Happy Child closes; west-end revelers lose a late-night snack destination

With dozens of late-night snack bars now populating Toronto’s west end, statistics alone seemed to guarantee that not all of them would thrive. The latest to call it quits is Happy Child, the West Queen West dive known for its over-the-top gourmet fast food and creepy Big Boy-style cartoon signage. Just over a year after opening, the bar has shut its doors—at least temporarily.

“We are closed for the time being,” says owner and chef Fan Zhang, who worked at 416 Snack Bar and The Drake before launching his own snack-focused spot. The reason for the closure, according to Zhang, is a heated financial dispute with the building’s landlord. The bar won’t reopen unless or until things are resolved. In the meantime, Zhang is working on an “exciting new development,” the specifics of which are still under wraps. Stay tuned for details.