My iconic OPEN/CLOSED is THE most comprehensive resource of restaurant openings (virtual/brick-and-mortar/popups/allll the things) and food/drink news in the city. No one does it bigger or better. Watch for the drop every Thursday. #ifyouknowyouknow

🕒 10 min read

My 15 findings this week are kind all over the place, pairing well with our scattered brains right now, after being in lockdown for so long. Speaking of minds, has snacking and thinking about snacks taken over your entire day or is it just me?

In the meantime, here’s the very latest:

OPEN

BanCan Kitchen (1328 Danforth Ave.) at Greenwood and Danforth is cooking up a storm of traditional South Asian fare. Think: momos, curries, and biriyani.

Beijing’s famous Crispy Burgers have finally arrived in the 6ix. The first international location of Bingz opened Sunday at First Markham Place (3229 Hwy 7 E , Unit 11-12). You won’t find the usual accompaniments of fries or onion rings for the three burgers on the menu. Instead, you’ll find Wonton Soup, Hot & Sour Glass Noodles, and Liangpi with Sesame Sauce. No sodas either -choose Chang’an Soymilk or Plum Cold Brew.

Like its older sibling Cheese Boutique (45 Ripley Ave.), CB Bottega (29 Ripley Ave.) offers a whack of culinary wonders under one roof. The café, bakery, gelateria, and shop quietly debuted yesterday.

Chicken Plus + (3250 Midland Ave., Unit G106) softly landed in Scarborough over the weekend. Grand opening celebrations for the popular Korean fried chicken chain get underway tomorrow.

Kung Fu Tea, the American brand that founded ‘National Bubble Tea Day,’ never stops. Find the latest shop in North York’s SteelesTech Plaza (3365 Steeles Ave. E., Unit B3).

LJS Khasos Restaurant + Bar (507 Parliament St.) in Cabbagetown specializes in Italian and American fare. The new eatery does primarily pizza and pasta, but there’s a selection salads, sandos, and mains as well. The new eatery by the folks of Pickering’s Liverpool Johns Pub & Restaurant (1294 Kingston Rd.) established 2017, takes over the space held for decades by Peartree Restaurant.

Shhh… Mo Thai (3085 Hurontario St., Unit 13) by Chef Mo of Sala Thai Kitchen softly opened yesterday, with focused selections including her famous shrimp chips, calamari, Tom Yum Pad Thai, and rich curries.

Nava Social (514 King St. E.) moved into Odin’s old digs a few months back. The striking coffee house, “food lab,” bodega, and bottle shop stands out for many reasons including their breakfast sando, Cochinita Toast, Butterfly Pea Latte, and weekend Pocket Pies. 

One of the city’s top eateries, Rap’s Restaurant (1541 Eglinton Ave. W.) has expanded with Rap’s Tropical Ice Cream, a few doors down.

Home-based restaurant Real Taste Of JA in Scarborough is a dream come true for Janelle. “I have always had a passion for cooking. My parents immigrated from Jamaica and have taught me all I know.” She started cooking at the age of 12. “As I have gotten older I kept using the traditional recipes in my own way and now it’s become Real taste of JA,” she says. “I decided to open a business because I wanted to share my love of cooking with the community and friends around me.”.  Her fried chicken marinated , prepared and served fresh,  often with a special BBQ sauce, is popular. Items are prepared using ingredients and spices originating from Jamaican heritage.

I've been dishing on allll sorts of secret places lately, but I couldn't keep this one to myself any longer so I gave TR Newsletter subscribers the head’s up earlier this week... From the folks behind Cry Baby Gallery (1468 Dundas St. W.) comes their on-site 'Spicy Marg Lemonade Stand' here for your long walks, park hangs and happy hours. Open "any day it's warm out." See you there.

Psst. There’s a new hidden butcher in the east end. Stock in Trade (1324A Gerrard St. E.) is launching a second location inside wildly popular southern Italian 7 Numbers on the Danforth (307 Danforth Ave.). After a sneak peek on Saturday, doors officially opened this morning.

At Tasty Sip n' Bite (432 Parliament St.) in Cabbagetown, you can have it all. You’ll find burgers and spaghetti in amongst Asian soups, noodles, rice, stir-fries, hotpot and snacks, in addition to brekkie in varying sizes: small (Toast), medium (French Toast and Peanut Butter) and Large (Big Breakfast: Two eggs, bacon (3 pcs), ham (2 pcs), sausage (2 pcs) home fries, toast), and everything in between.

