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The Hogtown Vegan
Categories: Restaurants Vegan Restaurants Southern Vegan, Southern [Edit]
834 Bloor Street WestToronto, ON M6G 1M2
Neighbourhoods: Christie Pits, Bickford Park
(416) 901-9779
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 5 pm - 11 pm
Sat 12 pm - 11 pm
Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- 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:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
33 reviews for The Hogtown Vegan
Review Highlights
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"If I could eat the Unchicken & Waffles everyday." In 8 reviews -
"I liked the collard greens side which had a subtle flavour." In 4 reviews -
"A perfect compliment to Kensington's Hot Beans." In 4 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
33 reviews in English
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Review from Corey S.
Downtown Core, Toronto, ON
Let me preempt this by declaring my love of meat and meat by-products. Done.
So, we came here for a friend's birthday dinner and I was, admittedly, a little skeptical. I have to say though, this meal was damn, *ahem, surprisingly good.
Everyone praises their Unchicken and Waffles. I don't mean to jump on the wagon, but it's all true. Yes, I could eat them everyday. No, I didn't miss out on the fact that it was mock chicken. Yes, there breading is crazy delicious. And yes, the collared greens were an excellent addition. The only flaw I noticed was the sweet potato mash. With the syrup combo for the waffles, turned out a little sweet for my liking. -
Review from Koochy C.
Scarborough, ON
4/30/2012
I held high hopes for this spot - so much in fact that I showed up early (11ish) and had to visit Fresh for an appetizer before returning to Hogtown for lunch at noon on the dot.
The unchicken wings were entirely too overwhelming in vinegar (trying too hard to add "flavour" that did not work well). My friend was generous in giving it at 7/10 - I'd say it's more a 3/10.
He ordered a sandwich and I had the waffles and "sausage", and let me tell you: let those waffles sit for just 1 min and you could toss it at an animal and knock it out entirely. Stone hard.
Presentation is very very attractive, and that's how I was lured in via the online images.
Taste-wise, I would worry what my friends would think of me if I recommended them this spot. -
Review from D'Arcy M.
Toronto, ON
4/21/2012
I really like the premise of an American-greasy-spoon-style vegan restaurant. Guy Fieri would be proud. That's awesome.
What's not-so-awesome is that I've noticed, and confirmed with questioning, that the unchicken that everyone is raving about, and every chicken product on the Hogtown menu, is an institutional, cafeteria-style breaded veggie chicken burger patty cut into chunks and deep fried. Sometimes rebattered and deep-fried. Some of the sausage/beef menu options are also made from institutionally prepared commercial patties chopped up/battered, deep fried, and served. Come on, I think that this restaurant owes itself and everyone who eats there more than that. if all they're doing otherwise is punching fries and steaming greens, you'd think they'd be able to at least make some in house vegan 'meats'.
The reality is, a lot of the stuff that's offered on the menu is processed, factory made food (Daiya cheese).
It's a vegan McDonalds for fecksake, right down to the assembly (and quality) of the food. I'll pass. -
Review from Jake S.
4/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
I don't often write reviews for out-of-town places, but The Hogtown Vegan has left me no choice.
This is easily the best meal I have ever had. Seriously. Ever.
I was promptly seated (alone), but quickly made friends with the couple at the table next to me. I must say: Toronto is one friendly city. I asked for recommendations once I'd found out they were regulars to this spot, and was directed immediately to try the un-chicken and waffles (which my new friend was licking his plate clean of as he made the suggestion). Of course, I didn't have to be sold too hard. From the looks of it, I would not be disappointed.
I also opted for a side of the mac and cheese, under the agreement that my new friends would share some, seeing as this would be way to much food for just one person (I also had a beer; they've got a great selection of local brews from Flying Monkey).
The mac & cheese was out of this world. Even better than my grandmom's (sorry!). Vegan or not, this stuff is amazing. So creamy with just a hint of spice. It was hard not to spoil my meal filling up on this...
Glad I didn't though, because my entree...good god...how can I describe it? Life-changing? Understatement.
I didn't know you could make soy protein taste this good. The "chicken" was fried to a golden perfection, perfectly seasoned, and amazingly moist. And the sides. Ohhh, the sides. A fresh waffle, sweet potato mash, and collard greens. Everything drenched in sweet maple syrup...make it stop, the memories hurt too much! I can still taste this meal a week later.
