like the front of house was just going through the motions to get through the day. Were not expecting to be pampered but some attentiveness wouldve been nice. The food itself was very mediocre (except for the scallion baos which were fantastic). The off-menu chocolate tart with whipped cream was great. Meh.

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

So good:) Unique foods and great service

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

A good experience all round. Food was excellent, service superb, crowded and tight space but the funiture was not conducive to a meal that takes two hours. All in, I enjoyed it. Vegetarian options: A number of good vegetarian options. Parking: I parked on the sidestreet. Wheelchair accessibility: Tight space but the staff were excellent with the person who arrived in a wheelchair. Very kind and respectful.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Amazing staff excellent service

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Highly recommend the tasting menu. Fantastic service and high quality food

★★
October 22, 2024

Meh. Nice to be able to smoke on a patio table though

★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

TL;DR - Whilst the food for the most part is tasty, the portions are disappointingly small for the price. I will stipulate that for the most part I do not like fusion foods; however, with that said, aside from their radish cake, which I personally did not care for (it just tastes like peas), I thought everything else was fine. We ordered the grilled skirt steak, the cod, nasi goreng, rice pilaf and the chili chicken wings. The portions of the fried rice, cod, and rice pilaf were disappointingly small. Honestly, Im just a dumb pleb who doesnt know anything about food. I eat it and I either like it or I dont. I then weigh that against the cost, compare it to similar things Ive had in the past and make an assessment. And for me, it just wasnt worth it. As for the service; attentive and knowledgeable. But Im dinging them a star because they failed to disclose the cost of a recommended glass of wine prior to pouring. I think its important to consider price sensitivity of each patron.

★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Food is good but portions are small and a bit overpriced. The waitress was not very friendly.

★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

The wonton noodles were delicious especially with the chilli crisps. The steak was perfectly cooked. I was hoping for the baos to be a bit more fluffier as it tasted a bit dense for my liking. The radish cake was a bit too spicy on the garlic chive, I personally would have liked to taste the radish flavour more.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

High end Asian fusion restaurant in casual atmosphere. Very attentive service and good dishes. A good spot for date.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Our server laughed when we got two orders of the chicken wings. We had been to Alma before and the last time, we had almost fought over the last wing. We didn t want to have to share this time. The svelte menu at Alma nods to Chinatown staples. The scallion baos are pan-fried and dusted with flaky salt. They are soft and salty with a crisp layer on the top and bottom. The chicken wings are crisp, hot and slightly sweet with scallion and ginger. These two are reminiscent of the hua juan and chili chicken I ve had before, but improved. But there are also departures from Chinatown. The bibb lettuce salad with salsa verde was a surprise; the lettuce and shiso leaf were velvet soft and paired with a herby sauce. The potato dumplings served with sweet corn and comte had the texture of potato dumplings I ve seen with chili oil, but did not taste of that. It had the melted cheese texture I associate with sizzling Korean plates. This, to me, is the beauty of Alma. It reminds you of a place and asks you to go somewhere else. There is no bar in the small space, but the wine list is stocked with natural wine and the wine-by-the-glass pours rotate regularly. The server was happy to expand on the wine in my glass, but I was already chipper from the happy mix of pop and disco playing in the background to really pay attention. Alma tackles the difficult problem of nostalgia. How would I feel about being reminded of a place only to be jostled away from it in the next bite? I felt joy and excitement; where will the next plate take me?

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Incredible food! The Radish Cakes!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

amazing food in a cute, quaint restaurant with lovely service. the parmesan fritters and radish cake are can t miss apps with pork wonton and char siu pork amazing mains. highly recommend!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

My wife and I had dinner at Alma. We loved the cauliflower and dumplings. The food was very tasty and the service was great. We had a wonderful time. Highly recommend!

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Amazing night. Food, atmosphere, service. Highly recommended.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Amazing food and service!!!!!

★★
July 22, 2024

We had high hopes for this restaurant after hearing about it on Instagram and seeing its bib gourmand rated. We tried 5 items and found them to be quite bland and under seasoned. Overall it was overpriced for a lacklustre meal :(

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

My husband and I dined here in Feb and we absolutely loved every dish we tried. We will definitely be back to try more items on the menu!

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Incredible food and service. Some of the best food ever had in Toronto.

★★★
June 22, 2024

We paid $90 for 2 tiny portions of food (rice with an egg and noodles) and 1 glass of beer (which was from a can) The food was tasty, but we definitely left the place hungry. This place is not even in the heart of downtown, its far, not luxurious but extremely expensive. I dont think Ill be back.

★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Food was incredibly good, loved the Bao, Mussel pasta, and Black Cod but, similar to other reviewers, prices felt really steep. For dishes like the cod, a little more veg/garnish wouldve helped it feel like a more substantial item for the price.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Such a cute, delicious spot. Very fresh ingredients and incentive menu.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Forever one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Chef Anna puts so much love into every single thing she makes and you can tell by the quality of ingredients that go into her dishes. Never skip her seasonal desserts. xo

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Came to Alma for my partners birthday dinner. Our server, who I understand to also be the bar manager, was fantastic. He was able to speak to the wine list and make a recommendation based on our preferences, and guided us through the food menu as well making sure to highlight dishes we wouldnt want to miss out on. Everything was delicious, and the service was impeccable. I would not hesitate to bring friends or family back here again.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Every time I come here I want to try the whole menu - and everything we order is even better than I could have imagined. A nice selection of consistent favourites on the menu while at the same time lots of new dishes and variety at each visit. The wine recommendations are always on point. A must visit in Toronto!

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Easily one of the best meals Ive had in the city, ever.

★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Interesting chinese food. Cool little twists to traditional food and some interesting fusion dishes. Must try just to say you have, if not for the food

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Overall, the taste is really great. Every dish is very distinctive and delicious. Highly recommended: trout tartare, salad, Sichuan ragu noodles. Vegetarian options: Do have vegetable s choice Dietary restrictions: Do ask dietary restrictions Parking: Green p

Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Over priced and under whelming. I do not understand the hype. Left disappointed. Maybe we got the wrong things but you d hope everything would be delicious. There are many Chinese fusion options that are way better.

Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Paid for the that small portion food with this price, I think it s really over priced and kind of dispositive for the recommendation. :(

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

We chose here as family wanted to try it. We went early, so parking was not a problem. there is green P close by and there is a little on the street. What a treat. Lovely people who made every effort to make the whole evening one of the best. Of course the food was fantastic, but it had a little extra from the staff that put it, in our book, above other restaurants of this callibre. Word of warning, we speculate that this is a very popular local spot with punters , and not a large number of tables, so reserve.

