Articles
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- Written by: AfroToronto Team
- Parent Category: Lifestyle
- Category: Food and Drink
Chef Tolu Okojie is the founder of Greelz, a Nigerian Afro-fusion restaurant with two Toronto locations participating in ByBlacks Restaurant Week 2026 (May 11–17). From catering out of a home kitchen to running one of the city's most talked-about food brands, Okojie has built his business on suya, premium ingredients and a bold commitment to bringing Nigerian street food to the world, no shortcuts taken.
There are restaurants that serve food, and then there are restaurants that carry a mission. Greelz, the Nigerian Afro-fusion brand founded by Chef Tolu Okojie, fits squarely in the second category. Born from the streets of Lagos and refined in the heart of Toronto, Greelz has become one of the most distinctive food stories in a city already overflowing with culinary talent.
Every meal counts: How Frontlines Catering is feeding community and building youth futures in Weston
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- Written by: AfroToronto Team
- Parent Category: Lifestyle
- Category: Food and Drink
In Toronto's Weston neighbourhood, a quiet revolution is happening one meal at a time. Frontlines Catering, the social enterprise arm of Weston Frontlines Centre, uses food to fund youth programming, employment training and community food access. During ByBlacks Restaurant Week 2026, the organization brings its Caribbean-inspired menu to a national stage. We sat down with Culinary Lead Shannae Rowe to talk food, purpose and the futures being built in that kitchen.
There are catering companies, and then there are operations that carry the weight of a whole community on their shoulders. Frontlines Catering, the food services arm of Weston Frontlines Centre, falls squarely into the second category. Tucked into a neighbourhood that doesn't always make the city's highlight reel, Frontlines has quietly served Toronto's Weston community for nearly four decades, using meals to fund youth programs, employment training, mental health support and weekly grocery access for families who need it most.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Parent Category: Lifestyle
- Category: Food and Drink
Toronto's Afro-Caribbean and African dining scene has grown into one of the most vibrant and culturally rich corners of the city's restaurant landscape. From a Michelin-recognized Jamaican kitchen on Portland Street to an award-winning pan-Caribbean house on King West, a bold Nigerian kitchen in Parkdale, and a beloved Haitian dining room on Dundas, these seven restaurants represent the full breadth of what Black diaspora cuisine looks like at its finest.
Toronto holds a specific kind of culinary authority. Few cities on earth can claim the depth of Caribbean, West African, and East African diaspora communities that have shaped this city's food culture over decades. Jamaican families arrived in significant numbers from the 1960s onward, building vibrant neighbourhoods and food cultures in areas like Eglinton West and Scarborough. West Indian and Trinidadian communities followed, then Nigerian, Ghanaian, Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Somali communities, each bringing their culinary traditions with them and planting them firmly in the city. What these communities built, often quietly and without much mainstream recognition, was a food culture of extraordinary depth and variety.
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- Written by: AfroToronto Team
- Parent Category: Lifestyle
- Category: Food and Drink
Toronto's Black-owned café and bakery scene is thriving, shaped by founders who bring diverse African and Caribbean traditions to every cup and counter. From Marchelle McKenzie's viral brownie shop to Milkyas Tefera's Ethiopian coffee roastery, these establishments offer far more than great food. They represent cultural identity, community pride, and entrepreneurial excellence. Here's your guide to five Black-owned spots across the city worth exploring.
Toronto has one of the most diverse food cultures in the world, and its Black-owned café and bakery scene is a powerful expression of that richness. Rooted in Caribbean, African, and diasporic traditions, these businesses do more than serve good bites and drinks. They create gathering spaces, carry cultural memory, and give communities something to rally around. For anyone who believes that spending money is a form of voting, these five spots offer a delicious and meaningful way to put that conviction into practice.
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- Written by: AfroToronto Team
- Parent Category: Lifestyle
- Category: Food and Drink
Discover some of Toronto’s top jerk chicken restaurants serving authentic Caribbean spice, smoky perfection, and a taste of home across the city.
In Toronto, the city's rhythm has a distinct Caribbean beat. It’s a pulse you can feel in the summer parade crowds, hear in the sounds of soca and dancehall, and, most deliciously, taste in the smoky, spicy, and soul-warming embrace of jerk chicken. More than just a dish, jerk is a story of migration, community, and culinary tradition—a story written in pimento wood smoke and Scotch bonnet fire.
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- Written by: AfroToronto Team
- Parent Category: Lifestyle
- Category: Food and Drink
This comprehensive foodie guide will help you discover the vibrant flavours of African cuisine in Toronto. From Ethiopian injera to Nigerian jollof rice, explore the diverse culinary offerings across the city.
Whether you crave West African suya or East African samosas, Toronto's dining scene has something for every palate. Embark on a gastronomic journey filled with bold spices, hearty stews, and exotic ingredients that will tantalize your taste buds. Join us as we navigate the bustling streets of Toronto to uncover hidden gems and popular eateries serving up authentic African dishes.