I would hop a plane for the night just to enjoy this a second time. If you haven't eaten at The Hogtown Vegan, and you live within a 10 hour radius, you should be ashamed. -
Review from Katie C.
Toronto, ON
3/10/2012
It was my first time going to Hogtown tonight and I left happy! It's a really small place, only a few tables to if you got later, you might have to wait (the place is really small so there's not a lot of room to stand around so its kind of annoying when there are people waiting all around you)
They have 2 types of beer on tap: flying monkey and mill st. organic (6.50). The dinner menu is made up (almost entirely) of Southern comfort foods, but minus the meat! It's a really great and cool concept, and great for vegans who just want some good old fried chicken or mac n' cheese!
I got the "Southern Combo" which was 2 peices of fried "non-chicken" fingers, a portion of mac n' cheese and collard greens ($12). My boyfriend got the "Pepper Steak and Dumplings" which I'm pretty sure were TVP medallions of steak with dumplings, that came with collard greens and molasses sweet potato mash ($12). All of the flavours in these meals were delicious. Both of us had nothing left on our plates at the end! Could have eaten more though... Maybe should have gotten an appetizer or a dessert!
Definitely a cool experience, and not too pricey either. I want to go back and try all of thier other cool Southern classic created in such a unique way without meat. -
Review from Joel K.
3/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Incredible. Simply incredible. As a vegan from a small-ish town (Halifax), I'm always blown away when I can get to a bigger city where my diet isn't a strange novelty.
The Hogtown Vegan, even in a city full of great food, completely blew me away. Everything is vegan (you are offered a choice of soy or almond milk with your coffee, for instance), and everything we tried was delicious.
We were briefly paralyzed by all the amazing-sounding choices on the menu. We eventually settled on vegan buffalo wings (tofu that's been battered, fried, and rolled in buffalo wing sauce, with a side of sunflower sour cream) and fries supremacy (fries covered in nacho "cheese" sauce, sunflower sour cream, with green onions and "bacon bits") to start.
Both were enormous, and life-changingly good. We were full after just eating those, but we were determined to tackle our meals anyway, knowing now that they would be worth it.
I got the reuben and my partner got the philly cheese steak. The seitan they used in both was hearty, with a great chewiness and texture. The sauces were amazing, and neither seemed even the slightest bit "off". They were both delicious and very, very filling.
This place is a complete gem. Like many smaller places in the city they're cash only, but they have an ATM, so it's no problem. The service was speedy (though we did get there 5 minutes after they opened on Saturday, so perhaps we were lucky), and the place was clean, with a nice diner atmosphere. Prices were completely reasonable, even fairly cheap.
I really can't recommend this place highly enough. Just try it! -
Review from Sara K. P.
Toronto, ON
1/19/2012
Take your average hot-blooded, MMA watching, bacon ravening meat-a-tarian ( in this case my husband) and they'll be mighty impressed by the exceptional food here. You see The Hogtown Vegan have taken staple carnivore faves like wings, burgers, sausage and steak and turned it on it's head in unconventional vegan style. So it's all the flavour and none of the guilt (and heartburn) associated with eating cuteness like this http://www.youtube.com...
Upon being seated on arrival we peruse the expansive vegan menu and I'm really torn as there are so many mouth-water rendering options. I also appreciate that Hogtown's menu notes items that are gluten or nut free which makes ordering fuss free.
For starters we order the deliciously crisp and spicy/tangy tofu wings/triangles. I marvel at how rich and creamy the dairy free sour cream is, simply divine! The best part is that you can eat these wings with a fork. Hubby decides to order The Big Hog burger which is a hearty soy patty with melted Daiya cheese, lettuce pickles and Hogtown's own house mayo. Hubby is savouring his burger with delight as I steal a couple of the temptingly crisp fresh cut fries off his plate.
For my main I have the cornbreaded sausage, which are two tofu sausage patties that are corn batter fried. Damn! This was a sausage party in my mouth, not to mention it's mad savory accompaniments of onion relish, molasses sweet potato mash and collared greens! MMMmmm All this Southern fried goodness is enough to make me want to break out and do the "Dougie" but being that the music playing here was less Dirty South hip-hop and more Stevie Nicks and the undulating strains of Nico and the Velvet Underground (which is fine by me!) I decide not to make a yokel of myself.