★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Okay food. Most dishes were over salted, nothing to write home about. Very expensive for what it is.

★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Last minute walk in and the staff was sweet about walk-ins. Detailed reviews under each pic + prices on receipt. Small room so might not be your cup of tea if you re claustrophobic? We loved it nonetheless because the staff was great at explaining all the ingredients! Glass of Bobinet wine $17. Parking: Residential area had free parking

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Some of the best dishes Ive ever had. Had 6 different dishes and each one was my favorite. Highly recommend this place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

The bao appetizer was out of control good. The pork char siu was the best Ive ever had but doesnt elevate itself past that. The service was impeccable the servers were friendly and happy to explain the menu. Restaraunt itself is cute and it feels like youre leaving the area when you enter.

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Unbelievably great service. Wonderful food. Amazing in house kombucha.

Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Steer clear of this establishment. Similar to the sentiments of other one-star critiques, I found the dishes to be profoundly underwhelming and exorbitantly priced relative to the culinary execution. Our selection included tapioca fritters, endive salad, beef tartare, lamb belly roast, and pork steak. The endive salad resembled a dessert, drowned in an excessive, burnt honey glaze that lacked nuance and balance, begging for contrasting notes. The beef tartare was extremely salty and greasy, bore a resemblance to a raw dumpling filling with an overpowering amount of chili bean sauce. The lamb, priced at $43 used a traditional lamb skewer spice (numb & spicy) and was completely overcooked. The meat was also dripping in oil. You can easily find better lamb skewer, cooked to perfection at a fraction of the cost. The pork steak, however, claimed the dubious honor of the worst dish. It arrived overcooked drowned in excessive salt, a common theme in all of the dishes. We did not get a chance try any carb-based dishes, but given the overall dismal experience, I have little desire to go back. The restaurant was a far cry from the quality one would expect considering the acclaim and positive feedback on social media.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

If you have not been to Alma yet, youre really missing something! This is an elevated Hakka Chinese restaurant where chef Anna showcases her skills with a curated menu of unexpected delights. Everything we tried was delicious and there were many other dishes that we wanted to try, but alas, there is only so much room. I was so impressed I asked to meet the chef. Anna very graciously came out to meet us. Anna grew up in Calcutta and its no surprise she honed her skills in Hakka cuisine. Besides the delectable menu there is the extensive wine list, from Whites to Reds and several hues of Orange. Arrive hungry and ready to be delighted. Make sure you get a reservation!

★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Ambiance and service were great. The food was quite a miss. The flavour profiles of some of the dishes were lacking (wontons + noodles, the lamb and the bao) or didn t go well together (rainbow trout tartar). Surprisingly, the endive salad was an absolute hit at our table. The gnocchi (or potato dumplings) was done well. The portions are fair. Very overpriced for what you re getting.

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Went here for dinner. The food was very well done. I grew up eating Chinese food at home and the food here was next-level Chinese food. Exquisitely well-prepared and I could not recommend this place enough.

★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

This restaurant is nothing special. The food tasted okay, but not outstanding. The prices are way too high for what you get. We had the charred fish with cabbage. The fish tasted fine, but the price is ridiculous for what you are getting. I would not recommend this restaurant. There are many better restaurants in the city.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Good food, we enjoyed the taste of each dish. The portions are a bit small for the price though, especially the tapioca fritters. Came for valentines day dinner. Fast service, nice staff. Lighting was a bit too dark to take decent pictures. The rainbow trout tartar and the endive maple salad were the standout dishes for us. Interesting and unique flavors. Parking: Theres a green-P parking about 2 blocks away that was $4 for the night

February 22, 2024

Ive never had a dining experience so disappointing. My girlfriend and I ordered the turnip cake, the toast, spicy chicken, cod, and lastly the choy. The turnip cake was served first and it looked rather promising. I had high expectations of this dish, influenced by the recommendations of some reviews. Someone even said that the turnip cake would change my life. Oh. It certainly did. Upon first bite, i was extremely confused. It was as if my taste buds took a leave of absence without my knowledge because i tasted nothing. I could tell it would have been difficult to create the texture of the dish but it was far more difficult for me to actually enjoy it. Quite crispy on the outside but the flesh of the turnip cake was similar to that of undercooked thin glass noodles. There was no flavour what so ever inside the turnip cake. The second dish served was the toast and at this point, i started noticing a trend. Crunchy but with an abomination of textures and a lack of flavour. I started to wonder if i was really just paying for the sauce that came with these dishes. The next dish was the spicy chicken. The flavour was good. Almost excellent even, but the texture of the breading was that of a frozen chicken wing that was shoved into the microwave for 15mins. The cod. Well, the cod wasnt bad. The only disappointing thing about this dish was its size. It was probably around 4oz with a few pieces of cabbage. $40+ by the way. This was an entree by the way... Lastly, the choy. The garlic was pickled and the choy was steamed so you can imagine the not so subtle sourness that coated the dish. It was the one dish that i had hoped to be more typical of choy. This last dish would determine whether my girlfriend and i would stay for dessert. Of course, we didnt. Here I am writing this review while enjoying a $40 ubereats chinese feast as i reflect on how i spent north of $130 to offend my tongue at Alma. If you insist on trying Alma, please do try some dishes that I have not. Otherwise, you may stumble upon the same frustrating trade off of flavour and texture as i have.

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Always great dining here, come hungry and leave content. Wine list is on point. Fun!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Everything was amazing, we loved every dish. Service and atmosphere are also really great. Definitely going back for the dishes we didnt get to try.

January 22, 2024

Portion is so small. After $250, 7 courses, 4 of us are still Hungary. We went to another place to eat again.

★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Came here with my family, I don t know what is the hype about this place other than great staff and good ambience. Food is not worth the price at all. Everything is overly salty. Ordered radish cake, texture is ok, a little in the burnt side but too salty. Pork wonton with noodles, let s just say I have better wonton, wonton meat is a little dry and skin is too thick. Noodle sauce is on the salty side. Lamb, this is well cook and well seasoned. I like this dish. Cod fish, this is good too but my family said it s also salty. Char Siu Pork, not what you used to that is served in Chinese restaurant as the outer layer is dryer. Flavour is ok. Rice pilaf is a bit over price $9 for a small bowl of rice.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Great food, decent pricing, good ambiance. We ordered 2-3 apps and 3 entrees with only two of us at the table, we had LOTS of food to take home. We wanted to try everything and it really was delicious!

