#FOOD: HONEY CHINESE RE-BRANDS AS “HONEY: MORE THAN CHINESE”

Honey Chinese, part of INK Entertainment‘s acclaimed portfolio of hospitality destinations, is entering an exciting new chapter with the launch of an all-new menu and brand evolution: Honey: More Than Chinese. Beginning Thursday, June 18th, the restaurant expands its culinary focus beyond traditional Chinese cuisine, celebrating the diverse flavours, traditions, and stories found across Asia while remaining rooted in the heritage that first inspired Honey.

The new identity reflects a broader culinary journey, one shaped by recipes passed through generations and influenced by the destinations they travelled through. The result is a menu that explores the shared experiences connecting cultures beyond borders, offering guests a contemporary interpretation of Asia’s rich and diverse food traditions.

Leading this evolution is newly appointed Executive Chef Lee, whose extensive experience across Asian cuisines and travels throughout the region have helped shape the menu’s direction. Born in Korea, Chef Lee has spent his career exploring the culinary traditions of Asia, including working alongside renowned Chef Akira. These experiences have influenced his approach to balancing authenticity with modern technique, creativity, and presentation.

“At Honey, we wanted to create a menu that reflects the incredible diversity of Asian cuisine while honouring the traditions and stories behind every dish,” says Chef Lee. “The menu is inspired by the places, people, and flavours that have shaped my culinary journey and invites guests to explore Asia through a contemporary lens.”

At the heart of the new offering is an expanded selection of contemporary Pan-Asian and raw dishes. Highlights include Hamachi Tartare with lychee tiger’s milk and pickled Asian pear, Tuna Tartare with nam jim jeaw and avocado, Salmon Tartare with gochujang and pickled daikon, and Hiyashi Chuka, a chilled Japanese noodle dish layered with salmon, egg, cucumber, and sesame soy vinaigrette. Fresh, vibrant, and designed for sharing, these additions showcase the diverse culinary influences found throughout Asia.

The menu also introduces destination-inspired favourites such as Chicken Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles, alongside signature dishes including Black Garlic Boneless Shortrib, Coconut Curry Duck, Black Cod with ginger hoisin, Malaysian Fried Chicken, and Red Bean Seafood Fried Rice featuring Indonesian crab, shrimp, and bay scallops.

Guests will continue to find beloved Honey classics, including Penang Chicken Satay, Har Gow, Truffle Siu Mai, and Wagyu Fried Rice, creating a menu that blends familiar favourites with exciting discoveries.

More than a menu refresh, Honey: More Than Chinese is an invitation to explore the flavours, cultures, and culinary journeys that have shaped Asian cuisine for centuries—reimagined through a contemporary lens and designed to bring people together around the table.

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About Honey Chinese

Honey Chinese is a modern Asian dining destination within INK Entertainment’s portfolio of award-winning restaurants and hospitality experiences. Inspired by the flavours, traditions, and stories that connect cultures across Asia, Honey offers an immersive dining experience that blends heritage with innovation through elevated cuisine, thoughtful hospitality, and contemporary design.

About INK Entertainment

Founded by Charles Khabouth and led alongside President Danny Soberano, INK Entertainment is one of North America’s leading hospitality and lifestyle companies. With a portfolio spanning restaurants, hotels, nightlife venues, and entertainment destinations, INK is recognized for creating innovative concepts and memorable guest experiences that shape the hospitality landscape in Toronto and beyond.

#FOOD: PORTLAND SQUARE OPENS JULY 25, 2025 WITH FOUR NEW SPACES

INK Entertainment, led by CEO and Founder Charles Khabouth and Partner and President Danny Soberano, proudly announces the highly anticipated opening of Portland Square on Friday, July 25th. Located at the iconic intersection of King Street West and Portland Street, Portland Square reimagines an entire corner of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhood as a transformative, multi-level dining destination that blends playful storytelling, bold design, and unforgettable menus.

“Portland Square marks an exciting new chapter for King West, right at its hottest intersection,” says Charles Khabouth, CEO and Founder of INK Entertainment. “We’ve completely reimagined this building to bring something fresh, playful, and unexpected to the neighbourhood: four unique concepts under one roof, each with its own personality but all sharing the vibrant King West spirit. From the kitschy mobster theme of Primadonna’s Italian dining and rooftop patio to the bold flavours of Honey Chinese, the versatile Portland Room event space, and Rodeo Dive, our lively country sports bar, it’s four fun worlds, one destination. Every detail, from the carefully sourced ingredients on each menu to the striking murals and interiors, has been thoughtfully curated to create an atmosphere that feels bold, fresh, fun, and distinctly King West. With this multi-level dining destination, we’re proud to offer an experience that we believe will become the new heartbeat of King West.”

The Four Distinct Concepts:

· Primadonna (4th Floor & Rooftop):
A refreshed, kitschy space that playfully nods to Italian mobster legends and the bold, glamorous world of mob wives. Plush banquettes, vintage art, and playful details channel the spirit of classic red sauce joints, while a standout mural is set to become the must-snap, photo-worthy moment of every visit. Executive Chef Marc explains the menu features hearty, comforting dishes rooted in Italian American tradition, made with love and served with a sense of fun and true hospitality.

· Honey Chinese (3rd Floor):
Designed by award-winning designers Nivek Remas, Honey Chinese unfolds like a forgotten film reel, moody, magnetic, and entirely transportive. Drawing inspiration from the golden age of 1960s Asian cinema, especially Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love, the space pairs velvet shadows and lacquered tables with oversized red lanterns glowing like stills frozen in time. Chef describes the menu as inspired by the nostalgic charm of Canadian-Chinese restaurants many grew up with, combining playful neon orange sauces, over-the-top décor, and even a fortune cookie or two. All delicious, fun, and a little tongue-in-cheek.

· Portland Room (2nd Floor):
A versatile and stylish event space, designed to host everything from private dinners and cocktail receptions to brand launches and special celebrations, all within a design-forward, King West aesthetic.

· Rodeo Dive (Main Floor, opening this fall):
Also designed by Nivek Remas, Rodeo Dive is a lively country sports bar that blends big-game energy with vintage Western accents and playful details. Warm, laid-back, and full of character, it’s designed to become the perfect gathering place for game days and casual nights out alike. There will also be a live component, with a small stage for performances and special events.

Together, these four layered concepts create Portland Square, a destination where bold design meets curated menus, and every floor tells a different story, offers a different flavour, and delivers a different experience, all united by the energy of King West. More than just a collection of restaurants, Portland Square is designed to spark fun, energy, and iconic nights out.

From cinematic interiors and playful, nostalgic menus to rooftop views and photo-worthy design moments, every detail invites guests to linger, celebrate, and experience King West in an entirely new way. Portland Square promises to become more than a place to dine; it’s set to be a new landmark for the neighbourhood and the city.

Portland Square opens Saturday, July 26th, 2025, at 600 King Street W, Toronto.

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