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First time visiting this place! The café is very clean, bright and airy. It had such a relaxing atmosphere with their minimalistic design. The staff was polite and always had a smile when they greeted the customers. We ordered at the front and they brought our food to our table. We tried the Wanoka Omurice, Quiche, Hojicha Latte with an espresso shot and the London Fog Latte also with an espresso shot. The Wanoka Omurice was delicious (4/5). It was savoury and the creaminess of the omelette was tied in nicely by the sweetness and tanginess of their ketchup sauce. The Quiche was enjoyable (3.5/5). It had ground beef within the egg custard which heightened the savoury profile of the dish. The egg custard, however, was quite firm for my liking. I wish it was more on the smoother/silkier side. The crust was buttery yet dense. The dish could've also been served hot because when I got it, it was more on the lukewarm side which was a let-down. The two drinks were made well. The Hojicha Latte was our favourite out of the two. We enjoyed its nutty and toasty flavour. The London Fog Latte was lacking in depth of flavour but it was still enjoyable. We also ordered the Chocolate Danish (5/5) which immensely satisfied our sweet cravings. The chocolate filling wasn't overly sweet and the crust was exquisite. It was flaky and buttery. It had a crispy texture on the outside yet soft and fluffy on the inside. Overall, the hot food was decently made but the drinks and the pastry were the highlight of our meal. The portions were quite small considering the prices, and so I would say this place is on the pricier end.
I would give this place 3.5 stars. I love the ambience of the place; the soft music, presentation of food and top-notch customer service. They assisted in getting a high chair for my baby and helping me find seating while pushing a stroller which helped greatly. The presentation of food was also amazing. I just found both my hot drink and food I ordered lacking in flavor and just average. I ordered the hojicha latte and the Wanoka omurice. Both I could barely taste anything and I know hojicha should be a rich, earthy/toasty/nutty green tea flavor but I couldn't taste any of it, just mostly steamed milk. However my friend really enjoyed her matcha latte so maybe some drinks are better than others or dependent on who makes it. The omurice also was average, the texture/consistency was great but just lacking in flavor. I also ordered a tuna onigiri that also was lacking in flavor and nothing special. However, I did find their desserts to be really great. Found their tofu cream cheese cake and green tea chiffon cake really delicious. Their prices also were a bit overpriced. Perhaps it's best to go to this place for drinks and dessert and skip out on their food.
A very unique place. I liked it. This place reminds me of my mom's rural home town's suddenly opened new café. Real in a good way. Although it is Japanese-owned place, it is not pretentious, I mean, not overly asserting traditional Japan or modern sophistication. Food are also real - with Western (European) food with Japanese twist; Very basic modern Japanese essential food items (i.e. packaged rice ball, typically found in convenience stores in Japan). There are basic Western bakery items like cookies, brownies, croissants, also basic Japanese sweet staples (cream puff, short cakes, taiyaki). All the items are creative mix of modern Japanese-ness and modern health consciousness. The drink menu was also extensive from nostalgic Japanese 80's beloved drinks (soda with ice-cream etc), to carefully brewed unique lattes that are more popular in current Japan. In sum. This place is not as sophisticated or stylish, but I like it as it felt genuine, non-essentializing and energetically experimental. The price may be a higher end though. Try their French Vanilla ice cream... it tastes like Japanese home made ice-cream. Rich, creamy not overly sweet. We were thereon Saturday mid afternoon. The place was busy, all the tables were occupied. Menu is extensive, full of popular Yoshoku (western-Japanese ) food. My favorite was tofu cheese cake. Taiyaki was a bit dry.
