OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News April 25-May 1, 2024
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
🕘 9 min read
As we finally round the corner into May - a month bursting with sunshine, spritzes, patios, and possibilities - the pace for launches picks back up, with closures coming in at an alarming rate - OPEN: 16 / CLOSED: 9. Fortunately, many are about to reopen.
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
Think buffets are a thing of the past? Think again. Bento King Buffet Club has arrived in North York (5308 Yonge St.) with a wildly budget-friendly AYCE (all-you-can-eat) menu for just $14.99 per person.
I gave you the head’s up on incoming Felfel Mediterranean Cuisine at Dundas and Bathurst (761 Dundas St. W.) earlier this month. Update: FMC’s shawarma, kebabs, wraps and falafel can now be yours.
Forno Cultura just launched on the rooftop at East Room’s striking new co-working space in Corktown (507 King St. E.). Caveat: Membership it turns out, does have its privileges, as you have to be signed up or booked in to get in on the action. Stay tuned: East Room Trinity Bellwoods (68 Claremont Ave.) is up next.
OPEN/CLOSED devotees got the jump on the interior of Juju Cafe & Board Games (191 Dundas St. W., 2nd Fl.) back in January. See it for yourself IRL now.
In the mood for Mexican? La Rio’s Fresh Mexican Grill at Queen and Niagara (839 Queen St. W.) is whipping up freshly prepared grub including burritos, bowls, nachos, quesadillas, and enchiladas.
Lemon Lily Organic Tea (747 Queen St. E.), Riverside/Leslieville’s new tea shop and cafe, boasts over 100 of their teas including matcha, with micro grounds and hot chocolate also in effect.
Ngogo just touched down on the Queen West strip (646 Queen St. W.) taking over Misoya Ramen’s former stomping grounds. The concept? Contemporary French.
Acai bowls and smoothies are the focus of Purpel, now at Union Station (65 Front St. W. Lower Level) Up next: The Well (you knew that already) and Liberty Village (61 Hanna Ave.).
Pro tip: Add cocktail bar/cafe Ramona’s (1086 Queen St. W.) to your to-do list. You’ll see.
ISO halal food and drinks? Head to Sarvi Indian Cuisine (454 Sherbourne Ave.) for curries, pulao, biryani party packs, snacks, and more.
Seven Mystery, the newest coffee roaster in town (Scarborough, to be exact), opens to the public today. It ain’t your grandma’s roastery either. Take a peek inside the stunning space (50 Weybright Ct., Unit 13).
Ontario chain Shelby’s Shawarma branches out to Bloor West Village (2202 Bloor St. W.), in what was once home to Gin Mill and The Yellow Griffin Pub. Grand opening is Sunday.
TR Newsletter subscribers got the scoop on chef-driven Korean barbecue destination, Takja BBQ House (962 College St.), last summer. Psst. Doors are open. Fun fact: The stellar team behind the city’s latest hotspot? Chefs Edward Bang, Jason Ching, and Jeff Kang of Oroshi Fish Co., their top-notch dry-aged sushi takeout joint down the laneway, and separate other ventures: Kang’s award-winning Canis (RIP) and Bang and Ching’s Japanese resto in Baldwin Village, Omai.
Tanghulu, ”Toronto’s first tanghulu shop,” debuts today in the Entertainment District (252 Queen St. W, Unit 2) with a lineup of one of the many viral desserts taking over your feed right now: Chinese candied fruit skewers.
Los Colibris (220 King St. W.) has taken many forms over the years including: Caballito, El Patio, Colibri, LosCo, and LosCo Vegan. The latter and Colibri were a fixture at Chefs Hall (111 Richmond St. W.) back in the day, when it was known as Assembly Chef’s Hall. Chef Elia Herrera partnered with sister Marlene Herrera for the reimagined brand, now dubbed Tecolote, recently returned to Chefs Hall (111 Richmond St. W.), after joining Kitchen Hub Food Hall’s roster inside Longo’s Liberty Village (1100 King St. W.) in Fall ‘22.
Grand opening for Wingstop Mississauga (Heartland Town Centre 6045 Mavis Rd.) kicks off tomorrow at 11am, marking the eighth outpost of the American chain to open in the province.
CLOSED
The Commoner’s Little Italy offshoot (614 College St.) - originally opened as The Commoner Bar Room - closes April 27, but not for long. The resto group is transforming it into something new next month. Stay tuned.
FLOCK Rotisserie + Greens at Bloor and Church (175 Bloor St. E.) has wrapped up service. Four locations of the local chicken and salad chain remain across the city, with more on the horizon.
The last day to shop Iqbal Foods’ Thorncliffe location (2 Thorncliffe Park Dr., Unit 5-16) was Sunday, however the South Asian grocer is staying in the ‘hood. Coming soon: 100 Thorncliffe Park Dr., in addition to a forthcoming store in Scarborough (462 Birchmount Rd.).
Loaded Pierogi sat at the corner of Queen and Niagara (839 Queen St. W.) for years. Two locations remain in the 6ix with loads more across the province and country.
Another Indian restaurant moved into Madharasi’s former digs (464 Sherbourne St.). Details above.
While Misoya Ramen’s first Toronto outpost (646 Queen St. W.) and Markham branch (New Kennedy Square 8362 Kennedy Rd., Unit A3) have shuttered, their newest venture at TABLE Fare + Social (CIBC Square 81 Bay St., 4th Fl.) is ready to serve you, not to mention 100+ locations in Japan and numerous worldwide.
Plearn Cafe (74 Gerrard St. E.) is on the move. Stay tuned for Plearn and chef Christopher Siu’s Daan Go Cake Lab under one roof as Le Lert at Yonge and Carlton (27 Carlton St.). What to expect: Thai brunch, dinner and drinks. TR Trivia: The Plearn fam includes Som Tum Jinda in Toronto (you heard about it here first), Laos, and Thailand, the latter which earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation.
I introduced you to Yubu a while back. Since then, it’s grown to four locations. Earlier today they shared the College one is closing on April 30 (199 College St.). The Korean tofu pocket spot is relocating nearby this summer (654 Spadina Ave.) complete with seating and sister concept Guksu.
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