World-famous Vietnamese restaurant to open first Toronto location

A world-famous Vancouver-based restaurant known for its Vietnamese street food is officially making its way to a busy Toronto neighbourhood.

The city’s beloved Ossington strip has been buzzing with change lately. With the closures of notable restaurants like the award-winning Boehmer and fresh names like Calgary’s Central moving into iconic spaces, this popular neighbourhood is turning heads once again. The strip is gearing up to welcome yet another standout name to its evolving roster.

The Lunch Lady will open its first location in Toronto at 93 Ossington Avenue, taking over the space that Boehmer occupied and called home for more than a decade.

Benedict Lim, Executive Chef and Owner of The Lunch Lady, confirmed the news.

“We’re excited to bring our authentic and unique take on Vietnamese cuisine, with a focus on vibrant street food flavours, to the Toronto food scene,” shares Lim.

“The Lunch Lady has always been about sharing heartfelt dishes and the stories behind them, and we look forward to welcoming the Toronto community.”

They are currently hiring for several lead roles, including FOH Manager, Chef de Partie/Sous Chef, Chef de Cuisine and Bar Manager.

This bittersweet revelation comes just a day after we reported that Iron Chef Canada winner Paul Boehmer’s restaurant will no longer reopen.

Now, with a fresh new start for the space, fans of the West Coast establishment can look forward to savouring The Lunch Lady’s Vietnamese cuisine soon.

If you’re unfamiliar with the name, the story is as legendary as it gets. “Lunch Lady” was actually a name given to Vietnamese food stall owner Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh by the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain during his visit to her stall in Ho Chi Minh City.

It was already a popular food spot, but it soon gained worldwide recognition from locals and visitors who travelled to taste her famous noodle soups.

“The Lunch Lady” title stuck but it wasn’t until 2012 that Vancouver restaurant owner Michael Tran experienced her unforgettable cuisine firsthand. Describing the visit as life-changing, Tran reached out to Thanh in 2018, sparking a partnership to share her culinary passion with North America two years later.

Fast forward to 2022, and Lunch Lady earned a coveted Bib Gourmand designation when the Michelin Guide first arrived in Vancouver, an accolade celebrating exceptional food at an approachable price. Two more were awarded in the years to follow.

Now for Toronto’s opening, Lim shares that they are aiming to serve their delicious eats on the Ossington strip in May 2025.

With files from Hanna McLean & Phoebe Knight