Open/Closed: week of August 16-22, 2018
Never have Asian food and drinks dominated the openings like this before.
From Hong Kong milk tea and Tawainese baked goods to Taipei beef noodles and Hakka and Korean restos landing right on Yonge Street, you’ve got 18 new options for eats this weekend.
Here’s the very latest:
OPEN
The Vaughan Colossus location of modern Taiwanese bakery Bake Code (4-21 Famous Ave.) is now open. Let the lineups for Japanese cheesecake begin.
Global chain and Hong Kong tearoom Cuppa Tea (20 Carlton St.) has softly opened, featuring milk tea, fruit drinks, and a variety of baked goods.
You might not recognize Demetres at Shops of Don Mills (16 Marie Labatte Rd.) - the new look includes millennial pink chairs and booths, for starters.
Dig into Taipei beef noodles starting tomorrow at 11am at the soft opening of Four Four South Village (474 Yonge St.).
Bloor West Village has a new local. Say hello to Fox & John’s Pub & Restaurant (2199 Bloor St. W.).
Rosedale just got waaay more exciting thanks to Gogi Bap’s (946 Yonge St.) arrival. Tuck into Korean fare including: gogi baps, wraps and salads; bulogogi sandwiches; and kimbaps.
The wait is over! Get your patties, jerk chicken, oxtail and a whole whack of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack options, in addition to chef specials at Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery at North York’s Sheridan Mall (1700 Wilson Ave.). Now if we could just get a downtown location…
Mississauga folks have a new destination for a jolt of java, thanks to Halo Espresso Bar (3024 Hurontario St.).
Montreal tea-to-go concept Hestia has set up shop in the concourse of TD Centre (66 Wellington St. W.).
From the folks that brought you Little Pebbles comes Koishi Ice Cream & Bakery (160 Baldwin St., Unit 4), with ice cream, senbei ice cream sandwiches, and other treats featuring “Japanese-inspired” flavours.
Get ready for your Insta feed to be filled with taiyaki, thanks to Sukoi Dessert (760 Queen St.W.) Here, they fill the wildly popular Japanese fish-shaped cake with your choice of soft serve (black sesame or matcha), filling (red bean, custard, or Nutella), and topping (Oreo crumbs, graham cracker crumbs, sprinkles, or Pocky sticks). The grand opening celebrations began last night and last until Wednesday.
Load up on Brazilian bonbons at Mary's Brigadeiro (1912 Danforth Ave.).
Nimman Thai (1060 Eglinton Ave. W.) brings their authentic fare to the Upper Village with their second location. Note: The Lakeshore venue (2451 Lakeshore Blvd. W.) is currently closed for a kitchen upgrade. They hope to be open Wednesday or sooner.
New steakhouse and smokehouse Prime on Avenue (1960 Avenue Rd.) dinner items include: Smoked Chicken Caesar ($32) Burger & Fries ($32), and 10 oz. Petite Fillet Boneless Ribeye ($55, sides are extra). Vegetarian options are also available, such as Tofu & Tomato Salad ($24) and Butternut Squash Ravioli ($42).
Another Montreal spot has landed in the 6ix. Welcome Ramen Misoya (646 Queen St. W.). Grand opening takes place Wednesday 3-10pm.
Yonge and Lawrence, you’ve changed. This time for the better, with the arrival of Urban Hakka (3305 Yonge St.).
There’s more to Yunshang Rice Noodle House (414 Dundas St. W.) than just noodles, but you’re probably going to order them anyway.
The second location of Winnipeg chain Za Pizza Bistro has set down at Adelaide and John (290 Adelaide St. W.) just one week after launching an eatery in Vaughan.
CLOSED
The Black Hoof (928 Dundas St. W.) is open until Monday.
Lady Marmalade (898 Queen St. E.) may have left their longs-standing Leslieville location, but will resume business close by at Broadview and Dundas (265 Broadview Ave.) in September.
EVENTS
Dinner en Blanc takes place on tonight, but it’s fully booked. There’s a waiting list if you’re into wearing white (“no ivory, no off-white” allowed), and bringing your own “square folding-table and two white chairs; a white picnic basket and/or bag including a gourmet meal for two, a white tablecloth and cloth-napkins, cutlery, dishware, and glassware; and a garbage bag.”
The “largest Filipino street festival outside the Philippines,” Taste of Manila takes place Saturday and Sunday.
Celebrate your love of burgers this weekend at The Burger Fest.
In case you didn’t get enough #roséallday last weekend, you can lush it up at Cityfest Parc Rosé on Saturday.
Sunday, head to Nathan Phillips Square for India Day Festival & Grand Parade featuring 20+ food vendors.
Get tix now for Beer, Bourbon & BBQ.
NEWS
Air Canada’s nominees for “Canada’s Best New Restaurants” include Toronto’s own Aloette, Atlas, Giulietta, Il Covo, Kiin, Ku Kum Kitchen, Omai, Skippa, and Tanto. The top ten finalists will be revealed on October 25.
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Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Let me know – writerscramp@stephaniedickison.com.