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Hana Korea Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Korean Korean [Edit]
45 Baldwin StToronto, ON M5T 1L1
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(416) 979-9453
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
15 reviews for Hana Korea Restaurant
15 reviews in English
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Review from Joanne W.
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cheap Korean food near the University area? You can do no wrong.
Considering the fact that I can NEVER seem to find good/cheap food by University of Toronto, this is a savior. Located down some steps in Baldwin Village, Hana Korean is a small mom and pop shop with a variety of Korean dishes.
I went with my friend on Thursday at lunch (around 11:30 or so) - there was nobody there yet. However, once 12 PM rolled around, a bunch of people came in.
I ordered myself the soon tofu (like always) -- however, there only seemed to be a seafood and vegetarian one. I would've liked it more if it was just vegetarian. Banchan included radishes, a heap load of kimchi, marinated cucumber, and Korean pancake.
My friend got himself the dolsot bibimbap, but the surprising thing was that the rice wasn't cooking with the food in the stone bowl (doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of having crispy rice at the bottom of the rice bowl to pick at?!)
Lunch specials are ALL DAY as well - which is a win as well! -
Review from Janet S.
Toronto, ON
I avoid this place if at all possible, but sometimes am in an emergency for quick Korean food. Really, I shouldn't even visit then, because aside from the names of their foods being Korean, their behaviour is atypical of authentic Korean restaurants.
I can't believe that none of the reviews mention the very weak, non-refillable selection of banchan.
Never have a visited a Korean restaurant where the banchan is not refillable. The selection of course varies from restaurant to restaurant, but every place (save for cafeteria-style) offers free refills!
The price wasn't even particularly cheap (when compared to other Korean places).
As for the food, I found it to be bland, which is a bit of a travesty when it comes to Korean food. -
Review from Richard L.
North York, ON
5/15/2012
I came to this restaurant after reading a lot of good reviews. Usually Korean restaurants are quite consistent and serve good food.
This is by far the worst Korean restaurant I've been to in Toronto. I ordered the pork bone soup, and while it was 4.99, I would've rathered paid a lot more for something a bit better. The meat was undercooked, and the broth had no flavour.
I ordered a coke, because I felt bad just ordering a 4.99 dish.
I know it's hard to make money and you shouldn't expect much at this price, but I think people would rather pay more for better food. The banchan was kimchi, glass noodles, and a piece of broccoli - all of which was not particularly fresh.
Would not come back. -
Review from Tricia Z.
Toronto, ON
4/27/2012
My bf works near this area so it's a convenient place for our meals and it's also pretty cheap. The food is fine but this isn't the place that I will go out of my way for when I am craving Korean food. For the cheap price and decent food, it's worth a try if you are in the area!
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Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
Cheap Korean Food alert! It was okay, but it was at really good prices. Our total bill was $13 including taxes for two people.
I got the special $4.99 Pork bone Soup. It wasn't spicy at all, and I did prefer Owl of Minerva to this. I did find that some of the meats were a little pink - I don't know if it was supposed to be or if that was okay.
On the other hand, AT had the Kimchi Soon Tofu for $6.99 and he LOVED it. Called it "orgasmic", but I think he's exaggerating. He ate it all I didn't get to try.
They also gave us fixings like Kimchi (big bowl), pickled randish and small thing of japchae, pancake and pickled cucumber.
However, I'd come back and try something else. They have some crazy lunch specials.
Free parking after 6 near the school, west on Baldwin. -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
9/8/2011 2 photos
Seems like a mom and pop shop at the bottom of a set of stairs that you might not even notice on a Baldwin Street full of different cuisines, atmospheres, and price points.
Perfect day for Korean as it was a chilly September day (still don't get it!) At just after 7, there was only one other person in the resto, which I was a little surprised about. I'm guessing it attracts more people during the day and weekends.
Tasty free appies consisting of cold japchae, marinated tofu and cucumber, in addition to mini bowls of pickled radish and kimchi - good heat!
Their lunch specials are on ALL DAY! How awesome is that. Set in my mind was the dolsot bimbipap and it was the deal of the day for $6.99. No I am not joking. Seven dollars for a full stone bowl of hot sizzling goodness. What I was surprised about was that the rice was in a separate bowl, not crackling to crispy grains at the bottom of the bowl. Not a big deal - I just dumped the rice in afterwards, along with the sauce and combined it like a madwoman until everything was mixed in. Although I'm not big on meat these days, i have to say I was a tad dissapointed that the beef was very minimal, like pieces of ground beef and I thought it was supposed to be more like bulgogi strips. Everything else was delicious about the dish so boohyah!
We also got japchae (dinner portion) and added pork to it. The plate at first didn't look very big, but beware it is misleading and the lunch portion may been enough. The flavours were spot on and this is the first time I saw the noodles to be a little thinner than what I'm use to eating. Probably would result into quicker cooking time?
There is green tea and red bean ice cream for $1.99 although I was too full by then.
I know there are many other great korean places but knowing what I know about this place, it's a place I'll come back to! -
Review from Dishan W.
