OPEN/CLOSED: TORONTO/GTA Restaurant News September 4-10, 2025
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
🕘 9 min read
A shortened week simply means you’ll have to fit more destinations into your schedule. Uh, thinking about food all day and then creating your own personalized food tour? Done and done. I’ve got 15 arrivals below to get you started, but brace yourself - around half are closures.
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
Harbord Village has seen a lot of activity lately. Last month I gave you the inside scoop on what was taking over Her Father's Cider Bar + Kitchen’s former stomping grounds. It turns out, after a brief stint on the market, the space now home to Mexican restaurant Alebrije (119 Harbord St.) is by the HRC team who also helm Azura and Osteria Scossa.
Montreal-style bagels have landed in Liberty Village. See: Bagels on Fire (85 Hanna Ave., Unit 104A).
Tuesday marked the soft opening of Big Way Hot Pot in The Annex (559 Bloor St. W.). The self-serve hot pot chain offers customizable bowls featuring over 100 fresh ingredients and numerous broths and dry mixes to choose from.
Birria Cantina has been tucked away in one of the city’s top food halls for years. Now the taco joint has its own digs down the block (267 Augusta Ave.) in what was once a wine store. Grand opening kicks off tomorrow at 10am. Note: BC’s still serving up addictive tacos at the Latin American food court steps away (214 Augusta Ave.), in addition to spots at Yonge and Dundas and on Roncy.
Think of the lovely ‘71 Corsair Trailer on the patio of 222 Geary Ave. - currently dubbed BodegaGeary and filled with great people, food and drinks - as a convivial placeholder for the sweeping restaurant with bar to come. Like many things these days, the destination is taking a little longer than expected to get up and running, but will def be worth the wait. Watch this space for details.
Sing your heart out to your favourite tunes at Yonge and Wellesley’s new Boom Karaoke (577 Yonge St., Bsmt.).
Beyond the usual matcha and cups of joe, Caphelia Coffee (2 Irwin Ave.) does specialty drips including Egg Coffee (whipped sweetened condensed milk, egg yolk), Salted Cream Iced Coffee (condensed milk, salted cream foam) and Honeycomb Latte boasting toffee syrup, topped with honeycomb candy. TR Insider Tip: Also on the menu? Banana Pudding Matcha and assorted banh mi.
Leslieville’s recent changeup continues with sports bar The Castle on Queen (884 Queen St. E.) offering “elevated” dining (Pan-Seared Pistachio Salmon, Striploin Dinner with housemade peppercorn sauce) in the large structure that for a long stretch was Barrio.
Eela (4271 Sheppard Ave.) is a “culinary celebration of Telugu tradition.” The South Indian kitchen and bar in Scarborough boasts everything from biryanis and dosas to idlys and curries.
Korean soul food resto Horangee Sikdang in North York (5374 Yonge St.) is a vibe. Cozy retro vibes. Think lace curtains, wall-mounted phone, old TV, doilies on the back of chairs. This paired with meat and seafood platters, ginormous pork cutlets, and other filling fare, makes for a meal that feels like home.
judy's Beach Café in The Beaches (2188 Queen St. E.) is the latest cafe in the city providing jobs and training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. TR Trivia: Lil E Cafe debuted at Yonge and St. Clair in 2023.
Krispy Kreme Café has set up shop at the corner of College and Ossington (830 College St.) with its signature coffee and doughnuts where convenience store College Variety Plus previously stood.
Kensington Market has been a bevy of activity as of late. Introducing the nabe’s new watering hole, Rumble Pontiac (197 1/2 Baldwin St.). You might remember the space when it held Thirsty & Miserable, now in another ‘hood.
As the weather cools, the need for noods increases. That’s just science. Sundays Pasta Lab in Liberty Village (171 E Liberty St.) has you sorted with toothsome pasta and sauces beyond Italy’s borders.
Toro Toro has kept me hopping with launches over the years. The journey continues: Grand opening for the premium sushi and poke co’s Markham site (8610 Woodbine Ave., Unit B1). is happening Wednesday at 4pm, complete with giveaways.
CLOSED
It’s hard to think of a time when Ali Baba’s (890 Bloor St. W.) wasn’t a mainstay at the corner of Bloor and Ossington. It turns out those in search of falafel and shawarma won’t have to travel far: The Tahini’s chain, which has been adding to the roster recently, is moving in.
Lemon Lily Organic Tea’s storefront in Riverside (747 Queen St. E.) arrived not long ago. As I reported, doors closed Sunday, however you can still shop online.
On Sunday The Real Jerk announced the abrupt closure of its Little Italy outpost (647 College St.) to take place after service the following day. I broke the news in July (see IG Story in ‘Latest 2.0’ highlight) the restaurant at the corner of Gerrard and Carlaw (842 Gerrard St. E.) is for sale.
République (2 Irwin Ave.) went by a few variations on its name during its short run, including République Kitchen & Bar and République Brunch & Bar. TR Trivia: It’s by the folks that launched The Lost Land, now something completely new.
Indian street food venture Sector 17, founded in 2016, gave it a valiant effort in the challenging area of Dundas and Sherbourne (268 Dundas St. E.) since 2023.
Speaking of Indian fare, the corner of Dundas and St. Patrick has been home to a number of Indian concepts over the years: Until recently, Toronto Chaatwala (250 Dundas St. W., Unit 102), previously Maezo, and soon, Scarborough’s Aaha Truly South.
UK India Bistro (695 College St.) just touched down in Little Italy. Windows are papered over.
NEWS
Latest food recalls: Dubai Pistachio & Knafeh Milk Chocolate recalled due to Salmonella, Old Dutch Ridgies Sour Cream, Green Onion & Bacon Flavour Potato Chips recalled due to undeclared milk, Stella's Authentic Shito recalled due to commercial sterility concerns, Various baklava and ice-cream products recalled due to Salmonella, Various pistachio-containing products recalled due to Salmonella.
Life moves fast. Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.
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