Unicorn Café debuted in The Annex at the end of 2019, closing a year later, but not for long. They’ve reopened in the east end at Woodbine and Danforth (2036 Danforth Ave.) with signature whimsical creations including Unicorn Croffles and Freak Shakes (ice cream milkshake with cotton candy, unicorn cookie, unicorn lollipop, marshmallows), set against pastel backdrops. 

The journey to Waska has been a long one for chef Elias Salazar: from Kay Pacha in 2017 to Kensington pop-up in summer 2019, Mrs. Robinson kitchen takeover a few months later, and teasers ever since. Waska Peruvian Chicken (805 Dovercourt Rd.) debuts tomorrow with a host of enticing fare including empanadas tamales, ceviches, alongside Chicharron ($14), Anticuchos Beef Heart ($14), Hamburguesa de Quinoa ($15), Rotisserie Chicken (half $20, whole $40), and Lomo Saltado ($20) featuring wok-fried top sirloin. [UPDATE May27 11:17pm - Opening has been delayed to June 4.]

CLOSED

Monday is the last day for Open House Bar (1051 Bloor St. W.).

After serving the Cabbagetown and Regent Park communities for a decade, Qi Sushi (358 Gerrard St. E.) permanently closed on Sunday.

I reported True Flavours’ debut in March, but it shut down for good last week.

CHANGES

Hong Kong Island Dim House moved to 248 Spadina Ave.

Corktown’s Rivertowne Deli  (510 Queen St. E.) - home of Meat Ball Potato Curry Roti, Chicken Parmesan Pasta, Spinach Paneer Rice, Tandoori Chicken Salad – is moving a few doors west  on Tuesday to 506 Queen St. E.

Tasty Korea (3323 Lake Shore Blvd. W.) in Etobicoke is now Tasty Korea to Japan, complete with tasty new menu selections.

EVENTS

Head to stackt market (28 Bathurst St.) tomorrow for special event in honour of Asian Heritage Month. Asian Heritage Night Market will feature Asian Led and Asian Owned businesses from across the city: Bean + Pearl, Caviar Citizen, Cuchara, FeasTO, Fersk Self Care, Joybird, Lao Food Co, Magic Oven, Make Kwento, Mama Joos Hot Sauce, Marathon Café, Oishi Box, Saigon Drip, Soft Dough Co., Tong Mein. A percentage of table fees will be donated Collective Society 360 to help create career and entrepreneurial development for BIPOC youth.

NEWS  

Even The BBC can’t believe we’ve been in lockdown this long.

With vaccine rates on the rise, restaurants are starting to announce dates for patio launches, but the industry is left wondering about many unknowns for Step 1 of the Ontario Re-Opening Plan, including essential info needed such as operating hours.

Toronto’s own chef Matty Matheson (Matty’s Patty’s Burger Club, Birria Balam, Maker Pizza, and Matty Mattheson’s Meat + Three in Fort Erie) has been cast in restaurant comedy pilot The Bear for FX. 

ICYMI

Chef Hyun Jung Kim is unstoppable. Two years ago he was doing five-course tasting menus + curated wine dinners at Core, his restaurant in Leslieville. Two months after the pandemic hit, he transformed it into Core Korean Kitchen, a destination for comforting Korean fare. His latest concept for the space, Core Bubble Tea, just debuted. Discover his recent cookbook purchase, fridge essentials, biggest influence (a local chef!) + much more in this week’s inspiring At The Pass.

Secret home-based pizzeria One Night Only Pizza has managed to remain largely under the radar for over a year, despite thousands of fans clamouring for their weekly porch drops. Now that a permanent spot’s opened, is it easier to get your hands on their elusive New York-esque pies? Find out. 

And stay tuned more news ahead in The Tip Off, exclusively available in the TR newsletter. 

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

 Life moves fast. (I wrote about +110 new arrivals in April alone.) Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.   

Things change quickly. Follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook for breaking news, updates, interviews + more.   

Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Get in touch.

Need help to spread the word about your menu, bottle shop, upcoming patio, but you’re on a budget? We can help. *Prices have been reduced to help local businesses during this time. Limited space available.