Edo Japan’s national growth story is unfolding across Canada’s retail landscape, with the Calgary-founded quick-service brand accelerating expansion into new provinces and urban markets. The company, known for its approachable Japanese teppan-style meals, plans to add hundreds of locations from British Columbia to Atlantic Canada over the next few years, with Ontario and Quebec emerging as the core focus of its multi-year expansion strategy.The company, which began with a single teppan grill at Calgary’s Southcentre Mall in 1979, now counts more than 200 restaurants nationwide and is investing in new store formats, menu innovation and digital ordering as it grows.
“We’ve held onto the original foundation,” said Dave Minnett, President & Chief Executive Officer of Edo Japan. “From our first Calgary location to the more than 200 restaurants today, the same principles apply – freshly prepared food, made to order, with a focus on hospitality. He added that the brand’s franchise model, conceived to give families and entrepreneurs a path to ownership, remains central to the company’s growth plan.
Quebec Expansion
Later this year, Edo Japan will reintroduce the brand in downtown Montréal with a redeveloped flagship at Montreal Eaton Centre, marking the start of a province-wide expansion. For the Quebec market, the brand will be presented locally with a small name variation, Edo Japon, as an early signal of cultural respect and adaptation to language requirements. Everywhere else in the article and across Canada, the brand remains Edo Japan.
“Quebec represents a significant long-term growth opportunity for Edo Japan,” said Jeff Parkinson, Vice President, Restaurant Development at Edo Japan. “Consumer demand for Japanese cuisine is already strong, and we see excellent potential in both enclosed mall and high-street environments. We’re actively engaging with developers and landlords who share our long-term vision for the market, while partnering with experienced local operators to build a strong, sustainable presence across the province.”
The Montreal Eaton Centre location gives the brand a high-trial environment to relaunch. ““Montreal Eaton Centre provides the visibility and traffic we need to accelerate brand awareness,” added Parkinson. “It’s a high-profile setting that allows guests to experience the brand at its best. Our updated design, digital menu systems, and a modernized menu that extends well beyond our signature teriyaki meals.”
“We’re taking a deliberate, long-term approach to growth,” said Parkinson. “That means working closely with developers and landlords to secure the right locations and ensure each new restaurant adds value to the surrounding tenant mix. We’re focused on sustainable expansion with experienced multi-unit franchise partners who understand the market and share our commitment to building a strong foundation in Quebec.”
From Prairie Staple to Cross-Canada Platform
Edo Japan’s national footprint has widened rapidly in recent years, moving from a Western Canadian staple toward a coast-to-coast platform. Ontario has emerged as the leading growth market, with a strategic mix of suburban street-front sites and select urban placements. Last year, the company opened a high-profile restaurant at Yonge and College in Toronto, a milestone that Minnett characterizes as the brand’s first true foray into a dense downtown landscape.
“The success of our Yonge and College restaurant is shaping how we think about urban development,” said Minnett. “It reaffirmed that our brand performs exceptionally well beyond traditional mall settings. Street-front locations now represent about 75 percent of our new openings, and they’ve become the primary driver of our expansion.”
The brand has also crossed into Atlantic Canada, opening in Fredericton and mapping additional Maritimes locations. “Ontario is number one for growth, Quebec is next, and the Lower Mainland is on our radar,” Minnett said. “We are building density on Vancouver Island and in the Interior, and now the Lower Mainland is coming.”
Edo Japan expects to maintain a cadence of 20 to 25 new restaurants per year in Canada. “We project to be at about 215 as we come into January 2026,” Minnett said. “Looking a little further out, we expect to be at about 275 as we move into the spring of 2028.” He emphasized that the pace will continue to be guided by franchisee success. “Franchisee profitability is at the forefront of our principles. If you lose that, you do not have a scalable model.”
Menu Evolution, Technology and The “Masters of the Grill”
Edo Japan has invested in a thoughtful evolution of the menu that respects the brand’s roots at the grill. The signature teriyaki meals remain the heart of the offer, complemented by ramen with a “killer broth,” poke bowls that have earned a permanent place after a strong trial, sushi that supports recognition in new markets and a fast-growing bubble tea program designed to reach younger guests.
“We want new items to earn their way onto the menu,” Minnett said. “Poke bowls have done so well we are keeping them, and you can expect another entry or two in that category next year.” A new store design prototype debuted this summer in Ontario, starting in Oakville and then Burlington, with a West Vancouver mall location planned as another early adopter. “We will learn and then scale that out across new stores and renovations starting in spring 2026,” Minnett said.
Technology is reshaping the guest experience and operations. Digital ordering now represents roughly 30 percent of revenue across the system. “Cooking fresh to order has always been one of our defining principles,” said Minnett. “While that approach takes a little more time, it’s also what makes our food stand out. Our app helps bridge that gap by allowing guests to order ahead and enjoy freshly prepared meals right when they’re ready.” The company has layered in loyalty to reward repeat visits and encourage families to pre-plan, which also helps restaurant teams sequence the grill.
The same mindset applies to delivery. “Our food travels well and presents well,” Minnett said. “Canadians are looking for convenience. We like those channels when quality holds.”
Responsible Franchising and Operational Discipline
Edo Japan’s expansion is anchored in a disciplined franchise approach. The brand operates a small number of corporate training restaurants and invests in regional leadership to provide on-the-ground support. “We have extensive training programs,” Minnett said. “We also scale our organization in parallel with growth. We believe we need good leaders close to communities, working with franchise partners. For example, we already have several operations leaders in Ontario with around 20 stores and more to come.”
Fit is as important as finance. “We start by ensuring like-mindedness,” Minnett said. “People who understand hospitality and the day-to-day reality. We sometimes ask candidates to mirror a franchisee behind the counter for a day. There is no better way to see it firsthand.”
Urban Experiments and U.S. Learnings
While Canada remains the focus, Edo Japan is running a controlled pilot in the United States to refine the concept for new contexts. The first American restaurant opened this spring in Chandler, Arizona, with a second set for Scottsdale Fashion Square and a third in Gilbert. The company is partnering in a joint venture with a Canadian family operator to manage the localization process.
“We understand that not everything translates seamlessly across markets,” said Minnett. “Portion expectations differ, and guest preferences can shift in subtle ways. These early learnings allow us to fine-tune the concept thoughtfully before considering broader scale.”
What Edo Japan learns in U.S. malls and high-traffic districts may inform future urban moves in Canada. The Yonge and College restaurant in Toronto has already validated demand for Edo Japan in dense, mixed-use neighbourhoods with strong daytime and evening populations.
Canadian Future
As the brand grows across provinces, that sensibility is shaping how Edo Japan partners with franchisees, suppliers and communities. The company’s test-and-learn discipline, proudly Canadian sourcing, and emphasis on franchisee economics form a through-line from Alberta to Ontario and, now, to Quebec.
“We see enormous runway here at home,” Minnett said. “We’re proud of our Canadian roots, and that pride shows up in everything we do. From our sourcing to our store design. we’ll keep modernizing while staying true to what Canadians have loved about Edo Japan for more than 45 years.”
For more information on leasing or franchising opportunities with Edo Japan ahead of ICSC, please contact: Jeff Parkinson, Vice President, Restaurant Development, at: jeffp@edojapan.com
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