Service was friendly and very prompt given that it was a busy Saturday night bustling with a full house and a line-up 10 deep waiting to be seated! The clientele is a casual mix of locals and hipster-ish young-un's and the decor is your usual diner vibe with walls painted an intensely hued Kelly green, but who gives a @#$% about furnishings when the food is THIS GOOD! Oh and another thing, dinner consisting of an appy, two entrees and a Flying Monkey Hoptical Illusion beer for hubby came to about $45 in total!! Folks, it don't get any better than this place!
In closing, The Hogtown Vegan serves up excellent comfort food in vegan style. If you haven't already had the pleasure of dining at the Hogtown, get your hungry ass over here already! You won't be dissappointed!Listed in: Mouthgasms :D
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Review from Min Min T.
Scarborough, ON
12/24/2011
I rarely rate anything 5 stars, but Hogtown has a special place in my heart. The expanded menu, which was introduced in December 2011, is something to check out. Tempeh ribs are bomb. The tofu wings are a bit smelly and might irritate the neighbouring customers, but they are also delish.
And yes, they are licensed now! That means I can have a glass of wine!
The only thing that I have against this place is that they don't take reservations. -
Review from Elaine K.
Excuse me as a wheeze through this review. My stomach has completely taken over most of the room usually reserved for my lungs.
I came here with Chad, Nicolle and Danielle for some impromptu vegan feasting. As an appetizer, we split some fries that were basically the vegan version of Taco Bell Fries Supreme, in a very VERY good way. I basically lived off those in high school, and I've been craving a vegan (or at the very least dairy-free) version for years. The sour cream alone blew me away. We also split an order of wings, which tasted just like meaty hot wings, though I suspect it's because of their liberal use of Frank's Red Hot sauce.
I ordered the Unchicken n' Waffles and they were DELICIOUS. In fact, I have half the order sitting in my fridge right now, mocking me. Everyone else at the table loved their meals. Chad and Danielle had the Unchicken Sandwich and both were very very happy with them. Nicole was also very happy with her head-size Po'Boy sandwich. The people in the kitchen appear to have some kind of magic power for breading, because all the unchicken things were deliciously and incredibly breaded. I usually hate breading, but I LOVED this.
Unfortunately, neither of us had room for dessert.
The service was cordial and friendly, and everything came out at a good rate. The prices were also quite good for the amount of food.
I will definitely be back again, and soon.Listed in: Yelp 30-Day Challenge
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Review from Brad F.
Toronto, ON
12/12/2011
I've only eaten here about 5 times since it opened and I have to say, the food and service have been consistently exceptional every time, regardless of how busy the place has been or how much the kitchen or servers are dealing with.
I haven't eaten anything yet, that I have not liked and I've tried almost everything. The fries supremacy, the unchicken & waffles, and the ruben and the chocolate mousse being my favourites. The mac & cheese is also a good treat.
If you like food that tastes great, served in a casual atmosphere and you aren't some kind of vapid asshole that arbitrarily discredits food simply because it is vegan, EAT HERE.
A side note - the dining room got a bit warm during the summer, but you know what? when it's a million degrees outside, that tends to happen. If you're unable to deal with a warmer temperature while eating dinner, perhaps you should move somewhere with a colder climate and open up a few seats for others to enjoy this place.
Will return to this place time and time again! -
Review from U U.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 12/28/2011
I still like this place, but am not going to upgrade it to a four star. I came here for brunch and ordered one of the full breakfast plates. It came with a bunch of things, including hash browns, tofu scramble, a grilled tomato, and some other items which I can't remember. Everything tasted good at first - but everything was also super salty. By the middle of the meal, I found myself downing water to try and compensate. I realize diner food is inherently salty, but this was over the top.
Service was good. No other comments.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/21/2011
This place is alright. The service was good. The food was alright - but perhaps I didn't order the… Read more »
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Review from Emily V.
