OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News November 30-December 6, 2023
The OPEN/CLOSED is THE most comprehensive resource of 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
🕘 7.5 min read
After last week’s flurry of activity, you might expect a significant dip in arrivals. Not when I’m on the case. This week is nearly as frenzied with a whopping 20 new destinations offering global fare from Levantine cuisine to Uyghur eats, and more closures to take note of.
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Here’s the very latest:
OPEN
Dinner and a show. BeLeaf Vietnamese Cuisine (45 Carlton St., Unit 2) lands across from Carlton Cinema (20 Carlton St.) just in time to catch all the holiday flicks.
Reasons to visit Woodbridge’s new Cappadocia Bakery & Cafe (9000 Weston Rd., Unit 1): An assortment of savoury items (pides, kumpir - aka Turkish stuffed baked potatoes) and sweet (cookies, cakes).
In 2007, Linh Dung established a vintage-style Vietnamese cafe, Cong Caphe. It’s since blossomed into 70+ locations in Vietnam, Korea, and Malaysia. And now Canada. Discover a wide array of Vietnamese coffee, tea, smoothies, and other beverages in a cafe aesthetic at the first Canadian branch nestled in the heart of the Annex (424 Bloor St. W.).
Delphi Levant, the “first Khaleeji restaurant in Toronto,” is serving up chef Suman Ali’s Khaleej-inspired Levantine cuisine boasting Canadian ingredients at Finch and Dufferin (1000 Finch Ave. W., Suite 199).
Eva's Original Chimneys brings its signature freshly baked chimney cakes and ice cream cones to Mississauga’s Square One (100 City Centre Dr., Food Court).
Hot tip for subway commuters: Frida’s Market (788 Broadview Ave.) across from Broadview Station has got you for Latin American groceries, pantry items, candy and sweets galore. Find it in El Charro’s former stead.
Around the corner, pop into Gela-Teo Cafe (189 Danforth Ave.) for hot drinks and cold treats in the space where De La Mer used to be.
Gus Tacos continues its jaunt across the GTA with a seventh taqueria in Bloorcourt at Bloor and Dovercourt (1028 Bloor St. W.).
ISO more bang for your buck these days? All-you-can-eat restos are the preferred method for some. Gyu Kyou is doing AYCE Japanese BBQ for lunch and dinner in Mississauga (Heartland Town Centre 5955 Latimer Drive, Unit 7).
IK Bar (2055 Dundas St. E., Unit 100-200) is Mississauga’s latest spot for upscale eats and craft cocktails.
Dig into everything from Indian hot dogs and curries to gulab jamun and suji halwa at Khatta Mettha in Mississauga (1 Glenn Hawthorne Blvd., Unit 3).
Need noods? Kinton Ramen adds to its growing portfolio with a debut in Vaughan (8099 Weston Rd., Unit 6) on Saturday, complete with grand opening offers.
Modern Afghan chain Naan Kabob’s tenth location (240 Queen St. W.) kicked off Tuesday, moving into what was until recently, Me Va Me Kitchen Express.
Plant-based Nuttea’s third Canadian outpost just landed in Koreatown (637 Bloor St. W. ) with drinks featuring their signature nut milk and cream made from five varieties of baked and cold-pressed nuts.
Oguz Uyghur Cuisine (1110 Finch Ave. W.) has arrived in the Great White North with food from the Xinjiang region. Think beef fried with hand-pulled noodles, lamb kidney kebabs, and Quail Quardak.
Get a jump on your 2024 health goals at Qwench Juice Bar (Heartland Town Centre 5985 Rodeo Dr., Unit 9).
Australian iced coffees, hojicha lattes and iced Spanish lattes are happening at North York’s SPACE Coffee & Stars (5463 Yonge St., 2nd Fl.).
Thai Barn Na, a relative newcomer in Etobicoke, just added a sibling in Mississauga (888 Dundas St. E).
Egg-centric brand from Brampton Uncle Omlet claims to be the “best Indian-style Desi eggetarian eatery in Canada.” See for yourself at the new set up in Etobicoke (1771 Albion Rd.) filled with omelettes, fry-ups, egg bites, momos, sandos, chaat and more.
U.S. chain Wetzel’s Pretzels is doling out its signature warm pretzels and hot dogs at Union Station (65 Front St. W., Unit 447A). Did you know? The first Canadian outpost touched down at West Edmonton Mall in 2014.
CLOSED
While Hotopia’s downtown location (45 Carlton St., Unit 2) has come to an end, locations in North York, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, and Mississauga remain.
Kibo Sushi House’s “first upscale sushi house” Kibo Secret Garden in Yorkville (154 Cumberland St., Upper Level), is wrapping things at the end in January, slated to reopen elsewhere in the city mid-2024.
You’ve got until December 24 to visit Laylow Brewery at their Brockton Village digs (1144 College St.) until ‘Phase 2’ - which you can help finance via LB’s GoFundMe Campaign.
Paradise Fine Chinese Dining was a fixture in North York at Finch and Leslie (5505 Leslie St.) for over a decade. Psst. Coming soon: Joyous Chinese Cuisine.
Korean restaurant Sopung (140 Carlton St., Unit 33) was located across from Allan Gardens.
CHANGES
King Blue Hotel Toronto in the historic Westinghouse building (355 King St. W.) is now The Sutton Place Hotel Toronto.
NEWS
George Cohon, Founder of McDonald’s Canada, died. He was 86.
Attn Business Owners: The CEBA forgivable deadline is on the quick approach. Dan Kelly, President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, has some advice.
Taste of the Danforth 2024 is at risk.
Are you caught up on the recent food recalls? Add Nissui Frozen Baked Wheat Cake with Octopus recalled due to undeclared fish to the list.
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