OPEN/CLOSED: TORONTO/GTA Restaurant News April 16-22, 2026
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
🕘 12 min read
The vigourous momentum of April continues with 24 arrivals - all on the casual side (read: easier on the wallet) and featuring an exhilarating array of cuisines and choices, 9 closures (not all permanent - phew) and news to catch up on.
NO ONE COVERS THE CITY LIKE THIS.
Psst. Want the inside track on what’s happening? Keep your eyes peeled on the website (the #TRrending section is a good place to start), listen to THE TIP OFF, a supplement to my OPEN/CLOSED featuring breaking exclusives, sneak peeks, hot tips + the week’s top stories and events like you’ve never seen - or heard - before in 3 minutes or less on the new TORONTO RESTAURANTS | THE PODCAST, follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook for breaking news and updates, and subscribe to the TR Newsletter.
Here’s the very latest:
OPEN
PSA: Authentic halal Ghanaian grub has arrived near Yorkdale. Head to Accra Restaurant (3300 Dufferin St., Unit G) for sumptuous fare - Omotua (Swallow with palm nut or groundnut soup and assort protein), Waakye (Rice, beans and sorghum leaves served with shito, wele, and egg), and Tuo Zaafi (Dieho - Steamed corn and cassava dough with ayoyo soup, savory meat stew, and egg) are just the beginning.
Sunday marks grand opening for Afiyet Shawarma in Scarborough’s Golden Mile (1880 Eglinton Ave. E.). Expect Middleterrean selections by way of shawarma, pide, and signature grilled plates.
Aghati Restaurant settles into Mississauga West (2575 Dundas St. W., Unit 1) with authentic Araqi and Shami eats. What does that look like? An assortment of borek and kibbeh, Muhammara, Chicken Escalope, stews, fish, and mixed grills, for starters.
Arthur’s Snackette (684 St Clair Ave. W., Rear Unit) is poppin’ off on socials. The cause for the commotion? Sourdough bagels with Montreal roots à la Arthurs. TR Trend Watch: What is it about Montreal concepts in the 6ix lately? Are there more on the way? Watch this space p.s. Want exclusive insights on what’s currently happening in the 6ix and what’s next by the city’s leading industry expert? Get in touch.
Live east side? Modern Indian plates and craft cocktails have arrived on Kingston Rd. See: Benz Circle Resto Bar (4286 Kingston Rd.).
Newsflash: “Toronto's first authentic Japanese hamburg steak restaurant” has arrived downtown. Introducing Boru (495 Adelaide St. W.), currently in soft opening.
Around this time last year, Bready Cafe expanded to FiDi. Now the carbo-loaded destination expands to another bustling nabe. Find an array cakes, sandos, pastries and other baked goods north of Eglinton (2433 Yonge St.). Grand opening for the Midtown branch takes place Monday. TR Pro Tip: Get there early. First 50 in line get a free sourdough.
Local Thai chain Chiang Mai has been making its mark across the 6ix since its debut in Etobicoke. No. 6 touches down not far in Mississauga (285 Enfield Pl., Unit 100). The striking new space, and biggest to date, welcomes guests Monday with special offers and 20 per cent off the menu (alcohol excluded).
Trending in town this last while: Korean BBQ-on-the-go, and it continues to rise. Chungneon Cupbap brings the popular build-you-own-bowl concept to the intersection of Chinatown and Kensington Market (398 Spadina Ave.). How it works: Choose your base (white rice, greens, kimchi fried rice +2), add a protein such as Beef Bulgogi, Pork Cutlet, or Organic Tofu, and follow with toppings and sauce for a satisfying portable meal.
Darkside Lounge brings shisha and vibes to Scarborough, specifically Lawrence and Markham Rd. (3482 Lawrence Ave. E.).
Savoury Mediterranean is what’s up at The Dialog Cafe (106 Mutual St., Unit 8) Think Hummus, Herb Omelette, and Lemongrass Skewers, with baked goods (babkas, burek, croissants), coffee, tea, and cold drinks also on offer.
Game on. Markham’s FunMix recreational lineup at their new setup at King and Spadina (393 King St. W.) provides fun for the entire fam from billiards to mahjong. Bonus: Enjoy 20 per cent off during soft opening at the downtown location.
Hai Tan Wan (5533 Yonge St.) is the HK Fusion cafe you didn’t know you needed. The rebrand of North York’s Good Luck Cafe offers two concepts under one roof - resto during daylight hours, transforming into a gastropub come nightfall, featuing classics from boloyao (pineapple bun with butter) and satays to stone pot rice bowls and Hainanese Chicken Rice.