Toronto, ON
11/23/2011 6 Check-ins Here
I love rare steak and I also love Hogtown vegan.
unchicken and waffles. omg. delicious. go now and nom.
the tofu wings were so flavourful...I like tofu but I really didn't think it could ever taste as good as these wings did.
collard greens? i'm craving them now. and the fries supremacy was great, especially considering how terrified i normally am of vegan milk products.
basically you should eat there, vegan or carnivore.
also they have booze now, and hoptical illusion on tap (i think?). -
Review from Daniel B.
10/5/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Their unchicken and waffles entree is one of the best dishes in the city.
Not one of the best "vegan" dishes. One of the best meals. Period.
If I was on vegan death row. This is what I'd get as my last meal.
Either that, or some meat. -
Review from Steven G.
Toronto, ON
2/28/2012
I had higher hopes for Hogtown, so I was a bit disappointed with what I got. The food is pretty tastey and does not purport to be healthy, but portions are small, service is slow, and the pricetag is pretty high for what you get. Good for a snack or a light, unhealthy meal, but certainly not an everyday kind of place.
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Review from Amy P.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 11/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm updating and upgrading because every time I come here I like it more. Plus, they have beer now. And wine. Yay booze!
Also, the salt and unhealthiness of the food is kind of the point.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/17/2011
*3.5 stars.
Been here twice and had good food both times. First time I ordered the reuben & collard… Read more »
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Review from Val G.
My first visit to Hogtown was not the experience I was hoping for. The place was hot and in the colour of the heat, the menu seemed heavy and greasy. I got the wings and while they were well done themselves, the dill and hot sauce dippers were not to my tastes so I walked out a little disappointed.
Luckily, I went back to Hogtown for a friend's event. The AC was still broken(despite their tweet saying it was fixed... ?)
I had the tortilla salad to start and it really hit the spot. It probably single handedly restored my faith in this restaurant. The chips were homemade and a little spicy. The guac was fresh and tasty and there were beans galore, delicious black beans!
We split our entrees of biscuit sliders and unchicken and waffles. Everything really did it for me, especially the mashed potato and pea gravy and the unchicken cutlet.
The waffles were so good, I wish this place would do a lighter, brunch style menu.
So they've got the food down. They just need to have all the other things real restaurants have now like a credit card machine and air conditioner.Listed in: Vegenomics, Veggie Brunch
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Review from Andrew G.
Toronto, ON
8/14/2011 3 Check-ins Here
So I was pretty stoked about this place upon hearing about it. Vegan comfort food was a brilliant idea for a restaurant I had myself several years ago, so it's good to see the secret society who filters ideas wirelessly from my brain (Illuminati?) putting them to good use!
We were out of town for their grand opening, but got to stop in for their second week of operation. The first thing we noticed was the heat. Dang. No AC during a Toronto heat wave. It was incredibly uncomfortable. I ordered the rueben, which I'd say was dang tasty. Reminded me of the vegan Montreal smoked meat sandwich I had back at Aux Vivres in Montreal. The fries were shoestringy, like a bird's nest of fries. Not my preference, but something different from the usual, anyway.
Our second time we went was a day after they had tweeted that the AC was fixed. Rapture! Still incredibly hot in the city, we showed our faces there and were met with disappointment again - there was no working AC. What the heck? I ordered the chicken and waffles and my dining partner ordered the sausage sliders. I can't remember which sides we ordered, but I do remember they were delivered incorrectly; her's on my plate, mine on her's. I think the sausage patties they use are Sol cuisine, and I can't remember the chicken brand, but I do know it's not prepared in-house. That's just one of those little things I find disappointing in a veggie restaurant. Yes, those patties are great, but I can buy them in a store myself. The biscuits and gravy were all pretty tasty.
Anyway, bottom line, it was simply too hot to enjoy the meal both times I've been there. The food itself is decent, but I don't like the mark-up on store-bought veggie meats. I do recommend the rueben, which is house-made seitan. Nothing wrong with that!
I'll give these guys another chance when things cool down, and I don't have to risk heat stroke.
In the meantime, I've gotta get on top of preventing my great ideas from leaking out of my brain. I think tin foil hats are a little passé. Maybe I could re-route my mental traffic through a proxy brain in Russia or something... -
Review from Vanessa S.
Woodbridge, ON
2/12/2012
I have eaten at the Hogtown many times and I am never disappointed.
