Mississauga’s Ridgeway Plaza made headlines earlier this year when The New York Times called it “The Suburb That Won’t Sleep.” The sprawling plaza is home to roughly 120 South Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants and has become a magnet for late-night crowds, along with its fair share of weekend parking headaches. Now, one of its Iraqi chargrilled chicken spots is bringing its delicious, late-night menu to downtown Toronto.
Ketkoot, known for its 100 per cent halal menu and loyal following in the suburbs, is getting ready to open a new location at Yonge and Dundas. The downtown outpost is part of a bigger expansion that also includes a Vaughan location, with four more GTA spots planned. It’s a big move for the Mississauga favourite, taking it from the busy parking lots of Ridgeway Plaza to one of Toronto’s busiest intersections.
While plenty of restaurants rely on broilers and bottled hot sauce, Ketkoot takes a more traditional approach rooted in Iraqi home cooking. The chicken is hand-slaughtered and marinated in spices for a full 36 hours before it ever hits the grill. Cooked over an open flame, it comes off with a smoky, crisp exterior and juicy, tender meat inside.
If you want to order like a regular when the downtown location opens, go straight for the Musahab wrap. Staff pull the warm chargrilled chicken off the bone by hand, toss it in mild or hot sauce and wrap it up with pickles and their house-made Ketkoot sauce, which packs a slow-building heat. The menu also includes pulled chicken sliders, caramelized jumbo wings and whole chicken plates served with seasoned rice, warm pita and a generous helping of garlic sauce.
The Yonge and Dundas location doesn’t have an opening date just yet, so keep an eye on Ketkoot’s social media for updates. In the meantime, you can head to the original spot at 3450 Platinum Drive in Mississauga, if you’re willing to brave the Ridgeway Plaza traffic.