In search of noods? Richmond Hill’s Hinode Udon and Tempura (324 Hwy 7 East, Unit 3) star of the show - carefully crafted udon made in-store with high-quality Japanese ingredients (including the flour) and custom udon machine from Japan - coupled with light, crisp tempura.
Calling all dessert lovers: Hitotoki Bakery softly opened in Markham (4441 Hwy 7, Unit 1-2). On the agenda: Cream tarts, shokupan, lattes, and matcha galore are just part of the tantalizing roster. TR Pro Tip: Don’t sleep on the Matcha Tiramisu Tarts. I’m talking custard, sponge, mascarpone cream. Reminder: There’s also an outpost at Yonge and College.
K Town Bungopang Cafe kicked off Saturday inside Galleria Supermarket’s K Town Branch in Thornhill (300 Steeles Ave. W.) with selections of the titular item, bungopang - aka taiyaki or red bean paste filled fish-shaped pastry.
Miso Peanut Butter. Reverse Chocolate Chip. Ube Coconut Pandan. Oomph. See you at Milk and Cookies in Kensington Market (283 Augusta Ave.).
We love a boîte. This one at the corner of Bathurst and Dundas is lined with sushi, rolls, sashimi and chirashi bowls for take-out. Because where would the chairs go? To celebrate Moko Sushi’s (755 Dundas St W., Unit B). grand opening, enjoy 10 per cent off items until April 30. Did you know? It’s the same outfit as before, just different name and selection of sushi. Sooo… new.
For folks out Brampton and ‘Sauga way, you may already be familiar with New York Sliders. For those wanting in on halal handhelds - mini smash burgers, Nashville-inspired hot chicken sliders and tenders - in the city centre, head to Queen and Spadina (433 Queen St. W.), a site with Michelin ties. Grand opening is Saturday.
Tiramisu and bubble tea is giving spring garden/picnic vibes. Nonna Lia Desserts x CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice bring the winning combo to Scarborough’s Golden Mile (41 Lebovic Ave., Unit A111) starting Saturday,
Huh. Burger bar Smacks, home of halal burgers including ‘The Smack’ and ‘The Slap’, lands in an eerily familiar addy at Queen and Coxwell (1606 Queen St. E.). You didn’t think I’d forget, did you? Pfft.
Thairoomgrand has been making moves: The Entertainment District, for instance. As for the latest drop, the local Thai co. softly launched Friday in Etobicoke (116 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W.).
Uncle Potato Noodle* brings chewy clay pot potato noodles to the vicinity of Yonge and Wellesley (29B St Joseph St.). *While the name accurately lists the ingredients, it also sounds like a cat’s nickname formed after many iterations. Pssp pssp.
There’s no ambiguity as to what’s on the menu at King and Spadina’s Wings and Sips (387 King St. W.).
CLOSED
Compact Japanese eatery Ami-No (755 Dundas St W., Unit B) arrived in 2024. Its replacement offers similar fare. See above.
Cheong Izakaya said sayōnara to Little Italy (598 College St.), but not all is lost. Counterpart Sushi in Sushi is holding it down in Mississauga (2310 Battleford Rd,) with sushi and Korean fried chicken.
Cosmo Cafe (398 Spadina Ave.) went lickety-split. The former coffee joint is something completely different now. Details up top.
Good Brothers BBQ boasts three locations within a few block section of Chinatown. Make that two. now that one’s papered up (478 Dundas St. W.).
Jimmy’s Coffee at Queen and Niagara (735 Queen St. W.) may be kaput for the moment, however Ossington and Portland are nearby, with seven more scattered throughout the megalopolis.
After decades of operations, North York’s French rendezvous Le Montmartre (911 Sheppard Ave. W.) bid adieu.
Mazadar Restaurant unveiled its Afghan concept at Queen and Coxwell (1606 Queen St. E) in 2023.
Usually the move is pop-up then resto, but after seven years, Tokyo Hot Fried Chicken puts it in reverse and leaves Little Italy (656B College St.) for a more flexible approach.
King of Pub (387 King St. W.) commenced only last summer.
NEWS
An arson investigation is underway after three restaurants in Markham were set on fire.
Big Trouble Pizza closed up shop in January but shared something else was in the works. Update: Burger shop Mista Boiga will take its place (191 Geary Ave.) starting April 24.
Shake Shack announced opening date for the Fashion District joint. Doors are slated to open on King West near Portland (556 King St. W.) April 23. This marks the forth location in the city for the American co.
CBC investigation finds grocers Loblaw, Sobeys overcharging for underweight meat again.
Latest food recalls: Auricchio brand Taleggio D.O.P. Cheese recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes.
Life moves fast. Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.
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