My iconic OPEN/CLOSED is THE most comprehensive resource of 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. #ifyouknowyouknow

 🕘 11.5 min read

This week my 24 findings include grand opening specials, mega expansions, serious star chef power, and a flurry of closures - with more to follow. Stay tuned - I’ll have more news for you in The Tip Off, exclusively available in the TR Newsletter. In the meantime, here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Afreen Grill (3469 Danforth Ave.) near Warden Is serving up a host of halal Indian and Pakistani fare.

Attention burger lovers: The grand opening of the newest Burger Factory kicks off Saturday in Mississauga (4028 Confederation Pkwy). Why it should make it onto your schedule: The festivities includes half-price cheeseburgers.

Taiwanese tea house Chatime takes expanding seriously. Case in point: the new outposts in Scarborough (5981 Steeles Ave. E.) and Mississauga (Battleford Centre - 6475 Erin Mills Pkwy).

The  Korean-style hot dog trend shows no signs of slowing down thanks to the rise (and expansion) of chains such as Chung Chun Rice Hot Dog. To see what the fuss is all about (two words: Ramen Chip), head to the new shop opening Monday in Vaughan (3175 Rutherford Rd., Unit 16). Tons of specials to be had including $2.99 hot dogs.

Global bubble tea brand CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice softly opened a branch in Scarborough (790 Military Trail, Unit 5) earlier this week. To celebrate, customers receive 15 per cent off all drinks until May 31. Conditions apply.

Currently in soft opening, Essence Bistro at Market Lane Shopping Centre (140 Woodbridge Ave.) in Woodbridge does farm-to-table fare with a “Latin-inspired twist” - Mushrooms Al Ajillo Taco ($6), Chaulafan ($25), Mimosa Springs ($25), PEI Steak (MP), for instance.

Chef Brandon Olsen, founder of Restaurant Le Melon, La Banane  and CXBO Chocolates, has a penchant for crispy poultry - Brando’s Fried Chicken, his precursor for new venture Grateful Chicken. Psst. GC quietly opened inside Chef’s Hall (111 Richmond St. W.). On the roster: Fried chicken sandos, pieces “Chicken Fried” Mushroom Sammy ($13/$18), and buckets ($21-$95) with champagne ($165-$190). As for what to expect?  According to the CH website: “Imagine The Grateful Dead and Keith Herring sharing a bucket of fried chicken.” 

Éclairs and profiteroles don’t get the attention they deserve in a sea of cheescake and macarons. Luckily, The Happy Chocco feels the same way. Check out the lineup of the halal, kosher, organic, vegetarian choux pastry at the pop-up at The District Kitchen Square One (100 City Centre Dr.) until Sunday.

Speaking of sweets, Honey Honey Cakery (158 Main St.) opened in Unionville at the end of the year with alllll the cakes: roll, chiffon, Basque, and Thousand Layers Crepe.

Koh Samui Thai Kitchen’s debut on the Danforth in 2020 was just the beginning. Two branches followed: 1. Queen West 2. More recently, The Junction in February. Say hello to the latest addition at King and Niagara (791 King St. W.)

The pandemic doesn’t seem to have slowed Kung Fu Tea  down one bit - last week alone ushered in two more stores. And one just touched down in Woodbridge (7777 Weston Rd., Unit 107) Bonus: 20 per cent off all drinks and Large 38 Milk King for $4.88 until May 20. Terms apply.

Coming off the state-of-the-art conveyor belt at Lahmajoun Factory: Fresh n’ hot Armenian pizza. Soft opening kicked off Thursday. Find them in Scarborough at Finch and Pharmacy (2533 Pharmacy Ave.).

In March, I introduced you to the new trio at College and Bathurst (409 College St.). Turkish eatery LokumEats just joined the crew.

Sunday was the first day for Macaronz’s Port Credit pastry shoppe (159 Lakeshore Rd. E.). Get in on everything from mini doughnut cakes to frozen cookie dough, including Mother’s Day Features such as  Marie Antoinette Petits Fours and Classic Afternoon Tea In A Box  Find their tea salon in downtown Brampton (43 Queen St. E.). 

Mademoiselle Raw Bar + Grill (563 King St. W.) should win an award for biggest transformation during the pandemic. After all, the folks behind MARBL down the street (455 King St. W.) took what was formerly a strip club (For Your Eyes Only) and created a high-end destination, complete with caviar and champagne. At the stove: Executive chef Evan Dickinson (MARBL) with sushi chef Daniel Ken (The Hartly, Lobby, Lavelle, Blowfish). Doors officially open to the public tomorrow. [UPDATE 07.05.22: Opening to the public has been changed to Thursday May 12 at 5pm.]