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Review from Garry C.
Whistler, BC
8/19/2011
When I saw photos of the food and found out that they are the same proprietors as Hot Beans, I knew I had to go!
Like most, this was my first visit. For my friend who accompanied me, it was her second visit.
We started with the fries supremacy with the secret sauce. They were amazing - the fries were thin and crispy - think hickory sticks - with the tangy vegan sour cream on top. how could one not enjoy the deep fried goodness?
I had the unchicken and waffles. I'm not usually a fan of sweet things, but the maple syrup wasn't overbearing and was a good addition to the 'chicken'. It had a good consistency - not rubber - and the maple syrup added to the taste of the relatively tasteless - seitan. Probably not much different than real chicken - which I can't really remember the taste. It reminded me of my days in Arkansas eating chicken fried chicken (which should be on their menu!). My friend had the garbanzo bean salad. It reminded me of potato salad - which I'm a big fan of.
This place is basically southern style comfort food with a vegan twist. I'll definitely be back when I'm in town next!Listed in: Toronto Eats
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Review from Zoe R.
8/3/2011
The new kid on the block is getting steady attention, and I'm glad b/c it's not everyday that vegan eateries are given this much of a chance.
Went there tonight, ran into a couple of veg friends... which was nice.
I choose the "Biscuit Sliders", tasty flat and small sausages with mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy and peas. I chose collard greens as my side.
I thought it was good. Tasty, and filling. The gluten-free small buns that it came with, were ok, but I didn't want to bother finish eating them.
Partner chose the reuben sandwich, which at first he enjoyed, but then as he started to fill up, he started to notice things like the bread being too greasy (with vegan marg). He left quite a bit of the bread behind, too.
Yay:
-some decent food selections;
-prices overall were reasonable;
-gluten free options;
-all vegan;
-I liked the collard greens side which had a subtle flavour;
-friendly service;
-food didn't take forever to arrive.
Nay:
-not fab if you're not into fake meats (like if you were on a cleanse), or aren't into Daiya fake cheese;
-lots of sandwich choices - which just isn't something that's appealing to me right now. I'm into bread occasionally, but for me personally I would have enjoyed a few more healthful options.
The existing choices might be a good compromise for someone who's underinitiated into the world of vegan food - after all, it's tasty and its meal options are familiar foods to many.
If you live with health nut tendencies, vegan or not, take this place with a grain of Himalayan salt...
I'd go again. Just not on a daily or even weekly basis. -
Review from Peter M.
Toronto, ON
Amazazing. Vegan reuben, and fries supremacy on my plate. Magical.
First day open, and they have to close early from running out of food. Normally this would be a bummer, but with food this good, the onslaught of people doesn't surprise anyone.
Why it took so long for someone to open a place like this in Toronto, I'm not sure. However, it doesn't matter. It's here. It rules. -
Review from Kent P.
7/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Although I wasn't wowed by Hot Beans - this new spot by the same people really impressed me.
The space was bright and clean - something I'm sure that took a lot converting it from whatever pile of garbage was there before it and full of young, semi groomed and tattooed people.
I opted for the sausage vegan sliders on biscuits with mushroom gravy and a pile of fries. The gravy was delicious - as was the rest of the plate. It was as good as meat filled food (fyi vegans: meat filled food tastes pretty good).
I sampled the collared greens as well - they tasted like...thanksgiving dinner. I'm not sure why that is. But they did. Next time I'll go for a big plate of those, too. The bigger mains go for about $12. The restaurant is cash only but there is an ATM.
Pleasant! I felt like I was eating unhealthy vegan food. Very satisfying.
ttyn,
PATListed in: VEG that's more than risotto.
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Review from Lindsay L.
Toronto, ON
11/17/2011
If I could marry this place, I would.
If I could eat the Unchicken & Waffles everyday (...and not get fat) , I would.
That fact that Hogtown just got its liquor license, makes it even sexier then when it just had normal drinks.
The wait staff are awesome.
The green paint colour is hideous.
I love the piano.
I love this place!!!!
Thank you for your awesomeness.
xoxox
PS: I'm totally coming for Brunch on Sunday. -
Review from N L.
Toronto, ON
1/29/2012
Great to have a vegan place near by, but the food is so salty it's almost inedible after a while.
