In celebration of Toronto’s multicultural environment. Istar showcases rich culinary heritage and the experience of Istarlin Mahamed the founder.

Originally from Somalia, she opened Istar Coffee in 1999, which later became Istar Restaurant.

In 2012 Mahamed Elmi the son of Istarline took over the family business and turned it into world renowned community hub. With a banquet that is modern and trendy, Istar Restaurant uses vast spices used around the world. Thus, we have fusion cuisine from Somalia which is also influenced by Italian, North American and Indian cultures. Recently featured on CBC radio and Blog TO, our goal at Istar is simple, “To provide our guests with an excellent bistro experience with emphasis on a refined yet creative Somali cuisine.