As a place to eat, I think it's underwhelming and overpriced. Although I think the regular clientele just need a place to work and get some food so this is a great option for that. The menu has many interesting options but unfortunately the items I got weren't very good. I got the iced hojicha tea, iced matcha latte, egg salad sandwich and onigiri lunch. Iced hojicha tea - it's a cold watered down tea. I wish it was stronger because it was probably good 1/5 Iced matcha latte - overall pretty good, tastes like any generic matcha latte. It was oddly thick but still pleasant. 4/5 Onigiri lunch box - it included 2 onigiri, a itty bitty salad, a miso soup and 2 slices of cheese egg roll. The onigiri were equal (maybe lesser than) T&T ones. I got salmon and tuna. The salad was interesting with some chili spice. Miso soup was a little more clean and light tasting than the generic stuff you get from sushi places. The best part was the egg cheese roll but there were only 2 small slices! You need to get a pastry or something additional to not leave hungry. 3/5 Egg salad - pretty good. Not close to 7/11 Japan but they for sure use tons of kewpie mayo. They gotta get bigger bread so they can cut off all the crust though. There were huge chewy crust pieces from a lazy cut, although it would be a small sandwich if all the crust was gone 3/5 Overall the place is a 2.5/5 for me. I would like to come back to try more things because maybe I got the wrong items but it's SO expensive for a little cafe. Compared to the quality/price of food in the neighbourhood, this place is like $3-8/item too expensive so it gets a 2/5 overall. If you just need a place to work and get some decent food, I think this place is nice for that. Seating can get a little cramped when it gets busy
Cafe Wanoka * honey & berries french toast $13 japanese style egg salad sandwich $9.99 mango smoothie $7.45 passion fruit & peach slush $7.45 - free parking lot - kind staff - huge menu Highly highly recommend the drinks, especially the mango smoothie. All the food was so good and the honey and berries french toast was delicious for a late brunch. It's a local cafe so the prices are reasonable for the quality of the food - I've heard many great reviews for the tofu cheesecake so that's next on my list to try when I go back. The service was great too.
I've been coming to cafe wanoka since it first opened. I used to visit Vanta (the cafe that used to be here) because they always served good gelato during the summer. I love cafes, desserts, and Japanese food so this opening in an area of Scarborough accessible to my house was a perfect match. Usually I avoid ordering regular cafe items like coffee, espresso. My favourite drinks to order are the iced hojicha/Sencha unsweetened, banana milk (which is my favourite among all that I've ever tried everywhere), and yuzu lemonade (I learned how to make my own because I loved theirs so much). During every visit, I always grab an onigiri, specifically tuna mayo (I just love tuna mayo onigiri). I also order some dessert items. I've tried almost all of their desserts, and my favourite is hands down the tofu cheesecake. It's light and airy while it sits in your mouth, and definitely doesn't taste like tofu at all. My favourite part is that it isn't too sweet. The flavours aren't overpowering at all. Can be paired with any drink. Occasionally when I'm hungry, I will order their hot food. I've had the omurice and the onigiri lunch set. The more I eat the omurice, the more I realize I'm not a fan - it's more personal style, as I often cook eggs and have a preference. I used to think the onigiri lunch set was overpriced, but it's actually a filling meal. Everything seems expensive, but when you think about how it's a small business and the quality and portion of food served, it's a good deal. It's always a place I actively want to visit. If there's anything I'd want changed, it's longer open hours so I can come in the evenings after work. They started implementing a 2 hour seating limit after they gained popularity, but I don't think they'd actively enforce it unless you're really overstaying or it gets full. Usually when I visit - weekends during the afternoon after 2pm - it is not too busy, with maybe a third of seats being used. I find it tends to get a bit loud with the music and people talking. I don't think they allow third-party food ordering, but would love to see it in the future. The staff are always very friendly and helpful. Would absolutely recommend others visit.
BEST PISTACHIO CROISSANT IVE EVER HAD - hands down. Prices were fair for what I was getting. Vibe inside is also very nice and the workers were very patient and nice. They have wifi and a few plugs if you need to get some work done. The black sesame latte was perfect for the weather that I went, whole and homey.
I went here on a weekday morning with a friend to dine in for brunch. This spot's tucked away in the corner of a plaza. They had plenty of seating when I got there and staff were friendly. I picked their Green Tea + Red Bean Crepe which was pretty good! It was plated beautifully and the cost was very reasonable for the size of the dish ($14). I could see myself returning for their aesthetic french toast dishes ($11-12).