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Alma was amazing! We got the miso cod, lamb, and char siu. This is a Michelin bib gourmand so it was pricy. Ordering three mains made the two of us really full though. They suggested we order the extra choy but imo there are already enough vegetables in the main plates. We couldn t finish the choy haha Overall it was a great dining experience :)

January 22, 2024

I came here for New Years Eve and had a preset menu. While the service was good, the food itself was such a huge disappointment that I felt the need to share this review. Im giving this restaurant a 1 star because of how underwhelming my experience was. The preset menu only had 5 items and they were all really small portions. Ive added photos to show everything we had (for 2 people). The price for all of this was $320, so $160 per person. This was so crazy to me - It was all EXTREMELY overpriced for what we got and I just can t understand how these prices can be justified. None of these dishes stood out to me at all. The only one that I enjoyed was the miso cod dish. Everything else either tasted bad or felt low quality/below average. I think I would have had a better experience at Congee Wong or something...

★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

The squid fried rice ($31) needs rebranding it s not fried rice, rather an Asian paella. When I think of fried rice, I imagine a dish that emits wok hay (a fragrant, reach into your gut aroma) with individual grains tossed with vegetable and proteins. Alma s rice was too saucy, the romesco clumping the rice and drowning out the squid. And don t even get me started on the cashews an annoying garnish that must be picked out. Drier and nut free, this may resemble fried rice. I was expecting mouth numbing spice with the Szechuan spiced lamb belly roast ($44) but not prepared for the grainy rub that covered the tongue and meat flavours. What a shame, as the lamb was cooked beautifully and after scraping off the rub it was delicious, especially with a dollop of the salty Chinese olive paste. With the chopped Chinese olive, the dish reminds me of braised pork belly with preserved vegetables (muy choy coaw yok). I would have preferred the lamb belly to have flavour profiles closer to this traditional dish, enhanced with a bit of Szechuan heat and a roasted crust. While the black pepper soy sauce in the pork wonton and noodles ($29) was too heavy handed, the noodles were incredible, having a lovely chew that would impress a pastaia. Sadly, this expertise didn t shift into the wonton s wrappers, which were too thick. At least the wontons were nice and plump, filled with a generous amount of pork filling (this could benefit from finely chopped vegetables to add moisture). Using scallions in the filling and reducing the amount of garnish would better balance the dish. Chef Chen s take on Peking duck ($58), a special for the evening, needs a permanent place on the menu. While the skin wasn t as crispy as Peking duck, it did have that lovely salty roasted taste and the meat cooked to a medium rare. The well crusted roasted turnips and the creamy foie gras sauce were great complements and left us wanting more. In fairness, Alma nailed the small plates. The parmesan tapioca fritters ($10 for 2; $5 for additional piece) were crispy, creamy, and captured a depth of flavours that beat out most arancini I ve had. The tapioca also added a glutinous chewiness that would make a mochi lover swoon. One look at the beautiful caramel crust on the bao ($17 for 2; $6 for additional piece) and I could why the dish is so popular. Break the bao open and the dough is fluffy and moist the consistency so perfect that I didn t even mind that the bun had no filling. Just give more of the stracciatella cheese and eggplant fenugreek dip as the tablespoon portions were too scant to share amongst three buns. I could have used all the eggplant spread on my bun alone it was so good. Diners may find the chili bean beef tartare ($26) salty, but anyone that s had chili bean sauce should know it s sodium laden. Our table loved the finely chopped beef mixture on the thin rice cracker, just handle it delicately to avoid it crumbling. Eating at Alma is like a rollercoaster a series of highs and lows. We finished downhill with the coconut flan ($12), the syrup incorporated a strong flavour that just didn t work - it s hard to decipher but reminds me of the herbal pei pa kao mixed with white rabbit candy. It overpowered the flan s egg custard flavour, and the wild blueberries didn t hold up either.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Good ambiance and super cute restaurant, food was unique for sure but pricy. Radish cake: unlike typical Chinese radish cakes, the texture is consistent and no chunks of radish (if that makes sense). The flavor profile is very savory but I think it didn t hold up that wells. As in the first bite tasted the best and the rest kind of fizzled out. Parmesan tapioca fritters: crunchy and fried pretty well, it kinda felt like deep fried Mac and cheese I think. Wonton + noodle was a bit bland by itself but eating them with the char siu steak was a good mix as that the char siu is much more flavorful. For dessert we got the miso cheesecake, very interesting flavor profile.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Alma is a gorgeous restaurant with delicious dishes and a nice minimal aesthetic with splashes of excitement from Asian designs and decorations. The menu is on the shorter end but each dish is carefully prepared and will be sure to wow. They focus on sharable plates so youll want to grab a few different things, the staff are more than happy to provide some suggestions if youre not sure what will pair well. The tapioca parmesan fritters were to die for, nice crispy tapioca exterior with a gooey and savory parmesan center, and the braised short rib just melted in my mouth. They mainly focus on wine, a very extensive list with a lot of interesting options, but youll find at least 2 beers on offer as well. We went for a Christmas date and it was exquisite.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

First of all, great service from attentive staff! I think this place would be better thought of as a wine bar (with an impressive wine list!). Food was overall a bit heavy (oily and salty) for a full meal, and a bit overpriced.

★★
December 22, 2023

Just finished dinner with a party 8 - extremely disappointed with it. Everything was okay, nothing was great. Way overpriced for what it was. With a party of 8, a 20% gratuity was included, but the service was far from worth 20%. They didn t refill our wine, they didn t have knowledge about the wine menu, and they didn t introduce/explain any of the dishes. The pacing of the meal was not ideal. They brought all the appetizers at once, and then all the mains at once. For a party of 8, there is a sharing/tasting menu. However, they didn t give any utensils to share. Everyone had to use their own personal forks to grab noodles and cut the meat - very unhygienic and not a great experience. Would not recommended to anyone and will not be back. Toronto has so many better options especially for that price.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The food was tasty and the service was good. The portions are a bit on the smaller side considering how much each dish cost. The place could use more lighting and it tends to get quite noisy with chatter when its a full house.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

First time but one of the best meals I ve had in Toronto. The noodles in the wonton dish!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

