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Seoul Food and Other Korean Stuff

Category: Food

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Photo of susan c.
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8/17/2010 susan "My hat is not filled with marzipan" c. says:

For some odd reason, gamjatang (Korean pork bone soup) is really popular in Toronto. It's EVERYWHERE! Who do you think serves up the best version?

Also interested to hear people's* thoughts on the best:

- Korean BBQ
- late-night Korean drinking establishment
- Korean fried chicken
- bibimbap
- Korean bakery

Oh, I am also in search of the best:
- naeng myun (chilled buckwheat noodles) http://en.wikipedia.or...
- jjajang myun (noodles in black bean sauce) http://en.wikipedia.or...

*people other than those named Karl :)

  1. Photo of Karl R.
    8/17/2010 Karl "Kid Don Cornelius" R. says:

    Oh man I was so ready to be all over this!

  2. Photo of susan c.
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    8/17/2010 susan "My hat is not filled with marzipan" c. says:

    Oh, sorry, that should have said: "not just people named Karl"

    Have at it, Mr. R!

  3. Photo of Karl R.
    8/17/2010 Karl "Kid Don Cornelius" R. says:

    *kicks at the dirt* no no i know when I'm not wanted.

  4. Photo of Lauren M.
    8/17/2010 Lauren "Lo-BAL" M. says:

    For pork bone soup, I'd say toss up between Kachi and Seoul Sam Mi. Kachi sometimes fucks it up with meat that's not tender enough. Seoul Sam Mi's is always bang on, but they dumb down the spicyness all the time which pisses me off. I always have to ask for very spicy as Seoul.

    Thumbs Up and Owl of Minerva also have decent pork bone, but they are second place to Kachi/Seoul.

    My favourite bibimbap is definitely at Buk Chang. It's delicious plus it's like $3-4 bucks cheaper than if you get it anywhere else (Kachi, Seoul, etc all seem to charge around $10 instead of $7)

    Roll House looks like it has good jjajang myun but I haven't tried it yet.

    My other fav Korean dishes currently:

    - Soon Tofu from Tofu Village
    - Seafood soup (I forget the korean name for it) from the new Roll House place
    - Kimchi Stew #22 from Thumbs Up (best deal ever, $6 with tax)

    I don't eat fried chicken so I cannot comment on that. And my experiences with Korean bakery products have been pretty underwhelming - everything is bland.

  5. Photo of Elaine K.
    8/17/2010 Elaine "Danger Zone" K. says:

    *taking notes* I love me some Korean food!

  6. Photo of Neil T.
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    8/17/2010 Neil "indefinite review hiatus" T. says:

    uye!!!

  7. Photo of susan c.
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    8/17/2010 susan "My hat is not filled with marzipan" c. says:

    @Karl R: You're wanted, you're wanted! No thread about Korea is complete without your input!

  8. Photo of Karl R.
    8/17/2010 Karl "Kid Don Cornelius" R. says:

    I think Lauren knocked it out of the park.

    Korean fried chicken: kokoya was less than impressive.

    Buldak: Hmmmm anyone anyone? There's that place on Yonge just south of Bloor I walk by quite a bit. Buldak in Korea is way way way too spicy but I wonder if they dumb it down a bit.

    Seoul House (666 Bloor) is always my go to for bibimbap and I think they've got yookhwe (Korean steak tartar) on the menu.

    I'm with Lauren on Korean baked goods. Hodduk is great and Susan pointed out a place in Christie but I've yet to check it out.

  9. Photo of Stephanie C.
    8/17/2010 Stephanie "Let the choir sing!" C. says:

    I second Neil's comment. UYE please!

  10. Photo of Elaine K.
    8/17/2010 Elaine "Danger Zone" K. says:

    Thirded!

  11. Photo of Kat F.
    8/17/2010 Kat "don't get me started!" F. says:

    Can anyone attest to the suitability of a UYE at Owl Of Minerva? It's the ROTD today but I don't see a pic so not sure if it could accommodate a large-ish group...I'm intrigued by the name!

  12. Photo of Jennifer K.
    8/17/2010 Jennifer "I Am Hungry! I Need to Yelp About FOOD!" K. says:

    I love naeng myun!

    I was eating that everyday when I was in Seoul!

    I do have my list of naengmyun both in broth or hot sauce which I am working on!

    http://www.yelp.ca/lis...

  13. Photo of Jennifer K.
    8/17/2010 Jennifer "I Am Hungry! I Need to Yelp About FOOD!" K. says:

    @Kat F - I been to Owl of Minerva pre yelp days. Yes they are big enough to accommodate bigger groups at the back of the restaurant at the North York location.

  14. Photo of Kat F.
    8/17/2010 Kat "don't get me started!" F. says:

    Has anyone tried this place? "Paldo Gangsan" (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...)

    No Toronto reviews yet!

  15. Photo of Eric M.
    8/17/2010 Eric "it's not hipster, you're just boring." M. says:

    Owl Of Minerva? Oh SNAP! I haven't been to that place since university. I was starting to think I had imagined the place. Hands down the best pork bone soup I've ever had. I remember it being a decent size for a party of fifteen with plenty of tables and room to spare.

