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Kom Jug Yuen Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Chinese Chinese [Edit]
371 Spadina AveToronto, ON M5T 2G3
Neighbourhoods: Chinatown, Downtown Core
(416) 977-4079
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 12 pm - 1 am
Sun 12 pm - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
53 reviews for Kom Jug Yuen Restaurant
Review Highlights
-
"Best BBQ Pork in North America" is a bold statement." In 9 reviews -
"This fried rice was excellent." In 7 reviews -
"The bok choy is cooked perfectly." In 5 reviews
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53 reviews in English
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Review from Mathieu B.
Roxboro, QC
5/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Cheap cheap cheap!
I was poorer than poor and wanted to afford a good decent meal. My last meal in Toronto. My friend, as a proud member of the Jewish community, knows all the cheap place!! *not racist! Factual!!* :D So of course, we found this joint and had some amazing bbq pork. don't know the recipe, or how the magic is done but LOVED it! Also ate some duck which was pretty decent, not the best duck of course, but 30$ for 2 peoples...sorry, two Big guys, is verryyy cheap! Lover the very quick service and very simple middle(not to say poor) man's meal!
Go there, you'll love it!! -
Review from kelvin t.
4/17/2012
This place use to be on Dundas St. and call Kom Kuk Yuen. Then i believe they sold it under the same name and opened in the current venue which has been there at least since the early 90's. Its a place where time has stood still like much of old chinatown. Same decor, same staff (grecian formula touchup), same food, different prices. You think with the strong canadian dollar prices would be the same or better. $7.50 for a rice noodle soup with roasted duck leg - must be the right leg.
Roast pork (lechon) is very good, if not better than that of the Peak restaurant in First Markham Place, moist, crispy skin, no urea residue from pig, not overly seasoned. Let me assure you i know my lechon - read my review of lechon from my visit to Peurto Rico. The roast pork is a 5 star, the rest should have been left behind. -
Review from Molly C.
Toronto, ON
4/11/2012
Best BBQ pork in North America?
Bold statement. Not necessarily true.
That said, if it's late and you're hungry, and you've got about $5 in your pocket this is certainly the place. BBQ pork on rice with a handful of snow peas is filling and flavourful, especially when splashed with a packet of hot sauce.
I'm sure it'll be a treat after a night out and too much dough spent on drinks. -
Review from Jonathan S.
York, ON
4/4/2012
A (now-former) girlfriend first brought me to this place, giggling about the inevitable wordplay as she told stories about late night pork fried rice runs.
It's just the sort of place that a foodie should love:
Signage that may predate the English language.
Satisfying patina of grime on worn furniture.
Horrid wallpaper.
Rustically snarly staff.
Glorious racks of red lacquered meat hanging from the window in defiance of health codes the world over.
Handwritten bristol boards advertising specials that you can't order because you don't speak Chinese and "white people don't like this" (I think that Yelp would do its members a great service if someone started a menu translation thread).
And for those reasons, I award three stars.
Truthfully, I'd knock one or off for the food itself, for Kom Jug Yuen is a victim of the times, Cantonese food in a szechuan town, all prepared better, fresher, and much more artfully down the street and up in the wilds of Markham.
Hot and sour soup is rich, but sweet.
Fried mushrooms are tasty, but greasy and sweet.
Lo mein balances soft noodles and crispy veg, but it too is undermined by gloopy clear sauce.
Barbecue pork varies in texture between pencil eraser and pure fat or gristle. A few bites may indeed qualify for 'best in the city' status', but it's a lot to osrt through, especially when accompanied by pasty rice and a few tendrils of chinese greens.
Truthfully, I visit Kom Jug Yuen not to guzzle the food, but to enjoy the atmosphere, such as it is.
My, how far we've come. -
Review from Vivek S.
3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Sure, it's a claim scribbled in marker on neon poster board, but "best BBQ pork in North America?" This isn't even the best BBQ pork in the city, and I don't care how cheap it is.
Kom Jug (get your chuckles in, kids) is a weird, weird place. Every inch of wall is slathered in neon Bristol paper with the "real" menu readable only by those in the know. "Round eyes" order from their English menu which is overlong and confusing. There are a lot of duplicates like "BBQ Pork" and "Barbecue pork" and "Pork BBQ" and so forth. The atmosphere is depressing. On our visit we enjoyed the sight of a woman sleeping on a table while across from her another woman unshelled beans from a basket. (At least we know the ingredients are fresh!)