A lovely intimate spot for Asian-inspired sharing plates. We ordered the Rice Wine and Ginger Chicken, a beautiful flavoured starter. Next was the Bao with Straciatella Cheese and Eggplant Fenugreek Dip, which was amazing. I especially loved the smokiness of the eggplant dip. The Parmesan Tapioca Fritters are fairly popular, and they taste good, but it was not my favourite They are a bit on the heavier side, so just be mindful of that. The Red Braised Yuba and Lotus Root dish was one of my favourites, very well marinated, and a generous amount of veggies. And finally, the Shrimp Fried Rice with Cauliflower Romesco. The fried rice was crispy, with a great bite, executed perfectly! Overall, portions were decent. My only complaint for that was that they only offered two pieces of chicken thigh for the Ginger Chicken dish. I felt that they could have provided more for that price.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The food was quite interesting. In terms of value decent. The music (70 s / 80 s dance) was a bit weird. Staff were kind and attentive. Not exactly my vibe but I appreciate what they were trying to do. The smaller appetizer dishes were better than the main entrees.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I can only give this restaurant 2 or 3 stars fir food quality service and perhaps location. No ambiance. Literally a hole in the wall. Food was very good tasty nothing extra ordinary tho. Very small portions not a great value. It should be considered a tapas bar or dim som. Wine menu ok but super pricy for the kind of food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great fusion restaurant. Dishes had lots of flavour and were well cooked. Inventive menu.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Was lucky to get a last minute table with a couple of friends and am glad we went. Its a very cozy spot and we got cravings we didnt know we had satisfied. Loved seeing the unique take on asian cuisine here and Im a big fan of the natural wines they have. Cant wait to come back to try new items on the menu

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Fantastic restaurant and friendly staff. Well deserved Michelin Bib Gourmand award! The shrimp fried rice, Baos and crème brule crepe was our favorite. Thanks Chef Anna!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Phenomenal, best food Ive had this year. Not crowded and cozy vibes. We couldnt decide on the menu so the waiter kindly put a menu together for us. The dishes came out with a great order, from cold to hot, light to heavy, and tasted amazing, including the wine. Will most definitely recommend the smoked beets, great aroma, fresh texture, with a lingering after taste.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great, flexible and attentive service. Food was tasty, some of it maybe a bit repetive on the repetively fried and oily side. But the noodles were tasty and so was the eggplant dip.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great restaurant with an interesting fusion menu. Started off with the Bao (more so pan fried dinner rolls) which were served with some delicious spreads! For our larger dishes, we had the Char Siu Pork with turnips. The pork was very delicious and tender, but the turnips were nearly raw. Then we had the Shrimp Fried Rice, which had great flavor but a little undercooked. Note about the water: Your server will ask you what kind of water you want (still or sparkling). Still was free, but sparkling is $9, so remember if you don t want a surprise charge at the end! Otherwise a great dinner with nice ambience!

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Overpriced for small quantities of food that could easily be found at a better cost-price ratio in other restaurants. Not worth going to.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Lots of bangers on their small menu. Attentive staff and a great kitchen.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Place for mediterranean dinner but definitely not brunch. Have been there for dinner few times and really loved their skewers. All skewers were great, juicy, tender, and full Of taste. Every time go there in the evening, it s busy and you have to wait if no reservations though. Tried brunch for once but it s for sure the last time for brunch as well. Dishes were served within few minutes after the order was placed. Dishes were modified so both look and taste were off from some other more authentic Mediterranean restaurants. So highly recommend to go for grilled meat, but not brunch

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Very average food for the price. Had the smoked beets, bao, shrimp fried rice and the whitefish. Everything was so average that we were surprised why its so difficult to get a reservation at Alma. The staff was polite. Food was so meh! Very disappointing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great food. The fried rice and endive were the best. Everything was amazing. If I had to skip on dish next time it would be the duck which was fine albeit a bit rich.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I had an absolutely outstanding dinner experience at Alma in Toronto! This was the most excited and impressed I have been with a dine-in meal in years! The Chinese food with high-end technique was absolutely phenomenal, and I was blown away by the parmesan tapioca fritters, and noodles and wontons. The flavours were rich and complex, and everything was cooked to perfection. Our server Kathy was truly exceptional, and I cant thank her enough for going above and beyond in her recommendations and taking care of us. She was attentive, personable, and made our dining experience truly special. The atmosphere at Alma is warm and inviting, with a sophisticated and elegant decor that perfectly complements the outstanding cuisine. I cant wait to go back and experience it all over again. Overall, I highly recommend Alma for anyone looking for an exceptional dining experience in Toronto. The food is truly outstanding, and the service is exceptional. Thank you, Alma, for a wonderful evening!

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great service, underwhelming dishes. Chilli chicken wings were not crispy at all, quite salty. Radish dish was very mushy. Wonton noodles were very oily and bland in flavour. White fish was the only one that was seasoned properly with good sauce.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Fantastic! The food is prepared with such quality and care. Flavors are fantastic. Its my favorite place to eat in Toronto. Chef Anna and her team at Alma deliver an amazing dining experience

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Incredibly delicious food. The bao buns and pork dumplings & noodles were unreal. The atmosphere inside was nice but the patio tables were uncomfortable and just on the sidewalk.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This place is unassuming on the outside and everything on the inside. The food was all about quality. Explosively good. Drool-worthy. Discovered some awesome local beer too. Kathy also made the experience for my partner and I. I mean yeah, I ve known her forever but still, this place is one of Toronto s best. Congrats on your Michelin!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

YES!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Everything was amazing, can t recommend it enough. The Bao is sublime and the service is top notch. Worth every penny!

Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Truly terrible

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The menu, wine pairings, service and ambience were all excellent.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

A wonderful surprise. The menu looks like almost any Chinese restaurant except the dishes a reinterpretation of old favorites. Staff were proud of the restaurant and extremely nice and knowledgeable. Excellent.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

During our visit to Toronto we stopped at Alan Restaurant was clean and staff were very welcoming and pleasant. They accommodate us although we did not book in advance. First let s to be clear that food was good and well presented. We liked mostly the shrimp fried rice and Passion fruit Tart this by all counts was one of best dessert. The food portion were small compared to price we paid for. I hope that chefs become more generous with portion. Overall was a good experience.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

My partner and I hosted an event at Alma. Everything was beyond what we could ve asked for. The food, service and wine were excellent.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This restaurant offers a cool and inviting atmosphere, along with an impressive selection of wines. The servers are knowledgeable and provide excellent guidance when it comes to choosing from the wine list. Although the food portions may appear modest, they pack a punch in terms of flavor and taste in some dish. One notable aspect is that the restaurant doesnt rush to close, even when its late, which is especially appreciated after facing challenges like road closures for events. The service provided by the staff is exceptional and adds to the overall dining experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The pork wonton and noodles were so good, I wish I ordered the large! We came here for dinner on a Friday night and loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. The staff were incredibly friendly and the chef even came out to serve some of our dishes. Thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and service. The food was unique. I ve had my fair share of Chinese food and never done quite like this. There was a fair share of the classics with a modern flair. You need to get the wonton and noodles!! I also got the shrimp chilli crisps for home and LOVE it. Wish I paired it with noodles at the restaurant.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Had a great time here! We asked the waiter for recommendations and he offered to just pick the most popular/liked dishes for us. I LOVED that, because we didn t have to make the decision and I enjoyed everything that we ended up getting! We chose the dessert ourselves though. I especially enjoyed the beef tartare and the bao. We also got the yuzu and green tea beer, and both are getting in my opinion. The flavours do really come through!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Alma is one of the best restaurants in the city. The servers are knowledgeable and The dishes are always creative and just delicious. We have been coming here for 4 or 5 years and it never disappoints. Thank you for another great meal! We ll be back soon.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

