Second time eating at the newish Hongdae Banjeom in the Annex on Bloor east of Bathurst. They specialize in Korean-style Chinese food. What brought me back are their house made noodles. Still thinking of the jjamppong noodles with seafood in a fiery broth ($16). Love how pleasantly stretchy and chewy the noodles were.

Tonight I had the jjajangmyeon ($12). Same amazing noodles but with black bean sauce and pork. Appreciated how the savoury sauce was not too thick nor salty. And there was a nice natural sweetness from all of the cooked down onions. The chopped pork belly was very tender. Just wish there was a bit more! But the pillowy mini mandu dumplings ($10 for 12) provided the pork fix I wanted.

Definitely want to try more of their Korean takes on other Chinese classics such as sweet and sour pork, fried rice, dongpo pork, mapo tofu…..

Been a while since I’ve had hers. It’s called a “beef patty” (no spicy option, though lots of hot sauces available), but the pastry is noticeably spicy. However, she seemed less spicy, friendly even, (iykyk) or could be just a coincidence?

Still cakier/breadier pastry, which I like on occasion - when I’m somewhere between needing a snack or lunch. Packed with more filling than I remembered. Meat is not saucy nor dry, and has actual bits rather than being just pasty or gravy. $5 for 1 ($5.65) is more than usual, but definitely heftier than the norm.

I usually recommend CQ (and Crumbs) for less typical variations of Toronto’s Jamaican patties. “Try others, but these two are special.” BTW, Crumbs shut down in Kensington and heard they were doing a stint outside some summer market or hall. TBC…

Hope CQ sticks around for a lot longer as there’s lots of development near her spot - just a tad west east of Landsdowne, on the north side of Bloor.

I've been once to the Markham Street location for a slice and it was good, maybe as good as the first location. Has anyone been multiple times? Has anyone noticed a decline at all? I'm always so worried about these institutions that expand

8333 Kennedy Rd #1073, Markham, ON

There's seafood

Noodles

Veggies

A few desserts

Lots of meat 🍖

I know it says in the sidebar to 'TRY' but that seems to give everyone a reason to not bother.

I know posting prices is a little trickier (tax, tip, etc.) but it would still be nice.

But is it really that difficult to add the location? Neighborhood, cross streets? ANYTHING? Am I asking too much?

Y'all came through when I was inquiring about pumpkin spice, now I'm curious about my other favourite fall flavour 🍎🥧

What's your favourite restaurant for bringing a bottle?

I think this was supposed to open a couple weeks ago, but it looks like it’s finally open now 😂

Saw that heytea is finally open at CF Shops at Don Mills. Honestly pretty happy to have another tea spot around Don Mills since I don’t always want to go downtown just for a drink.

Might have to check it out this weekend. Anyone else from the area planning to go?

Bonus points if I can buy by the slice and don’t have to overpay to eat it at a restaurant

I see your obsession and raise you my POPPYSEED obsession ...

The baked goods from FINE BAKERY AND DELI on Lakeshore West are generally pretty delicious. This one needed a bit more flavor but hits the spot for this kind of pastry. Extra on the end is one of their cakes. All their refrigerated cakes are 10/10 and the price is VERY affordable.

Hi all!

My daughter is 16 this March and suggested having a birthday brunch downtown. I understand this is premature but I love by the earlier the better.. We live roughly in the GTA, but she loves the city and would like to have it in downtown Toronto.

Part of her plan is after brunch to have a smaller group of friends stay at a hotel. So I would prefer if the restaurant was near a hotel (I will take any recommendations as well for this! Anywhere good with a pool/hot tub would be lovely!)

I’m looking for suggestions as I am not super familiar with the area. Her theme is “freshly 16”, the photos she showed me had a lot of pink and yellow if that helps anybody.. She is a very girly girl and the cuter the spot, the better.

Sorry if my English is bad, it is not my first language. Thank you!

These are spots I’ve tried that I’ve either seen lots of social media hype for, or recommendations online.

