OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto/GTA Restaurant News October 15-21, 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
🕘 14 min read
From casual to luxe eats, intriguing soon-to-launch ventures, unexpected fusions, and Michelin news, this week’s findings offer a little bit of everything. Just what this crazy short week called for.
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
Today marks opening day for Azul’s destination in the heart of Little Italy (601 College St.). Their third eatery “reimagining fast-casual Mexican cuisine with purpose” one taco, torta, and bowl at a time, kicks off at noon.
There’s no having to guess what’s on offer at this bakery in Port Credit. Big Fat Cookies’ third outpost (119 Lakeshore Rd. W.) offers its eponymous confections in an array of addictive flavours: Birthday Cake, Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate, Matcha White Chocolate, Red Velvet White Chocolate, and Snickerdoodle. Bonus: Decadent brownies are also on offer.
Toronto Pearson, are you in your glow up era? Ur looking goood these days. So many new additions. And healthy ones at that. Say hello to Booster Juice (Pre-flight wheatgrass shot and vitamin-packed smoothie? That’s more like it. Terminal 3, near Gate A10) and Brasa Peruvian Kitchen (Superfood bowls and salads ensure a smooth journey ahead. Terminal 1 Domestic, Post-Security) Bonus: More establishments are on the way (6301 Silver Dart Dr., Mississauga). Watch this space.
Etobicoke’s new Cafe Delicia (3341 Lake Shore Blvd. W.) does it all: Discover locally roasted coffee, organic matcha, and assorted specialty drinks in addition to croissants, sandos, waffles, cakes and other made in-house desserts, and cold treats including gelato and milkshakes. TR Pro Trip: This is going to require multiple trips. Find it in Farmhouse Smoothies’ former stomping grounds.
Cucina Buca (2 St. Clair Ave. W., Unit 100) closed earlier this summer due to water damage. But it wasn’t all bad news. I was first to report the return of Bar Buca on the approach to the same addy. UPDATE: The former is available for resos as of tomorrow. And keep your eyes peeled here for news about BB.
Have a sweet tooth? I’ve got just the thing. D Spot Dessert Cafe continues to make its way across the GTA with a permanent spot locked and loaded in Vaughan (1830 Major Mackenzie Dr. W., Unit 6-7). Doors opened last weekend.
Calling all glizzards and sub lovers. These last few years Toronto’s own Grandma Loves You has dedicated themselves to ensuring you get your glizzies (hot dogs, if you’re over 35) and sub sandos no matter where you reside in the GTA - sooo many outposts in so little time. And as of Saturday, If you’re in and around the bougie Yorkville ‘hood, you’ve got one to call your very own inside Yorkville Village via Kitchen Hub (55 Avenue Rd., Unit 2250).
Huh. Not a word about yakitori in eons and then BAM, one right after another. This one however, comes with one helluva sexy twist. Introducing Karasu Yakitori, a yakitori omakase with “Latin influence” boasting 14 courses, and it’s right downtown (495 Adelaide St. W., 2nd Fl.). Find it above new addition, Japanese-inspired hamburgsteak restaurant Boru. Doors opened Tuesday.
Dynamic duo Konjiki Ramen and Saryo Cafe has arrived in Markham near Highway 7 (8600 Woodbine Ave., Unit C2),, marking the fourth site for the Michelin noodle shop and cafe combo. TR Trivia: I was one of the first to visit their original location in 2017 and had the honour of meeting and speaking with Chef Atsushi Yamamoto during his visit to Toronto.
Lili Foods just landed in Yorkville (87 Critchley Lane) next to Yorkville Park (aka “Meet you at the rock.”) with protein-packed bowls and salads in tow. I know, I know. Everyone’s got ‘em dese days, but hear me out: Lemon Dill Salmon (Lemon dill salmon, roasted sweet potato, slaw, guac, carrots, cashews, dill, super-greens, honey dijon vinaigrette) for the days you want satisfying without the bulk/bloat. And where has the Twins Protein Bowl been all our lives? The nearly impossible choice between the Piri Piri Chicken and 24 Hrs Brisket Bowls ends with this major merger (Roasted chicken and pulled brisket, brown rice, super greens, broccoli, chickpeas, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, cabbage, pickled onions, parsley, herbal tahini) that feels like indulgent takeout while delivering healthier benefits. Win-win. The third branch joins siblings in FiDi at First Canadian Place (100 King St. W.) and downtown in The Well’s food court (Wellington Market, 486 Front St. W.).
Breweries have been through it lately. As many comings and goings as restos, in fact. So how fab to be able to extend a warm welcome to Toronto’s own Rorschach Brewing Co.’s second taproom and bottle shop in Etobicoke (815 Kipling Ave.). Grand opening celebrations to follow next week at their new digs at at Kipling and Norseman.
