Restaurant ordering in Toronto: what the numbers say
Toronto grew 2.3% between 2016 and 2021, a steady rate. In a settled market, repeat customers are what keep a restaurant busy, so offers for returning guests and easy reordering matter more than chasing new reach.
At about 4,428 people per km², Toronto is one of the densest places in Canada. Short delivery trips are possible, so a tight radius with a low delivery fee usually works better than a wide one. Pickup is also popular where people walk past your door.
Delivery zones across Toronto
You can draw separate zones and fees for the parts of Toronto you serve. Restaurants here often think in terms of areas like these:
- Downtown
- Kensington Market
- Chinatown (Spadina)
- Little Italy
- Greektown on the Danforth
- Gerrard India Bazaar
- Leslieville
- Liberty Village
- Yorkville
- Scarborough
Local facts for Toronto restaurants
St. Lawrence Market traces back to 1803, when a public market was set up in the town of York.
Toronto Public Health inspects food premises under its DineSafe program and publishes the results as open data.
Sources: The Canadian Encyclopedia (St. Lawrence Market); City of Toronto (DineSafe).
Nearby cities you can reach
The closest large municipalities to Toronto are Mississauga (22 km), Vaughan (25 km), Richmond Hill (26 km), Markham (27 km), Brampton (31 km). Distances are straight-line from the city centre. If your kitchen sits near a boundary, one Chefzi delivery zone can cover customers on both sides of the line.
Sales tax on online orders in Ontario
Restaurant meals in Ontario carry the 13% HST (5% federal plus 8% provincial portion). Qualifying prepared food and drinks with a combined price of $4 or less get a point-of-sale rebate of the 8% provincial portion (CRA GI-064), so check how your menu prices fall.
Chefzi shows tax on the checkout and receipt using the rates you set. Rates can change, so confirm them with the Canada Revenue Agency or your accountant.
Language
English is the main language of business. Ottawa, Sudbury and parts of eastern Ontario also have large francophone communities, so a French menu can help there.
One system for Toronto restaurants
- Online ordering on your own site, with no commission per order.
- POS and kitchen display, so online orders are never retyped.
- Table reservations and a loyalty program.
- Delivery by your staff or Uber Eats and DoorDash couriers.
- Card payments go straight to your restaurant.
- Plans are month-to-month, with discounts on 1-, 2- and 3-year plans. Menu setup and onboarding are free.
Ontario menu rule for growing chains
In Ontario, food-service chains with 20 or more locations must show calories on menus, including websites and apps that list prices and take orders (Ontario, Healthy Menu Choices Act, 2015). Add calories to item descriptions before you reach that size.
Going live in Toronto
- Send us your menu; setup and onboarding are free.
- Draw delivery zones and fees.
- Test orders to the POS and kitchen screen.
- Add the order link to your Google Business Profile, website and Instagram.
- Put QR codes on tables and bags.
How Chefzi works for Toronto restaurants
Pricing is a flat monthly fee: see plans in CAD. Moving from GloriaFood? Read our GloriaFood migration guide.
- Your own ordering page and app, with your name and menu, and no commission per order.
- Delivery, pickup and table ordering from one menu.
- Orders go to a tablet or printer in your kitchen.
- Customer list and offers you control, for repeat orders.
- Card payments paid out to your own account.
Frequently asked questions
Can Chefzi handle orders across Toronto's former boroughs?
Yes. You set your own delivery zones, so a restaurant in Etobicoke can cover nearby postal areas only, while a Scarborough kitchen can draw a wider radius. Each zone can carry its own fee and minimum order.
Does Chefzi take commission on orders in Toronto?
No. Chefzi charges a flat monthly fee. Card processing fees still apply to card payments, as with any payment provider.
Can I deliver from Toronto to Mississauga?
Yes, if it fits your kitchen. You choose your delivery radius or draw zones on a map, and you can charge a higher fee for longer trips.
Do you set up my menu for me?
Yes. Menu setup and onboarding are free.
Is there a contract?
Plans are month-to-month, with discounts on 1-, 2- and 3-year plans.
Does Chefzi have a POS and kitchen display in Toronto?
Yes. Chefzi offers a POS, kitchen display, reservations and loyalty in Canada.
Can I deliver in Toronto without my own drivers?
Yes. Chefzi integrates with Uber Eats and DoorDash (DoorDash Drive) couriers.