We successfully ordered some BBQ Pork, chicken, beef noodles and attempted to order water. Several attempts to procure the precious hydrogen hydroxide were met with no response. Not a shrug, nor a refusal or even the faintest twitch of acknowledgement. It was as though our server was literally deaf to the words "can we get some water?" We eventually got it, in the eponymous "jug" I had been anticipating.
It's true that you can't beat the prices and portion sizes, but you can beat the food. As I mentioned the BBQ is greatly overrated, and the chicken was flavourless and overcooked. I really enjoyed the beef and noodles, though. They tasted great and the beef was really tender. I would return, but probably only in the dead of night and under the spell of firewater.
Obligatory Title Pun: KOM together, right now!
Menu Readability: Bristol board. Neon.
Need to mention: This place is always open.
What this place teaches me about myself: Eating food for drunks while sober is certainly an eye-opening experience.Listed in: Uno Dos
-
Review from Edwin A.
3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
If you order anything other than BBQ you're taking a big risk. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Last week we ordered takeout, consisted of
Lemon Chicken,
Chicken Fried Rice,
Flat Rice Noodle with Beef
Roast Pork with Rice
My take,
Lemon chicken, chicken was dried and the lemon sauce straight out of a can. It was over fried, oil was old and brown. Yuck!
Chicken fried rice - use of day old rice, frozen peas and carrots , fried with lots of oil and heavy pour of soy sauce. Not appetizing.
Flat rice noodles with beef. An overcooked mush. The noodles didn't want to separate.
Roast pork BBQ was good, which is the saving grace of the place. The skin was crispy and the meat was fresh and cooked well. You don't get a lot of pork for the $5 (5-6 slices) but you sure do get a lot of rice in the box to carb up.
The interior is tack to the max. Feels so grungy and cheap. The specials can be found pasted on florescent pink bristol boards around the inside perimeter of the restaurant. It's so impractical because if someone is eating at a table with a special behind them do you care to ask them to move their head to read them? C'mon nooo..
I'm surprised no one in the group got ill from this restaurant adventure in Chinatown. -
Review from Angela L.
3/9/2012
There used to be a time (a long long time ago) when I used to go to Kom Jug and not think it too shabby. However, my last and most recent visit made me realize that some things don't change (like people's tastes do), but are certainly worth coming back to for nostalgia's sake.
My friends and I were mighty hungry when we arrived in the wee hours. No one working there seemed particularly happy to see us, so we stood at the door waiting for what seemed like ages before we were pointed in the direction of the only table available. That was the start of the notably bad service which wasn't always so in my experience.
The food although plenty filling, was only oookay. (What did I expect!?) The barbecue chicken had an extraordinary number of bones in it. The barbecue pork was heartier than most. The rice plates were enormous. The shanghai noodles were equally gigantic and slathered in sauce. The veggies seemed to have been reheated.
Despite how many times I've actually eaten at Kom Jug over the years, nary a handful of those times have I been sober. With their late hours, kitschy red lanterns, and scribbly neon posters, this greasy Chinese barbecue joint is in my opinion only fit for filling up at after one too many drinks. -
Review from Haohan X.
Hamilton, ON
5/9/2012
This restaurant serves decent BBQ foods, however items other than BBQ is barely satisfactory, and the depressing dining environment is a huge turn down.
-
Review from Behrouz M.
Toronto, ON
1/18/2012
3.5 stars
Highlights:
Kom Jug Yuen or simply 'Kom Jug', as I refer to it, was a find thanks to an Elite yelper (Payam Z.) and it became an instant hit amongst (hesitant) friends. (there's something about the name I guess.) And not necessarily because this place serves the best chinese food, and nor does it have the best of service (they'll just bring you a pen and paper and you take your own orders), but because:
1) Kom Jug is always open (don't pay any attention to the business hours listed).
2) Food is served real quick.
3) The food isn't bad at all.
4) Most items are around 5 bucks
5) Portion sizes are great.
6) And lastly, there's never a dull moment at Kom Jug!