  16. Photo of Neil T.
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    8/17/2010 Neil "indefinite review hiatus" T. says:

    My preference is to hit up a low budget Koreatown joint like Thumbs Up, Roll House, or Tofu Village for UYE.

  17. Photo of susan c.
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    8/18/2010 susan "My hat is not filled with marzipan" c. says:

    @Neil T: I'm afraid Thumbs Up and Roll House are not equipped to handle big groups. Never been to Tofu Village. Do you think they could handle the whole lot of us?

  18. Photo of Karl R.
    8/18/2010 Karl "Kid Don Cornelius" R. says:

    Everyone always recommends Owl of Minerva to me too (one up by me and one on spadina). I wouldn't mind trying the place.

  19. Photo of Elaine K.
    8/18/2010 Elaine "Danger Zone" K. says:

    The Owl of Minerva on Hwy. 7 in Richmond Hill could probably fit 50 people in the whole place.

    But we would need some kind of convoy to get us all up there :)

  20. Photo of susan c.
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    8/18/2010 susan "My hat is not filled with marzipan" c. says:

    I've never been to Owl of Minerva. I just look at the name and wonder "What kind name is that for a Korean restaurant?" I recently realized that it's a direct translation from the Korean on the sign. Weird.

    If we have a UYE there, which location would be best: Spadina, Bloor or North York?

  21. Photo of Lauren M.
    8/18/2010 Lauren "Lo-BAL" M. says:

    Not the Bloor location, it's pretty ghetto. I don't remember there being a good set up for a larger table either, it's all small tables of 4

  22. Photo of Karl R.
    8/18/2010 Karl "Kid Don Cornelius" R. says:

    I would guess the NY location would have the most real live Koreans, if that would mean anything in terms of the food.

  23. Photo of susan c.
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    8/18/2010 susan "My hat is not filled with marzipan" c. says:

    Food is one consideration but I'm also concerned about the restaurant's ability to accommodate larger groups. Service snafus can put a real damper on the meal and make people cranky.

  24. Photo of Eric M.
    8/18/2010 Eric "it's not hipster, you're just boring." M. says:

    The one in North York had room for the group of fifteen that I was in and there was still seating available for a good number more. I would suggest calling ahead just to make sure though.

  25. Photo of Neil T.
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    8/18/2010 Neil "indefinite review hiatus" T. says:

    Tofu Village can handle us.  I was there with 8 people this week, no problems.

    It's not only tofu, but has your regular Korea foods, including PBS.

  26. Photo of Lauren M.
    8/18/2010 Lauren "Lo-BAL" M. says:

    Ya and the kimchi at Tofu Village is the bomb

  27. Photo of Jennifer K.
    8/18/2010 Jennifer "I Am Hungry! I Need to Yelp About FOOD!" K. says:

    I of course will vow for the one up in North York! :) I don't dare to think of having a UYE at the Hwy 7 location! Probably just me, Rana, Roma showing up :P

  28. Photo of Elaine K.
    8/18/2010 Elaine "Danger Zone" K. says:

    I'll go anywhere :)

    I've been craving some nice Korean food for weeks!!

  29. Photo of susan c.
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    8/23/2010 susan "My hat is not filled with marzipan" c. says:

    OK, 'nuff talking. Let's do this!
    UYE at Tofu Village on Bloor this Friday: http://www.yelp.ca/eve...

  30. Photo of Kelly K.
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    9/1/2010 Kelly "insert pithy comment here" K. says:

    Im looking for yummy dakgalbi, Busan-style! You know, the ones with those little cheesey/rice noodle things. I have NO idea what that bit's called, but its amazing. Any suggestions?

  31. Photo of Vivek S.
    10/31/2010 Vivek "When I wake up imma be yelping" S. says:

    I've never been to Owl of Minerva. Which location is supposed to be awesome? Or are they all?

  32. Photo of susan c.
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    10/31/2010 susan "My hat is not filled with marzipan" c. says:

    @Kelly: Joon's on Bloor specializes in dakgalbi but manage your expectations--it's nowhere near as good as what's served in Korea. That's the only place in Toronto where I've found it.

    Are you talking about the chewy rice cakes in dakgalbi called "dduk" (also spelled "tteok")? Sometimes they're filled with cheese like here http://blog.naver.com/... but more often they're not.

  33. Photo of wendy c.
    10/31/2010 wendy "have passport will travel to eat" c. says:

    @Vivek, I've been to Owl of Minerva at Yonge/Finch, the one up on Hwy 7 @First Markham Place, and the one in T&T Steeles and Middlefield -- all about the same.  Pork Bone Soup is their speciality and good, other items are so so.  

    Want to hear people's thoughts on the best Jokbal (Pork Hock) in Toronto?

  34. Photo of Lauren M.
    10/31/2010 Lauren "Lo-BAL" M. says:

    @Vivek - the Bloor st location IS NOT awesome. In my opinion none of them are great, but the Spadina location is ok I guess

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