This weekend I was lucky to discover a new world, the world of fantastic Chinese fusion kitchen. There are no enough words to describe the whole palette of tastes and flavors you will experience when trying every dish created by Chef Anna. Tomato salad was something unbelievable, I never thought that it could taste that way. Wonton and noodles are definitely my favorite! And lychee sorbet was fantastic! Soo good in this hot weather, and wines they offer are amazing:) already want to come back again!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The food probably have an identity crisis but loved the smoked eggplant dip (yes the best part wasnt Asian much)

★★★
December 22, 2023

I so wanted to love this place. I love Chinese food and love inventive Chinese cooking. I love that they got a bib so I could convince my partner to spend the $ on the full experience. We ordered just about everything on the menu and 2 bottles of very overpriced red wine. The dishes where either too salty, or too peppery. The tomato noodle dish had potential to be 10x better. The price point is fine until you realize it s micro portions. The mains where OK - the lamb very very tasty, but salty aftertaste. The char siu, average. The noodles and dumplings where great, but came at the cost of $250 of MEH prior orders. Too much salt. OR too much black pepper. A lot of potential, and maybe the chef was just off tonight. I wanted dessert but couldn t justify the extra spend after all our dishes arrived. The Bao was decent but other starters small, salty and fried

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Initial waiter was lovely, but service was inconstant. Music was all over the place and two members of the staff seemed to be in a fight, each adjusting the lighting up and down every 15 minutes. Great wine recommendation. Great start. Food was bad. Off night? Two early dishes under seasoned. Burnt sauce overpowered the chicken, which was cooked very well. Lamb over salted. Dumplings dry and extremely salty. Noodles excellent. Really disappointed. I assume off night. Everyone else in the restaurant seemed to love the food.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Decided to try this place, located just west of the Dufferin subway station in an area experiencing renewal and higher end restaurants/bars popping up. The space is nicely decorated with combination of contemporary furnishings with little bits of older Chinese doodads (red lanterns lol). The menu consists of a decent variety of dishes, with lighter snacks up top moving to heavier entrees in the bottom half. Theres a drinks menu with beer and wine but no cocktails. We ordered the bao and radish cake to start; the sauces that went with the bao were very inspired and definitely not you could get at traditional places. The bao itself piping hot and a bit pan fried on top, great vehicle for the sauces. The radish cake is thinner and denser than typical dim sum fare, with a green sauce placed on top. A bit chewy, overall ok but this remix subtracted those chunks of shrimp/sausage/etc which are what I like about the traditional radish cake. For entrees we got the potato dumplings and char siu. The dumplings were pretty much gnocchi, and it came with a nice sauce and maitake mushrooms. While the taste was pleasant, we thought at this entree pricing it would be larger or have fancier ingredients to headline the flavor. The char siu is definitely quite different from what you would get elsewhere. It had a ham-like texture, and the lean parts were flavorful and not dry. At this price again we expected this dish to knock it out of the park, as we obviously wouldnt be comparing with supermarket bbq pork. While I liked it, maybe I was setting my expectations too high. The modern/fusion Chinese food scene is not too crowded in Toronto, but with a bib gourmand I thought this restaurant would stand head and shoulders above its competitors. I would still say this meal was a positive experience and consider trying other dishes to see if I am unreasonably subjective here.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

What a fantastic meal, service and atmosphere! I wish i could give more than 5 stars. The lamb and that fenugreek eggplant dip is what dreams are made of! And that lychee sorbet with frozen grapes ooffffff

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Cannot wait to return to Alma. We got tapioca fritters, chili chicken wings, radish cake, char siu, and the squid curry to share. The fritters were crisp and perfectly chewy, the chicken wings could have been a little hotter, but thats coming from two who can handle extreme heat. My friend whos far more familiar with Asian food than I am said the radish cake and char siu were superlative and presented uniquely and well. We went on and on about the squid curry for days afterwards and regretted not getting a portion to go; easily the best squid dish Ive ever had. Minor beef with the lack of wine by the glass options; the wines available are phenomenal but a full bottle would have been a little too much booze for us that night. Highly reccommend their beer selections and the Alma chatreuse blend of 50/50 yellow and green, it was insanely good. A small cocktail list would have been nice as well, but that did not deter us from fully enjoying our meal. All in all, we will be back and hopefully soon. Ben took phenomenal care of us and it was a pleasure being served partially by the exec chef. We appreciate the great work!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Our Friday evening at Alma was a wonderful experience. The service was excellent, and we were catered to without interruption throughout our time. Our waiter guided us through the shareable menu and made appropriate recommendations based on our choices and preferences. We very much enjoyed the shrimp fried rice, chili chicken wings and Parmesan fritters. The portions were sufficient for 2 people and range from appetizer to full meal sizes. The turn around is quick, which we very much appreciated.

★★
December 22, 2023

Alma is a little overhyped based on reviews. The atmosphere is good. The service is good. The food is very mediocre (especially for Alma prices). All in all it s way too expensive for what it delivers. The wine is the best part and they know their wines and can make great recommendations. I asked the server if he could recommend 4 dishes that would make us come back to Alma and sadly the 4 we had would never bring us back. The 4 dishes we were given were completely disconnected. I would never ordered a lamb belly as it s fatty, and without much flavour. It s very basic roasted belly. The zucchini salad is not great and the fried halloumi or tapioca was OK but it lacked a sauce. In fact, all of the food lacked sauces and flavourful dressings The Bao was the best; however, it s like having a great basket of bread before you start a meal, and it was served as the 3rd dish. If it weren t for the atmosphere, I would say that this restaurant is not worth going to. There are much better restaurants in the city that deliver on every aspect. I think the restaurant thinks that the chef and food are much better than they actually are. If I go back, I m certainly not going to rely on a server s recommendations and stick with much simpler things like the chicken wings and fried rice.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

