A Food Lover's Guide to Kingston, Ontario

A Food Lover's Guide to Kingston, Ontario

As a foodie, you are always scoping out the best places to eat wherever you go. Once upon a time, Kingston was Canada's capital and a popular place to explore new cuisines. Now, it is one of the country's best foodie destinations — and for a good reason! 

Kingston has proven that its 'dream city' reputation extends well beyond its picturesque surroundings. Its culinary standards draw visitors year-round and promise delicious, adventurous, locally sourced eats for every type of foodie. 

Top 9 Places to Eat in Kingston, Ontario 

From student-friendly restaurants to splurge-worthy establishments, here are our top picks for Kingston's best places to eat:

1. Kame Sushi

156 Division Street

Out of all the family-run sushi restaurants in Kingston, Kame Sushi is quite possibly the best. This modern, snug Japanese restaurant features bento boxes and sushi along with some kitchen entrées, including noodle and donburi options. With a tiny interior and modest exterior, this Japanese restaurant is sure to please even the most discerning of foodies. 

2. Dianne's Fish Shack & Smokehouse 

195 Ontario Street

Come down to Dianne's Fish Shack & Smokehouse for seafood with a Baja Mexican twist and some mouthwatering East Coast barbecue chicken. Serving sustainable seafood choices and beef, pork and chicken smoked in-house naturally, there's never a shortage of options. Exotic eats in a chill atmosphere? We're down for this downtown gem. 

3. Bayview Farms Restaurant 

4085 Bath Road

Clark Day's restaurant has an intimate, inviting atmosphere that will make you feel welcome the moment you walk through the door. You won't want to miss this restaurant's distinct hospitable vibe that really captures Kingston's food scene. 

Want to know a fun fact? All the vegetables are grown on the restaurant's grounds. Now that's an experience you won't want to miss. 

4. Wok-In 

30 Montreal Street

Walk into foodie paradise at the best hole-in-the-wall spot in Kingston. Come for generous portions of delicious Cambodian and Thai food offered at generously low prices. We recommend the chick red curry, Pad Thai and spring rolls. 

5. Chez Piggy

68 Princess Street

For over 40 years, Chez Piggy has kept Kingston's culinary scene on top of its game. Chez Piggy is famous for its relaxed atmosphere and emphasis on family and community. Since its humble beginnings, the restaurant has been family-owned and family-operated, and today it is one of Kingston's most popular upscale restaurants. 

Chez Piggy is always filled with creativity, laughs, and a joie de vivre with a side of good, fresh food and a subtle French influence. 

6. Wooden Heads

192 Ontario Street

Wooden Heads is a must for the gourmet variety for all the pizza lovers out there. A trendy Italian restaurant, Wooden Heads will satisfy your taste buds with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. Between the flavors, ambiance and friendly staff, Wooden Heads should be at the top of your list for places to eat in Kingston. 

7. Atomica Gourmet Pizza and Wine Bar

71 Brock Street

This restaurant in the heart of downtown Kingston makes a great date night dinner spot with its modern lighting and sleek interior. Atomica Gourmet Pizza and Wine Bar features fantastic meat and pasta options as well as a slew of delicious pizzas. 

8. Amadeus Cafe 

170 Princess Street

The Kingston foodie scene offers a diverse set of flavors sure to appeal to all food lovers out there. Amadeus Cafe may just be Kingston's source for the best eclectic fare with draught beers and Austrian and German dishes that are out of this world. All recipes from Amadeus Cafe are family dishes made from scratch. Our favorites? The Jager Schnitzel with Spetzel and Beer Rouladen. 

This is the spot for all you foodies out there who want an authentic taste of Europe. 

9. The Common Market

136 Ontario Street

Kingston's best espresso bar, The Common Market, offers a Country Roast and a North Roast from Prince Edward County. Feeling like you need to satiate a sweet tooth? Cappuccinos are the way to go. They also serve matcha, mochas made with Swiss chocolate and iced drinks to cool you down on a nice summer day. 

Food Tours in Kingston, Ontario 

Learn about Kingston's food scene with a guided tour, which includes a hand-picked selection of all the best food venues and restaurants in the downtown Kingston area. Along the way, you'll have multiple tastings and hear all about Kingston's culture and history with a local who knows the food scene well.

Discover Kingston at Kampgrounds of America

Kingston has one of the highest restaurants per capita across the country. When you want to get out and explore the city, good food is a must. KOA wants to make your outdoor excursions as memorable as possible by connecting people to each other and the outdoors. 

KOA makes it easy to discover top eateries while enjoying the beauty of nature with over 500 campgrounds across North America, including a large number in Ontario, Canada. When you stay at a KOA in Ontario, you will find a limitless amount of fun things to do and see, like the Thousand Islands Region, Niagara Falls, Maid of the Mist, the Canadian War Museum, the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. 

If you're making a summer trip to Kingston, round it out with our on-site pancake breakfasts offered every Sunday in July and August at KOA Campgrounds. KOA is a great place to stay for your food tour in Kingston, regardless of whether your food favorites extend to pancakes! With many ways to stay, including glamping, tent camping, lodging, cabin camping, RVing and more, KOA allows you the freedom to explore this Ontario city the way you would like.

Kingston has quite a bit to offer, so we suggest taking your time exploring all the top places to eat in the Limestone City.

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