The Best BBQ Restaurants in Toronto

Summer means one thing: its barbecue time! These Toronto BBQ joints have fired up their grills and smokers and are ready to dish out some of the finest offerings this side of Texas. You’ll not only find Southern-style tender brisket, mouth-watering chicken, plates piled high with ribs and all the best fixins’ in Toronto, but halal BBQ treats, too. Plus, it wouldn’t be Toronto without some international flavour! The city also has so many great spots for Portuguese barbecue chicken and Korean and Chinese BBQ, we can’t possibly cover them all in one list, so forgive us as we offer just a small sample here.

When you’re out exploring all that this great city has to offer this summer, check out one of these great barbecue spots, conveniently located near one of our UP Express stations. From take-out to upscale dine-in establishments, it’s time to get your Toronto BBQ on!

Barbecue Spots Near Downtown Toronto

Craving some delicious Texas-style brisket and ribs? Head to Beach Hill Smoke House for true Texas taste – literally. The restaurant has a 7000-lb smoker direct from Texas where pitmasters serve up delectable pork ribs, brisket, and even halal chicken, all smoked with true Texas-style oak wood. Be sure to leave room for dessert, because their Southern peach cobbler is so good, you’ll want seconds. Not far from UP Express Union Station, Cherry Street Bar-B-Que in Toronto’s Port Lands in the east end for heaping helpings of pulled pork, sausages, chicken and ribs alongside classics sides like potato salad and baked beans. We can’t picture a more perfect way to spend a summer day in the city!

Saddle up for some Southern hospitality at Smoque n’ Bones! Drawing inspiration from the barbecue greats in Texas, the Carolinas, Kansas and Memphis, try the smoked brisket sandwich or pick up a family feast and head to nearby Trinity Bellwoods Park to enjoy a picnic in the sunshine.

For a more refined barbecue experience, check out The Carbon Bar, easily accessible from UP Express Union Station. This elevated Texas-style BBQ eatery serves up traditional pit smoked pork ribs and brisket, but you’ll also find seared and smoked Atlantic salmon and collard greens, pit baked beans, and delicious jalapeno cornbread. Try the brisket burnt ends kimchi ssam for a truly unique Texas-meet-Korea flavour combination.

If you’re connecting through Toronto Pearson Airport and feeling hungry between flights, take advantage of our Long Layover Return Ticket. If you have up to seven hours before your connection, you can easily spend a few hours filling up on barbeque and exploring downtown Toronto with our special round-trip fare between UP Express Pearson Airport and Union Station. For more ideas on how to make the most out of your long layover, check out our guide here.

The Best BBQ Around UP Express Bloor Station

After spending a day exploring High Park, drop in at Barque Smokehouse in Roncesvalles Village. This dine-in spot features everything you’d expect on a Southern BBQ menu including chicken thighs, brisket, sausages, and baby back ribs as well as a blackened Cajun halibut and smoked vegetable skewer for non-meat eaters. We’ll let you in on a little secret: Barque is one of the only places in Toronto you can get a barbecue brunch with smoked brisket or BBQ pork Benedicts.

Pig Out BBQ at Spadina Avenue and Harbord Street is a favourite of hungry U of T students. Pulled pork, ribs, and smoked brisket are just a few of the tasty menu items you’ll find here at this take-out spot at Spadina Avenue and Harbord Street. Students take note: youth and post-secondary students can save 40% on regular UP Express fare with PRESTO, leaving you with more savings to indulge in some BBQ eats.

Let your nose guide you to The Butcher’s BBQ located in Stock Yards Village in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood. One of the city’s BBQ hidden gems, the butcher-run take-out shop is 100% halal, serving up mouth-watering beef brisket, barbecue chicken, and beef ribs cooked to perfection. There’s also traditional summer eats like smash burgers and chicken wings that’ll have you returning for seconds. Once you’ve had your full, spend a sunny summer day exploring the local craft breweries nearby before heading back to UP Express Bloor Station or UP Express Weston Station, both of which are accessible by transferring via TTC bus route.

Speaking of accessibility, we’re doing all we can to make sure our trains are welcoming and functional for every user. Find out more about how we accommodate customers with mobility aids and other accessibility needs.

Where To Eat BBQ Near Weston Station

Indulge in finger-licking chicken across the street from UP Express Weston Station at Weston BBQ & Chicken. Since 2008, this neighbourhood restaurant has been an affordable staple when it comes to serving up fresh halal flavours with a Somali influence. Owner Mahdi Abdulle spent over a decade in the BBQ competition circuit so it’s no wonder the chicken here is a must-order!

On the subject of chicken, have you tried churrasco-style chicken? A Portuguese barbecue staple, “churrasqueria” is roughly translates to “barbecue” in Portuguese and Toronto’s Portuguese community truly delivers when it comes to delivering tantalizing tastes. Located a short distance from UP Express Weston Station, the chicken at Churrasqueria Beira Mar is grilled to mouth-watering perfection and served alongside rice and potatoes. Give this Portuguese favourite a try on your next BBQ crawl.

Toronto Serves Up Chinese and Korean BBQ, Too

We’d be remiss not to mention how good the Chinese and Korean BBQ is in the city. While we could write a full list of the best places for these grilled Asian flavours, if you want to sample just a taste of what Toronto has to offer stop by Hong Fatt BBQ.

Located just outside of Kensington Market in Chinatown, this family-owned restaurant serves up delicious – and affordable – BBQ duck and pork has kept visitors returning here since the 1960s. Whether you want your Chinese BBQ on noodles, over rice, or in a soup, you can’t really go wrong at Hong Fatt. If you’re lucky enough to be visiting during Lunar New Year, be sure to order ahead and avoid disappointment.

For a taste of Korea, get your grill on at Mapo Korean BBQ on Bloor Street West, just a few short subway stops from UP Express Bloor Station. Open to midnight to feed the late night crowd, this traditional Korean barbecue will bring some sizzling excitement to your next visit to Toronto as you grill up your own beef ribeye and brisket, chicken, pork, shrimp, and more tableside. Along with all the traditional Korean fixings like kimchi, you can top it off with an additional side of cheesy corn or steam egg for an extra special BBQ treat.

No matter where your BBQ adventure takes you this summer, you won’t leave Toronto hungry!

Visiting Toronto for the first time? UP Express is most-convenient way to get from Toronto Pearson Airport to downtown Toronto with the whole journey taking just 25 minutes. With service every 15 minutes, we’re ready to welcome you on board our trains where you can enjoy free Wi-Fi, charging stations, and ample luggage storage.