Toronto's favourite steak sandwich shop is finally opening another location
The people behind Toronto’s most popular steak sandwiches are finally opening another location in the city next month.
It’s been said before that, if you’ve never tried the Original Steak Sandwich from Little Italy’s BEAR Steak Sandwiches, you’ve never lived. Okay, maybe we were the ones saying that, but it does hold true.
Founded by longtime friends Ricardo Barrientos and Aki Erenberg in the immediate wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, to say that BEAR Steak was an instant hit in Toronto would be an understatement.
Despite humble beginnings — Aki and Ricardo first began selling the chimichurri steak sandwiches from the backyard of Ricardo’s family home in 2021 — the Toronto hype machine took hold of BEAR Steak and did not let go, snowballing the business into sheer sandwich stardom.
Come 2023, BEAR Steak had developed an iron-clad reputation for serving some of the (if not the) best steak sandwiches in the city, and they further cemented their status by opening a brick-and-mortar on College.
Nowadays, you’d still be hard-pressed to show up to BEAR Steak Sandwiches and not find it flooded with hungry first-time foodies and returning regulars, though the team has honed down their methods so that even if the sandwich shop is slammed, you rarely have to wait longer than 10 minutes for your perfectly rare steak sandwich, smothered in enough garlicky chimichurri sauce to ward off vampires for a year.
In the years since their launch, they’ve also expanded the menu to include a Roast Pork Sandwich served with a steaming cup of pork jus for dipping, as well as a particularly good-looking Cheeseburger. If you ask us, though, it’s all about the original.
Now, BEAR Steak Sandwiches is expanding even further, as they gear up to open a sister location at The Well’s Wellington Market Food Hall, and they’ve got some big plans for the space.
“Our first location showed us just how hungry Toronto is for food that’s bold, creative, and made with intention,” says Aki. “This second location isn’t just about growth; it’s about pushing our creativity, collaborating with local talent, and becoming part of more people’s everyday routines.”
Of course, you’ll be able to pick up their now-famous steak sandwiches at the stall, but the team is also planning some exciting collaborations with other local legends. In the past, they’ve collaborated with the likes of Renaissance Pizza, Great Fountain, and Favourites Thai BBQ, so you can expect some pretty tasty stuff in store.
“With food in Toronto, it’s never just about the meal — it’s about who you’re with, the story behind it, and how it brings people together,” says Ricardo. “This next chapter gives us even more space to push our creativity and make what we do more accessible to everyone.”
BEAR Steak Sandwiches’ newest location at The Well officially opens on Monday, July 14.
BEAR Steak Sandwiches (The Well)
Address:Â Wellington Market Food Hall, 486 Front St. W.
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