Viral Toronto dessert shop quietly closes and has already been replaced
A Toronto dessert shop that made shockwaves across the city when it opened its doors in 2024 has suddenly closed its original location. Here's the kicker: it's already been replaced.
When Tanghulu Tanghulu, which touted itself as the first shop in the city to serve the titular tanghulu, first opened its doors in Toronto, the dessert shop dominated the local foodie airwaves for weeks.
Opening in the spring of 2024, Tanghulu Tanghulu was an instant success, serving — what else? — the Chinese snack that consists of a fruit skewer coated in melted sugar. When the sugar hardens, it gives the fruit a satisfying crunch, its sweetness contrasting with tart fruits like green grapes and mandarin orange slices.
The dessert had already been gaining considerable attention online for some time before Tanghulu Tanghulu landed in Toronto, creating a perfect storm for the shop's success — and things only ramped up from there.
In under two years, the chain has expanded to an impressive seven locations in and around the city, racking up more than 20k followers on Instagram. And, while things don't appear to be slowing down any time soon for Tanghulu Tanghulu, the same can't be said for the Queen West location that started it all.
The chain has officially, albeit quietly, packed things up at its founding Queen and John location, though its tenure in the area continues: the chain opened an outpost just a few blocks west of the original at Petview Pet Supplies.
Don't even get me started on the logistical nightmare of keeping dog and cat hair out of that sticky, melted sugar. If they've got it sorted out, that's all that matters.
The chain appears to be gearing up to open a new location in or around TMU (Dundas) station, too. It'll be in great company with the recently opened Roywoods' patty kiosk, at least.
The auspicious carcass of Tanghulu Tanghulu's original location (which was X-rated waffle shop Members Only before that) isn't going to waste, though.
In early March 2026, the space was taken over by Japan Taco.
A fixture at events and festivals around the city for years, this marks the first permanent location for the Japanese-inspired taco venture, which has made its name serving one-of-a-kind "tacos," cradled in crispy nori, loaded with seriously impressive servings of seafood.
Japan Taco — formerly Tanghulu Tanghulu — is located at 252 Queen St. W.
Fareen Karim