Tips:
1)Try either the chicken fried rice, crispy beef, BBQ pork, or the Szechuan chicken (if you get this without rice, you'll get a massive plate of chicken enough to feed four!)
2) Arrive super late... after 1 am.
3) Sit close to the kitchen door and listen to every sound that comes out of the kitchen!
4) Don't even think about going to the bathroom!
5) Never go sober!
Bottom line:
Food: A-
Service: F (see above)
Food presentation: B
Atmosphere: C+
Prices: A+
Recommended?: Yes, perfect as a preventative measure against hangovers. -
Review from shyni y.
2/28/2012
Have you feasted on Kom Jug? not Cum Jug, Kom Jug, you DIRTY DIRTY mind you.
This place has got to be thet cheapest Chinese food in town - it was first introduced to me by a friend of mine I'd like to refer to as 'king of cheap eats', and it is a place that holds a prominent place in my heart.
There portions are on the larger side of the scale (i tell ya, the fried dumplings were more like...fried sausages when it came to size) so it's a great idea to walk over there, if you're somewhat near downtown, otherwise, you WILL end up with doggie bag home. I walked there from Parkdale and still could not finish the meal: I walked back and I was still very much full until the next day.
There is no need to even open the menu - just glance around you - you will learn right away that the prices are ridiculously cheap. You'll also learn what NOT to do on your wall when it comes to decor( I mean, I dunno where or when they found such...a wall paper). But I digress.
Another thing I enjoyed that took me by super surprise and I was somewhat "eek" about in the beginning - they prep their own ingredients. OUT IN THE DINING TABLE. This may throw you off; it certainly make me frown originally, but then I was glad to know that they buy the ingredients and prepare it themselves instead of buying frozen shit and dumping it in the food like some scuzy restaurants I know.
Think of this place as Tim Horton's of Chinese food (or the way it used to be); when you butt poor and all you got is change, bring it to Kom Jug and you'll be able to get you a good meal and eat till your mind explodes. -
Review from Brandon B.
Toronto, ON
1/16/2012
After hitting up the Hot Box Cafe, a five minute walk from Kom Jug Yuen, my brother and I set out for a cheap-pre-club-meal on a Saturday night; Luckily, or not (depending on how you look at it), we stumbled upon Kum Jug.
What was I wearing? Black Sports Jacket by Hugo Boss, white dress shirt by Jean Paul Gaultier, silver tie (in a half-windsor) by Armani, black trousers by Hugo Boss, black dress socks (Calvin Klein), patent-leather dress shoes (Calvin Klein), and boxer briefs (also by Calvin Klein).
At first I was slightly taken aback by the euphemism of the restaurant's title (i.e. alluding to a 'jug full of spermatozoa'). However, what we found inside was apparently even stranger than the restaurant's name. For starters, the term 'Hole-In-The-Wall' does not even begin to describe this place; When you enter Kum Jug it is, both literally and figuratively, like peering inside a homeless Chinaman's rectum. Unfortunately however, words cannot accurately describe Kum Jug to you; This is because, plainly speaking, Kum Jug is a visceral, physical, and emotional experience all at once. Words simply fail to do it justice. What I will tell you is that if you are feeling especially bold, I suggest taking a visit to the washroom in the basement. It is very similar to the rest of the restaurant but only with more feces on the floor and walls.
With respect to the menu; it is almost entirely in Chinese except for one item - 'Pork and Noodle'. My brother and I were about to order this but the 'server' brought two orders of it out to us before we even had a chance to. Weird. I found out later, from a veteran-patron of Kum Jug, that they always automatically bring out an order of 'Pork and Noodle' to white people. Interesting. Here's where things get even weirder though; the 'Pork and Noodle' actually tasted okay, was very filling, and only cost about $4.
So, after all of the negativity in my review, you are probably thinking that I would not recommend Kum-Jug to you; However, my suggestion is precisely the opposite; Stop what you are doing, do yourself a favor, head to Kum-Jug now (before it is shut down by Toronto Public Health). You will feel dirty afterwards, you may get a tapeworm, but make no mistake - it is the full Kum-Jug experience... -
Review from Henry L.
North York, ON
2/20/2012
Ah the Jug! This restaurant brings back a lot of memories during my University years, you can count on the Jug being open after those dreaded 11:00 pm exams to satisfy your late night hunger!