Food and offerings are decent. The place is a great place to hang out for a few hours with company to catch up or let time go by but the service is realllllly slow. They are really nice but super slow. Definitely don't come when you're hangry or in a hurry. The server forgot our drinks so the cheese toast was cold by the time it came and couldn't enjoy it as much as I'd like. I feel like we just had an unlucky experience as some people after us got theirs faster than we did, but some others waited longer than we had. The cheese toast was $13 which I thought was pretty steep for a piece of bread, cheese and mozzarella but it was still good. Open to coming back to edit my review as we used to frequent the cafes that were here before and enjoyed it.
I was in the area and wanted to pick up a quick bite while on the road. I stumbled upon Cafe Wanoka cafe. Once inside, they have several display cases of their pastries, cakes, onigiri and a menu of beverages and brunch items. They have a few tables as well as bar seating by the window overlooking Brimley. The vibe was very nice and the staff behind the counter were very friendly. Their chestnut cake sando stood out to me so I ordered that to go. It was very delicious! The chestnut filling was not very sweet and it was wrapped around with a layer of cake. It's a very nice treat! I hope to go back soon again!
Over the past four years, it has been a ritual after every ophthalmologist appointment to drop by Vanta Cafe for a pick-me-up drink or baked good. Today, I dreaded what I was going to do afterwards. Vanta closed for good in late September and I was heartbroken. It has got me through four years of appointments, especially during the first year in which I had quite the eye issue that was thankfully resolved. After a smooth and uneventful follow-up appointment (yay!), I noticed that Cafe Wanoka has taken over where Vanta was. I went in with my eyes dilated. It felt just like old times. I was greeted by the nicest, sweetest woman. I was so happy looking at all the hot and cold beverages on the menu. There were baked goods and black sesame pudding. I let her know that I was delighted to be here. This cafe offers Japanese-style items with some western influences. The soda beverages caught my attention. I immediately ordered a large orange mango soda. I also looked at the croissants and knew that I wanted one. I got a chocolate one. She asked if I wanted it heated up. I was still full from breakfast, so I got it unheated. I watched her carefully make my drink. You do have the option of getting either lemon or orange slices in many of the cold drinks. I didn't even bother and had her decide. She went with orange slices, which makes sense because my drink has orange in it. I paid with a debit card. I will say that Cafe Wanoka inherited a lot from Vanta, so it feels like old times, but with a modern twist. Credit and debit cards are preferred. I tipped and watched my twoonie that I had placed in a small bowl get deposited into the man's head. It was so cool and cute. The woman behind the counter and I laughed at it. She let me know that the yuzu lemon soda is less sweet and that she could make it with sugar next time. I let her know that it sounds fine without any sugar and that I'll definitely be back for it. I took a quick sip of my orange mango soda after stirring it with my straw in the store. So refreshing and yummy! I loved the carbonation. It's subtle, but you know that it's there. It wasn't overly sugary. Perfect! A man came in and asked if he was at 2101 Brimley Road. I said yes, which surprised the woman making my drink because it was practically a reflex reaction. "I have been coming here for eye appointments for a while," I let both of them know. "Thank you. I can't see," he admitted. "I can't see great, either. My eyes are dilated!" I replied. I haven't had my chocolate croissant yet. I just had lunch and I'm saving it for an afternoon snack. It smells so good that I may cave soon and devour it! Dropping by this new cafe today made my day. Welcome to U Health Centre and I can't wait to return for more! (417)
8 months ago
Cute little hole in the wall cafe. Good drinks. The pastry tasted generic and seemed to have been warmed up in the microwave, so it didnt stay warm long (it was already cold when I got back to my car.) Cute decor outside. read more
10 months ago
A beautiful cafe tucked away in a plaza in Agincourt area. Their service is very friendly, love the cozy ambiance and the menu options for both food and hot and cold drinks. They also have a full dessert menu with crepes and other sweet options. We tried their regular latte, iced hojicha latte - tried this for the first time and I kinda liked the taste, and the vanilla bean cream puff was so delicious and creamy! Loved the overall vibe and I'd recommend giving this place a try over all the over hyped cafes downtown. read more
