TONO by Akira Back

What is TONO by Akira Back? Perched on the 9th floor of Yorkville's W Toronto at 90 Bloor Street East, TONO is Michelin-starred chef Akira Back’s first North American venture dedicated entirely to Nikkei cooking. Taking over the hotel's former rooftop lounge, the space features minimalist neutrals, a sculptural central sushi counter, cloud-form installations, and a terrace with skyline views. Seating moves fluidly between low-slung lounge booths, high-top bar perches, and open-air rooftop patio tables.

TONO by Akira Back Menu & What to Order Executive chef Karen Kim’s kitchen combines Japanese culinary discipline with the vibrant acidity and heat of Peruvian gastronomy. Essential openers include the Tono Tartare with bluefin tuna in leche de tigre and the crisp tiger prawn Tono Cigars served out of a wooden cigar humidor. For larger plates, go for the charred octopus with botija olives or the Tajima Wagyu short rib finished with sweet-spicy galbicucho alongside a corn husk tamale. Pair dinner with agave or pisco-forward cocktails like the Smoky Toronto Morning, and note that vegetarian selections and plant-focused sushi rolls are thoughtfully built into the raw and robata sections.

Know Before You Go Tables should be booked well in advance via OpenTable, particularly for weekend slots when DJ sets elevate the dining room into a high-energy lounge scene. Bloor-Yonge subway station sits just a block west for direct transit access, though on-site hotel valet is available along Bloor Street East. The restaurant opens daily for dinner at 5:00 p.m., serving until 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.