The restaurant itself is not very big and seating is limited, good luck trying to get a seat during lunch hours! (do not use their washrooms! you've been warned)
But then again you probably want take-out because the seats are not at all comfortable and the decor is not very nice ... in fact somewhat unclean.
Their menu is pretty big and prices are extremely affordable with huge portion sizes. The food itself is mediocre at best but you will definitely leave with a full stomach. Personally I can only recommend their BBQ items since they do it quite well compared to many other establishments in the area.
This is probably a restaurant where you might want to come alone or with some friends for cheap eats; and not with your 'date' or for a family gathering. -
Review from Michelle S.
Mississauga, ON
10/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
This Place is the place to be for Cheap Chinese food. Yeah, its cheap, but the food is good. Its a small place though, maybe thats one of the downsides.
Chicken fried rice for about 5 bucks, chicken balls for 6 bucks i believe, oh and duck w/ BBQ pork on white rice for 6 bucks as well. Me and my Friend were stuffed. I have nothing bad to say about this place, except for the fact that they don't accept debit, but oh well. Cant wait to go back and eat some good Chinese food. -
Review from Jasper C.
York, ON
2/10/2012
If you're on a student budget, or haven't showered in a week, than this is your friendly place for some Chinese comfort food. No-frill, greasy, MSG-laden, BBQ goodness. Check your expectations at the door and you won't be disappointed.
-
Review from Adityo S.
Etobicoke, ON
2/4/2012
Great bbq pork, probably the best in Toronto. BBQ pork fried rice is a great deal, cheap and abundant!
Don't go to the washroom, it's like a scene from Twilight Zone!! -
Review from Rob S.
Etobicoke, Toronto, ON
2/4/2012
Hot and sour soup from this place when you feel a cold starting is highly recommend!
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Review from Yvonne T.
Either I have unique taste buds or I walked into another restaurant that was NOT Kom Jug Yuen.
I came here after my disappointment in finding that Anh Dao, the Vietnamese restaurant was closed.
It is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant for dining on the cheap. It was mostly non-Chinese dining here and students.
Various combos of their barbecued items came with rice for a cost of $4. Great place for the budget-conscious eater.
Upon ordering we were brought a bowl of Tofu and Wintermelon Soup. It was quite a savory broth-based soup. Light and refreshing. Winter melons are supposedly good for staving off acne.
We ordered a small Mixed BBQ Platter which consisted of their "famous" BBQ pork, soy sauce chicken and roast duck. The BBQ pork was flavourful but nothing about it stood out. In fact I found the marinade was a bit on the light side and therefore didn't have any depth in flavor. With that said it was tasty. The roast duck was the most disappointing - a crispy skin was absent. Chicken was ok.
The Pineapple and Beef Fried Rice was an epic fail. This is probably THE worst fried rice I've ever tasted. The moment the rice arrived I already noticed its soggy texture. Clearly it was not made from day-old rice. Think making French toast without day-old bread. There was something about the pineapple that was off... Canned pineapple perhaps? I can't quite put my finger on it. The entire dish was bland. As we looked around no table in sight ordered fried rice - mostly noodles and plain rice. Moral of the story - scope out what other people are eating first to get a consensus on what the popular dishes are.
Since they had sold out of Pea Shoot and Shiitake Mushroom Stir-Fry we opted for Baby Bok Choy. Again, nothing to Yelp about. I found their mushrooms tasted a bit weird.
Verdict:
Total after tax and tip was $35. A fortune cookie is presented with your bill - can this restaurant be any less authentic? The service was less than stellar and after the Mixed BBQ Platter (which requires only chopping), the dishes came out at a snail's pace.
The food here is definitely disappointing and with all the other amazing restaurants to choose from in Chinatown I will definitely not be returing to Kom Jug Yuen again. -
Review from Brian G.
Toronto, ON
9/5/2011 5 Check-ins Here
This place IS Chinese food. IT IS THE REAL THING!
They have the BEST Chinese Bar BQ Pork, Duck and Chicken in town.
When you go regularly you will discover the Pan Fried Dumplings are HUGE and tasty.
The dishes are all cooked quickly and with fresh ingredients.