10 months ago
Iced matcha latte. What they're known for. However the drink is nothing special. I've had matcha maiko in my home town and this is no better. The matcha is pre sweetened. I got light ice but still too much ice. Large cup was filled 80%. Peaceful environment. Clean tables. Helpful staff. Menu with pictures. Not disappointed just did not meet expectations. Maybe would come back for their food items like omurice. read more
11 months ago
First time visiting this place! The café is very clean, bright and airy. It had such a relaxing atmosphere with their minimalistic design. The staff was polite and always had a smile when they greeted the customers. We ordered at the front and they brought our food to our table. We tried the Wanoka Omurice, Quiche, Hojicha Latte with an espresso shot and the London Fog Latte also with an espresso shot. The Wanoka Omurice was delicious (4/5). It was savoury and the creaminess of the omelette was tied in nicely by the sweetness and tanginess of their ketchup sauce. The Quiche was enjoyable (3.5/5). It had ground beef within the egg custard which heightened the savoury profile of the dish. The egg custard, however, was quite firm for my liking. I wish it was more on the smoother/silkier side. The crust was buttery yet dense. The dish could've also been served hot because when I got it, it was more on the lukewarm side which was a let-down. The two drinks were made well. The Hojicha Latte was our favourite out of the two. We enjoyed its nutty and toasty flavour. The London Fog Latte was lacking in depth of flavour but it was still enjoyable. We also ordered the Chocolate Danish (5/5) which immensely satisfied our sweet cravings. The chocolate filling wasn't overly sweet and the crust was exquisite. It was flaky and buttery. It had a crispy texture on the outside yet soft and fluffy on the inside. Overall, the hot food was decently made but the drinks and the pastry were the highlight of our meal. The portions were quite small considering the prices, and so I would say this place is on the pricier end. read more
I would give this place 3.5 stars. I love the ambience of the place; the soft music, presentation of food and top-notch customer service. They assisted in getting a high chair for my baby and helping me find seating while pushing a stroller which helped greatly. The presentation of food was also amazing. I just found both my hot drink and food I ordered lacking in flavor and just average. I ordered the hojicha latte and the Wanoka omurice. Both I could barely taste anything and I know hojicha should be a rich, earthy/toasty/nutty green tea flavor but I couldn't taste any of it, just mostly steamed milk. However my friend really enjoyed her matcha latte so maybe some drinks are better than others or dependent on who makes it. The omurice also was average, the texture/consistency was great but just lacking in flavor. I also ordered a tuna onigiri that also was lacking in flavor and nothing special. However, I did find their desserts to be really great. Found their tofu cream cheese cake and green tea chiffon cake really delicious. Their prices also were a bit overpriced. Perhaps it's best to go to this place for drinks and dessert and skip out on their food. read more
Quiet and spacious cafe with iced and hot caffeine drinks and soda, bagels, sandwiches, omurice, pastries such as croissant and danish, and cookies! Very nice environment and friendly service. Prices seem a bit high overall. Lots of seating options. read more
1 month ago
A very unique place. I liked it. This place reminds me of my mom's rural home town's suddenly opened new café. Real in a good way. Although it is Japanese-owned place, it is not pretentious, I mean, not overly asserting traditional Japan or modern sophistication. Food are also real - with Western (European) food with Japanese twist; Very basic modern Japanese essential food items (i.e. packaged rice ball, typically found in convenience stores in Japan). There are basic Western bakery items like cookies, brownies, croissants, also basic Japanese sweet staples (cream puff, short cakes, taiyaki). All the items are creative mix of modern Japanese-ness and modern health consciousness. The drink menu was also extensive from nostalgic Japanese 80's beloved drinks (soda with ice-cream etc), to carefully brewed unique lattes that are more popular in current Japan. In sum. This place is not as sophisticated or stylish, but I like it as it felt genuine, non-essentializing and energetically experimental. The price may be a higher end though. Try their French Vanilla ice cream... it tastes like Japanese home made ice-cream. Rich, creamy not overly sweet. We were thereon Saturday mid afternoon. The place was busy, all the tables were occupied. Menu is extensive, full of popular Yoshoku (western-Japanese ) food. My favorite was tofu cheese cake. Taiyaki was a bit dry. read more
