Popular Indonesian pop-up Sambal is preparing to open its first permanent location at 463 Danforth Avenue, coinciding with Indonesian Independence Day.
The new restaurant will mark a significant milestone for the Toronto-based business, which began as a home kitchen operation during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to BlogTO. Founders Maureen and Jasson, who started Sambal while they were students, grew the concept from a small side project into a beloved Indonesian food destination, with a loyal following across the GTA. Sambal will celebrate its opening with a private event on August 17, followed by a public opening on Monday, August 18.
“At first it was just a side hustle project, something fun to keep us busy, but it quickly became so much more,” Jasson and Maureen tell BlogTO. “For Indonesians here, the food felt nostalgic, [but] for everyone else, it was something completely new and exciting. It was a huge leap of faith for us, but that moment opened the door to something bigger, our food reaching not just Indonesians, but Canadians everywhere. Honestly, it feels surreal.”
Sambal gained momentum with a long-term pop-up at Square One Shopping Centre’s Food District in Mississauga, paving the way for this next chapter in the Danforth community. The location was most recently home to Camaleon, a spinoff from Pancho y Emiliano. The full menu is still under wraps, but more details are expected to be released soon.
“SAMBAL began as an online restaurant during the pandemic, a passion project born from a craving to share the food we grew up with, in a city where Indonesian cuisine was hard to find,” according to the company’s website. “What started as delivery-only quickly gained momentum. People loved the flavors, the comfort, and the sense of something new yet soulful. Encouraged by the response, we opened a pop-up in Mississauga, where we saw our food connect not just with Indonesians, but with a wider community of curious eaters. Now, we’ve found a permanent home here on The Danforth to make it even more accessible to all.”