I recommend the Pan Fried Dumplings, Shanghai Noodles, Bar BQ mixed platter, the Yang Chow Fried Rice to start.
Do give it a try..;. -
Review from Jenny H.
Toronto, ON
2/20/2012
DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT go to the washroom here. DO NOT touch anything.
Wipe down your cutlery. Look straight ahead and do not draw attention to yourself.
Do not catch the eye of anyone who has just been to the washroom, what you see may make you lose your nerve.
This place has very cheap food which can sometimes taste good.
You may or may not get soup with your meal at the whim of the waiter. You may or may not get a wedge of fresh orange for dessert. Maybe a fortune cookie. It depends.
The owners (Mr. and Mrs.) and probably the servers will treat you with contempt.
You may have to share a table with somebody really obnoxious who sniffles and picks his teeth, there is no option on this.
Leave a CONSPICUOUS tip or the Mrs. will scream at you in Chinese.
Head for the door immediately after eating. -
Review from Reynold P.
Toronto, ON
9/16/2011
Despite it's questionable name, Kom Jug is the epitome of dirty cheap.
It's a ghetto hole in the wall place that serves surprisingly tasty food for really good prices. If you're a foodie, this place may not be the spot to find multi-layered flavours in ever bite or plating styles of Susur Lee.
You get a big plate of white rice with BBQ goodness on top for 6 bucks. Duck, Chicken and Pork are the highlights here. Although they may have fudged a bit with their claim of having the best BBQ pork in town, I think people find it true when considering the price and quantity.
I usually go around lunch time when local business owners, residents and business men are in. It's nice to see a place that caters to all walks of life, that's not too common anywhere else.
So does it taste good? Yes it does!
It's also very affordable which is a big plus and the service is fine as well.
Kom Jug is a different kind of restaurant and a successful business.
I appreciate that. -
Review from Tim S.
Etobicoke, ON
1/22/2012
Can't beat the prices and portions! I'm here frequently for the $6 General Tso on rice. It's obviously not the fanciest place in Chinatown, but cant beat the prices.
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Review from Biz D.
Medicine Hat, AB
1/23/2012
Super cheap: the claim of Best BBQ pork in the city is no lie. Takeout is recommended as inside is a bit of a freakshow, and the decor can be described as "early 1950's Macau commissary" but goddamn it, It's delicious.
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Review from Char C.
Toronto, ON
3/13/2011
I don't care about what anyone else says. This is the best BBQ pork ($4.25) in all of toronto, and the seafood stir-fry noodles ($8.00) are delicious.
DO NOT GO INTO THE BATHROOM!!!!!
(If you ever go and sit down to eat, get a place where you can look at the stairs that goes into the bathroom, and watch peoples faces as they come out...it's dinner and a show) -
Review from Louis T.
12/4/2011
The high level of cheap Chinese in Toronto is really quite awesome. I dropped in here for a quick take-out lunch of roast pork over rice, which was perfectly done and came in at about 6 bucks. I'm sure the other specials are equally good, so don't skip this one because of lack of ambiance.
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Review from Meaghan D.
Toronto, ON
3/25/2011
Im so glad I was introduced to this place. It has character and great prices. Ok, yes.. so I really questioned a few times what exactly I was eating... but what did I expect for a gigantic 4$ plate of BBQ Pork?
By the way, I personally, I thought the pork was gross. If you love chewing on mostly just fat, by all means, order away. If you're like me and get so grossed out you have to spit it into a napkin once all the meat is gone, then stay away from this dish
I would suggest the spicy crispy beef instead. Its sooo tasty! The bok choy is cooked perfectly. Add a big plate of chicken fried rice to that and you can feed 3 people for 8 bucks each. -
Review from Velshin C.
6/25/2011
Delicious and unpretentious, as Cantonese cuisine should be. This is fairly authentic Cantonese cuisine (though much of the staff is mainland Chinese). It's on par with what you can get at a "faan dim" (rice place) in Hong Kong.
We enjoyed:
- BBQ pork plate for $4. Some of the semi fatty pork bits were divine!
- Beef pinapple fried rice. This fried rice was excellent!
- Bok choi zai (baby bok choi) plate. These were cooked just right!
- Preserved egg and pork congee. The pork in the congee is lower grade, and the congee itself is overly watery.