As a place to eat, I think it's underwhelming and overpriced. Although I think the regular clientele just need a place to work and get some food so this is a great option for that. The menu has many interesting options but unfortunately the items I got weren't very good. I got the iced hojicha tea, iced matcha latte, egg salad sandwich and onigiri lunch. Iced hojicha tea - it's a cold watered down tea. I wish it was stronger because it was probably good 1/5 Iced matcha latte - overall pretty good, tastes like any generic matcha latte. It was oddly thick but still pleasant. 4/5 Onigiri lunch box - it included 2 onigiri, a itty bitty salad, a miso soup and 2 slices of cheese egg roll. The onigiri were equal (maybe lesser than) T&T ones. I got salmon and tuna. The salad was interesting with some chili spice. Miso soup was a little more clean and light tasting than the generic stuff you get from sushi places. The best part was the egg cheese roll but there were only 2 small slices! You need to get a pastry or something additional to not leave hungry. 3/5 Egg salad - pretty good. Not close to 7/11 Japan but they for sure use tons of kewpie mayo. They gotta get bigger bread so they can cut off all the crust though. There were huge chewy crust pieces from a lazy cut, although it would be a small sandwich if all the crust was gone 3/5 Overall the place is a 2.5/5 for me. I would like to come back to try more things because maybe I got the wrong items but it's SO expensive for a little cafe. Compared to the quality/price of food in the neighbourhood, this place is like $3-8/item too expensive so it gets a 2/5 overall. If you just need a place to work and get some decent food, I think this place is nice for that. Seating can get a little cramped when it gets busy read more
Cafe Wanoka * honey & berries french toast $13 japanese style egg salad sandwich $9.99 mango smoothie $7.45 passion fruit & peach slush $7.45 - free parking lot - kind staff - huge menu Highly highly recommend the drinks, especially the mango smoothie. All the food was so good and the honey and berries french toast was delicious for a late brunch. It's a local cafe so the prices are reasonable for the quality of the food - I've heard many great reviews for the tofu cheesecake so that's next on my list to try when I go back. The service was great too. read more
Cute little cafe and the staff are really sweet too. Delicious black honey kinako drink, nice roasted soy and not too sweet! Pastries are also delicious Not overly crowded, you can find a spot on a Saturday afternoon. I'd recommend a visit! read more
3 years ago
I've been coming to cafe wanoka since it first opened. I used to visit Vanta (the cafe that used to be here) because they always served good gelato during the summer. I love cafes, desserts, and Japanese food so this opening in an area of Scarborough accessible to my house was a perfect match. Usually I avoid ordering regular cafe items like coffee, espresso. My favourite drinks to order are the iced hojicha/Sencha unsweetened, banana milk (which is my favourite among all that I've ever tried everywhere), and yuzu lemonade (I learned how to make my own because I loved theirs so much). During every visit, I always grab an onigiri, specifically tuna mayo (I just love tuna mayo onigiri). I also order some dessert items. I've tried almost all of their desserts, and my favourite is hands down the tofu cheesecake. It's light and airy while it sits in your mouth, and definitely doesn't taste like tofu at all. My favourite part is that it isn't too sweet. The flavours aren't overpowering at all. Can be paired with any drink. Occasionally when I'm hungry, I will order their hot food. I've had the omurice and the onigiri lunch set. The more I eat the omurice, the more I realize I'm not a fan - it's more personal style, as I often cook eggs and have a preference. I used to think the onigiri lunch set was overpriced, but it's actually a filling meal. Everything seems expensive, but when you think about how it's a small business and the quality and portion of food served, it's a good deal. It's always a place I actively want to visit. If there's anything I'd want changed, it's longer open hours so I can come in the evenings after work. They started implementing a 2 hour seating limit after they gained popularity, but I don't think they'd actively enforce it unless you're really overstaying or it gets full. Usually when I visit - weekends during the afternoon after 2pm - it is not too busy, with maybe a third of seats being used. I find it tends to get a bit loud with the music and people talking. I don't think they allow third-party food ordering, but would love to see it in the future. The staff are always very friendly and helpful. Would absolutely recommend others visit. read more