The vegetable sides were also extremely oily, which meant there wasn't really a break from the heavyness of the mains (many of which were fried or greasy). I understand that it is comfort food and this isn't supposed to be your typical veggie healthy fare, but I felt like the menu was a bit redundant.
won't be going back. -
Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
11/30/2011 4 Check-ins Here
How could I have not yet written a review of Hogtown Vegan? Maybe it's because I want to go there and hog all the macaroni and whatever-stuff-that-is-that's-not-cheese all to myself. Or the chicken-that's-not-actually-chicken-but-you-could- never-tell. That stuff that's the bomb, too. I'd gladly go to Hogtown Vegan anytime, and coming from a die-hard meatatarian like me, that's something.
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Review from Nicole H.
Toronto, ON
10/14/2011 8 Check-ins Here
I've had some variable experiences at the Hogtown Vegan which has held me off writing up my review until now. I've had a chance to experience the spectrum of service, a decent variety of the menu, and visiting with vegan and non-vegan friends (which is actually always something I take into account when eating at solely vegan places, to be honest!).
Overall I have to give Hogtown a 4 star rating - I want to give it an outstanding 5 stars because it's a pretty unique offering in the range of vegan fare in Toronto, but some of the cons drag it down a little. A summary is in order to wrap up:
Pros:
* Awesome food different from most vegan places in Toronto. Comfort food makes me happy.
* Tofu wings are delish, as are the fries supremacy - flavours so punchy! Mmm.
* Comfort food is solid - burgers and sandwiches are great, solid options like a Reuben, and soy-chicken/waffles are wonderful.
* Brunch is offered now, and I think it's almost a better menu than the regular one!
* Great big portion sizes. SO BIG.
Cons:
* Hot hot hot. Do they even have air-con? It's now fall and I feel like stripping off when i'm in there.
* Servers/attitude - this is SO variable. I can't stand it when i'm going to get a different experience every time I go - I like a standard of service and not up-and-down, thanks. Also, whoever runs their social networking communications needs to learn a thing or two about actually, y'know, communicating properly with the people who are interacting with them.
* Price. I'd be happier if apps were $1-2 cheaper, really. That mac and cheese is not worth $7. Mains could drop a little, but I suppose the sheer size of them is worth it. Not so for apps.
* Variable quality of food from item to item - some things are so so great, others are just okay. Bring up the bottom bar, and it'll be outstanding.
* Wish there were a few more drink items and nicer coffee/tea. Minor gripe there though. They're very good with free water at tables.
I think it depends on when you go and who you go with, but I think you can get a solid delicious experience here, and I will keep going back (as my wallet can afford it!).Listed in: 30 Day Yelp Challenge!
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Review from Em M.
Toronto, ON
9/26/2011
been to the Hogtown four or five times now and between me and my party members, have had most things on the menu. last time I went noticed the "jack and slaw" was gone which is disappointing as it was my favorite - so juicy and meaty and unique. moving down the sandwich list: the reuben is solid and so is the po'boy, but the bread could be of better quality for both sandwiches. the chickpea salad/sandwich are also both quite fine, but nothing I couldn't make at home. fries are thin and delicious to be sure, but why bother with them when there are beautiful garlicky collards to enjoy instead? a rare treat!
better veg*n wings to be had down the street at Clinton's or in the market at King's Cafe. better veg*n nachos down the street at Disgraceland. the iced tea was truly awful - but maybe my southern roots spoil me in that area.
the service is always pretty mediocre. attentive for the most part, but would it kill these people to smile? it feels like they're doing me a favor whenever I'm there.
the food is solid, make no mistake. and as a longtime veg*n who grew up in the American South, it was wonderful to be able to eat some of these dishes again. but they still have a ways to go before I'd take my carnivorous family there for a night out.
bottom line: you're better off at Hot Beans (sister takeaway joint in Kensington) but I still love Hogtown's style. -
Review from Robyn H.
Toronto, ON
7/20/2011
Let me start off first that I'm open minded when it comes to ingredients, however nowhere near vegan and I was blown away at the dinner entrees. The food was amazing. I had the Unchicken and Waffles, tried a "wing" and a spoonful of the chipotle mac'n'cheese - all ridiculously amazing.
