A West Coast street food favourite will finally make its long-rumoured debut in Toronto this summer, as beloved chain Japadog has announced it will soon open its first location in Canada's largest city.

The chain, known for its elaborately-topped, Japanese-inspired variations on hot dogs, announced at the start of May that it would open its first Toronto location this summer.

The news came along with a brief preview of Japadog's under-construction outpost on Yonge Street in the heart of downtown.

Japadog will be one of the businesses populating the street-level retail frontage of a recently completed condominium complex at 509 Yonge Street, midway between College and Wellesley.

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Bright red signage posted in the locations' windows, bearing the restaurant's branding, has already started to generate hype among locals.

The announcement does not offer a specific date for hot dog hopefuls, though, with summer just weeks away, locals won't have to wait too long to get a taste of this popular West Coast snack.

Japadog!

— A Mike (!) 🚈🌇 (@AndyRMike) May 8, 2024

It will be the first standalone Japadog in Toronto, but locals will be able to get a first taste of the brand when it opens a vendor stall at the new Wellington Market food hall opening at The Well on May 27.

Japadog has flirted with expansion beyond Vancouver in the past to varying success. A New York City location briefly existed before it was shuttered in 2013. The only existing location outside of the Vancouver area is a stand at Santa Monica Pier in California, which opened in 2022.