OPEN/CLOSED: TORONTO/GTA Restaurant News February 19-25, 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
🕘 15 min read
Woah. The post-Valentine’s landscape doesn’t play. What should be a slow-as-molasses kind of pace - especially considering our recent deep freeze - is instead completely unhinged: I’ve uncovered 22 new destinations and staggering number of closures (12) you need to get up to speed 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
Psst. Traditional Indian fare with a modern twist has landed in Little Italy. Introducing finer dining destination Aangan (556 College St.), complete with cocktails crafted with Indian-inspired infusions and seasonal ingredients.
Woodbridge’s new Arat Kebab House (9200 Weston Rd., Unit 25-27) is all about authentic Turkish grub - kebabs, doner, pide, salads and desserts - inspired by Ağrı Dağı (Mount Ararat). Grand opening kicked off yesterday.
Love a good comeback story? Get this: Welcome back, Bagel Time. After being closed in Greektown for some time, the Montreal-style bagel shop has returned to its digs on the Danforth (584 Danforth Ave.).
Bakebe, “Hong Kong’s first and only co-baking studio that teaches you to bake with an app,” has arrived in the GTA. Find the quirky concept at Markham’s CF Markville Mall (5000 Hwy 7).
I told you there was an uptick on revamps/refreshes. Add Pizzeria Libretto to the roster. The OG that debuted on the strip in August 2008 and introduced the city to Neapolitan ‘za, revealed earlier this week its newest venture, Bar Libretto (221 Ossington Ave.), is launching in its stead tomorrow. Think PL with more of a bar vibe.
There was a time when it seemed De Mello Coffee was opening a new shop practically every season. After a brief pause, the local roastery and cafe chain is back at it, this time landing at a small plaza at Bloor and Sherbourne (365 Bloor St. E., Unit 19). TR Inside Track: Did you know? Another concept just joined the east end mall’s lineup. And coming soon? Pho 128.
Psst. Dublin is calling. Greektown of all places. Dublin Calling (250 Adelaide St. W., 2nd Fl.) rolled out a sister spot on the Danforth (526 Danforth Ave.). The sports bar lined with big screen TVs, pub fare, and libations is part of “Canada's largest independent entertainment company” MRG’s Portfolio - you might be familiar with their immersive venues throughout the Entertainment District: Par-Tee Pong, The Porch, Rock 'N' Horse Saloon, in addition to live music and entertainment venues Adelaide Hall, Annabel’s, and Queen Elizabeth Theatre. p.s. That’s not all. The vast 19+ space is about to welcome Detroit-style pizzeria Aces Pizza, which can also be found in the attractions and nightlife packed nabe (26 Duncan St.). p.p.s. Want to know what DC replaced? Head to closures below for the full scoop.
Fanos Lounge is in effect in Koreatown (642 Bloor St. W.). According to the establishment, it’s “not a café” nor is it a nightclub in their mind either. FL calls it “an experience” with “elevated vibes.” Require further clarification? Mystery solved! It’s a hookah bar.
Chronicling the movements of Grandma Loves You has become more time-consuming lately as the business rapidly expands across the city. Newsflash: Grand opening for the latest sub shop replete with hot dogs at King and Strachan (901 King St. W.) commences Saturday at noon. Bonus: To celebrate, GLY’s giving away 210 free sandos.
Wellness cafes are taking over the city. Heal Wellness, for instance, has been setting up allll over town lately. Starting Saturday at 10am, that includes Oakville (245 Lakeshore Rd. E., Unit 2), Join the après ski party chockablock with giveaways, contest, deals, DJ, and more festivities.
Calling all tea lovers: The country’s first HeyTea Lab launched Monday.at CF Toronto Eaton Centre (220 Yonge St.), accompanied by eight exclusive limited-time beverages including Gongfu 3.3 and Oolong Caviar.
Hongdae Banjeom Restaurant (456 Bloor St. W.) moves into Koreatown with a tantalizing menu featuring a wide array of delicacies including Fried Flower Bun, Seafood Jjam Ppong, Mapo Tofu, Curry Tang-Su-Yuk, and Tteokbokki.
For Butter Chicken, Hyderabadi Dum Biryani, and Hyderabadi and Punjabi specialties, head to…. Little Italy? Hyderabadi Nawab & Punjabi Tadka is up and running at College and Grace (648 College St.). TR Trivia: The addy has welcomed other Indian concepts over the years: Nawabi Tadka recently, and formerly, Samrat Indian Cuisine.
Kasap Doner and Grill in Downsview (2889 Keele St.) is part Mediterranean grill, part butcher shop, offering a range of grilled and raw meat, döner, shawarma, kebabs, and wraps.
Restaurants often revamp their spaces and concepts around the eight to ten year mark. I call it the “seven-year-itch, specific to hospitality.” Need proof? See: Alo and Antler as above, and now Té (70 Ossington Ave.) For nearly a decade, I’ve been covering their every move, and that includes their new chapter, Nabe Hana. The latest concept by mother and daughter chef team, Grace Cho and You Kyung, centres around comforting Korean one pot meals, straight from the family’s recipe archives. All-day dishes include Deep Fried Mandu, Dark-Spiced Fried Chicken, Homestyle Bi Bim Bap, Gochujang Pork Rib Dupbap, and namesake soup. Enticing items also include tea tipples by way of Gunpowder Mojito, White Jasmine Negroni, Espresso Chai-tea-ni, and Fiery Limón feat. Assam-infused tequila, habanero, lime and green tea blend, to name a few.
