OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto/GTA Restaurant News July 9-15, 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
🕘 21 min read
The month started with a serious bang and shows no signs of letting up. This edition delivers serious action with a slew of arrivals (19), closures (8), sneak peeks (9) news you need to know, and heavy dose of plot twists and surprises along the way.
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
Hot on the heels of unveiling a new site downtown, bubble tea shop The Alley is calling a corner of Mississauga home (7979 St. Barbara Blvd., Unit 75). Soft opening is in effect until July 17, with grand opening to follow July 18-19. p.s. And they ain’t done yet. Watch this space.
Tomorrow marks grand opening for Bloorcourt’s latest arrival, Biryani Flames (1063 Bloor St. W.). Bonus: Free biryani for the first 55 guests. No matter when you go, get ready for an impressive biryani lineup. And there’s plenty else on offer: Curries, kebabs, Hakka delicacies, and starters, to name a few. TR Tracker: BF takes over the space of another Indian joint. Details below.
ISO the city’s latest obsession, Viet phin coffee? Head to Cabbagetown’s new cafe/gallery concept, Cà Phê in Rapid Photo (434 Parliament Ave.). p.s. Loyal readers got the inside scoop in June.
The intersection of Dundas and Ossington has been bumpin’ lately. Naturally I’ve been keeping tabs on allll the comings and goings. Introducing the answer to your summer dreams: Cherry on Top Gelato & Cafe (1134 Dundas St. W.), complete with coffee, and namesake dessert and baked goods.
Leslieville’s Daddy’s Chicken just wrapped operations down the strip however quickly secured a gig just west of its original spot. Find DC hidden in the kitchen of chill watering hole Wei Bar (1014 Queen St. E.). TR Trend Watch: Wei does Whisky Sours, Paper Planes, AND its rare Mexican cousin, Mexican Airplane made with Reposado Tequila, on the regular. Is this my new domicile?
The gleaming black-tiled backdrop of new Dutch Fries (673 Danforth Ave.) sure is francy (for real fancy) for a fry shop. These Flemish fries however, go beyond the usual offerings zeroing in on enticing nibbles via The Netherlands. Think Dutch-Indonesian fries and poutines. Since you might not be familiar, lemme break it down for you: All Frites (dbl fried btw) are paired with Dutch Mayo (sweeter than your usual go-to) and chopped onions with additions depending on the order: Speciaal - Curry Ketchup. Oorlog - Sate/Peanut Sauce. Indo - Dutch Mayo is swapped out for garlic mayo, chopped onions are instead presented two ways (green, white fried til crisp). And poutines hit different than your usual curd/gravy variety. Quick glossary: Dutch Poutine - Spicy Mayo, Frikandel (skinless sausage), Curry Ketchup, Red Peppers, Chopped Onions, Fried Crispy Onions, Green Onions. Indo Poutine - Sesame Mayo, Indo Soy, Cucumbers, Chopped Onions, Green Onions, Sesame Seeds. Then there’s hearty finger foods Bitterballen (deep fried balls stuffed with creamy beef ragout filling) and Kroket (breaded fried rolls filled with creamy beef or chicken ragout), and the Frikandel Speciaal - Naked sausage (Read: no bun) with characteristic Dutch toppings: Dutch mayo, curry ketchup, chopped onions. And if you’re on the hunt for something sweet, it doesn’t get more saccharine than wafer cookie sandos filled with syrupy caramel, aka Stroopwafels. TR Trivia: The space had been vacant for years following a fire of a beloved BBQ joint.
Authentic Indian, Hakka Chinese, and Nepali fare have gathered under one roof in North York. Find Hakka Khazana on Avenue Road south of Wilson (2003 Avenue Rd.). Bonus: The restaurant is 100 per cent halal.
