The 50 Best Restaurants in North America list for 2026 just dropped, and I decided to visit one while in Toronto. Mhel's Japanese-Korean fusion menu and impressive sake collection persuaded me to snag a reservation and I'm happy to report it lives up to the hype! The interior is intimate, seating around 30, and its understated ambiance and izakaya vibes were great. The tables for two are a bit on the smaller side (we occasionally struggled to fit all our dishes), but that wasn't a dealbreaker. Service was attentive and quick overall, though our final dish took longer than expected. The food, however, was exceptional. Ontario has wonderful produce, and this menu may be the finest showcase of it I've ever encountered. Nearly every dish was a hit, and the bold, inventive flavors consistently impressed. Pricing was fair across the board, with the exception of the steak dishes, which felt steep. I'd give Mhel my highest recommendation, particularly for a special occasion. Maguro A feast for the eyes and the palate. The dark nori and yolk emulsion creates a striking contrast against the bluefin tuna, while the salted yolk and delicate hanaho add further elegance to the plate. The emulsion paired with the tuna is mouth-wateringly good, delivering a rich, deep umami flavor that lingers long after the last bite. Asparagus Another beautiful dish. The vivid Ontario green asparagus, topped with a perfectly soft-boiled egg, was a sight to behold. Think of it as a deconstructed egg salad: the asparagus dressed in a house tartar sauce, a panko crunch for texture, and the egg completing the picture. The freshness of the asparagus was the real star. Kanpachi A good dish in its own right, though not as spectacular as the previous two. I love amberjack, but the ume and black garlic mix was assertive and seemed to amplify the fishiness of the dish. Menchi Katsu A home run and a masterclass in elevating a simple dish. The beef inside the katsu was perfectly cooked, and the silky potato cream had a texture so luxurious that each bite felt like a meaty cloud (in the best possible way). Dak Guyi Simply perfect chicken. Juicy, beautifully marinated, and absolutely delicious. The bed of vegetables were equally memorable. Ika Aspara My least favorite dish by a fair margin. I found the squid underwhelming in both flavor and texture. The bigger issue was the sheer presence of asparagus, which appeared both as whole poached stalks and as a purée. Overall the dish felt a bit one-note Tri-Tip The flavors work in a righteous cycle. The peppery arugula cuts through the wagyu's rich fat; the wagyu, deep with umami, eases you naturally into the lush Brillat Savarin; and the Brillat Savarin, in turn, makes the arugula's sharpness feel refreshing rather than harsh. A terrific trio! Purin Not much to say but this was a simple but well-executed dessert. Absolutely adore the use of maple syrup. read more

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Went to for an early birthday celebration with 3 friends. We were seated right away as we had a reservation. We ended up ordering one of every item on their menu, except swapped out one for the off-menu special. The appetizers were Japanese and Korean 반찬 - banchan (side dishes). Majority of the other dishes were fish based, prepared in different styles, with a couple of meat options. The non-alcoholic drink options were refreshing and good. Everything was really delicious! In terms of ambience and atmosphere, cozy and comfortable. Tables are pretty close to each other to maximize the amount of diners, but still enough space between to squeeze through and also have your conversations. Service was very friendly and good with regular clearing of empty dish plates and water top-ups, and also new personal ones being brought out after every couple of courses. The closest paid parking lot was full, but we were able to find free street parking on a residential street close by. read more

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Wow I wish I could eat here all the time. This place is a delight! We managed to score reservations at the counter and I highly recommend it. You sacrifice a bit of banter with the house staff but still get their attentiveness when it came to things like changing our plates in between dishes or filling our water. But boy is it fun watching them cook! I loved seeing the passion and focus of the kitchen as well as the precision of their work. I think what Mhel does best is feature the ingredients for what they are. For instance, we were amazed at how delicious Ontario carrots could taste with the correct treatment and technique. I honestly will tell anyone that will listen about that carrot dish and how well executed it was. We didn't get to try the sake but it seemed like a really fun concept where several are mixed together into more experimental drinks. Will definitely have to come back before they become even more popular! read more

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Lovely quaint and intimate Korean-Japanese restaurant/sake bar in the city! We went for a dinner date and had a great time trying out the different dishes. Mind you the dishes do change regularly but the standouts for us when we went were the bluefin tuna, the carrots, and the kanpachi guyi. Amazing complex flavours that paired so well! I also loved the sparkling hojicha tea. Make sure to make a reservation in advance as it is a small space and books up fast! read more

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I've been to Mhel probably about 4-5 times and love that their menu is ever changing. It's Korean Japanese fusion and typically always busy so make sure you reserve a table in advance! I always get their steak which is cooked to perfection along with some raw dishes which are super fresh. The service is great and the servers are really knowledgeable. The vibe is more like a casual Izakaya / bar with small sharing plates. It's small and cozy so does get loud when it's full. If you don't drink, make sure to order the Saicho sparkling tea they have. Jasmine is my fave. read more