BEST PISTACHIO CROISSANT IVE EVER HAD - hands down. Prices were fair for what I was getting. Vibe inside is also very nice and the workers were very patient and nice. They have wifi and a few plugs if you need to get some work done. The black sesame latte was perfect for the weather that I went, whole and homey. read more
I went here on a weekday morning with a friend to dine in for brunch. This spot's tucked away in the corner of a plaza. They had plenty of seating when I got there and staff were friendly. I picked their Green Tea + Red Bean Crepe which was pretty good! It was plated beautifully and the cost was very reasonable for the size of the dish ($14). I could see myself returning for their aesthetic french toast dishes ($11-12). read more
Food and offerings are decent. The place is a great place to hang out for a few hours with company to catch up or let time go by but the service is realllllly slow. They are really nice but super slow. Definitely don't come when you're hangry or in a hurry. The server forgot our drinks so the cheese toast was cold by the time it came and couldn't enjoy it as much as I'd like. I feel like we just had an unlucky experience as some people after us got theirs faster than we did, but some others waited longer than we had. The cheese toast was $13 which I thought was pretty steep for a piece of bread, cheese and mozzarella but it was still good. Open to coming back to edit my review as we used to frequent the cafes that were here before and enjoyed it. read more
8 months ago
I was in the area and wanted to pick up a quick bite while on the road. I stumbled upon Cafe Wanoka cafe. Once inside, they have several display cases of their pastries, cakes, onigiri and a menu of beverages and brunch items. They have a few tables as well as bar seating by the window overlooking Brimley. The vibe was very nice and the staff behind the counter were very friendly. Their chestnut cake sando stood out to me so I ordered that to go. It was very delicious! The chestnut filling was not very sweet and it was wrapped around with a layer of cake. It's a very nice treat! I hope to go back soon again! read more
2 years ago
Over the past four years, it has been a ritual after every ophthalmologist appointment to drop by Vanta Cafe for a pick-me-up drink or baked good. Today, I dreaded what I was going to do afterwards. Vanta closed for good in late September and I was heartbroken. It has got me through four years of appointments, especially during the first year in which I had quite the eye issue that was thankfully resolved. After a smooth and uneventful follow-up appointment (yay!), I noticed that Cafe Wanoka has taken over where Vanta was. I went in with my eyes dilated. It felt just like old times. I was greeted by the nicest, sweetest woman. I was so happy looking at all the hot and cold beverages on the menu. There were baked goods and black sesame pudding. I let her know that I was delighted to be here. This cafe offers Japanese-style items with some western influences. The soda beverages caught my attention. I immediately ordered a large orange mango soda. I also looked at the croissants and knew that I wanted one. I got a chocolate one. She asked if I wanted it heated up. I was still full from breakfast, so I got it unheated. I watched her carefully make my drink. You do have the option of getting either lemon or orange slices in many of the cold drinks. I didn't even bother and had her decide. She went with orange slices, which makes sense because my drink has orange in it. I paid with a debit card. I will say that Cafe Wanoka inherited a lot from Vanta, so it feels like old times, but with a modern twist. Credit and debit cards are preferred. I tipped and watched my twoonie that I had placed in a small bowl get deposited into the man's head. It was so cool and cute. The woman behind the counter and I laughed at it. She let me know that the yuzu lemon soda is less sweet and that she could make it with sugar next time. I let her know that it sounds fine without any sugar and that I'll definitely be back for it. I took a