Nomnom Fruit has softly opened in Kensington (206 Baldwin St.). with fresh fruit mochis that you can view being made on-site. TR Trivia: The previous occupant? Long-running fish shop, Hooked.
ISO functional beverages? Look no further than Liberty Village’s new contrast and IV therapy centre, NRG Haus (171 E Liberty St., Unit 113), coupled with a hangover-free lounge (read: your new mocktail HQ). Doors open tomorrow.
Rudy started back in 2016 and was one of the first smash burger joints to take the city by storm. Since then, the brand has grown to 13 locations across the province. Make that 14. Doors open in Oakville tomorrow (2501 Hyde Park Gate, Unit A100).
PSA: Indian street food and snacks are happening at a strip mall in Scarborough. Grand opening for Snacks Gaala (4190 Kingston Rd., Unit 8). takes place Saturday. Did you know? The structure once held Tai Chi Chinese Restaurant.
Downtown food emporium Chefs Hall (111 Richmond St. W.) likes to change things up. New addition Sushi Kawamura comes to the party with everything from maki to donburi.
TR Taco Dispatch Vol. 1374: A Mexican taqueria touched down in FiDi on Tuesday. Find Tacos de Princesa on The PATH (150 King St. W.), next to St. Andrew Station.
Union Chicken’s fried and “spit-fired” rotisserie chicken has landed in the heart of downtown. Check out their new setup at one of the city’s top food emporiums, Waterworks Food Hall (50 Brant St.). UC is no stranger to the downtown core - they also have an outpost at Union Station in the York Street Promenade (65 Front St. W.).
CLOSED
Popular pink-imbued brunch destination Aviv Immigrant Kitchen (779 St. Clair Ave. W.) was on the market for some time before being marked ‘Permanently Closed’ on Google.
The Ballyhoo Public House by Vancouver-based Freehouse Collective (526 Danforth Ave.) arrived last summer. It was originally meant to be their second Sing Sing in the 6ix.* Find it where Anestis Taverna stood until 2016 (later renamed Atlantis Authentic Greek Cuisine in 2021), which I reported shuttered 2024. *I broke the story of Sing Sing Adelaide’s sudden closure November ‘24. Another company has come and swapped it out for something similar. Details up top.
After a 45-year run, Toronto’s iconic Filmores strip club and Filmores Hotel (212 Dundas St. E.) have come to a close as the site is being redeveloped. A demolition auction of the entire contents in “spotless clean condiiton" is taking place next week. In the meantime, a search for another location in the downtown core is underway.
Following a Toronto police investigation after shots were fired at Queen West restaurant for the second time in nine days, Miss Ivy at Queen and Portland (502 Queen St. W.) has decided to close temporarily. Doors opened Summer ‘24.
Nawabi Tadka (648 College St.) was the latest Indian eatery to live at this addy in Little Italy. More info above.
Vegan fast food chain Odd Burger dawned at Church and Dundas (229 Church St., Unit 3) not long ago. The end of the OG branch in Little Italy hit last fall. And the one at Broadview and Danforth? Never materialized.
Indian and Hakka chain Oh Bombay has restos spread across the province in the GTA and beyond. As of Tuesday, the one in Richmond Hill (16 Vogell Rd., Unit C) shut down for good.
Royal Chinese Hakka Restaurant in Scarborough (735 Middlefield Rd., Unit 4-5) is set to close at the end of this week due to the landlord apparently not renewing the lease. A petition has been launched to keep doors open.
Sad Songs Cantina (1211 Bloor St. W.), Bloordale’s self-dubbed “Mexican as f*ck!” eatery, posted on social earlier this week, claiming trouble with their “abusive landlord” lead to the swift closure. Stay tuned.
Portuguese home decor and gift shop Saudade (1191 Dundas St. W.) is a must for food lovers, whether it’s tinned fish, design-forward tableware, +/or TR Pro Tip: Stellar lozenges for peak cold and cough season. While doors have closed, thankfully it’s only temporary until their new destination down the block (1006 Dundas St. W.) is ready to welcome guests. Watch this space.
For nearly a decade, I’ve been covering the comings and goings of Té (70 Ossington Ave.). Luckily it’s not the end. Details above.
NEWS
Federal union says cuts to Canadian Food Inspection Agency could harm consumers.
Lip Sync Cocktail Lounge, slated to launch in Church-Wellesley Village, is asking for the public’s help to raise funds to open .
Is Taste of the Danforth returning?
Canadian grocer Loblaw is taking shoppers the AI route.
Changes are afoot for Nestlé ice cream.
7-Eleven Canada is finally getting the viral Japanese-style egg salad sandwich.
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ/CYYZ) is about to welcome new restos. Some of Avolta’s concepts opening soon: Kinton Ramen, Libretto Slice Shop, Mary Brown’s Chicken, and OEB Kitchen + Bar. HMSHost is also collabing with Canadian chef Roger Mooking to launch Community by Roger Mooking, “following the success of his restaurant Twist by Roger Mooking in Terminal 1.” Stay tuned for details.
Life moves fast. Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.
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