The OPEN/CLOSED is THE most comprehensive resource of the latest restaurant openings – virtual, brick-and-mortar, pop-ups, allll the things - and food/drink news in the city. No one does it bigger or better. Watch for the drop every Thursday. #iykyk

🕘 14 min read

One of the most dense editions of late delivers options G-A-L-O-R-E. If it feels like chains dominate the arrivals this week, rest assured unique offerings and independent joints abound. And the dispatch doesn’t stop there - big news and closures await.

Psst. Want the inside track on what’s happening? In addition to subscribing to the TR Newsletter, keep your eyes peeled on the website (the #TRrending section is a good place to start) and follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook for breaking news and updates. 

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Grand opening for Vaughan’s new halal restaurant, Ala Antioch Turkish Cuisine (3255 Rutherford Rd., Unit 2) kicks off Saturday.

Canela Crepes & Coffee (792 Carlaw Ave.) is the spot for French-style pancakes, pastries, and coffee just off the Danforth.

Earls Restaurant Group announced today that while their new King West stomping grounds (601 King St. W., Unit 595) won’t be ready for guests until June 28, resos are now open. The restaurant takes over what was forever home to celebrity chef Susur Lee’s eponymous eatery, Lee Restaurant, relocated as of last summer to the new Waterworks (497 Richmond St. W.). (I broke the news back in ‘22.) Talk about close: In addition to its many locations, there’s an Earls right down the block (150 King St. W., Unit 100), and another west coast-based group is about to land across the street - King Taps - which coincidentally also has a branch down the street (100 King St. W.).

Speaking of chains, Eataly opens today at 1pm, marking the third location in the 6ix for the global brand and food emporium. Eataly Don Mills (CF Shops at Don Mills 1090 Don Mills Rd.) features three on-site eateries - 180-seater Eataly Ristorante and casual spots Il Gran Caffè and La Salumeria , the latter unique to this location, across its nearly 10,000 sq. ft. expanse. In keeping with its many counterparts, the rest of the space is outfitted with products both local and from abroad, as well as prepared items. Stay tuned: Word dropped today a fourth is scheduled to to join CF Toronto Eaton Centre (220 Yonge St.) next year, with “more planned for the future.” Quick backstory: The Italian grocer announced its imminent arrival at Bay and Bloor October 2019, throwing open doors the following month. A more recent addition landed at CF Sherway Gardens late last year.

Hot tip: From the streets of Tokyo to Toronto, Flipper’s brings its signature Japanese soufflé pancakes, waffles, and other brunch fare to the downtown core (31 Elm St.).

Chef Vic is whipping up a myriad of Asian fare at Roncy’s new Hakka Wok Hei (371 Roncesvalles Ave.). Do you remember? The addy was previously Tacos Baby J and Stamp’s Lane.

Havana Sanguwich (251 Queen St. W., Entrance on John) has got the right idea. While the menu boasts classic Cuban sandwiches and Colombian street food, selections extend beyond Cubanos and empanadas with a lineup of salads, salchipapas (Colombian-style loaded fries), hot dogs, and other must-haves. Find it where NSFW Members Only waffles used to hang out.

Milkshake and dessert destination Holy Shakes lands in Etobicoke (21 Rexdale Blvd., Unit 4108) with forever partner T.O.’s Kathi Roll Eatery, home of Indian fusion fare including Punjabi tacos and Indian burritos. Grand opening is Saturday.

Grand opening for IHOP’s Mississauga digs (Erin Mills Town Centre 2575 Eglinton Rd.) took place Monday. TR Trivia: 1. The first International House of Pancakes (IHOP) opened in 1958 in Toluca Lake, California. 2. This ain’t IHOP’s first rodeo here. 3. In fact, that wasn’t the iconic American pancake house’s inaugural venture in the province either: The 13th Canadian location for the breakfast chain debuted in Niagara Falls on September 13, 2008. 4. Discover halal options at GTA locations.