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So we had a tasting of many of the dishes. The highlights were the wagyu, Napa cabbage in broth and rice. If I ever sat at the bar, this is what I would order by myself. The rest of the menu was okay. I would have loved all of the brothy, homey dishes to come out all at once with my rice. I loved the rice--I appreciate good quality rice. There were some dishes that sort of missed the mark like the veggie dish... nothing special, and most of the fish dishes. It was okay! With some highlights. Would I go back? Maybe?? It's a very safe menu. There's so many of these restaurants though... not sure if it stands out at all. If this gets a bib gourmand, I could think of many more that also deserve one. Oh and the menu was more Japanese than Korean... so I was confused about that, too. read more

Amazing food. Menu changes every day so come for the adventure! Service is quaint. Feels like a hidden neighbourhood wine bar but make it Korean / Japanese. The menu when we went was more Japanese so I'm going to have to go back for more! Keep an eye on their instagram for latest seasonal additions. read more

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the constantly changing menu causes the kitchen to have limited ability to "perfect" a dish. For example, the yuan yaki ($35) sounded good on paper but didn't have the taste to match. The thick slice of kanpachi needed more seasoning and something stronger than just a yuzu marinade. Its uneven thickness meant the edges were cooked through while the centre to be raw. Ultimately, I had to leave a piece uneaten given it was gross and gummy. After all, the dish wasn't meant to be eaten raw like the ishidai sashimi ($33), a fish flown in from Nagasaki. In lieu of soy sauce, Mhel created a flavourful seaweed salad providing flavour and a chewy garnish that could be wrapped in the fish to create a delicious bite. In fairness, there's many dishes that Mhel gets right. The sogogi ($46) was fantastic, a sizeable slice of Australian wagyu cooked to perfection so that it's juicy and hot. Brushed with galbi sauce, the beef's Korean flavours reminded me why it could be eaten with chopsticks. Although, I would have loved for a small slice to be put on top of the sushi rice nugget. It's what Mhel describes as a perilla ssam, so a piece of meat would make the bite complete. Mhel's portion sizes are small. Hence, we followed their advice and opted for the heartiest dish for the evening, the dak gaseumsal ($30) with a bowl of steamed Japanese rice ($5), and side of kimchi ($8). The dak gaseumsal's buttery miso sauce was great for pouring over the sticky rice and I loved the accompanying sauteed seasonal greens (garlic scape, Swiss chard, and collard greens). Yet, the chicken breast, while juicy, wasn't overly exciting... perhaps because it was sous vide versus grilled. At least they were true to their word, this dish was much larger than the rest. Still, you may want to get a side of the potesala ($15), their version of a potato salad. The shallots added a slight bite to the potatoes and the pickled ramps and peas gave the dish a freshness that helped balance off the otherwise rich dish. Yet, it's the onsen egg that really made the dish, I wished there was more than a half. If anything, Mhel ensures you have room for dessert. The purin ($10) was a fantastic crème caramel, one of the best I've had in a while. The thickened Sheldon Creek cream was rich but perfectly balanced by a maple syrup glaze that had a toasty taste, much better than your regular caramelized sugar. My husband and I immediately regretted getting one to share. read more

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Mhel was named one of Toronto's best new restaurants for 2024 so needless to say I was excited to try it - and it did live up to the hype. The menu rotates daily, which has its pros and cons since you're always getting fresh food and creatively made dishes, but you never know what you're going to get. I found that all the dishes we tried were good and well made, but there wasn't necessarily a signature dish that blew me away. Our favourite was the dessert - the caramel cake in a maple sauce which we loved! As for the rest of the meal, the potato salad / cucumber salad / sashimi were decent, but the cooked dishes (fish, wagyu, onigiri in broth) were excellent. The sauces / dashi broth for the cooked dishes really stood out to me, and of course everything was cooked perfectly. Overall, this was a wonderful experience, and I would love to come back once the restaurant has matured a bit more. My only qualm was that it wasn't necessarily good value, and I found the portions small for the price relative to comparable Japanese / Korean restaurants I've been to. It would be great if they had a tasting menu as well. Nonetheless, it's at least worth trying! read more

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Dishes had: jabara kyuri (ungai cucumber), misoae (miso cabbage), agebitashi (eggplant), maguro (bluefin tuna), kanpachi guyi, sogogi (australian wagyu striploin), rice, and purin (caramel pudding) 10/10 lives up to the hype. Every dish had it's distinct flavour and so much depth to it. The kanpachi guyi knocked my socks off, I could have it every single day and it wouldn't get tiring. Service and ambiance is also top notch. I want to return already. read more

