ON THE MENU: WHAT’S OPENED AND CLOSED ON THE LOCAL RESTAURANT SCENE

Here's a list of what has come, gone and changed in Hamilton and Burlington in June.

Launched

Alei Kitchen (1400 Plains Rd. E., Burlington)
Taste the fire-kissed flavours of Miao culture with a modern twist at this newly opened Chinese eatery on Plains Road at Brant. Make sure to try the signature dish, Huaxi beef rice noodles. Soft opening happened June 28.
IG: @aleikitchen.official

Aroma Latin Bites (193 King St. E., Hamilton)
Tucked away on the second floor above Brothers Grimm, you’ll find this Latin café offering coffee, sandwiches, snack-sized tamales, empanadas, and pandebono waffles. 
IG: @aromalatinbites

BT65 Restaurant Cafe (215 King St. E., Hamilton)
A new Turkish restaurant has opened in the heart of Hamilton’s International Village, fully Halal and offering dishes like chicken curry, kebab and kofte with bulgar, beef gezzedia, with rice pudding, waffles, and a variety of milkshake flavours for dessert.
IG: @bt65restaurantcafe

Coffee Brick (210 Parkdale Ave. N., Hamilton)
A large, bright, modern new café serving Korean drinks and Asian-inspired desserts like strawberry matcha lattes and mochi has opened much to the delight of residents in this east-end neighbourhood. Open daily 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
IG: @coffeebrick_ha

East End Social (1342 Main St. E., Hamilton)
Bringing new life to the legendary Rankin’s Bar & Grill that closed last month, East End Social’s grand opening happened June 28 with much fanfare. The menu includes a large selection of breakfast options, served until 3 p.m., and pub favourites for lunch and dinner. 
IG: @eastendsocialhamilton

Eem Khao (301 James St. N., Hamilton)
This highly anticipated spot had a soft open last month with takeout only, and has now opened for dine-in as well. The menu is inspired by the Chinatown of Bangkok and features shrimp rolls, steamed pork wonton, yumtaohu zaab tofu with rice, khao man gai poached chicken thighs with schmaltzy rice and soy bean, ginger, cilantro sauce and cucumber.
IG: @eemkhao

Mo'Cha Cafe & Saladaa (676 Appleby Line, Burlington)
This rapidly expanding GTA franchise has opened a location in Burlington, and Hamilton is on the radar for a location soon as well. The menu features signature bubble teas, smoothies, salads, wraps, sandwiches, as well as cheesecake slices from the Cheesecake Factory.
IG: @mochacafe.burlington

Silver Spoon (3247 Appleby Line, Burlington)
A small local franchise that started in Toronto 25 years ago, Silver Spoon now has a Burlington location serving up its Pakistani and Indian Halal cuisine in a unique fast-casual buffet style takeaway.
IG: @silverspoongta

Tanghulu Tanghulu (1051 King St. W., Hamilton)
Westdale’s trendy Chung Chun has expanded to include a dessert buddy, Tanghulu Tanghulu, which features an even trendier dessert, fresh fruit coated in a crispy sugar shell on a stick. You can also indulge in the famous Coco Cup – fresh strawberries smothered in 100 per cent Belgian chocolate.
IG: @tanghulutanghulu

Westdale Café (1004 King St. W., Hamilton)
The short-lived café in Westdale formerly known as Next Door Café has moved to the location vacated by Westdale Second Cup last month. The new menu focuses on Bagel Street bagels, as well as desserts, coffee, plus matcha, houjicha, turmeric, black sesame and taro lattes and signature drinks like affogato and bingsu. A self-serve Japanese ramen bar in the evenings to sustain students during long days of studying will be available. Grand opening July 1.
IG: @westdale_cafe

White Lotus Restaurant (1008 King St. W., Westdale)
Newly opened in the location that was formerly Delirious Burger for many years, White Lotus brings authentic Thai flavours to Westdale. Think Thai comfort food favourites like fresh veggie rolls, mango salad, pad thai, cashew nut chicken, green curry and red curry.
IG: @whitelotus_restaurant

Opening soon

PER’SO’NA (14 James St. N., Hamilton)
A new restaurant is opening soon in the spot recently vacated by Bardō on James, and it’s shrouded in mystery. The website touts its menu as “restless, curious, evolving. Built on the foundation of quality, simplicity, and intention … Some dishes will nod to the familiar, others will speak in new tongues.”
IG: @eatpersona

Rebranding & evolving

Hammerheads (74 Ottawa St. N., Hamilton)
The beloved seafood eatery has moved to bigger digs in the same neighbourhood, now allowing for dine-in. The menu continues to be 100 per cent gluten-free, with the freshest selection of primarily Canadian seafood. Retail sales of fresh seafood will continue as well. Open Tuesday to Saturday.
IG: @eathammerheads

Joshy’s Good Eats (1111 Cannon St. E., Hamilton)
The little market stall that opened during the pandemic has grown up and moved into a full brick and mortar, serving up from-scratch, hand-rolled bagels, baked fresh every day. Get them by the dozen or try a sandwich with house-smoked salmon. Open Wednesday to Sunday.
IG: @joshysgoodeats

Closed & closing

The Little Grasshopper Café (Barton Street East, Hamilton)
The Portuguese café beloved by the neighbouring community is closing after 10 years, with owner Maria Silva retiring and selling the restaurant. The social media post announcing the closure went on to say, “What started as her vision became a vibrant gathering place full of love, culture, and community.”  The last day is July 11. 

Pho Lac Vien (York Blvd, Hamilton)
After 14 years in business serving Vietnamese cuisine, owners Be & Dao posted a sign that announced their retirement and closure of the business as of June 1. “Though we are closing our doors,” they wrote, “we will carry with us all the warmth and joy this community has given us.”

Sushi Azuki (Ottawa Street North, Hamilton)
The second location of this Hamilton business was only open two years on Ottawa Street. Owners posted on social media that “while making new friends and seeing happy customers made things easier for us, the physical and health costs to keep both stores going is too much for us right now.” A new sushi restaurant will be taking over the spot, and Sushi Azuki will continue on at its Locke Street location.

Tall Tree Sandwich Co (King Street East, Hamilton)
The highly rated neighbourhood sandwich spot quietly closed up shop without any final announcements on their social media. It was opened by the team behind the popular Betula restaurant in Dundas and was the go-to place for cod po’boys, hot beef dip and fried chicken sandwiches.

– List compiled by HAMILTON CITY Magazine contributor Suzanne Zandbergen. If you have a restaurant opening or changing, please let us know at meredith@hamiltoncitymagazine.ca.