- Fish congee.
- "Lo hon zai" ("vegetarian") fried noodles. These were a bit too oily and heavy on the oyster sauce!
If you don't want to swim in oil, be really specific with the waiter to order "siu yao" (less oil). Happily, they used less oil for most of our dishes!
Beware that the place is small-ish and fills up around 7pm! -
Review from Daniel M.
Toronto, ON
11/12/2011
Wonderful lack of pretense, no real interest in customer service or decor, they concentrate their energies on delicious food that they could easily charge more for but don't because they cook for the people.
By far my favourite place to go for food in Chinatown, the pork and the duck are just scintillating, tender, melt-in-your mouth, succulent goodness.
Love the tea they give you with your meal as well.
Delicate, self-important shi-shi foodies need not apply. -
Review from V A.
Toronto, ON
11/2/2010
4 Stars when they are on, and 2 stars when they aren't.
The BBQ is 5 stars when its fresh, best in Chinatown by a mile. I have never had rice that was quite up to par though. How do you mess up rice. X number of scoops, rice, fill to line, push button. Rice ranges from sub-par to soggy and/or clumpy, and just plain crappy. This stuff is almost as bad as some crappy par-boiled crap rice -1 [or should it be -2].
Ask for lean meat? Why, do I ask for lean steak? No way, fat = flavour. If there is a fatty but, you can just trim it, or just take a trip to flavour country.
I find it best to go early if i want some fresh stuff. Sauce is also top notch, its a sweet soy sauce type in look taste and viscosity. It gets soaked up by the rice, which makes even the rice on the crappiest day edible.
$4 [BBQ Pork on rice] special is the only thing i have ever ordered. Sometimes they give you a couple small veg pieces, and sometimes its just meat and rice.
Would I go back?
Of course [if its around 12PM].
Would I prefer to bring my own rice?
Fa shizzle yo! -
Review from Rachelle T.
9/20/2010
This must be the first time that Yelp has steered me wrong! After traveling many miles to try Toronto's Chinese cuisine, I was disappointed by the sampling I had at Kom Jug Yuen. The atmosphere isn't the cleanest or nicest, but I am willing to over look that for good food. This would definitely qualify for a hole in the wall.
I am not sure if our California Cantonese dialect is different than Toronto's, but no one at this restaurant understood anything we were trying to order! For a party of 6 this is what we managed to order:
- Salt and pepper spareribs - not salty and not really what we are used to eating in the Bay Area. It was almost wet, instead of dry and fried.
- Pea sprouts and Chinese mushrooms - they ran out of pea sprouts and I had baby bok choy instead. It was the smallest bok choy I have ever tried.
- Crispy chicken - already cooked and likely dumped back in the fryer to get it warm. Super duper dry of course then. Ordered a whole chicken, but it was chopped up and dumped together as if there were 2 different half chickens on the plate, leaving minimal dark meat.
- Famous BBQ pork with roast duck - BBQ was decent, but nothing to rave about. Only a few duck pieces on the plate.
- Beef dish with onions - Ok, but nothing special.
- Pan fried noodles - never came, so we just canceled it.
Service was ridiculously bad, even for a Chinese restaurant. Look, I know how it is, but still, this was bad. He kept asking if we were ready, but never stopped to take our order. Maybe he was waiting for us to write down an order? He never said.
Funniest part of the adventure? A Chinese man stopped us before going in, warning us not to go here and to try another location down the block. Trusting Yelp and our hungry stomachs, we decided to ignore the stranger but try Kom Jug Yuen out. Guess the stranger was more of a prophecy than we expected.
If you actually do try this place to satisfy your curiosity, here are a few tips:
- Write your order on the blank bill they leave you on the table. This is apparently the unspoken way to order.
- Order in English.
- Don't touch anything inside. Probably take it to go. -
Review from susan c.
Holy crap, this place is cheap. The sign out front says "Best BBQ Pork in North America" but it should really say "Kom Jug: Best Bang for Your Buck." (Har, har.)
For $4, I had their famed BBQ pork on a bucketload of rice. Even after I shoved several spoonfuls onto Kat F's plate, I couldn't polish off the rice and struggled to finish the 'cue. Some of it was dry, some super-fatty but when I hit a piece of pork that had the right meat-to-fat ratio, it was pretty good. Not the best but for 2 twoonies, it's a steal.