Mon amour, let’s go out tonight. Somewhere a little chic, a little cocktails. The place I was telling you about last month, Iris Toronto in Bloor West Village (2256 Bloor St. W.) just opened. See you soon. Bisous et plus. Did you know? It continues the name trend I put you onto a while back.
Local biz Mabel’s Bakery currently has 4.5 locations under their belt. The 0.5? Courtesy of a mini shop in North York. Make that 5.5. with the arrival of MB and its host of baked goods and pantry items in Little Italy (576 College St.). Think bread (Lookin’ at you Challah Pull-Apart Cinnamon Raisin Buns, Multigrain Pullman, and Raven Rye made with cocoa powder), cakes (Mocha but make it vegan), tarts (Toffee, Raspberry Almond Frangipane) cookies, cupcakes, and made-for-mornings pastries. And if you’re looking for a night of ‘cooking at home’ but without the prep, look no further than the prepared foods: quiche, soups, picnic-y salads, pot pies, pizzas, lasagnas, curries, et al.
Down the block from Wei Bar, NewEra Burgers (1001 Queen St. E.) goes against the crowd by skipping the smash burger craze, instead leaning in to traditional patties and standard varieties - Bacon Cheeseburger - with a veg alternative and a few chicken selections. TR Pro Tip: Wanna keep the ol’ skool vibes going? Head to Donut Factory (101 Pape Ave.) across the street for doughnuts like they made in the 90s. For realz.
I told you it was on the way. Say hello to Maven’s new on-site addition, Rose’s Pantry (112 Harbord St.). TR Pro Tip: You’re gonna need another bag.
Consider me your dedicated Geary News Channel. Srsly. If you listened to the TR Podcast, you were first to know abouts Sana’s approach (211 Geary Ave.). While the resto portion is still available to members exclusively… psst, the public can get in on the fun on the patio… #seeyouongeary #torontosummer
Seafood Palace’s* new BBQ outpost, aptly named Seafood Palace BBQ (9665 Bayview Ave., Unit 36), and steps from the original (9665 Bayview Ave., Unit 30), specializes in roast meat including chicken, sausage, duck, pork belly, and suckling pig, served with rice and other accompaniments. *The Richmond Hill resto, not to be confused with celebrity chef Matty Matheson’s similarly named high end destination downtown, Prime Seafood Palace.
Last month I let you in on all the action coming to the Junction Triangle. Update: Introducing The Sovereign Cafe # 3 (34 Sousa Mendes St.), giving sleek, serene modern vibes with a titch of sea glass softness. See you there for coffee and sweet treats.
Newsflash: Thai street noodles have landed in Kensington Market. Get your fix at Teow Tem Toh at Augusta and Baldwin (237 Augusta Ave.).
Kitchener’s halal destination Turkish Flames has arived in Markham (7677 Markham Rd., Unit 4) with its extensive offerings including mixed platters, pides, stuffed pastries, doners, kebabs, wraps, and more.
If you haven’t checked out Baby Point in a minute, now’s the time. Discover your new favourite sando shop, Bánh Mì Unu by the Q’s - Quinny and Quyen - filled with Viet handhelds at the corner of Jane and Annette (393 Jane St.). Psst. Word on the street, the Mango Smoothies are bomb too.
Next door neighbour to Cà Phê (details above), Vel Mart (432 Parliament Ave.) arrives with an array of Indian groceries. TR Pro Tip: Down the block, recently opened book store Great Hall Bookshop (416 Parliament Ave.) carries secondhand and new titles with a fab l’il food/drink/cookbook section and gifts for the food-lovers in your life. p.s. In need of cookbook recs? Support local talent with my comprehensive guide featuring Toronto’s top restaurants and chefs.
In the west end? More activity in the Junction Triangle arrives via cafes this week - the one above and Vers Cafe (15 Adrian Ave., Unit 152), complete with patio. Hard launch is happening Saturday.
CLOSED
The Jane branch of Caribbean Queen Jerk (393 Jane St.) may have come to a close, however “The Taste of Jamaica” can be attained at four locations throughout the city.