Kasa Frida offers a variety of tacos, quesadillas, and Mexican brekkie in the heart of Yorkville (Yorkville Village 55 Avenue Rd.).

Are mac and cheese and chicken wings your everything? Then Mac N’ Wings is for you. Choose from over 20 varieties of cheesy pasta and 100 ways to enjoy your drums n’ flats. Doors opened yesterday for the local chain’s Scarborough outpost (3165 Markham Rd.)

Made Rite Coffee (68 Wales Ave.) is brimming with breakfast sandos, lunch options, and cups of joe, one block east of Bathurst off Dundas,

Pro tip: North York’s latest addition, Meat AA7 Authentic Charcoal BBQ (5285 Yonge St., 2nd Fl.), has already garnered a crowd for its Shenyang-style BBQ, so go early/often to try and snag a table.

Momo Heart (675 Lansdowne Ave.) arrives in Bloordale with a lineup of classic and fusion Tibetan momos. Find it where Saigon Sandwiches stood until recently.

Chefs Hall (111 Richmond St. W.) new noodle shop hails from the season pros behind Tempura Keisuke, the collaboration between Ramen Isshin and Ryus Noodle Bar. Introducing: Ramen Takao.

Bloordale’s newest tavern, Teddy Beer (928 Bloor St. W.) softly open June 1 in Black Horse’s stead.

The Well kicked off its much-anticipated food hall Wellington Market (486 Front St. W., Lower Ground Level) on Monday. While the downtown outdoor mall promotes being home to “50+ food and beverage merchants,” some have yet to open, and at least one didn’t pan out. Currently there are 35 vendors, many of which you’ll be familiar with from their locations throughout in the city: À La Table, Bagels on Fire, Big Fat Cookies, Blue Claw Lobster Shack, Chatime, Chun Yang Bubble Tea, Doraji, East Tea Can, Faray Cacao, Gus Tacos, Honestly Good Chicken Fingers, Hooky’s Fish and Chips, Isabella’s Mochi Donut Boutique, The Islands Caribbean Cookshop, Japadog, La Cubana, Lisa's Perfect Ice Cream, Little Harvest, MADO Café, Nord Lyon, Pancho's Bakery, Pokeworks, Postman Waffles, PURPEL, Ren Sushi, Rosie’s Burgers, RYUS Noodle Bar, Sam’s Juices and Eats, The Samosarie, Shake Therapy, Sweetie Pie, Szechuan Express, Tong Mein, Uncle Tetsu's Japanese Cheesecake. Also on the roster: The Pier Bar by Scale Hospitality (the group behind Toronto restos such as AP, Miss Likklemore’s, and Toronto Beach Club), making the food court with 900 seats fully liquor licensed, and The Well added florist Bunches Flowers under the F&B umbrella. The market also features two rotating pop-ups: condiments by Sauce Frens and board game cafe Snakes & Lattes. p.s. Want a hint of what might be on the approach? See my notes from January. Fun facts: This is famed Japadog’s first ever Toronto location. and Chatime’s 100th.

Zula Burger + Pizza launches in The Junction (3011 Dundas St. W.) today. Did you know? It was recently home to another pizza joint: Pizzeria Libretto.

CLOSED

While the Queen West Foodrama (232A Queen St. W.) came and went, Parliament (240 Parliament St.) remains. Moving in: Caribbean Slice following its departure from York (1764 Eglinton Ave W.) that opened in 2022.

Hey Sugar was a fixture at Dundas and Huron (449 Dundas St. W.) for years. The bubble tea chain with “over 1,000 locations in China” according to their FB page, had locations elsewhere here: Skycity Shopping Centre in Scarborough (3278 Midland Ave., Unit D116), Golden Court Plaza in Richmond Hill (328 York Regional Rd 7) and North York (5379 Yonge St.), though it appears they have since shuttered.

