Ask a Local: 9 Must-Try Women-Owned Restaurants 

Owner: Erika Tokuyama

This is world-class sushi in our small city. I stand by that statement, as I have never had sushi this excellent, anywhere. 

The sashimi, nigiri, maki, and other dishes served at Doraku, are so fresh and executed with such finesse and care. Each ingredient and piece of fish shines because it is treated with such a gentle touch. The flavours are not muddled with too many ingredients, or sauces, and the foundation is quality fish and perfect rice, with balanced highlights of flavour.  

I love how the space feels; calming and wabi-sabi alongside the sushi—so colourful and bright—served on gorgeous Japanese ceramics.  

If you keep an eye on their social media, they will advertise when fresh local tuna has come in, and when it’s time to ‘run, don’t walk’ over to get fatty tuna belly nigiri.  

Owners: Annie Brace-Lavoie and Jenner Cormier

One of Canada’s top restaurants is a small, emerald-coloured gem in Halifax’s North End. Its magic lies in the fact that it is neither fine dining nor a place for a burger, but something in between—where inventive, artful, and delicious food and drink are served in a space with unpretentious antique charm. Here, one could just as easily don pearls as they could running shoes. 

The cocktails are equally ambitious and inspired, with surprising flavours ranging from hyper-local to exotic.

Chef Lauren Campbell’s menu focuses on seafood, seasonal produce, and handmade pasta, with Italian and French influences on some plates, but many that are unique to the restaurant. I love their use of vegetables and fruits in unprecedented ways, like pairing pear and scallops, or covering crunchy deep-fried cabbage leaves in herby, green dressing. 

Owners: Amanda Peng and Philip Peng 

This tiny, tranquil Thai and Japanese restaurant splits its menu between two cultures. Comfy booths line the right side of the room, warmly lit by small lamps at each table. The sushi bar, framed by light wood shelves, is decorated with sake bottles, a lucky cat, teapots, and a lantern. 

If you want to explore the world of sake, you can do it here, with by-the-glass options in several different styles, as well as a sake tasting flight to help you find your preference. It’s a perfect aromatic, floral accompaniment to the bright food. I love how their menu describes the different styles, or production of this delicate, complex sipper. 

Fresh herbs, vegetables, and vibrant punches of flavour set Kofuku’s dishes apart from similar offerings in the city. The variety they offer—not just with their two menus but also with numerous options for vegetarians and vegans—makes it a crowd-pleasing spot for high-quality sushi, fried eggplant, or a wonderful green curry. 

Owners: Jenna Oosterholt and Michelle MacDonald

This large, airy, rosy, and aesthetically pleasing space in Halifax’s downtown core is a beloved restaurant-meets-pastry-shop-meets-café. With exclusively breakfast and lunch service, a coffee counter, and a drool-worthy pastry display, you might think, “Oh, I can only get a sandwich here.” But you’d be dead wrong—Bliss has a full menu of flavourful hot items like pasta, waffles, and fried chicken, served with attentive table service, plus wine and cocktails. 

Whether you want to walk in solo and sip a perfect Italian-style espresso with a coconut crème donut, have lunch and Caesars with eight friends, or pick up a focaccia or cake to go, you can do it at Bliss. 

The owners have truly carved out their own niche, offering a style of service and a menu that are both wonderful and distinctive to Halifax. 

Owners: Katie Tower and Ceilidh Sutherland

Sexy R&B plays, tiki glasses line the back bar, and pops of colour are everywhere. It’s intimate, laid-back, and fun—just as much a spot for a great “martini and yap” as it is for a full-blown, coursed-out meal with international flavours and inspiration. 

The menus at Field Guide are always ahead of the curve, serving both food and drinks that set the tone for what to crave in Halifax. If you’re feeling adventurous, order the “Team’s Choice” meal and leave it up to the chef to surprise you with a sampling of their menu. 

I think Chef Ryan Andersen’s culinary superpower lies in creating layers of texture and temperature while weaving freshness, brightness, and herbaceousness into every plate—whether a crunchy salad or braised meat. 

This has been my ‘local’ for over a decade, and I feel so lucky to live a stone’s throw from such great food. 

Owners: Simone Mombourquette and Terry Vassallo

There is a warmth to this sunroom restaurant that is hard to put into words. Maybe it’s the way you’re greeted like a long-lost friend, the age diversity of the diners, or the comfort food being served. This is the kind of place you can bring anyone—your date, your grandma, or your foodie friend who is hard to please—and they’ll all likely love it. 

The fare is purely Italian, rustic, and warming, but with beautiful execution, expert cooking, and flawless technique. The pasta is rich and flavourful, the meats and fish are always juicy and tender, and the spritzes are flowing.  

I love arriving here and seeing owner Simone’s smiling face, and I immediately know I’ll be taken care of. 

Owners: Cora Tudor and Heather Townsend 

This popular, one-room North End restaurant is full of charm. Their menu boasts many local products—beef, oysters, fish, and produce—all sourced from Nova Scotia and the Maritimes. 

The style of the food is fresh and approachable, balancing both familiarity and surprise. You can enjoy a fantastic steak with roasted potatoes, a mosaic of rare tuna, a halibut cheek layered with complex flavours, or a humble yet classic East Coast fish cake. 

My favourite way to experience Edna—since 2013—has been to grab a seat at the corner of the bar, settle into one of their comfy ergonomic Eames-style highchairs, and order a cocktail and a few appetizers by candlelight. 

Owners: Sophia Gruber and Andreas Preuss

The small, modern black house on a side street in Dartmouth is unassuming. You’re welcomed at the door and ushered to your table through a contemporary, clean, and minimal space, where intricate, sculptural, and sophisticated dishes await. 

The main attraction at Oxalis is its tasting menu—a culinary experience full of peaks and valleys, allowing guests to experience the full range of Chef Andreas Preuss’ skills. The techniques and flavor combinations draw from local products and terroir but are also inspired by the owners’ European roots, specifically Germany and Austria. 

A small section of the menu, “Back-to-the-Roots,” is dedicated to more traditional Austrian and German plates in larger portions, while the rest of the menu leans toward refined fine dining. 

The magic of their service is in the inventive flavours and delightful punctuations, such as amuse-bouches and interactive elements that make the dining experience playful and immersive. 

Owner: Danielle Duguay

This cottage-core café, nestled into the historic Alexander Keith’s Brewery building and neighbouring the Halifax Brewery Market, is a calm oasis in Halifax’s downtown core. 

Sink your teeth into a dreamy, spongy carrot cake with cream cheese icing alongside a pistachio-flavoured latte, or enjoy a perfect breakfast sandwich on a delicious challah bun. 

If you work downtown and need a great sandwich at lunch—or crave a chewy cookie after your Saturday market run—this is the place. 

Jessica Emin is passionate about a great bite of food and will jump at the chance to praise her favourite local experiences and businesses, whether face-to-face, or on social media as @eatwithjessie.

Emin has carved out a path for herself as an important and enthusiastic voice in the Canadian food landscape, as a critic and judge for national restaurant lists, and as a host of two television shows.

She is an internationally published photographer, food stylist, writer, recipe developer, and WSET certified. She lives, plays and works in Halifax, Nova Scotia.