Smoke's Poutinerie to open burrito chain and go global

Smoke's Poutinerie is getting into the burrito business. Founder Ryan Smolkin unveiled today the chain plans to roll out a new concept called Smoke's Burritories. It's just the latest initiative in the company's ambitious expansion plans which also include a chain of hot dog joints and a push to open as many as 1,300 new restaurants around the world by 2020.

What is now arguably the world's most successful poutine operation has come along way since it opened its first Smoke's way back in 2008. For years the company operated out of cramped office space across from Filmore's Strip club before relocating to its now global headquarters in Ajax.

Aside from being a favourite Toronto late night eats option, Smoke's has also gained visibility from its popular World Poutine Eating Championships that it first hosted in 2010 and staged to growing audiences in every year since (no event has been announced for 2015.)

Now it's taking its show on the road and has already opened a Smoke's Poutinerie location in Berkeley, California with Las Vegas, LA, Europe, Australia and the Middle East to come.

Will Smoke's Poutinerie be Canada's most successful global restaurant chain ever? Let us know in the comments.

Photo by Tony Chen.