12/29/2010 3 Check-ins Here
One of few Baldwin locations I had still yet to try, and if I had come here before my new found love for Korean food, I would have given it 4 stars. But with the taste of Koreatown fresh in my memory I couldn't really bring myself to have this a 4 star rating.
Don't get me wrong, the food is still great and the prices are better! But the fact is that I've had better and small things like that fact that the kimchi here was not as good as I would have wanted it were held against it. They do serve the kimchi in a mini hot stone pot to their credit though. The banchan in general were not the best I had which was a shame as the dolsot bibimbap was very well done and where some places have the rice included in the hot stone, they serve the rice separately with the stone full of veggies and meat which I enjoyed very much.
Service was not the quickest but they were very friendly.
Due to it's close proximity to my workplace I see myself coming here a lot more frequently now!Listed in: I love Korean!
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Review from Angela L.
2/7/2011
Time of day isn't the issue if you want to take advantage of the early bird specials at Hana Korea, but it is always a good idea to arrive a little earlier than the rest of the dinner crowd so that you can actually get a table at this somewhat hidden yet surprisingly popular basement Korean restaurant. Despite it being about 5:30pm when we sat our starving selves down, the server (who looked to be one half of a very nice couple) asked whether we wanted the lunch or dinner sizes of our meals. The lunch "specials" are apparently available all day! Our wallets be damned on this chilly evening though - We were far too hungry to sacrifice our stomachs for a couple of bucks this time.
An assortment of Korean appetizers arrived immediately and did double duty of both staving off our hunger and increasing our appetites. Luckily, since it wasn't too busy yet, our mains arrived very quickly. My galbi tang (beef rib soup) served piping hot, was chock full of not only flavourful beef ribs, but also loads of tender vegetables and hearty noodles. My dinner date's chicken katsu was freshly fried to light, crispy perfection and served with a huge bowl of fragrant rice.
Water being self-serve is something that some of us might have to get used to at a sit down restaurant, but it turns out to actually be quite a convenience. At the very least, the need to constantly ask for refills is eliminated. If you, like me, am a heavy water drinker though, just make sure that you get a table close to the water station. -
Review from Nora M.
1/5/2011
Thought I would give this a try since we had a craving for some Dol Sut Bibimbap and wanted a place close by. We went with the reviews we read here and weren't disappointed.
We went on a Wednesday which was their Dol Sut Bibimbap special. We ordered one of those, black bean noodles and the spicy seafood ramen. The ramen was ok and tasted very artificial like what you would get out of a package so not sure if it was actual ramen or home made type.
Otherwise the other 2 dishes were great! Appetizers were good and eaten without hesitation.
Keep in mind though if you have a stroller or a wheelchair, there are no ramps down the 13 or so steps. The doorway just fits a stroller so be aware. And not all tables will accommodate a stroller.
We'll be there again! -
Review from David B.
Toronto, ON
2/18/2012
Having been here a few times, I can say it's not one of the best Korean spots in town but it's still decent. Avoid the jajangmyeon though.
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Review from Sandra T.
Toronto, ON
10/16/2010
Thank you Yelp!!!
I haven't been to many Korean restaurants (less than 20 in my lifetime) but this is definitely my favourite Korean restaurant ... ever!
Food was fabulous - loved the spicy kim chi pork w/ tofu, seafood soon tofu, and bulgolgi beef. The sides were exceptional as well.
Price is beyond amazing. Extremely good value.
Our waitress was young, friendly, and cute. Service was wonderful :)
The place is clean, cozy, and welcoming.
I heart this restaurant and can't wait to visit it again!!! Thanks Yelp!!! -
Review from Fiona F.
10/12/2009 5 photos
this is a hidden gem! and apparently it's been here for many years - boy was i missing out! and to think that "authentic korean" is hard to find in downtown toronto!
a family operated business, with the mother in the kitchen, they serve wonderful homemade kimchi and individual banchans - they have the best soy glazed poatatoes!
for their hot dishes, dolsot bibimbap and bulgolgi anything is great. they have the best stir fries. but don't expect anything fancy - it's like homey, korean mom's cooking with a smile and touch of sesame oil.
to compensate for the CHEAP price (eg. $5.99 gamjatang) I always tip them 20% - the satisfaction i get from their food, environment, and service makes this an obligation! -
Review from CHAR C.
Toronto, ON
10/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
this place was speedy in service; very good appies (jap chae, some omlette, edemme, good sized bowl of kim chi, and radish) and decent prices. i got the soon tofu ($5.99), which was a bit more watery then i'm used to. the place smells heavenly, and was quite busy when i went at lunch. i will be back to try the rest it has to offer. and then maybe re-rate/edit if i see a need.
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Review from David G.
Toronto, ON
7/26/2010
Standard fare for Korean food, nothing spectacular.
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Review from Carol G.
Etobicoke, ON
11/14/2009
I go to Hana Korea at least once a month to satisfy my Korean food craving. Their food is fresh and tasty. I love their Bim Bim Bap and kimchi. Their prices are very reasonable and you get a decent portion. If you are going for lunch make sure to get their before noon, otherwise, you may not get a seat in the cozy little place.