One of my favourite spots in the neighbourhood for an elevated but approachable dinner. The food is always incredible and our server has made countless excellent wine recommendations each time Ive visited. Will keep coming back for the all-around wonderful experience, food and service at Alma.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Shame that Alma did not live up to the hype it was. The only things I liked about my time here was the wait staff , the salad and the ambience. Tapioca fritters were salty. The turnip cakes were burnt and the plum sauce on the bottom confused me with a dessert. The lamb , o my god . I was fighting for my life cutting it and it tasted so gamey. My stomach was hurting so bad after. I actually left with my friend to eat somewhere else bc I was so disappointed.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

A totally mature operation that s an absolute joy to keep coming back to. This kitchen is clearly run by an expert and a solid team. The wine list always has solid options and fun bottles open. Room is warm and pleasant and service is so great. Special thanks to Ben in the front of house who is an absoluuuuute pro

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Alma s Classics Prix Fixe -Bao with stracciatella cheese & eggplant fenugreek -Radish cake, plum, garlic chive -Pork wonton and noodles, soy, black pepper * -Char siu pork steak. turnips, caramelized rice wine kasu * -Coconut flan, wild blueberry -Plum sorbet, shiso

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

With a restaurant staff that treats their customers as they would family, Alma continues to be my favourite place to eat in the city. The food is incredible and blows my mind every.damn.time. Seriously, you must try the radish cakes - they will change your life! The service is outstanding and I always feel so welcomed and taken care of. Thank you to Chef Anna and all the staff for making every dining experience one to remember.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Had the: - Bao w/ Stratecciatella Cheese & Eggplant Fedugreek Dip - Radish Cake, served with plum and garlic chive - Chilli Chicken Wings - Pork Wonton and Noodlds, Soy, Black Pepper - Szechuanese Ragu Chinois - Squid Fried Frice - Char Siu Pork Steak My favourite was the Bao and Squid Fried Rice. I love the taste from these dishes, especially the Eggplant Fedugreek Dip!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

One of the best restaurants in Toronto! Anna is such a humble, adorable and talented chef! I wish I could add more stars here. The staff is also super attentive to every single person.

★★★★
December 22, 2023

We had a great time here! The service was fantastic and the food was good. We enjoyed the overall experience.

December 22, 2023

We truly wanted to like Alma. Sadly, that was not the case. We had a 7:45 reservation and did not get seated until 8:05. In my opinion, if you are going to make someone wait, maybe, offer them a beverage? We booked the counter, assuming it was the bar. Turns out that was not the case. The counter had us sitting at the back of the restaurant which flowed pretty much into the kitchen. Our server said that was the only option he could offer us for the rest of the evening. Also we learnt that there is a difference between bar seating and counter seating. It would be nice if the restaurant had a little asterixis when we make a booking online saying counter is NOT same the the bar. The counter had VERY LITTLE room to have more than 2 dishes at a time and drinks. Especially when one is hungry and you are being seated 20 mins late. Because we were so hungry and it was late, we decided to sit at the counter. The worst part comes now - unfortunately for our server ( I wish I knew his name) I overhead him tell another server watch out for the couple at the counter, they are doing to be difficult... That was outright hurtful and not required. That is when we decided to leave because Alma is not deserving of our money and time at that point. It is not cheap to eat in the City anymore. We also want to continue to support restaurants like Alma because I am sure their food is delicious. That said, if they continue to operate in this way, it may not last as long as they would like to.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

We had a lovely experience at Alma. I really enjoyed being there on a more relaxed Tuesday night so we could enjoy the ambiance at our own pace. The food was really a nice treat and the wine that was suggested by the glass paired beautifully. Its hard to say what was my favorite dish. The bao was a great way to start, the silky fenugreek and Eggplant dip was really something special. The radish cakes I want to eat everyday, I loved the texture so much and the plum and garlic really set it off. The ragu was perfect to split and fun to eat, spicy with lots texture and bold flavours (roasty toasty garlic). The pork steak was fantastic. If youre sharing make sure you get your share of the charred crisp bits because....yum. the turnips kept it from being too rich and were a perfect compliment. Dessert yet again a win. Our server recommended it and was not wrong. Banana ice cream with miso caramel and crunchy cocoa crumble layered on some chilled brule banana. It was not delicate but definitely in a good way. Lots of crumble, lots of caramel. Mmmmmm. Really liked our seating, last table at the end of the bench we sat kitty corner and I could watch the whole restaurant. The lighting was soft and warm and flattering and brought the simple decor to life. The great service and perfect timing really topped it all off. Well be back for sure. Parking: Limited parking available on Bloor. I used the lot behind Landsdown station and walked about a block over, its inexpensive in the evenings. Wheelchair accessibility: Bathrooms and entrance are all on one level. Tables and chairs can easily be moved to accommodate a mobility device. Could be tight on a busy night.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Fantastic food and service. Creative, balanced and flavourful food in a beautiful setting with a lot of intention in every detail.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Cozy Asian-French restaurant tucked into Toronto s west end. Stellar service with an eclectic menu that really does fusion RIGHT. Make reservations as it does get busy heading into your usual high volume times. The Sichuan lamb and smoked trout were standouts for us, but let s not forget to mention the bao - absolutely stellar. We will definitely be back for future special events!