Part of a longer review... Despite the overall excellence of Mhel, there were moments during our visit when we felt a sense of urgency from the staff, as if we were being rushed through our meal. While this may have been due to the restaurant's popularity and the desire to accommodate all guests, it slightly detracted from the otherwise relaxed and intimate dining experience. This is a minor detail in an otherwise outstanding establishment, but it's worth noting for those who seek a leisurely and unhurried pace. At the heart of Mhel is the power of culinary innovation and the deep respect for tradition. Hoon Ji and Min Yi have created a space that is not just a restaurant, but a celebration of their heritage and a love letter to the flavours of Korea and Japan. Mhel's commitment to quality, authenticity, and innovation makes it a must-visit destination for anyone seeking an unforgettable dining experience. Bravo! read more

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This place has a great vibe and I'm always happy to support local restaurants, especially when they're also trying to support local. They use great vendors such as Affinity Fish, Sheldon Creek, and Linton and constantly iterate on their menu with locality and seasonality in mind. The food portions are on the smaller side, but meant to be that way. You order a bunch of things, grab a sake off their extensive sake menu, and chill with your friends while enjoying a tasty variety of bites. My favourites of the evening were: (1) the menchikatsu, which was a blend of high quality pork and beef patty deep-fried to perfection; (2) the gyutan, which was tender, well-seasoned, and perfect with sake; and (3) honestly one of the creamiest, best balanced puddings I've had with a hint of burnt maple syrup flavour. Honestly if you're going to the supermarkets and buying the Japanese puddings for like $5-10 just go here instead. Service was pleasant and attentive throughout. read more

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Mhel, located in Dufferin Grove, is Toronto's newest sake bar serving a changing menu of Korean and Japanese small plates. They have an extensive list of sake (either by the glass or bottle) as well as few selections of beers, highballs, and non-alcoholic options. There is an emphasis on local and seasonal produce where fresh ingredients are highlighted. The dishes are small and meant to be shared while you drink your sake. The space is intimate and warm where if you sit at the bar, you can watch your food being prepared as it has an open kitchen concept. Reservations are recommended. We dined at Mhel on a Thurs evening where I made reservations 2 weeks ahead of time. My friend and I were promptly greeted and shown to our table. For our drinks, the server was kind enough to give us a description of the available sakes by glass, which was extremely helpful! For food, it was suggested that between two people, aim for 2-3 dishes per person. For sake, I ordered a glass of the Hiwata Kimoto Junmai (a drier sake), while my friend opted for the KID junmai ginjo (more fruiter in flavor). For food, we opted for the following options to share: - Anju (today's drinking snacks) - the drinking snacks today were cucumber and charred peppers. Great crunch and texture. - Chawanmushi (good eggs, ichiban dashi, corn cream, and marigold oil) - we both got our own chawanmushi as we knew it would be difficult to share this dish. Didn't realize the eggs were served cold but the eggs were incredibly creamy in texture. The corn was a nice touch and the you could definitely taste the ichiban dashi through the whole dish. I enjoyed it but my friend wasn't so keen on the "fishy-ness" of the dashi. - Yaki nasu (charred eggplant, miso, mizuna) - I enjoyed this dish. The char on the eggplant was present throughout and the broth didn't overpower the main star of the dish. - Tomato tomato (dashi tomato, yukari tomato) - the tomatoes were incredibly fresh! I loved how the skin of the tomatoes were peeled for you already. - Marguro zuke (Oroshi Bluefin tuna, tare, myoga, new onions) - another favourite dish, fresh tuna complemented by the myoga and onions. - Doyaji (Liton's 5oz coppa (pork shoulder), ssamjang, perilla leaf) - another favourite of the night. The pork was executed well and paired perfectly with the ssamjang and perilla leaf! Overall, the food is fresh, seasonal, delicate, and complemented the sake well! The lightness and freshness of the dishes did not overpower the fragrant nature and complexity of sake. Service wise, staff were friendly, knowledgeable and able to answer any questions we had regarding sake and food. What a great new sake bar with a beautifully crafted menu! read more

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This was hands down one of my favorite meals in Toronto! One of those meals where you come home and you feel compelled to write your first review because everything blew you away. Service was incredibly attentive and offered great recommendations. Food was so incredible it became the talking point for the night, looking forward to coming back as I think I've found a new favorite. read more

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Good restaurants , good food quality, I recommend it . Very good service .I recommend to visit it

Great concept but terrible execution. Dishes were either bland or completely ruined by an overly salty sauce with not much flavour besides that. Terrible wagyu and extremely fishy fish dish. Not to mention it's not cheap either. It's pretty pathetic that this place got best new restaurant award. read more

What an experience! Such thoughtful and detailed service. Every dish was beautifully executed and delicious.