OPEN/CLOSED: TORONTO/GTA Restaurant News April 2-8, 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
🕘 13 min read
With this week’s 21 arrivals, a third in closures, and some additional out-of-town guests, you’ve got a lot of decisions to make. (Road trip?!) While at first glance, it seems all anyone can talk about is coffee and cookies, my findings give way to vaarious options, from the finest dining (Cha-ching) to immersive Chinese nightlife (Does anyone still have dancing shoes?). That’s more like it.
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
“Etobicoke’s hottest new lounge” just dropped at Finch and Albion. What’s in store at The Blur Room? Think premium shisha, drinks, and DJs.
News of Botànic Coffee & Caphe’s grand opening on Queen (662 Queen St. W.) spread quickly this week. It might have something to do with giving out free flowers to celebrate, and/or the striking book-lined space. Either way, the new vintage garden cafe filled with the holy trinity (coffee, matcha, baked goods) is guaranteed to be a major destination on the main drag. TR Pro Tip: Before you go, top up or clear out your phone storage. You’ll need room for all the snaps.
Cafe Russo lands on Roncy (139 Roncesvalles Ave.) with ceremonial matcha and coffee served amid vinyl soundscapes.
Cookeys brings thicc, melty, main character energy cookies and counterpart coffee to Yonge and St. Clair (1430 Yonge St.). TR Tracker: Nestled next to Book City, one of the city’s best independent bookstores, it’s a match(a) made in heaven. Is it a sign we should start a book club? You in?
Disco Ice Cream & Cookies is back. TR Quick Backstory: Doors opened at Queen and Dovercourt (1086 Queen St. W., Unit 1/2) in 2023 before shuttering last year. Now they’re settled a few city blocks over on Ossington (454 Ossington Ave.) in a compact space that was a vintage shop. Doors open today. On the agenda: Cookies that have such heft they could be considered emotional support aids, and ice cream that ooze comfort vibes, such as previous selections such as Carrot Cake, Peanut Butter & Jelly, and Nougat. Oomph.
Have you noticed the increase of local supermarkets around lately? It continues to rise with the arrival of Asian grocer FreshPro Foodmart’s latest in Mississauga (7333 Goreway Dr.). Did you know? FPF has stores in Richmond Hill and Brampton. TR Pro Tip: Check out their flyer crammed with weekly specials.
Everything everywhere all at once. At Yonge & Bloor, no less. Meet Jongro Korean BBQ Buffet (754 Yonge St.) with AYCE authentic Korean BBQ, buffet, and salad bar under one roof. TR Trivia: Korean grilling was happening at this addy waaay back.
If you’re like me and can’t get enough Malaysian fare, you’ll want in on Nanyang Kopitam Cafe. The kopitiam pop-up softly kicked off yesterday in North York (5463 Yonge St.). Wondering what to order? Start with Malaysia’s national dish Nasi Lemak or breakfast via the Kaya Toast Set. And leave room for the Milo Dinosaur, the country’s popular Milo drink served cold, finished with a pile of the iconic chocolate malt powder on top.
Psst. New Sky Restaurant has new digs (444 Spadina Ave.). p.s. If you read the OPEN/CLOSED on the regular, you’d already be in the know. See: Last week’s edition.
Number One celebrated grand opening on Sunday, but don’t mistake it for just another Chinese restaurant setting up shop in Markham (3760 Hwy 7, Unit 1). No. 1 makes a dramatic entrance, offering a “Chinese-style immersive nightlife experience to Toronto.” What does that mean, you ask? For starters, immersive dining, fusion fare, and live entertainment.
Despite being brand new, LSL underwent a major change recently. The luxe 11-seater now answers to ONZE Restaurant, helmed by two of the three original acclaimed chefs, Christian Le Squer and Masaki Saito (2066 Avenue Rd.). Delivering “an intimate tasting of French discipline × Japanese precision,” naturally resos will be hard to come by and awards will overflow.
Pita Lite Shawarma is making moves. Discover new sites for their wraps, shawarma, falafel, and other healthy-ish items at Yonge and Sheppard (4698 Yonge St.) and third in Mississauga (4040 Creditview Rd.), complete with opening specials.
PSA: Halal Pakastani grub and Desi BBQ are happening on the corner of Queen and Parliament. Although doors opened a few days ago, Royal Karahi (348 Queen St. E.) hit a perfect rating on Google. Find it in the space The Bullger Burger & Steak vacated mere days ago.
Seoul Gamjatang has been holding it down in the 6ix with K-classics - gamjatang (pork bone soup), sundubu jjigae, bulgogi, and bibimbap - since last year. Oakville, it’s time you got in on the fun. (1011 Upper Middle Rd. E., Unit A11). Did you know? They’re in the new TR Late Night Resto Guide.