The plate comes garnished with two pieces of steamed broccoli -- as if that's going to offset all the cardio damage from the pork fat.
The meal included a basinful of tepid soup for our Yelp party of 7, hot tea, and orange wedges and fortune cookies for dessert.
All that for 4 fricking dollars! My post-dinner smoothie cost more than that. -
Review from Kat F.
8/19/2009 1 photo
My experience was a little less impressive than my tablemates'. My veggie entrée of deep fried tofu in black bean sauce was more expensive than a plate of BBQ pork ($8 vs $4) and while it was an enormous amount of food, I wasn't convinced.
Even though it was slated as 'vegetarian' I'm certain I tasted oyster sauce and the tofu was too squishy. The death knell was the rice: it was inadequately cooked and I kept biting into raw grains of rice. If a Chinese restaurant can't cook a damn bowl of rice, can I really trust anything else it brings out of the kitchen?? -
Review from Neil T.
Toronto, ON
8/17/2009 3 photos
After 10+ years of walking by this place and making jokes about the name, I finally drank the juice from the mighty "Cum Jug"!!! A group of 7 Yelpers hit this spot up in search of the "Best BBQ Pork in North America". Some sort of award was bestowed upon Cum Jug in 2008 declaring it the best BBQ Pork in North America. I'm not sure how official the ranking is, but there really was an award, not just smoke blowing.
Unfortunately, this place wasn't exactly the best I've had, though not bad either. The BBQ pork was inconsistent from piece to piece, it was a bit of a grab bag -- burnt bits, moist pieces, fatty pieces, etc. For the price - $4 for a big plate with rice, you can't really go wrong.
I opted for the Holy Trinity of carnivorous meals -- the BBQ pork, duck, and soya sauce chicken combo. It was a beast but I polished it off with no grain left standing. The duck wasn't great, the skin was too soggy. The soya sauce chicken wasn't very soya saucey either. All of it edible (clearly).
Overall, this place is decent and cheap cheap cheap, especially for Chinatown. It could do better for variety I suppose. There weren't many vegetarian options, but you veggies can eat somewhere else! 3.5 stars for now, but potential to increase to a 4 star on future visits.Listed in: Gettin' My Eat on in Slanty…, Communal Dining!
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Review from CHAR C.
Toronto, ON
10/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
i walked past this place everyday for a year and never bothered looking inside. last week i had a craving for BBQ pork, saw the sign "best BBQ pork...BBQ pork on rice $4" and went in. from the outside this place looked rundown, grungy, and out of date. Shockingly, when i stepped inside the restaurant, it was PACKED at 5pm. every table was full and service was going full-tilt. i got take out and was quite happy with my meal. since then i have returned 2-3 times and have been happy with the food given the price point. solid noodles in soup with BBQ pork and veg. Cantonese chow mien was good too. warning: if you go after 8pm, it's likely all their roast meats and dumplings will be sold out.
service is speedy and comes with soup, tea and ends with orange slices, and a fortune cookie for luck.
seeing how popular New Ho King is right across the street, this might be Spadina's best kept secret? -
Review from Karl D.
Vancouver, BC
9/5/2009
There are two things you need to keep in mind for a good experience at the Jug:
1. Bring cash and patience. They don't take cards, and while your food won't take forever to arrive, it won't appear in mere moments and it may not appear in traditional order (nibbly appetiser things followed by bigger dishes).
2. When you order, don't say "barbecued pork", say "LEAN barbecued pork". By doing so, you'll get much more cosistently meaty, less fatty chunks of toe-curlingly, knee-weakeningly good roasted pig.
Get a plate of green beans with chili and garlic; they're fresh, bright green, crunchy (not overcooked), and delicious. If that doesn't appeal to you (what's wrong with you?!), the snow pea greens are excellent, as are the Chinese mushrooms and Chinese greens. You get a lot of well-made, delicious food for very little money. Bring friends or prepare to take home leftovers! -
Review from Ryan A.
Toronto, ON
6/28/2010
A standby for thrifty students. You can usually fill up and still have leftovers for around $5 per person.