A Greektown staple since 2015, Marvel Coffee Company (792 Carlaw Ave.) has given way to another coffee concept - See above for details. Did you know? It also had a shop not far up the street at Donlands and Danforth (6 Donlands Ave.) that opened a year prior, but since shuttered. The building next to Donlands Station has been home to java joints over the years including BonBon Coffee Shop and currently Caramel Coffee Shop.

Me Va Me Express in North York (860 York Mills Rd.) has come to a close, however others remain open.

North York bakery New King of Kings (248 Eddystone Ave.) has been forced to close due to food safety violations.

Parallel Basta (152 Augusta Ave.), the Kensington Market offshoot of award-winning Parallel, has come to an abrupt halt. Doors opened last summer.

Bad news: Postman Waffles’ aesthetic cafe at Yonge and Eglinton (2409 Yonge St.) has come to a close around the year mark. Good news: Find them right downtown. Details above.

Swiftly following the recent closure of Bar 244 (244 Adelaide St. W.), Pravda Vodka Bar (44 Wellington St. E.), briefly renamed Brash & Sassy Vodka Bar, has come to an end. ​​ It was a part of Toronto’s nightlife scene for 21 years.

Tacos 477 (55 Kensington Ave.) came and went.

Then and Now Restaurant (1316 Queen St. W.) made headlines when it launched last year with a no-tipping policy. Owner Eric Wang shared a heartfelt message on Instagram yesterday the Asian fusion eatery in Parkdale is closing June 1.

Chef Genna Steckel is packing up her bakery XO Bisous (60 Adelaide St. E.) today, until the new location (572 St. Clair Ave. W.) is ready to go.

NEWS

The “voice of the hospitality industry,” Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA), is calling the LCBO becoming “the exclusive wholesaler for all retailers, bars and restaurants selling alcohol - this will include licensed bars and restaurants transitioning to order all alcohol, including beer, from LCBO’s online ordering process” in 2026, a “win.” The Beer Store will continue wholesaling to bars, restaurants, and southern LCBO Convenience Outlets until 2026.

Speaking of libations, they’re coming to a store near you.

Canada’s Competition Bureau is investigating Loblaws and Sobeys.

Nestlé’s Toronto workers ratify new deal after striking for over three weeks.

Opening date for Shake Shack’s first Toronto location Yonge and Dundas has been announced: Thursday June 13 at 11am.

A fundraiser has launched to help save Glad Day Bookshop, the world's oldest LGBTQ+ bookshop and home to “the longest running drag brunch in Canada,” from eviction.

The winners of 2024 Canadian Brewing Awards have been released, including Ontario breweries: Anderson Craft Ales, Bench Brewing Company, Brauwerk Hoffman, Brewers Blackbird Kitchen & Brewery, Burdock Brewery, Clifford Brewing Company, Cold Bear Brewing Company Ltd, Concession Road Brewing Co., Couchiching Craft Brewing Co., Cowbell Brewing Co., Dusk To Dawn Brewing Co, Flight Risk Brewing, Flora Hall Brewing, Gillingham Brewing Company, Henderson Brewing Co., Imperial City Brew House, Indie Alehouse, Lake Of Bays Brewing Co., Mascot Brewery, The Merchant Ale House, Merit Brewing Co Inc., Meuse Brewing Company, Muddy York Brewing Co., Muskoka Brewery, Old Dog Brewing Company Inc., Old Flame Brewing Company, Oranje Son Brewing, Paniza Brewing, Paris Brewing and Malting, Publican House Brewery, Quayle's Brewery, Slabtown Brewing Co., Sons Of Kent Brewing Co, Tooth and Nail Brewing Company, Turkey Shoot Brewing Co., Wishbone Brewing Company.

Please support local businesses whenever possible. 

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

Things change quickly. Follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the TR Newsletter for breaking news, updates, interviews + more.

Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Get in touch. 

Need help promoting your business? Get started now. 

We should work together.

Enjoy this? Like, follow and comment on Instagram and Facebook. Forward and share using the icons below. #supportlocal