Chop Hop x Pantry’s Uptown flagship at Yonge and Lawrence (3204 Yonge St.), has come to a close. The trendy wellness chain with “Toronto's best salads” by Food Dudes Founder Adrian Niman, Lindsay Klein, Adam Minster - whose taken to influencer duties on IG - and Derrek Wasser, is a spinoff salad joint from Rasa, the resto that got anointed by Michelin in 2024 after being a presence on Harbord for a full decade. Three locations remain in FiDi.
Oh naur. Australian destinations are too few and far in between in the 6ix. How’s a girl supposed to satiate her Lamingtons, Anzac biscuits, hand pies, sausage rolls, chicken salt, and Bundaberg Ginger Beer cravings?* And now another’s been 86’d. Electric Bill Bar touched down on Bloor in 2024 (866 Bloor St. W.) You’ve got until August 16 to get in yer ‘Cheers,’ mate. p.s. Big ups to all the ones who came before (Baddies, Bluestone Lane, 2014’s Kanga Pies*) and the ones who continue to hold it down (Arvo Coffee, Found Coffee, Golden Gecko Coffee, Hemingway’s, The Sydney Grind). *This is what my findings looked like for a time in 2014. Note: All arrivals listed that year have since closed.
BREAKING: Permanent closures continue along King West. Mascot Brewery got started in Toronto in 2015* on Mercer (31 Mercer St.). Four years later, MB set up a sweet beer garden in the Entertainment District (220 King St.W.)** King West is now a thing of the past, but the flagship brewery, taproom, bottle shop and resto in Etobicoke (37 Advance Rd.), est. 2021, is ready to welcome you with grub ‘n suds. The local brewery celebrated its 11th anniversary last month. *For context, 2015 is the year Drake dropped “Hotline Bling” and Adele said “Hello”. **Fascinating to look back at this time of the OPEN/CLOSED. Only seven years old and yet in this edition, the majority of places listed? Kaput.
Mumbaikar debuted in Bloorcourt (1063 Bloor St. W.) during the pandemic. And while service just wrapped at this location, Uptown at Yonge and Lawrence (3393 Yonge St.) is in full effect.
Today PG Clucks announced the fried chicken sandwich/doughnut shop is shuttering after a ten-year-run. Not all is lost, however. While the minuscule plot in Little Italy (610 College St.) ceases operations as of today, it’s transitioning “into a new concept that aligns more with the current economic reality, and where we are today as chefs.” As for the one on Queen west of Dovercourt (1112 Queen St. W.), you’ve got until July 25 to visit.
Pho Ngon Dat Viet set down roots in Kensington (237 Augusta Ave.) back in Summer ‘24 (scroll through IG for a quick peek), but it’s already been replaced by another venture - Pop up top for info. And the story continues. TR Tracker: The second location also debuted that summer, this time in Scarborough (4401 Sheppard Ave. E.). It has since closed. Last year marked a busy year for the brand. In 2025: One launched in May in “Midtown” - York, actually (1761 Keele Ave.). Not long after launching at Markham’s Pacific Mall (4300 Steeles Ave. E., Unit P88), PNDV rebranded the location to SEN Vietnamese Cuisine, which it continues to operate under. The co. also expanded to London Ontario, and earlier this month changed the name. Introducing: So Jeat’s House. Did you know? The first location kicked off July 2023 in Thornhill (180 Steeles Ave. W., Unit 9-10), however is no longer in service.