With that said, I had one of the worst restaurant experiences I have ever EVER had. I called and made a reservation for 10 people for 8pm as I had friends here from New Zealand who were both Vegan and weren't having any luck with good vegan food in Toronto. The girl on the phone was nice enough, but hesitated on the 8pm reservation as the restaurant closed at 9pm and she "works 14 hour days"... So I sympathized and made it for 7:30. The majority of the party showed up at 7:28-7:33, leaving 2 to arrive at 8pm due to traffic and work and one wasn't able to make it.
Upon my arrival I went from what was a warm day into a humid hot restaurant with no AC... I poured myself a glass of room temperature water and took a look at the menu. Hoping that people would arrive sooner we held off on ordering for 15/20 minutes then when we finally were ready to order it took the waitress another 15/20 minutes to even come check on us... By this point the last 2 guests had been seated for about 5-10 minutes. She took our order and then again didn't check back on us until the appetizers came out at about 8:30. We enjoyed the food, minus one of us finding a piece of steel wool near the end of his mac'n'cheese dish, to which the waitress simply said "I'll let them know" with a chuckle... about 45 minutes after the appetizers we finally got our entrees - during the time of sitting down at 7:30 to finishing our entrees we saw two tables of 4 eat dinner and dessert, pay and leave as well as a couple, and again, we didn't see our waitress again until we got the birthday cheesecake we had put aside for us. By 9:40 we were given our bill, nearly $300. The cheesecake wasn't sold to us as one cake, but by piece, $6 a piece... a $48 mediocre key lime cheesecake - even by the vegan's perspective. A fact we can't cry about because I'm aware that they would have sold the cheesecake slice by slice to other patrons and made the same profit - again, it's just a nice gesture to sell the whole thing as a single cake cost as opposed to slice by slice. There was also an automatic gratuity of 15% added to our bill which I'm aware is law, however our waitress DID NOT deserve any sort of gratuity since she only checked on us when she delivered our food... and the restaurant only had maybe 4-5 other tables seated at the time, most being 2 people per table - which for a waitress isn't out of control...
So we paid our bill and a few of us brought our concerns to one of the owners and were shot down immediately. Saying she could maybe take $5 off for the steel found in the mac'n'cheese, that we were to be there for 7:30, which we were, that we ordered too late, which wouldn't have been the case if they had a competent waitress, and that is why we got our food nearly an hour and a half after we ordered, even though we saw 10 patrons come and go in that time... We were told there wasn't adequate enough space in the kitchen to plate 9 entrees - then don't seat a large table if you can't serve them together. I'm sure we would have been fine if food was staggered rather than an hour and a half after ordering, but there was no communication. The girl we dealt with had a very "deal with it" attitude and when one of us said they have lost customers she replied, and I quote "that's okay, I don't care about you."
Floored.
The last Toronto dinner for our Vegan New Zealand friends ruined, not to mention a birthday dinner.
We stood outside for about 10/15 minutes to chat and say our goodbyes before they taxied it to the hotel and through the window this same OWNER was physically mocking us on multiple occasions!
Finally one of the chefs (and I think part owner) came out to hear what 'got the girls so upset'..... So we explained our story and he was great, he offered to comp the next meal for the guy who found the steel wool. He claimed it was a crazy day and it's sometimes hard to keep your cool in a very customer service environment and asked if we could sympathies IF we knew what it was like to be in a customer service work environment - this we all disagreed with because we ALL are in customer service - we know customer service and hers was absolutely HORRIBLE.
With ALL of that said, I'm giving Hogtown 2 stars. I would have given it one if the chef/owner didn't come out to talk to us afterwards. I'm also aware this is a new business and there are learning curves - however if you're an owner, do not say you don't care about your customers if they have a valid complaint and especially DO NOT mock them like a teenager through your storefront... -
Review from Michael M.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 10/5/2011
Still love this place.
Since my first review, I've been back twice. I don't live super close and it's an uphill bike ride :(
They've applied for a licquor license. I saw the sign in the window last time I was there. Yaay! Hopefully they'll get it, since I would still love to have a beer with my meal.
I also tried the unchickn waffles. They were as good as I thought they would be, maybe even better.
