Hometown Road Noodlehouse, the Calgary-born rice noodle specialist that has carved out a loyal following in Toronto’s PATH system, will open its second Toronto location at the Waterfront this fall at RBC WaterPark Place. The new location, expected to open between September and October, represents a strategic expansion for the family-operated business that has spent the past year perfecting its operations in the financial district.
The brand operates out of the TD Centre food court at 100 Wellington Street West, serving up to 40 customers in eight minutes during peak lunch hours while maintaining consistent quality across its focused menu of rice noodle soups priced between $12.80 and $16.80.
“We are trying to find that sweet spot in the middle,” said Angela Li, who handles marketing for the family business alongside her husband James Lin. “We are somewhat cheaper than the healthiest options out there. We are always healthier than all of your more cravings related options out there and then at the same time we taste really really good.”
The Hometown Road story began 15 years ago in Calgary, where Li’s in-laws Jason Lin and Linda Zhou operated a successful noodle operation. When the family relocated to Toronto to be closer to grandchildren, the COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly created opportunities in the PATH system that had previously been dominated by larger chains.
“Before COVID was my in-laws, they owned a different store in Calgary 10, 15 years ago,” Li explained. “Food was their main focus, so they’ve always been focused on just noodles and soup and just getting that to perfection. Fast forward to today, me and my husband, we met, we settled down in Toronto and we have kids. So they’re like, okay, I gotta move over and help out. They wanna see the grandchildren.”
James and Angela had both worked in the financial district for approximately 10 years and long believed there was real demand for another great lunch spot in the PATH. The pandemic created an unexpected business opportunity. “What happened before COVID was mainly a lot of the larger brands that contain, you know, your A&Ws and all the bigger brands out there, they were dominating the food court area,” Li said. “So to get into Toronto core district, that’s almost impossible unless someone came out and you have to take over their specific brand. And that’s not something we felt was for us. So after COVID, a lot of stores started closing down.”
The family deliberately streamlined their Calgary offerings to focus exclusively on what performed best. “Back in Calgary, like we had a rice portion, we had a teppanyaki portion, we sold ramen noodles as a substitute and all that, but everyone came back for the rice noodle,” Li said. “My in-laws, their background is from Southern China, so what they know best is rice noodles.”
Quality ingredient sourcing remains central to the operation, even when it creates challenges. During a supply shortage of their preferred free-range chicken, the restaurant had to adapt their broth preparation. “So if we put like four chicken into the pot, then for bone, we need like 10 to make up the same consistency, the savoriness of that broth,” Li said.
The streamlined menu features five main options, including their signature beef brisket noodle soup made with 100% Alberta beef, along with seafood, chicken, spicy pork, and tofu varieties. All soups are served with the restaurant’s signature free-range chicken broth or a vegetarian mushroom-based alternative.
Building market traction required patience. “For the past year, when we started, it was April last year at the TD place. We did not get much traction for the first three months. It was almost a failed business, honestly. Like every day was a struggle until word of mouth started spreading and then suddenly boom,” Li said.
The restaurant dedicates extensive preparation time to serve during their concentrated lunch window. “Lunch for two hours takes almost 12 hours for preparation,” Li explained.
The upcoming Waterfront location will replicate the TD Centre experience while potentially testing expanded hours. “We also love the area there. There’s a lot of buyside financial firms around that area. And we know that there is a small mix of people who live in the lakeside condos,” Li said.
The new location could serve as a testing ground for dinner service. “I believe that we might be able to do a bit of dinner as long as a couple of the joints in the food court are open at the same time. So it’s a joint effort,” Li said.
Beyond the Waterfront expansion, Hometown Road has fielded inquiries from other PATH locations. “We are open to new opportunities and we have been, you know, hit up by different locations,” Li said. However, the company is taking a measured approach to growth.
“We always imagine a better future, but right now we are very focused on what we already have and we’re constantly improving on top of it,” Li said. “So right now what we’re trying to do is actually we’re still improving on our operations, our efficiency, the quality of just the basic ingredients every single day. And we want to bring that to a max before we think about all the other fancy stuff.”
The brand has also developed a retail component, selling jars of their house-made chili oil for $15. As Li explained the origin of their name: “Back in Calgary, a lot of people mentioned, you know what, eating your noodle feels like the taste came from home. And they could be Vietnamese, from the Philippines. Some people, not even Asian backgrounds mentioned to us, you know what, there’s like this homey feeling of your noodle soup. So, well, hometown road. That was kind of just how it went.”
For expansion inquiries, the company can be reached directly at [email protected], as they currently work with brokers on a project basis rather than through exclusive representation agreements.
Dustin Fuhs is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of 6ix Retail, Toronto’s premier source for retail and hospitality industry news. As the former Editor-in-Chief of Retail Insider, Canada’s most-read retail trade publication, Dustin brings over two decades of expertise spanning retail, marketing, entertainment and hospitality sectors. His experience includes leadership roles with industry giants such as The Walt Disney Company, The Hockey Hall of Fame, Starbucks and Blockbuster.
Recognized as a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert in 2024 and 2025, Dustin delivers insider perspectives on Toronto’s evolving retail landscape, from emerging brands to established players reshaping the city’s commercial districts.