It isn’t the biggest nor the splashiest, but the Yonge-Eglinton location of the Mandarin buffet was the only one accessible by subway and centrally located enough that many Torontonians ordered their first Oreo shake or spent hours in the blazing sun hoping to score a free meal on Canada Day.
After 35 years, the midtown location will be closing permanently on Jan. 18, 2026, due to the lease expiring and redevelopment in the area, Mandarin CEO Tina Chiu said in a statement to the Star. The Canada Square office tower at 2200 Yonge St., which currently houses the Mandarin, is undergoing a major renovation to add new office space for Canadian Tire’s headquarters. Staff at Yonge-Eglinton are being offered transfers to Mandarin’s other locations, which remain open.
“Our Yonge and Eglinton location has had a successful run since opening in 1991. We have been proud to serve the community. Like all locations, Mandarin Yonge has been a part of numerous customer celebrations and special moments; it will live on in the memories of many,” said Chiu, whose family opened the first Mandarin restaurant in 1979 in Brampton as a takeout and delivery spot.
The Yonge-Eglinton intersection is more of a transitional zone than a destination, with takeout spots and small restaurants catering to solo diners and commuters on lunch breaks. Mandarin stood out, serving as one of the few places suitable for large gatherings. Its pink and green neon lights popped against the dreary concrete of the city block outside. Inside, double doors welcomed diners into a comforting, whimsically kitschy buffet, where the ceilings are painted sky blue and adorned with paper umbrellas, creating the feeling of a perpetual spring afternoon.
It’s the entry Mandarin for diners who don’t live in the suburbs, which includes my colleague, Briony Smith, who went down a rabbit hole of the family restaurant earlier this year after her initial visit. Unfortunately, the Eglinton LRT won’t be open in time for more transit users to get a taste of the Mandarin.
