#FOOD: BTS ARIRANG WORLD TOUR PRE-MEAL IDEAS IN TORONTO

BTS is bringing its highly anticipated ARIRANG World Tour to Toronto for two performances at Rogers Stadium on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23, 2026, with both concerts beginning at 8 p.m.

Whether Toronto ARMY members are fuelling up before the concert, gathering for a post-show drink or celebrating without tickets, three of the city’s Korean-chef-led restaurants and bars are joining the excitement. From Friday, August 21 through Sunday, August 23, Lyla, No Vacancy and 156 ONE FIVE SIX will feature BTS-inspired food and cocktails while playing the group’s music throughout the weekend.

156 ONE FIVE SIX
IG. @onefivesix_156
📍1100 Queen St. W.

Chef and partner Myeongseok “MJ” Jeong brings a personal perspective to modern Korean cuisine. Raised in Yeosu, South Korea, Jeong moved to Canada in 2014, studied culinary arts at George Brown College and built his experience at acclaimed Toronto restaurants including Canoe, R&D and Canis. His original restaurant, 156 Cumberland, appeared in the Michelin Guide’s Toronto selection for three consecutive years before reopening on Queen West as 156 ONE FIVE SIX.

For BTS weekend, guests can try:
Hooligan Highball — $21
A BTS-inspired version of the restaurant’s Shiso Highball, made with Toki whisky, Momotoro peach sake, shiso oleo and soda.
ARIRANG Afterglow — $21
A celebratory take on the Asian Pear Spritz, combining pear eau-de-vie, Korean pear, pear oleo, lime, lychee boba and Prosecco.
BTS Naengmyeon — $20
Created especially for the weekend, this new dish offers a contemporary interpretation of naengmyeon, Korea’s iconic chilled noodle dish. It is best enjoyed alongside the restaurant’s popular kalbi.
Kalbi-Marinated Australian Wagyu Skirt Steak Ssam Platter, 6 oz — $60
Marinated Australian Wagyu skirt steak served with ssamjang, chimichurri, house pickles, white kimchi, salad and lettuce wraps.
Sujebi Pasta — $38
A major nod to Korean comfort food, 156’s contemporary sujebi pairs hand-torn-style pasta with U10 scallops, perilla butter, guanciale crumbles and zucchini purée.

Lyla
IG. @lylatoronto
📍60 Sudbury St.

Executive Chef Daniel Kim leads Lyla’s evolving coastal Mediterranean menu, bringing experience from several of Toronto’s most distinguished kitchens, including Michelin-starred Osteria Giulia, Michelin Guide-recommended Sammarco and Opus. His cooking combines Mediterranean technique with subtle Asian and Korean influences.
Lyla’s BTS weekend selections include:
Borahae — $25
Named for the BTS-associated expression meaning “I purple you,” this vivid cocktail combines Valley of Mother of God gin, Lillet Blanc, Choya, soju, lychee, yuzu and butterfly pea.
Yukhoe — $25
A BTS-weekend presentation of Lyla’s steak tartare, made with anchovy oil, pear gel, sous-vide egg yolk and a gochujang–Gouda crisp.
SWIM Platter — $95
A renamed version of Lyla’s Grand Plateau and a playful reference to BTS’s “SWIM.” Designed for sharing, the platter includes caviar bites, oysters, cocktail shrimp, chef’s ceviche, bluefin tuna crudo and accompaniments.
High resolution photos for Lyla available HERE.

No Vacancy
IG. @novacancyto
📍74 Ossington Ave.

No Vacancy’s Korean-Italian kitchen is led by Chef Brian Kang, whose résumé includes experience in Michelin-recognized restaurants such as Benu, DaNico and Don Alfonso 1890. His menu brings Korean flavours together with Italian ingredients and technique. No Vacancy was also ranked No. 14 on Canada’s 100 Best Bars list and appeared at No. 82 on the extended North America’s 50 Best Bars list.
BTS weekend features include:
Dynamite Bulgogi Arancini — $23
A renamed version of No Vacancy’s Bulgogi Arancini: crispy rice filled with marinated beef and Parmigiano Reggiano, served with kimchi aioli.
FIRE Gochujang Poutine — $19
A BTS-inspired spin on the bar favourite, featuring fries, gochujang gravy, scamorza and scallion.
No Vacancy’s existing Korean-inspired cocktails will also be available:
Buonasera Seoul — $20
Soju, dry curaçao, St-Germain, clarified citrus, sencha and tonic, served carbonated.
Bae — $23
Planteray 3 Stars rum, Boulard Calvados and pear cordial.

From pre-concert meals to ticket-free BTS celebrations, all three destinations offer fans a way to experience the excitement surrounding the ARIRANG World Tour through Korean flavours, themed cocktails and a weekend-long BTS soundtrack.
This is an independently produced, unofficial BTS-inspired dining celebration and is not affiliated with or endorsed by BTS, HYBE or the ARIRANG World Tour.