Tahini’s to Open 30 New Restaurants Across Canada and the US in Two Years

Toronto’s most famous shawarma export is going big. Tahini’s, the Mediterranean fusion chain born in Toronto in 2012, has announced plans to open 30 new restaurants across Canada and the United States over the next two years. The chain currently operates 76 restaurants with 70 franchisees, and 2026 has already been a breakout year, with eight openings including first locations in Vancouver and Winnipeg, and two US openings in Chicago and New Jersey slated before year end.

What makes it special

Tahini’s is that rare restaurant brand that grew up on the internet first. Its YouTube channel counts 3 million subscribers and 2 billion views, a content engine that turned a Toronto shawarma shop into a national name before the store count caught up. The expansion plan reads like the physical footprint finally matching the digital audience.

The numbers tell the growth story. Eight openings in 2026 alone, first-ever locations in Vancouver and Winnipeg planting flags on the West Coast and the Prairies, and a US push into Chicago and New Jersey before the year closes. Thirty more across two countries in two years would take the chain well past 100 locations, a scale few Canadian-born quick-service brands ever reach.

What to expect

Expect the Tahini’s formula to travel well: shawarma wraps and bowls, Mediterranean fusion plates, and the fast-casual format that made the original Toronto locations work for lunch crowds. Co-founder and CMO Aly Hamam spoke directly about the expansion, signaling that the growth is franchise-led, with 70 franchisees already in the system.

For Toronto diners, the news is less about new local openings and more about watching a hometown brand scale. The chain started here in 2012; the next two years will show whether a YouTube-born shawarma concept can become a genuine cross-border player. Given the 2026 pace, the bet is that it can.

Practical details

Tahini’s was founded in Toronto in 2012 and currently operates 76 restaurants with 70 franchisees. The company plans 30 new restaurants across Canada and the US over the next two years. Eight locations opened in 2026, including firsts in Vancouver and Winnipeg, with Chicago and New Jersey openings expected before the end of the year.

The announcement was reported by Retail Insider on October 23, 2026, in a direct interview with co-founder and CMO Aly Hamam. The brand’s YouTube channel has 3 million subscribers and 2 billion views.

Who it is for

This is for franchise watchers tracking Canadian brands going cross-border, for Tahini’s regulars curious where the brand is headed, and for anyone who likes a good hometown success story. If you have ever fallen down the Tahini’s YouTube rabbit hole, the expansion will not surprise you.