Momofu-T.O.? Rumours swirling that N.Y.C.’s David Chang to open Toronto location in late 2012

Momofu-T.O.? Rumours swirling that N.Y.C.’s David Chang to open Toronto location in late 2012

David Chang at the Lucky Rice Night Market in New York (Image: dumbonyc)

There must be something in the air, soil or, more likely, our flirtation with luxury chain hotel/condos. First Scarpetta’s Scott Conant hung his shingle at the Thompson Hotel on Wellington. Now it appears that David Chang, the rock star Korean-American chef and owner of the Momofuku empire (not to mention cookbook author and publisher of the upcoming Lucky Peach iPad app and McSweeney’s cookbook imprint) will be coming to Toronto’s new Shangri-La at University and Richmond.

Rumours surfaced this week on UrbanToronto.ca, where one of the members posted details leaked from the hotel group’s sales and marketing materials. The operation appears to span three floors, and will be located at the northeast end of the complex (as opposed to the hotel’s main restaurant on the SE corner, flanking University Avenue).

When asked on Twitter about the move, Chang tweeted a cryptic response to Toronto writer Benjamin Leszcz about an hour ago that seemed to confirm plans for a late-2012 opening (and an appreciation of Toronto sports):

@bleszcz > chris bosh south beach sucks…hello southern ontario > Phaneuf, Bargnani & Bautista > late late 2012ish? via westbank>shangri-la

It has yet to be confirmed which, if any, of the Michelin-starred chef’s brands will take form in the new space (calls to Shangri-La and Momofuku were not immediately returned). One thing’s for sure: Toronto chefs and food writers are already buzzing with excitement. Stay tuned for more information.

UPDATE: Not one but two Momofuku restaurants are coming to Toronto. See our new post »