This week features 10 new spots for coffee, tequila, fast food, and very specific vegan fare.  

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Asian fried chicken chain Call A Chicken touched down in North York (4750 Yonge St., Unit 140) not long ago. Now downtowners get a chance to tuck in at Queen and Spadina (507 Queen St. W.)

After launching at Yorkdale Mall less than two months ago, iQ Food’s expanding once again, this time with iQx inside Equinox Yorkville (55 Avenue Rd.). On the menu: tonics, smoothies, macro bowls and snacks to help you refuel after your workout.

Pizza lovers, head’s up - Pi Co. is celebrating their new Fairview Mall food court location (1800 Sheppard Ave. E.) this Monday with a pizza party. Free Margheritas will be available from 12-3:14pm. Note: Limit one per person, line up closes at 2:30pm, conditions apply.

Sakai Bar (1576 Dundas St. W.) debuted earlier this week. Get tsukemono (preserved vegetables), fish imported from Japan, and other tasty bites Thursday to Monday, 6pm-12am.

Stella (304 Richmond St. W.), an “Italian-Inspired” vegan popup launches today. Brought to you by The 5700 Inc. (the folks behind vegan eateries Doomie’s, Mythology, Vegandale Brewery, etc.) Chef Dino Luciano, a ‘MasterChef’ Winner from Brooklyn, will be whipping up dishes including Cherry Risotto and Bohemian Squash Fettuccine. He calls the eatery “an Italian-inspired restaurant with a refined pallet.”

If you can’t get enough of Japanese snacks and candy, head to Sukoshi Mart’s new 2,500 sq. ft. location opening today at Scarborough Town Centre (300 Borough Dr.). Bonus: The first 100 customers receive special gifts with their purchase, and you can pick up cute stationery, home goods, and other items while you’re there.

Maybe you’ve seen the Jeff Merkel’s food truck, The Vegan Extremist, around town. Now he’s landed in Kensington for a winter-pop up. Starting Monday, grab a vegan South Asian curry at 291 Augusta Ave., the teeny spot where Grk Ygrt used to be.

Wallace Espresso never sleeps. The proof? The brand new shop at St. Clair and Dufferin (140 Westmount Ave.) AND King and Niagara just got its very own location (848 King St. W.).

Zocalo (1285 Bloor St W.), a “Mexican street food taqueria” opened Tuesday in Bloordale Village.

CLOSED

You’ve got until tomorrow to enjoy Peoples Eatery (307 Spadina Ave.) before they close their doors for good. 

EVENTS

Taste of Iceland begins today. Enjoy five days of Icelandic culture, cuisine, music and design. Stay tuned for a closer look. 

Friday, head to The Historic Distillery District’s El Catrin (18 Tank House Lane) for a Day of the Dead Tequila Tasting and Fiesta.

Starting tomorrow, visit the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair at Exhibition Place (100 Princes’ Blvd.). The 10-day fest features top Toronto chefs at this year’s Culinary Academy, including: Lilian Cardoso (Zebu Steak + Bar), Anna Chen (Alma), Eden Hagos (Black Foodie), John Higgins (George Brown College), Laura Maxwell (Le Select Bistro), and Cory Vitiello (FLOCK).

Japanese food festival Washoku Matsuri 2018 is happening Monday.

NEWS

The Top 10 “Canada’s Best Restaurants” by Air Canada’s enRoute Magazine were announced late last week. Find out who won.

Congratulations to the winners of this years Taste Awards including Toronto’s own Chef Lynn Crawford who took home Gold for her cookbook Farm to Chef: Cooking Through the Seasons.

People freaked out that free coffee and treats were no longer available at Billy Bishop airport. The Toronto Star says they’re here to stay. Well, one item anyway.

Waste not, want not. Second Harvest made beer from stale bread to illustrate that food should not go to waste. Been a Slice is available in limited release in select LCBO stores, The Beer Store, and a number of Toronto bars and restaurants the first week of November. Proceeds from sales will go directly to Second Harvest.

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

Life moves fast. Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.  

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