The BBQ pork is a must (The best in North America. You can't argue with Sharpie on Bristol board). BBQ Pork Noodle Soup and Sesame Beef are among my favourites. Meals come with complimentary house soup and orange slices if you show up at the right hours.
I've been eating here my whole life. The staff are very friendly, especially to regulars. They've also been known to throw in some food on the house if you come often enough. -
Review from Chris P.
8/18/2009
The glory of the Kom Jug has been bestowed on me. Let it rain heavenly BBQ pork from the heavens down to the mountains of rice at my feet.
This place is CHEAP and the portions are HUGE! For $7.75 I got the BBQ pork with veggies on fried noodles. This dish could easily feed a family of four, hence I now have leftovers for the next two days. If you want takeout you can get a turkey sized roasting pan full of BBQ pork for only $50.
Is it "the best BBQ pork in North America" as claimed, no, but I'd be willing to come back again as it is pretty good.
Don't forget to try the "Monther's Day Special" (yes I spelled that right) of two lobsters for $29.99. -
Review from Matthew S.
Toronto, ON
12/22/2009
If you don't like MSG, dirty washrooms with 4 foot ceilings, sometimes erratic service, decor that hasn't been updated in 40 years, and potentially having to share a table with some sketchy old Chinese guy Kom Jug Yuen is not for you. However, if you're like me and consider these positive qualities of a restaurant then read on because this is the place for you.
I've been coming here for over 20 years and my dad has been coming here for about 30 years and I still love the food and the experience. The food here is dirt cheap and comes in massive portions - less than $10 per person will get you a full meal plus enough food leftover for a snack later. Dishes worth checking out: crispy beef, assorted meats and vegetables on rice, BBQ pork on rice, vermicelli Singapore style, and hot and sour soup. Strict vegetarians will probably want to avoid this place, but if you're not too concerned about your food coming into contact with meat there are some good options available - I usually go for the two kinds of mushroom and fried tofu on fried noodles.
Some will claim this place has no atmosphere but I think they're missing the point. This place is all about the little nuances that you may only pick up on after a few visits. The delicious, fresh oranges served after every meal. The friendly and hilarious staff, especially the owner, Ping, who will always remember regular customers and give them various deals. The fact that the decor and most of the waiters haven't changed in 30 years. The ridiculously short ceilings in the bathroom that force you to lean over while using the urinal. The chaotic change drawer in the cash register. When Ping appears to pull prices out of thin air and exclaim "special price for you". And, of course, the freebies that Ping sometimes brings to your table. I love it all.
Come here with a bunch of friends, grab one of the big round tables, order a bunch of dishes to share, and enjoy!Listed in: East Asian Favourites, Top Spots Under $10, Matt's Top Five
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Review from JulieJuli A.
7/12/2010
Julie
I bookmarked this spot knowing that I was visiting TO. It's said to have the best bbq roast pork and the sign also advertises it. I was skeptical cause if it really was the best, I would have expected lines and for it to cost more than the $4 bucks I paid. Yep, you get a bbq roast pork over rice for $4 bucks....
Don't get me wrong... It was good, but still a bit fatty. The pieces also weren't cut well and some were just way too thick and chewy... It's a bargain at $4 so I got some tofu as well... Also ok, but honestly, I get the same at NYC's chinatown for just as cheap. I guess I was expecting Hong Kong style goodness...
The spot is ghetto... a bunch of tables with a large menu selection that won't hurt the wallet. It's one of those typical late night sober up spots to get cheap good food. I'd compare it to Noodle Town in NYC's chinatown, who also has good food done cheap... -
Review from Nick A.
Toronto, ON
7/8/2009
Kom Jug is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants. They claim to have the best BBQ pork in North America and while I can't corroborate that claim it is pretty good.
It's not the nicest or fanciest places but it is very inexpensive and the portions are large. For a university student such as myself that is a great asset. The food quality is pretty good and besides the aforementioned BBQ pork they also make decent Thai noodles and won ton soup. The General Gao's (or whoever) chicken is also very tasty.
I'd definitely recommend this restaurant. For the price I haven't found a better place in a Chinatown. -
Review from Adrian P.
East York, ON
1/11/2010
This is a solid Chinatown greasy spoon. It can be hit or miss - the pork can either be great or average depending on the day
I'll keep coming back as long as the prices stay this cheap!