You wouldn’t be wrong to expect Shōnan Sandwich & Sweets to land downtown. After all, their viral treats - sandos (Fluffy creamy Strawberry Cream, Egg Salad, Chicken Katsu, and Eggplant Katsu, for example) matcha, coffee and soft serve - in a cute takeout shop was made for the city’s core (and IG). Instead, Scarborough’s the lucky duck that SSS has called home (26 Lee Centre Dr.). See you there.
Smash Daddy has set up shop in PG Cluck’s recently shuttered digs on Queen* (1112 Queen St. W.). The smash burger joint out of Ottawa was the first to bring wagyu and Oklahoma varieties to the 613. A menu tighter than Michael B. Jordan’s fade features only two burgers (Regular smash, Wagyu), and one other dish - Shrimp & Chips. The rest of the menu is just as sparse: Fries, pudding, water and pop. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes having too many options causes headaches. *In case you missed their new venture in their ol’ spot in Little Italy, see this edition of the OPEN/CLOSED from earlier this month.
Artisan bakery Tito softly opened in North York (2831 Bathurst St.) on Monday and whether you live near or far, it’s def worth the trip. Cindy Feng and Novell Fallar are creating small-batch handmade pastries, viennoiserie, and bread using that are out of this world. Items change on the regular, but one day you may find yourself amongst Ube Coconut Panettone, Rye Ginger Cake, Gluten-Free Buckwheat Hazelnut Twix Bars, Roasted Matcha Financiers, Pumpkin Spice Cronuts, Cardamom Buns, 100 % Seeded Rye Sourdough, and so much more. They’ve been a favourite stop at farmers’ markets and it’s easy to see why. “We source produce and fruit from our farmer friends at the market whenever we can, and mill about 80 per cent of the grains we use in-house. It takes extra time, but it’s important to us to know where our ingredients come from and to share the best of what our local community has to offer.” Swoon. TR Prediction: They become one of the top bakeries of 26/27.
Chinese Jewish fare has landed at, where else? Bathurst and Eglinton, natch. Mazel tov to Woodlyns (947 Eglinton Ave. W.) featuring fare by chefs Nick Liu (DaiLo, Cafe Renee) Josh Ling, and Cathy Huynh. Think Whole Steamed Branzino, finished with scallion and ginger, goji berries and Shaoxing wine schmaltz sauce; Pastrami Sandwich showcasing stacked pastrami on caraway-butter toasted Japanese milk bread with house mustard, fennel sauerkraut and dill pickle; and Matzo Ball Wonton Soup (Chicken wontons, ginger chicken consommé, bok choy) that delivers serious Ginsberg & Wong vibes (iykyk). Grand opening festivities are happening tomorrow.
CLOSED
One of my favourite aspects of Icha Tea’s Queen outpost (996 Queen St. W.)? The hidden cocktail bar that they eventually made public. Their shop began its journey at Queen and Ossington in 2022 - Remember when the space was Montgomery’s? To get your Icha Tea fix, head to Chinatown, recent addition in North York and newly added pop-up in the east end.
imPerfect Fresh Eats Front Street branch (100 Front St. E.) has up and quit, but no one including Google appears to have been notified, as guests kept trying to enter the building, ready to place an order. Fortunately, if you’re in the mood for their bowls and banh mi, other IEs throughout Toronto/GTA are ready to serve you. TR Tracker: As for what’s taking over? Plans for the new biz are still in motion, however ‘Asian fusion’ is a strong contender.
Naija Jollof’s 24-hour outpost at the crazy corner that is Queen and Bathurst (592 Queen St W.) was a fairly recent addition, going on to eventually share space with “magic mushroom” dispensary, FunGuyz. Both have exited the building and both have numerous locations across the city and beyond.
Savyon’s Cuisine (761 Dundas St. W.) had kind of just settled in at Dundas and Bathurst, as per my OPEN/CLOSED. Apparently it wasn’t built to last as it’s been dark for weeks and finally marked ‘Permanently Closed’ on Google.
TR SNEAK PEEKS
If authentic Japanese fruit daifuku and mochi are your jam, you’re going to love Atelier Mochi, coming soon.
Korean restaurant Hyuni Ne is about to move into 643A Mt Pleasant Rd., the same addy where former Michelin Star Yukashi Japanese Cusine stood.
Layl Lounge & Bar is on the quick approach to Mississauga. What to expect? “Where luxury meets energy, Layl Lounge & Bar brings an unforgettable experience of fine dining, premium drinks, and world-class entertainment.”
Italian and Greek flavours come together under one roof at the soon-to-open Marionero in Port Credit (347 Lakeshore Rd. E.).
More Michelin related news: Is Sommelier Factory moving into former Michelin destination Azura on the Danny (162 Danforth Ave.)? According to Google, yes, complete with “Scratch-made deli eats and a long wine list plus morning coffee and pastries in a snug, coral-hued room.” You had me at scratch-made deli eats and long wine list. Glug, glug.
Life moves fast. Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.
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