TR Tracker: You know I’ve always gotchu for allll the resto news including the Michelins (See: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.). With the awards ceremony on the quick approach where stars and assorted designations will be revealed, you want to be up-to-date on who’s coming in (Psst. It’s not who they choose, it’s who they didn’t.) and what’s already gone. Which leads me to this: Former Michelin-star* fine dining destination Yukashi Japanese Cuisine by chef Daisuke Izutsu softly opened July 26, 2018 in Midtown’s Mount Pleasant Village (643A Mt. Pleasant Rd.). This past May 2 marked final service for the kaiseki-style extravaganza, however it isn’t goodbye forever as it’s slated to transform into “Something New.” Psst. That may still be the case, but as the space is currently on the market at a reduced price, it won’t be in the same footprint. At press time, the closure had not been indicated on the restaurant’s profile on the Michelin Guide website, reservation platform or Google. Stay tuned for updates. Did you know? *YJC lost its star in 2024 and was transitioned to the Recommended category and remained as of last year. Alobar Yorkville also lost a star and gained a Recommended designation in 2024. TR Pro Tip: Pop down below for more Michelin news.
NEWS
A restaurant fire at Bathurst and Eglinton yesterday is being treated as ‘suspicious.’
Another Toronto food festival has been nixed for 2026. RIP the inaugural Taste of Little Jamaica. ‘Til we meet again.
After shuttering two stores in 2021, celebrity chef and restaurateur Mark McEwan is expanding the brand once again. Luxe grocery store McEwan Fine Foods is slated to take over Pusateri’s former spot in Bayview Village (2901 Bayview Ave.) next year. p.s. As we’re on the subject of updates, the McEwan website shows Fabbrica still open at the TD Centre (66 Wellington St. W.). Umm, no. You’ll have to drive all the way out to Blue Mountain Region - aka Thornbury (27 Bruce St. S.) - to get in on their ‘za and other signature Italian eats.
Sneaky Dee’s has been saved from redevelopment for now.
Latest food recalls: The Butcher Barn meat products recalled due to undeclared mustard and soy, Cuisinart Propel+ Four Burner 3-In-1 Gas Grills recalled due to a laceration hazard, Insignia Gas Ranges recalled due to fire hazard.
TR SNEAK PEEK
Speaking of Michelin news (see above), Yorkville’s one-starred Aburi Hana (102 Yorkville Ave., Unit 4) has been closed and without its award-winning chef since the end of September 2025 - I delivered the full inside scoop last fall. Will the “Reimagined” version, dropping soon, arrive in enough time to be considered for this year’s accolades? Follow for details.
Attn Cocktail Lovers: Acornhouse is set to touch down on Davenport Rd. this Fall including Jacob Homoki, Kanako Hayashi, and James Park. The theme? Celebrating Canadian ingredients “at their finest.” TR Prediction: It makes T.O. fooderati’s top cocktail and bar lists within six months of opening.
Out-of-town establishments have been making their way into my findings more frequently lately (The Michelin Guide’s decision to add small towns to its roster is partly to blame) and who can resist a “lovingly restored Georgian estate on Picton Bay”? PEC’s newest hotel Claramount Club (40 Clara Dr.) boasts dining destinations Foundry with its views of Picton Harbour and “ingredient-led” Delphine, under Executive Chef Justin Tse. Your upcoming romantic getaway plans? Sorted.
Huichol Mexican Kitchen + Bar (1278 St Clair Ave. W., Unit 1) is joining the lineup at St. Clair and Dufferin this summer at the same addy that previously held another Mexican outfit, El Sazon Mexicano.
Remember all that U.S. chain talk? Get ready for IHOP (International House of Pancakes) to join the Applebee’s in Ajax (155 Kingston Rd.). First of all, that’s an insane combo. Secondly, we have an Applebee’s? Note: It’s temporarily closed but will reopen when IHOP debuts.
Psst. Chef Justin Friedlich’s modern Italian rendezvous Shay Ristorante is set to open soooon in Rosedale (1055 Yonge St.).
The Fall Bright Tavern (840 Bloor St. W.) was a somewhat brief affair. Don’t expect another restaurant to come thru though. Instead, get excited for wine bar/bottle shop combo The Wine Thief.
Life moves fast. Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.
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