quick sip of my orange mango soda after stirring it with my straw in the store. So refreshing and yummy! I loved the carbonation. It's subtle, but you know that it's there. It wasn't overly sugary. Perfect! A man came in and asked if he was at 2101 Brimley Road. I said yes, which surprised the woman making my drink because it was practically a reflex reaction. "I have been coming here for eye appointments for a while," I let both of them know. "Thank you. I can't see," he admitted. "I can't see great, either. My eyes are dilated!" I replied. I haven't had my chocolate croissant yet. I just had lunch and I'm saving it for an afternoon snack. It smells so good that I may cave soon and devour it! Dropping by this new cafe today made my day. Welcome to U Health Centre and I can't wait to return for more! (417) read more
My mom and I ate three slices of cake between the two of us. We see the cakes on display and want pretty much everything! A little background to begin my review. So this excellent baker was the one from J-town. Over the 11 years there, I fell in love with their tofu cheesecake. Since November they moved here. I am so glad now I can enjoy a Hochija tea with a wonderful light tofu cheese cake. The cake came out 30 minutes before I arrived and now all sold out. The daily cake today was the chocolate mousse, a good level of chocolate flavour to it, and almost felt like a dark chocolate. I also tried the salmon onigiri, very fresh and a good snack. I am definitely coming back to try other items on the menu! read more
Quaint cafe at a moderately busy intersection in Scarborough. I had been meaning to come here for a while now and I am glad that I finally made time for it. The decor is light and simple, though a bit crammed. I can see how if the cafe was full, it might be a bit too close for comfort, but it was fairly empty during my visit. We got both a black sesame latte and a hojicha tea latte. Both were good. The black sesame was sweet and decadent, and the hojicha was balanced with some bitterness (as it should). The food was good also. The creamy scrambled egg was nice, but the roast beef sandwich was amazing. It was perfectly balanced with a rich onion, tomato type sauce. Overall, pretty happy with my experience. The workers were very nice and it was nice to support a local small business. read more
Based on the high praise in most other reviews, I had high expectations of Cafe Wanoka and had hoped to add it to my weekly cafe rotation. Unfortunately, my experience fell short and found it incredibly disappointing instead. To preface, I did not dine in, rather I got two drinks to go: a black sesame latte with an added espresso shot, and a hojicha latte. Both drinks were found to be mediocre at best. The hojicha latte was extemely watered down, and could've passed as only milk. In hindsight, it looks like most of their better reviews are for their tofu cheesecake. Having said that, I would set your expectations accordingly, if you plan on visiting for anything else. Unfortunately, I just don't see myself coming back. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
I've been here a handful of times and will continue to come because the drinks are good (matcha latte!), there are plugs, there's enough seating, and there's enough parking (and it's free). The staff are sooo friendly and almost all of them do speak Japanese. I've stayed here for multiple hours and never felt unwelcome. Food: omurice, meatballs, roast beef sandwich, egg salad sandwich, smoked salmon sandwich - all good! It's a great place to read, study, enjoy coffee/tea or catch up with friends. read more
I used to come to this cafe often when it was Black Gold pre covid when I worked in Scarb. Happy to see that is a Jap cafe. There were breakfast and lunch served such as sandwiches, bagels, toast, crepes, pastries. There are even gelatos available! I came in for a drink and happy to see they had black sesame latte available . I got the iced drink instead of hot since it's 30c out. I saw some of the pics posted here and would love to try the food items next time I return! Love the atmosphere of the cafe. read more