Square One (100 City Centre Dr.) just got a Turkish destination. Visit Mado on Level 2 near Entrance 3.

Marben Restaurant (488 Wellington St. W., Unit 5-104)  found a home for its sustainably sourced, local pantry items at Stackt Market (28 Bathurst St.). Discover items such as housemade Chili Crisp, IPA Mustard and Kanzuri Sauerkraut at Marben Market. 

Chef Nadège Nourian and Morgan McHugh’s latest Nadège Patisserie debuted in the Annex (494 Bloor St. W.) yesterday. This marks the fourth location in the 6ix for the renowned French bakery.

Head to Naomi Universal Cuisine (900 Don Mills Rd., Unit 12) at Don Mills and Eglinton for an array of Asian fare including dim sum, Cantonese Chow Mein. Grilled Jumbo Tiger Prawn with Diced Beef, and HK Milk Tea. 

ISO Hyderabadi fare? Nawab's Indian Cuisine (1348 Kennedy Rd.) at Kennedy and Ellesmere has your craving for south Indian dishes sorted. 

Princes Pastries (3331 Danforth Ave.) in Scarborough does baklava, maamoul, ashta pastries and other sweet delights  - Aoama, Barazek, Basbousa, Coconut Macaroons, Faysayliya, Ghraybeh, Harissa with Pistachios, Moshabak, and Petits Fours.

Roses Cocina inside Hotel X Toronto (111 Princes' Blvd., 2nd Fl) debuts today. The new waterfront destination by chef/restauranteur Adrian Niman (The Food Dudes, Rasa, Sara, Pantry, Blondies, Sunny’s Chinese and MIMI Chinese) and Brandon Marek and Michael Kimel of Harlo Entertainment boasts modern North American cuisine that “highlights Tex Mex flavours.” Stay tuned for a closer look.

Hamilton’s premium handmade Japanese knife retailer Sharp Knife Shop just opened an outpost in Etobicoke (195 Norseman St., Unit 14), making it easier to your hands on beauts such as a Kajibee Kurouchi Santoku, Makoto Kurosaki Style K Suji, and Kawamura Tsuchime 165 Bunka.  

EVENTS

Canada’s largest food truck park Street Eats Market opens tomorrow at Scarborough Town Centre (500 Progress Ave.).

CLOSED 

The King and Yonge outpost of Bikkuri Japanese Restaurant (36 King St. E.) may have come to an end however the Beaches location (2197 Queen St. E.) remains open.

Chito’s 
Pizza Wilson and Dufferin location (3616 Dufferin St.) is temporarily closed due to fire. Customers can visit their other location at Dufferin and Eglinton (1853 Eglinton Ave. W.).

Congee Star (900 Don Mills Rd., Unit 12) has been replaced by another Asian eatery. Details above.

That’s it for the St. Clair outpost of Dasoni (630 St. Clair Ave. W.). Psst. It’s soon to be home to JABS (Just Another Burger Spot) that I introduced you to last summer. Find out more about owner/chef Janrikk Millan in At The Pass. 

Fahmee Bakery’s Scarborough location (119 Montezuma Trail) is temporarily closed. See news section below for more.

Wychwood bakery Leah’s (621 St Clair Ave. W.), known for its biscotti and butter tarts, debuted 2011. 

The One Eighty, the restaurant on the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre (55 Bloor St. W.) boasting panoramic views of the city, part of Eatertainment Hospitality, closed March 1. Psst. In its place: A new concept in partnership with Scale Hospitality will launch this summer - AP helmed by acclaimed chef Antonio Park of Montreal.

CHANGES

Due to the current conflict in Russia and Ukraine, Moscow Tea Room (161 Yorkville Ave.) is now Joy on Avenue.

NEWS

Fahmee Bakery’s Scarborough location (119 Montezuma Trail) is temporarily closed due to a fire earlier this morning. No injuries have been reported.

Michael Armstrong, produce manager of The Sweet Potato (and percussionist for King Cobb Steelie and Change of Heart), passed away. A GoFundMe Memorial Fund has been set up to help his family.

Mayor John Tory officially launched CafeTO patio season in Toronto on Monday.

Attn Industry: The deadline to apply for Summerlicious has been extended to tomorrow.

ICYMI

Take a peek inside The Casa Madera, adjacent to 1 Hotel Toronto (550 Wellington St. W.).

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

Life moves fast: I wrote about +100 new arrivals in April alone.  Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.  

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