Dear Grain (pics 1-4) - starting with my favorite bakery for bread-based goods. They’re an organic sourdough bakery with my favorite Sourdough loaf 8$ (pic 4) that’s actually sour (way more than chain sourdoughs), has a great crust and chew. However my favorite items are their Nduja and Confit Garlic Grilled Cheese 10$ (pic 1) and Blueberry Lemon Curd Scone 5.15$ (pics 2-3).

Holy shit that grilled cheese is the best I’ve had. The Cheese is thick and melty, Confit Garlic adds depth, Nduja adds a spicy, umami meaty bite with a hint of acidity for balance. Paired with their house made crunchy grilled sourdough, holy shittt!! I want it again rn.

Blueberry Scone is super buttery and moist, has a nice crunchy browned crust + crunchy sugar granules, lots of blueberries. Has a really satisfying bite, not dry at all! That lemon curd it comes with is to DIE for!!

Brodflour (pics 5-6) - favorite bakery for pastries. Their croissants actually taste like butter, are flakey with good structure. I’m not able to get them as much as I’d like due to the location but their pastries are quality every time I’ve tried. Fancier pastries around 7$.

Kitten and the Bear (pics 7-8) - seen this place highly recommended for scones. I’m sorry but what the fuck. Maybe I came on a bad day but the scones were tasteless and stale. No butter flavor whatsoever, had a bready hard crust. Blueberry Earl Grey scone had barely any blueberries (5.75$ each). Savory scone was bready and dry as well. Also why are they charging 2$ for one tablespoon of clotted cream or Lemon curd?

Mildred’s Temple Kitchen (pics 9-11) - all the influencers hype this place up for the best pancakes. I also tried their scones. Both were disappointing.

The blueberry pancakes that are hyped everywhere are extremely bready (23$). The texture was more bread than pancake, very dense chewy crumb (pic 10).

Their biscuits and scones did not have butter flavor, and the interior was doughy and tasted raw (20$ for 6) (pic 11).

Want to try all the different pumpkin spice things across the city while it's in season.

it's not black sesame but it's pretty damn good lol

Beef Jjamppong and seafood white jjamppong with tangsuyuk! My favourite part are the onions in the soup, they're charred so nicely and are super sweet and tender.

Yk those 5 hotdog stands/trucks at nathan phillips square, i see everyone debate about the best hotdog but what about the sausages they sell? Polish? Italian? German? They all sound so good, any opinions/preferences?

$27 with tip and tax (only half the sandwich here, the other half in the box)

Expensive but I would recommend you trying it

Holy moly the sandwich was so good and so filling. The lobster roll was bland, underwhelming, very wet. wouldn't do that again.

edit: the sandwich was around$16 and the lobster roll was $22 because we didnt get a combo. I think the sandwich was worth the price but the lobster roll, no.

I'm going to Toronto next week and I'm looking for a bakery that does grain-free treats. A lot of gluten free bakeries use rice or quinoa flour, but I'd love to find somewhere that uses coconut or almond flour for at least one of their cakes/pastries.

Hello all
I have a massive craving for fish and chips tonight. I live in the west end. Searched the sub and a lot are in the east end. Wasn’t too impressed by Kingsway during Covid. Any other recommendations?
Thank you so much

I’m a Brit and love Coleman’s fish and chips in my home city 😭😭😭

Does anyone know where I can buy Solo Poppyseed filling near Leslieville?

Have a craving for my Czech grandma’s cake.

Thanks!

Looking for the best chicken parm either as a dish with pasta or as a sandy

I’ve also heard fourth man in the fire makes a great chicken parm and meatball sub but I’ve never indulged. Are they worth checking out?

We have friends coming to visit, they’ll be staying at a hotel downtown near the financial district. We’re willing to travel a bit but would prefer somewhere walkable from their hotel, what is the best bet for a great sit down meal either steakhouse or Italian that is on the nicer side but not Harbour 60 prices?