They started a brunch too! It was very good, but it was obviously just their normal menu re-arranged into brunchy food. They have a good tofu scramble though.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/11/2011
Amazing,
I wanted to eat everything on the menu, my table ended up ordering the Fries Supremacy and… Read more »
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Review from Danielle F.
East York, ON
8/4/2011
I am so thrilled to find a restaurant like the Hogtown Vegan. They have all the comfort food essentials and it's so well done. I had the vegan reuben which was just spot on for me. The combination of flavours in the horseradish mayo, pickled cabbage, seitan and pumpernickel bread made my mouth water. I also would consider myself a bit of a french fries connoisseur and let me tell you I have never had such amazing shoestring french fries. Everything is perfectly seasoned to my liking and would order the same dish in a heartbeat.
Food aside, the service was friendly and helpful with the menu items. I look forward to working my way through the rest of their menu. I already have my eyes on the vegan mac n cheese! -
Review from Dorea R.
Toronto, ON
1/10/2012
I would love to give Hogtown Vegan 4 stars because I honestly LOVE the food there! However, their service is absolutely TERRIBLE! I have been going there regularly since they opened, and for the first month or so I attributed it to it being new, but they still haven't gotten their act together so I am going to give them only 3 stars. If you are in a rush do not eat here. If you have time and want to check out some of the best vegan food Toronto has to offer, then it is worth the wait. Here is a bit of a breakdown:
Food: The food is absolutely delicious, the portions are generous, and the food is very filling! I am a huge fan of the unchicken and waffles. My friends and I have loved every single dish we have had here. I also went there for their Thanksgiving meal, and it was delicious! If I were solely rating the food at Hogtown, then I would give them 4 stars. Compared to other vegan restaurants in Toronto I would give Hogtown 5 stars, but they cannot compare to great vegan restaurants like Millenium in San Francisco or Karyns on Green in Chicago. There is no other place like it in Toronto!
Atmosphere: The restaurant is casual, the vibe is quite relaxed, and a bit on the Hipster end of the spectrum.
Location:
A great location and easily accessible via the subway!
Service: As I mentioned the service here is terrible. My most recent visit was the worst experience I have had thus far at Hogtown. We were a party of 2, and we waited at the door for no less than 15 minutes before the waitress even acknowledged us. I would normally have said something sooner, but I knew I was going to write up a review so I waited. There were 6 other people ahead of us and 4 more people waiting behind us. She should have acknowledged all of us much sooner than that. We didn't get a table for about 30 minutes. No one was ever offered the seats at the small bar in the back either. Hogtown seats ~30 people. My negative experiences there suggest that they need more than 1 server at a time! One person to seat, serve, process orders and clear tables is simply not enough! Not only did we wait 30 minutes to sit down, but we then waited 15 minutes to give our order! My other experiences here have been better, however, the service was still unspeedy and quite lacking.
Additional comments:
They now serve a nice selection of alcohol, and I particularly appreciate their selection of beer! The only desserts they offer are chocolate. It would be nice if they had something for those that dislike or cannot eat chocolate. -
Review from loren d.
Toronto, ON
8/3/2011
Awesome new vegan joint! The food was great, the service was also very good. I had the biscuit sliders and my friend had the unchicken and waffles. Both were excellent, the side (collard greens) was surprisingly good too. I can't wait to go back and try everything else! A perfect compliment to Kensington's Hot Beans !
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Review from Abe L.
Mississauga, ON
8/9/2011
Sodium overload!!!!! My first time here and perhaps I ordered the wrong items. Tried the faux chicken wings which were battered pieces of triangle shaped tofu. I would have preferred a denser tofu for simulated meat. The dill sauce and hot sauce for dipping were good. The battered crust could have been a bit thicker and was slightly on the salty side. For my main, I ordered the biscuit sliders which consisted of a faux sausage patty and mashed potatoes inside a biscuit topped with gravy and peas with a side of fries. The fries were similar to Swiss Chalet fries except with way way WAY too much salt. After getting about half way through the meal, the salt not only in the fries, but in all of the ingredients in the sliders as well overwhelmed me. There was nothing to cut through the saltiness except for the peas, and there weren't enough of them to balance the palette. On the bright side, the a/c was working this day, which other reviewers had complained about being broken.
