Following the success of last year's lobster launch, the Canadian-born QSR brings another premium seafood favourite beyond the traditional restaurant appetizer
MONTREAL, Sept. 23, 2026 /CNW/ -- – Thai Express is making another play for premium protein, this time with calamari. The Canadian-born QSR is launching its first-ever Crunchy Calamari, making a premium seafood favourite accessible to more Canadians.
The launch follows last year's highly successful lobster debut, which quickly became one of Thai Express' most in-demand limited-time offerings and revealed an appetite for premium proteins beyond the usual quick-service choices.
Thai Express is building on that demand with calamari, giving Canadians more ways to enjoy a premium seafood favourite beyond the traditional restaurant experience.
The new Crunchy Calamari also goes beyond the traditional appetizer plate. Crispy and golden, it can be enjoyed with fried rice as a main, on its own with a sauce, or added as the protein to an eligible Thai Express favourite.
"Our guests have shown us they're ready for more premium protein choices," said Loune Thongvan, co-founder of Thai Express. "We want to keep surprising them with premium favourites prepared with a distinctly Thai Express twist."
New Crunchy Calamari headlines the Meet the Crunchies lineup from Thai Express, joined by another new limited-time offering, Spiced PopBok, featuring crispy, bite-sized chicken with a spicy kick. The two new additions join existing favourites Imperial Rolls and General Thai Beef, creating a four-item lineup that puts the spotlight on some of the biggest crunches on the menu.
Thai Express officially unveiled the new Meet the Crunchies lineup at a special preview in Montreal, returning to the city where its story began and grew from a local concept into a global franchise
The full Meet the Crunchies lineup is on menus now at Thai Express locations across Canada, with Crunchy Calamari and Spiced PopBok available for a limited time.
High-res photos available here.
About Thai Express
Founded in Montreal in 1998, Thai Express has grown from a single location into one of Canada's most recognized quick-service Thai restaurant concepts, with more than 300 locations worldwide. Known for made-to-order dishes including Pad Thai, Pad See Ew and General Thai, Thai Express brings bold Thai flavours to guests across Canada and internationally, with locations in the United States, United Kingdom and Guyana. Thai Express is part of MTY Food Group, one of North America's leading franchisors and operators of restaurant concepts.
SOURCE Thai Express
For more information, please contact: Sherri Zielinski, 647-999-2567 [email protected]; Sage Chislett, 705-772-7280 [email protected]
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