World-famous Japanese food chain opening first Toronto location this winter

A Japanese food chain with hundreds of locations worldwide is finally opening its first Toronto location in the coming months.

2025 has been a big year in Toronto when it comes to Japanese food chains — big and small — coming to the city. We've gotten locations of B.C.-based phenom Saku, Japan's Kajiken and even Chef Akira Back's Nikkei masterpiece TONO.

2026, it seems, is going to get off on a similar foot, with the arrival of a major Japan-based udon chain that has recently begun its Canadian expansion effort early in the year.

Founded in Japan back in 2000, Marugame Udon is making a bid for Toronto's favourite noodle shop of 2026 — even though it's still weeks from opening. Given its worldwide legacy, it might just have a bid at the title.

Centred around an open kitchen, Marugame serves up steaming bowls of Sanuki udon and light, crispy tempura. The square-shaped, chewy noodles, though made from the simple trio of flour, water and salt, are a labour of love to be sure, but the chain still makes them fresh, by hand at each location.

It's clearly a recipe for success. Over the past quarter-century, Marugame's fleet has ballooned to over 800 locations in Japan, plus an additional 200 spread across Asia, North America and Europe.

The chain opened its first Canadian location in Vancouver back in early 2024, and is due to open a location in Calgary on December 26, 2025. As for Toronto's first location of the chain, the opening date is still up in the air, but in any event, we shouldn't have to wait too long for it.

"We definitely don't have a definitive date," Marugame tells blogTO. "This winter is all we can say at this [point.] Earliest would be late [January,] but as these things go, they can push later."

So, in the meantime, you'll just have to stay fuelled by the visions of udon noodles dancing around your head, but you'll certainly be able to rest easy knowing Marugame will soon be here to warm your system on the winter's chilliest days.

Marugame Toronto will be located at 494 Yonge St.