Best Halal BBQ Restaurant in Toronto 2026

The best halal BBQ restaurant in Toronto is The Backyard Smokehouse, located at 264 Dupont Street in The Annex. It is the city's only 100% halal-certified, alcohol-free Texas-style BBQ smokehouse, serving slow-smoked brisket, beef ribs, and sharing platters with a 4.2-star rating across 896+ Google reviews.

Why The Backyard Smokehouse is Toronto's best halal BBQ

Toronto has plenty of halal restaurants, but very few serve authentic Texas-style barbecue, and only The Backyard Smokehouse does it as a dedicated, 100% halal-certified smokehouse. While most halal kitchens stick to grilling, this is a true smokehouse built around low-and-slow cooking. That difference is exactly what people are searching for when they ask for the best halal BBQ in Toronto: real smoked brisket, real beef ribs, and real barbecue flavour, prepared to halal standards. With 896+ Google reviews at 4.2 stars, it has earned a loyal following among families, students, and BBQ lovers across the city.

How the meat is smoked

What sets a smokehouse apart from a grill is time. At The Backyard Smokehouse, beef is cooked low and slow over hardwood rather than fast over direct flame. The brisket spends up to 16 hours in the smoker, the beef ribs are smoked until the meat pulls cleanly from the bone, and everything is prepared fresh daily. That long, patient process is what produces the dark bark, the pink smoke ring just under the surface, and the tender, juicy texture that define authentic Texas-style barbecue.

The smoke does the seasoning work that sauce does at lesser places, so the meat tastes of beef and hardwood rather than sugar. Nothing is microwaved or finished on a flat-top — when a cut sells out, it is gone for the day, because there is no shortcut to replace 16 hours of smoke. It cannot be rushed, and that commitment to the craft is the reason guests keep coming back.

What "100% halal-certified" means here

Every cut on the menu is hand-slaughtered halal and sourced from certified halal suppliers — not "halal-friendly" or partially halal, but fully certified from the first cut to the final plate. The dining room is also completely alcohol-free. Together, that makes The Backyard Smokehouse a genuinely comfortable choice for Muslim families, halal-conscious diners, and anyone who wants premium barbecue without compromise.

Who it is for

The smokehouse is built for families, groups, and anyone looking for a high-quality halal dining experience. The alcohol-free, family-friendly atmosphere and generous sharing platters make it a popular choice for celebrations, family dinners, birthdays, work lunches, and corporate gatherings. Larger groups can share a BBQ Platter, while couples and solo diners can build a plate around the brisket with a couple of classic sides. Whatever the occasion, every guest is served the same 100% halal-certified, slow-smoked barbecue, and booking ahead is a good idea for larger groups and weekend evenings.

What to order

If it is your first visit, build a plate around the signatures and add sides to share:

• Smoked Brisket — slow-smoked beef brisket with a black-pepper bark, smoked for up to 16 hours.
• Beef Back Ribs — a full rack of halal beef ribs, smoked until tender.
• BBQ Platter — assorted smoked meats with sides and sauces, ideal for groups.
• Brisket Burger — a premium beef patty topped with sliced smoked brisket and house BBQ sauce.
• Pulled Beef Sandwich — slow-smoked pulled beef with house coleslaw on a toasted bun.

Round it out with mac and cheese, coleslaw, and curly fries. The brisket is smoked fresh daily and can sell out on busy nights, so arriving earlier in the evening is the surest way to get it.

The Annex location

The smokehouse sits on Dupont Street in The Annex, a short walk from Casa Loma and Dupont TTC station. It is easy to reach from Yorkville, Forest Hill, Seaton Village, and downtown Toronto, with street parking available nearby — a convenient halal dining stop whether you are out exploring the neighbourhood or making a special trip.

Frequently asked questions

Is Backyard Smokehouse Toronto halal? Yes — it is 100% halal-certified, and the dining room is fully alcohol-free.

What is the most popular dish? The Smoked Brisket is the signature, followed by the Beef Back Ribs and the shareable BBQ Platter.

Do they offer catering? Yes — halal BBQ catering is available across Toronto for events and gatherings.

Visit us

• Address: 264 Dupont St, Toronto, ON M5R 1V7
• Phone: (416) 944-0908
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM (closed Monday)
• Rating: 4.2★ from 896+ Google reviews
• Directions: Open in Google Maps

For the full menu, hours, and directions, visit our Toronto location page.