Spring China House has been a fixture in the city since 2012 - first on Eglinton West, then adding North York in 2014. For those in Etobicoke, their fresh authentic Chinese and Canadian-style dishes cooked to order have arrived at Bloor and Islington (3353 Bloor St. W.) for take-out and free local delivery.
Have you been keeping up with Tanghulu Tanghulu’s CF Toronto Eaton Centre (220 Yonge St.) journey? It was a real ‘will-they-or-won’t-they’ sitch for a while. First a pop-up, then moving in for realz, followed by a grand opening. Then the opening date changed. Then it switched back. After all that, it went through yesterday. That’s not all: Take-out windows are in effect at Petview, and now Garden View Convenience, steps from their original location as well.. p.s. Need a catch up on allll their moves thus far? This’ll do the trick.
Tongdak (50 Gerrard St. E.) has set up at Church and Gerrard* with KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) and sides (Cheese Ball, Tteokbokki in spicy or rose) for take-out. TR Trending: The Whole Chicken is $14.99. *Steps from TMU.
Similarly, Duff’s Famous Wings had just packed up in Little Italy when Venerica Meats Grill pulled up (558 College St.). Get ready for grilled meat and BBQ dishes (Jerk Chicken, Pulled Beed Tacos) meat by the pound (helllo meat sweats), and even veg-forward fare (lookin’ at you Creamy Mushroom Veggie Wrap). Another reason to get excited? The local co. has been “supplying graded and premium quality meats to the best restaurants in the Greater Toronto Area for over a decade and counting.“
Water to Wine Bar (1662 Queen St. W.) takes over what was recently Tammy’s Wine Bar. Good times, libations, and free pool “all day, everyday”? I’ve got next game.
PEC Corner: Prince Edward County is well outside my usual radius, (If you don’t already know, I cover Toronto, Markham, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, Woodbridge, Vaughan, Oakville, East York, North York, and all the neighbourhoods and spaces in between). That said, whenever Toronto chefs launch projects outside the city limits, I like to extend support whenever possible. In the past (over a decade), that’s meant shoutouts to hospitality setting up places including Bocado, Theia, and even further afield like Heart’s Tavern & Bar, to name just a few. Add Stuart Cameron’s second Bocado - this time in Collingwood, chef Grant van Gameren’s Rosetta in Picton, and because this should also be on your radar: Pramen, an indie no-booze bottle shop in Wellington. p.s. Do I need to launch a PEC Restaurants?
CLOSED
I told you all about Choco Choo’s new digs near Bay and Wellesley (35 St. Joseph) only days ago. According to Toronto Public Health, they weren’t up to snuff. Doors are currently closed.
It’s hard to imagine Yonge and Eglinton without ‘The Duke.’ Operating since 1977, Saturday marked the final day for Duke of Kent (2315 Yonge St.). Visit the historic pub’s sister properties Duke of Cornwall (400 University Ave.) and Duke of York (39 Prince Arthur Ave.).
With warmer temps on the approach, no doubt you’re thinking, ‘Finally, ice cream szn has arrived.” Head’s up: Home of black activated charcoal cones and Asian-inspired flavours, iHalo Krunch, has permanently closed the slip of.a place on Danforth (602 Danforth Ave., Unit B) that debuted in 2023. Three shops and an ice cream truck remain ready to serve you throughout the city.
Hookah bar La Secreto juuust settled into Roncesvalles Village (7 Roncesvalles Ave.).
LSL’s lifespan (2066 Avenue Rd.) may have been brief, but still made a mark. For its new identity, pop up top.
If you follow my reporting, you already know the fate of Miller Tavern Bay (31 Bay St.).
Spicebros joined Etobicoke (3353 Bloor St. W.) in 2022. For what’s there now, see above. In the meantime, to get in on bro-bowls and frankies a(nd don’t wish to go as far as Manitoba, Alberta or Quebec) Brampton, Ajax, Burlington and Mississauga are operating as usual.
NEWS
The Drake Hotel is hosting a benefit for Ben Warnick on April 9 to help cover medical costs from spinal cord cancer.
The Velvet Underground sign was taken down Tuesday night. On the approach: Hyve opening in May. Watch this space for details.
Latest food recalls: Auricchio Gorgonzola D.O.P dolce recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes, Bokkie's Biltong Bobotie recalled due to undeclared wheat, Fromagerie Marie Kadé and Les Aliments KarnieHalloom and Nabulsi Semi-Firm Unripened Cheese recalled due to generic E. coli, Cheese ingredients included in certain Hello Fresh brand meal kits recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes, Various brands of poultry deli meat recalled due to off odour and off taste, Various brands of cheese products recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes, Frigidaire Gas Ranges recalled due to burn hazard.
ICYMI
New additions have been added to the TR Late Night Restaurant Guide. See for yourself.
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