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I truly wanted to like this place but I couldn t understand why every single dish came out salty and lukewarm with zero wok hei. The service was great however, we couldn t help but leave thirsty and hungry after getting the chef s choice for everyone at the table. I stopped eating by about the 4th dish and all of us were already talking about going out to eat afterwards. At $100 per head - I don t think I will be returning for this level of cooking.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Alma is one of my favourite restaurants in the city! The ambiance is warm and inviting, and the food selection and wine list are spectacular. We ate there recently for a special occasion and one of the people at our table has a gluten intolerance; the staff took care to provide us all with an exceptional experience.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Perfect food and environment. Best wonton noodle I ve ever had!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Visited on a Thursday, ~5:30PM with a family member. It was empty, only one other table seated. We reserved through OpenTable, but for some reason the system didnt have availability from 6-8:30, but it wasnt busy, and it seemed many visitors were doing walk-ins... Its cozy and dimly-lit inside, with 2-person tables lined up along each wall and high seating at & beside their little bar. Perfect for dates & dining alone. The staff were very friendly and helpful, offering recommendations of dishes and helped us figure out how much might be a good amount to order. We ordered: 1. Parmesan Tapioca Fritters $9: literally seems to be boiled tapioca mixed with melted parmesan into a ball/cube, breaded, and fried. My mind was blown and I definitely will be trying to make this. It was just a teensy bit too salty though. It mightve been the parmesans fault. 2. Bao with stracciatella cheese & eggplant fenugreek dip $17: I thought itd have a filling, and was slightly disappointed to see it didnt but then I took that back immediately. It reminded me of a freshly made soft pretzel (the outer of the bun is lightly toasted and sprinkled with salt), with creamy dips on the side. SO GOOD. It only came with 2 though...I couldve and wouldve eaten a whole basket if that was a thing. 3. Radish cake, plum, garlic chive $15: the flavour & texture reminded me of boiled plantains. It was slightly sweet. 4. Potato dumplings, maitake mushroom, truffle oil $27: i love potato infused food so this was a must try, and the way it was so soft and melty in my mouth was a dream come true. 5. Char Siu pork steak, turnips, caramelized rice wine kasu $36: this does not taste like a traditional char Siu. Actually, it reminded me of Filipino ham for the flavour (Filipino ham is one of my favourite holiday foods to eat) but the texture it was so tender and juicy, and you could really tell a lot of time and attention is put into the preparation of this. 6. Coconut flan, wild blueberries $12: I really liked that it wasnt too sweet, because most flans tend to be that way. 7. Clementine sorbet, kosho $12: the clementine flavour was very strong, maybe a little took much...but the candied peel & kosho were a great touch to balance out the texture and flavour. The server mentioned that all plates are meant for sharing, with some plates being considered small and large. Between 2 people, she mentioned we could get by with 1 small & 1 large per person. Based on my experience, it might be best, especially if hungry, to get an extra small/large to get a filling meal, or order some drinks on the side, as the portions are on the smaller size. Overall, I would highly recommend others check this place out. You can really taste the dedication & passion that goes into the cooking. Parking: There doesnt seem to be parking garages & paid lots in the area. Only street parking on main roads and surrounding residential areas.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The wontons are out of this world.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The food was good , ambience nice and simple. At one point, the chef came out and served one of the dishes, a lovely touch. My issue was the male server. I was interested in white wine, and he immediately said I have something you will like. He disappeared and came back with a fully-poured glass of Pét-nat. I thought he was going to show me the bottle and give me a taster, or at least tell me something about the wine. If hed asked, he wouldve known I dont like Pét-nat at all. It was presumptuous on his part, but I let it go. When I ordered my second glass of wine, I told him I didnt like the first one and to tell me about other options. Again ... he disappeared and did another full pour. Another Pét-nat. I realize it was busy, and he was one of only 2 servers. Still, there is no excuse for making assumptions about the type of wine a patron likes without even asking. When I choose to pay for a meal in a restaurant, I want to get what I like, not what the server assumes I will like. A lesson in humility would be helpful for him.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

We had our company holiday dinner at Alma and had an unforgettable experience! Ben, our point of contact, was fantastic. He was incredibly responsive, attentive to our budget and food restrictions, and went above and beyond to make the dinner special, even printing our company logo on the menu. The food, I must say, was absolutely stellar and left everyone impressed. Alma truly set the bar high for future company dinners!

Local Guide
December 22, 2022

the order is not ready all the time, I waited for about 1 hour, there is very bad customer service!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Delicious! One of the best meals Ive had in a very long time. You cant go wrong.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

We ordered the Valentine s Day special and we re both very satisfied with it. Even though we did takeout, the food was still warm, and everything tasted great. My only regret is that we didn t dine in - the inside of the restaurant looked nice and cozy. I guess now we ll have to come back again for sure.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

The scallion bread, stracciatella and eggplant dish is a revelation. This is a great Toronto restaurant that does the Toronto fusion thing really well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

What a damn good meal. What really stood out for me was the beef rendang just perfectly, meticulously spiced. Lovely. And the service was fantastic, attentive and full of wonderful suggestions. Let them take you away. Looking forward to coming back soon.

★★
December 22, 2022

Too salty in every dish

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Food, wine, service and Atmosphere all perfect.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Ordered through Uber eats and I was pleasantly surprised. I had the scallion bread, rendang beef and the radish cake and finished chocolate sesame cake. It was delicious

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Delicious overall! Didnt have one bad dish. Great ambiance too.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great menu.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Toronto is no stranger to Asian fusion and modern Asian restaurants, but Alma is an exceptional experience that deserves a visit. Alma is a dimly lit, intimate restaurant serving modern Chinese cuisine. We started with the Scallion Bread, which balanced an amazingly fluffy texture with nostalgic traditional flavor. The Char Siu Pork Steak was perfectly cooked and seasoned and the soft turnips added bites of spiciness. We also ordered the Sacha Bavette, which was tender and packed with flavor. Alma is a testament to fusion cuisine and the inventive menu is sure to impress!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Do not walk, RUN to this restaurant immediately. A fantastic experience start to finish with friendly service, great ambiance, an innovative menu, and unbelievable food. Would absolutely visit again and will recommend to all!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

One of the best meals Ive had while dining out in a long time. Each dish was so flavourful yet clean - you could taste all the flavours in a dish on your palate and not feel overwhelmed with too much of one ingredient. I unfortunately have a sensitive stomach but after eating literally everything on the menu (except the only four items with meat), I did not have any stomach pain!!! Run dont walk to Alma - its a beautiful and unpretentious experience. Also I can say that the entire menu pairs beautifully with their 1L orange wine - I dont recall its name, but I believe its the only 1L orange wine they carry by the bottle. Enjoy :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

This was our second ever visit to Alma. We were here several years ago when Alma +Burdock did a special menu for a holiday. We loved every dish we chose, each one so balanced and delicious. The service was excellent. We dined early hence the mostly empty restaurant. We don t live in the city anymore but it was certainly worth the trip.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

We walked into Alma with zero expectations and were surprised to see a very crisp menu. Everything you see here was absolutely delicious and I could not have enough of the eggplant dip. The fusion style of the food was a great experience and we had a wonderful time. The staff was lovely and the ambiance was great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Fantastic comforting food with modern twists. The focaccia is one of the best Ive ever had. The soy glazed fried chicken is rich and sweet with a nice citrus tang. The menu changes regularly, so theres always something new to try. Very cosy environment and great service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Its just so so good. This was take out.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Absolutely stellar dining experience! My first time there and it was elegant, delicious and beautifully presented. Definitely recommend!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Very creative and delicious food.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Good food!!! Seriously was very good

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Absolutely fantastic! The tapioca fritters and the scallion focaccia were outstanding! The zucchini salad was incredible the soy pesto had the greatest flavour. We also had the noodles wontons and the steak. Sorbet for dessert (thank you Anna). Ben the server was nice and attentive! Thank you Alma!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Came here with no expectations and was pleasant surprised. Very comfy atmosphere during the summer. The tapioca bread was fantastic and I liked the unique fusion pairings, especially the char siu pork.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Ordinary Asian food overpriced for gwailos. Not horrible but nothing special.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Ive been to Alma many times and its always a delight. The amount of care and thought they put into everything - from their wine list, to their food, to their service - is unmatched. I brought a group of 9 for a birthday dinner and it was a wonderful experience. If you havent been, you owe it to yourself to go!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I fully admit I dont usually roll in this type of price range but this was worth absolutely every penny. The desserts were incredible.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Creative Asian fusion food. Service is great and accommodating. Menu items could be more versatile.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

