Updated: Kinton Ramen is expanding (again), this time to the Queen West strip

Since 2009, the team behind Vancouver-based Guu has been steadily dominating Toronto’s trendy Asian restaurant scene. In short order, they opened Guu Izakaya, JaBistro and Kinton Ramen, the popular Baldwin Street noodle bar that regularly sees lineups down the block—an impressive feat in a city crammed to capacity with noodle shops. To keep up with demands, Kinton recently added a second location in Koreatown, as well as a soon-to-open upstairs izakaya at the same address.

Now, Kinton is expanding again. The owners are in negotiations over a property on the Queen West strip—an area that could use a few top-tier ramen spots. (Currently, the closest noodle houses are Ramen Isshin on College and Touhenboku at Queen and McCaul.) Manager Natsuki confirms that the new location is in the works, and says they hope to open in the next six or eight months. “We’re not entirely sure when,” Natsuki says, “but it will be late summer or fall.”

UPDATE: We originally ran this post with the location of the new Kinton outlet incorrectly listed as 671 Queen Street West. The unit at that address will actually house a new outpost of noodle chain Kenzo Ramen. We regret the error, and have updated the post accordingly.