Toronto restaurant that shut down making a comeback with new concept
A Toronto restaurant that recently announced its permanent closure due to rising costs is making a comeback, this time with a much simpler concept focused on takeout and one of Singapore's most nostalgic dishes.
Jeannie Chai and David Burga, who co-founded Kiss My Pans and Agak Agak, are preparing to launch Kiss The Beast, a new takeout-focused restaurant specializing in Hainanese chicken rice.
The news comes after Chai and Burga announced that both Kiss My Pans and Agak Agak would be shutting down permanently, citing rising food costs, climbing rents, and decreased foot traffic.
"This is a bittersweet moment but as business owners, we have to know when to pull the plug. We've been facing uncertainties for a while due to rising cost of goods," the pair previously wrote in an Instagram announcement.
"Our rents have continued to climb. Our customers are dining out less and we get it, things are expensive and the climate is uncertain."
Now, the duo is taking a different approach with the launch of Kiss The Beast, a mostly takeout operation with just a few bar seats for in-person dining and a streamlined, condensed menu centred on Hainanese chicken rice.
The updated menu features two main options, namely poached Hainanese chicken served with rice cooked in chicken fat, ginger-scallion oil, and cucumber slices, as well as a roasted chicken version.
"Chicken rice is Singapore's national dish. I grew up eating it at least four times a week as a kid. It is comfort food and easily accessible," Chai told blogTO. "David also grew up eating Swiss Chalet in Canada. Who doesn't love chicken?"
Although the new concept's menu will be considerably smaller than Kiss My Pans, there will still be a selection of sides and snacks to choose from, including appetizers like chili crab dip served with fried mantou (Chinese steamed bun), rojak (Southeast Asian fruit and vegetable salad), braised egg, and silken tofu with olives.
Chai says focusing on a smaller menu will cut down on labour and ingredient costs significantly.
"We want to provide value without compromising on quality, so moving forward, we will focus on ingredients that are easily accessible in Canada," she explained.
For Chai, the decision to reopen is also about continuing to bring Singaporean food to Toronto, where she feels the cuisine remains underrepresented despite its international reputation for its vibrant food culture.
"The lack of representation was honestly depressing. SG is well known for its food, but at the same time, we know why there aren't any here. It's time-consuming to make and ingredients are expensive and hard to procure," she told blogTO.
"The biggest thing is that Asian food is still expected to be cheap. We had essentially crammed 10 to 15 very different hawkers into our previous shops, and that's what made it challenging for us. By going back to the basics and focusing on one main dish, we'll be able to streamline everything else."
Kiss The Beast is set to soft open on Sunday, Oct. 25 from 12 to 9 p.m. To celebrate its opening, the first 50 customers will receive a free curry puff, while the next 50 will get a free drink.
Meanwhile, the former Agak Agak space at 253 Gerrard St. E. remains vacant, with Chai and Bruga continuing to look for someone to take over the location.
Kiss The Beast is located at 713 College St.
Fareen Karim