We came for an early dinner with a baby, a day after Alma s Michelin Bib Gourmand was announced. That was a well deserved award. The food was presented with authenticity with flavours that I recognized from my own Chinese upbringing, but in wonderful new combinations and with quality ingredients that made it truly unique. We also loved how well the drinks paired with the intense flavours, as wine lists are often hard to tailor for Asian food. I personally love eggplant and we had two dishes that featured eggplant and they were both so tasty. The service was friendly and the cozy space had a warm ambience. Desserts were well balanced, as my mother would say, not too sweet . We will definitely be back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great service and wine selection. The dishes had some nice Chinese flavours served in a slight different take. I would definitely go back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Was lucky enough to get a reservation here and thoroughly enjoyed the food, service and atmosphere. We tried basically all the dishes but the Baos, the Noodles+Wontons and the radish were standouts. if you get the chance to go, definitely make an effort to visit!

★★★★
December 22, 2022

Excellent Bao and eggplant dip. The only thing you need from this place.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

This was an interesting experience. I appreciate how attentive the staff was to accommodate a soy and peanut allergy However I felt the dishes were either too oily or underwhelming. Ordered the tapioca cheese cubes, vegetarian fried rice, and an eggplant dip appetizer. The eggplant dip was the star of the night. Would likely not return due to limited items that are soy and peanut free. The service though was great and staff super lovely.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Stunning asian fusion restaurant - delicious Bao and amazing chicken wings. Pork wonton with noodles was also delicious. Fully recommend.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

3.5/5. Given its appearance on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list, my expectations were probaly over-inflated. Almas offerings were cleverly prepared, and often with an elegant simplicity, but nothing we had really popped.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Stopped by before a meeting, and it was a pleasant surprise! Fast service, good food, and great wine list!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I came for Brunch on a Sunday in August. The service and food is excellent. The atmosphere is modern.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

I arrived early for dinner with a friend and the staff were very friendly and let me in early while they were setting up and suggested a delicious sparkling wine while I was waiting. We had a really long dinner after, almost 4 hours and never felt rushed to leave! Food was great - I really recommend the bao and the chive noodles. I also left my hat there by accident and they were kind enough to hold on to it so I could pick it up the next day. Lovely experience with everyone there <3

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Staff was friendly but the food didnt live up to expectations of hakka-chinese inspired flavours. Felt more like an introduction to chinese flavours for beginners. Food was by no means bad, just missing some of the punchy spices youd expect. The western dishes were better than the asian ones.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

We sat at the bar and had a fantastic dinner. Service was warm and engaging, food was excellent. Of particular note, the squid fried rice was a dish we will be thinking about for awhile. Thanks for a great time!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Tasty variety of Asian tapas of which the standouts include tapioca fritters and cha siu pork steak. There is a wine selection but no cocktails. Overall good service.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Good dinner

★★★
December 22, 2022

Beautiful location and attentive host/server. Food was surprisingly underwhelming. I had the eggplant chips which I enjoyed. My main was the fried fish. Fish was okay, served with fried pita chips. My friend ordered the shrimp (5) which came with no sides at $42. I had the date cake served with vanilla ice cream. Tasty and moist. Friend had baklava which we would not recommend - dry and uneventful. Overall everything was just okay at a premium price.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Each dish was cooked to perfection, I really enjoyed the smoked beets, They were flavourful and refreshing.ll I had the squid fried rice which had great texture, the short grained rice with a nice crisp to every bite thanks to the cashews, 4/5 stars for this dish. I wish they went lighter on the sauce they had underneath as it really lessened the texture. Being fried rice I expected it to be a little more on the drier side but still good none the less. For the braised short rib, it was deliciously tender and the fat was super creamy, since it was a heavier dish, I wish it came with pickled vegetables on the side to help cut the fat flavour and perhaps, it would have elevated the dish just a bit. The char siu had a great peppery flavour to it, it was cooked really well and did not have any bitterness taste to the char which was really nice. The cuts were really thick, also a heavy dish, but it came with some dicon and some greens. The cut they chose was a much higher quality than what you would get at regular char siu places, so it was nicely marbled. All in all, the food was great but I wish they had experimented more with different flavours for their meat dishes. Also a small detail, one of the plates we were served had been chipped on the side, I was slightly disappointed that it was sent out of the kitchen like that considering that they have a really high rating.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

We ordered because a friend had recommended this place to us. It did not disappoint! The scallion flat bread and Straciatella cheese was the tastiest and unexpected surprise of the night. The Pork Wonton Noodles are absolutely delicious. Will be ordering again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Absolutely nothing but positive things to say here. I saw a few reviews raving about the service and thought- how good could the service be? Well, tonight, it was that good. We had a young man and woman helping us and they were both so kind, funny, sweet, and helpful. Truly some of the best service Ive ever had in Toronto. The food was fantastic as well. The fried radish, scallion bread, and wonton with noodles were the favorites here. Would love to go back soon.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

The place was nice and the ambiance was good. The servers were all really nice and knowledgeable too. But the food was underwhelming. We had the flat bread; pork and beef steak; sausage appetizer and tapioca tempura. The tapioca tempura was amazing but everything else was okay. Probably wouldn t go back.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Wonderful service and everything we ordered was delicious. The sea bass was our favourite. We ll definitely be back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Fantastic staff and fantastic restaurant. Felt welcome and satisfied.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Modern take on Chinese flavours. The scallion bread was delicious and service was great.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

A special experience! Thank you.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Delicious modern and seasonal Asian food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Excellent atmosphere and vibe. The quality of the food and portions were just right. Felt that I underpaid for an excellent meal! Will be back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Outstanding. We accidentally showed up 30 mins before our reservation but the lovely staff took care of us and provided a space for us to hang out and have drinks, until our table was ready. The food was fantastic! Really a symphony of flavours and textures that makes me want to come back for more. We had actually wanted to order way too much food because we wanted to try a lot of menu items, but the staff helped us by offering to do some half orders so could taste the fried tapioca fritters and scallion bread and also made great recommendations for which dishes to prioritize. Every bite was delicious, but what really made the night memorable was the level of care the staff showed to ensure we had a great dinner. I am officially a HUGE fan and will definitely be back again and if youre reading this please visit and support this business.

December 22, 2021

Very bad service, unrespectfull employees and totally overrated