TLDR: There are better cafes or places to hangout. Alright food, but subpar setting, and pricey for what it is. (Slightly) longer review for those not in a hurry: Taste (4/5) : Don't get me wrong, I liked the food, but it wasn't absolutely fantastic like most reviews seem to have experienced. I tried some of their most popular dishes, but none of them made me CRAVE for them afterwards. They were nice in the moment, but not impressionable afterwards. I particularly liked the silky tofu cake and the cheese toast! As a fan of tofu and also cheesecake, Wanoka struck a great balance between the two :) The cheese toast was also a thick blend, and the roe in there gave it an umami streak that tied the toast together. But the prices. As an avid foodie, I like to shell out money for good food, but I feel like the quantity did not quite justify the price of the items on the menu. Desserts were around the $5 mark per slice or portion - which isn't too bad, I guess, but the toast and other savoury items on the menu were close to $10 for 1 - 2 slices of taste and the flavour pieces. I was really expecting much better bread for the price I was paying, but it was just regular, no-frills bakery bread I could buy for $10 for 2 loaves at Metro. For context, my open cheese toast as $11.50 for 1 thick slice of toast with cheese, and a small side of salad. The egg sandwich was a regular egg sandwich with a small side of salad, and that cost $7.50. I would have expected the cheese sandwich to be below $8 and the egg salad probably below $6 for what it was. Drinks were priced as per regular though. Place (2/5) : From the reviews and instagram aesthetic I was expecting the interiors to be more ... Japanese-cafe-esque? But there were small booths like from regular hk cafes, and the interior design was simple to the point of being almost minimized. The only telling factor that this was a Japanese cafe was the hiragana/katakana on the menu. The wifi is also terrible. The server did apologize for the poor wifi beforehand, but since many people also go to cafes to work or study, I felt like this was a miss (even though they explained that it was because the building is a medical building, hence they can't have their own wifi due to fear of interfering with medical equipment). The office wifi was so inadequate that my friend and I had to move to another spot shortly after we had a less-than-amazing experience from Wanoka, because we needed the wifi to work. Also, service was slow! Or maybe I was just hangry... Sorry if this sounds harsh, but the only thing I might be back for is a slice of the tofu cheesecake. If you're passing by, do pick up a slice of their cake or one of their desserts, but I don't recommend this spot to chill with friends. Follow my insta @joelyho for more foodie stuffs read more
Great new neighbourhood spot to get coffee and Japanese desserts! I loved their lattes and tofu cheesecake. There's plenty of tables and outlets in case you wanted to work, study, or hang out with friends here. The service is also super friendly. read more
Cute little cafe in SCARBROUGH, where you lease expect it! Service is kinda really slow.... But food is decent and good atmosphere. You order your food, pay and they will bring it to your table. There is no table service, people spend hours here. There's sandwiches, drinks, and dessert. Lots of parking at the back of this building also. read more
4 years ago
From Black Gold to Vanta to Wanoka, I've been frequenting the coffee shops that have been opening and closing in this neighbourhood corner for years. The latest iteration, Cafe Wanoka, is a Japanese themed cafe that offers some light eats, various pastries, and related drinks. I've been here a few times already and am always finding excuses to keep coming back. The cafe "atmosphere" if you will, is great for grabbing a coffee and hanging out with some friends for an hour or two to kick back and let time fly. I've tried the French toast, cream puffs, and various pastries and most of the warm drinks that they offer on the menu. It's a great spot to relax with some friends and enjoy the mood. If you're into hanging out cafes and want a change in pace, Cafe Wanoka is a great place to check out. read more
2 years ago
Food and service were excellent!! The tofu cheesecake and lemon danish were not very sweet which is PERFECT! Nice atmosphere. Really enjoyed it. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
I go here regularly. They have a wide selection of Japanese, Japanese inspired and western drinks, sweets and food. You'll never run out of delicious stuff to try. There's incredible quality here, with my favourite being the cakes. That said, the food is pretty great, as well. My go-to is the Wafu Creamy Scrambled Egg and Sausage. As for the cakes, they're all good, with the tofu cheesecake being the signature. Don't miss this awesome cafe! read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
Always shopping around and first time here. Such a shame, it's a very nice place for brunch and even only want to relax with a Latte. Staffs are very friendly. Great selections, will come back again. read more
3 years ago
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