Lala spicy lab is a cozy place that's quiet busy. As a vegetarian we had limited options to try but…read morethe vegan meal was delicious and filling. Two of us shared and yet were not able to finish it. The parfait was amazing flavors , something new to try.

The Noms: Seafood Tomato Pot $19.99…read more Pig Trotter $8.99 Sliced beef Brisket MaoCai $18.99 The Citrus Garden Green Tea Parfait $6.99 Brown Sugar Black Tea Parfait $6.99 The Seafood Tomato Pot was huge, and we were definitely not ready for that size. The broth was sweet, savoury, and not overly tangy. We got it with sweet potato noodles, which had the most satisfying and addictive chew. There was already so much meat and veg in there that you really don't need to add much else. My only thing is I wish there were more sweet potato noodles to go with everything in the bowl. We added the pig trotter (because duh!), which was perfectly seasoned, tender, and had that nice gelatinous texture. Because of how big the portion was, we took the leftovers home, added more glass noodles, and was still able to get two full meals out of it the next day! The MaoCai broth was pretty spicy. We went with medium, and were breaking a sweat. The numbing heat hits fast and makes it hard to sip on the broth while eating (definitely not for the weak). Still, it had a solid ratio of meat to veg to noodles, and everything held up well with the broth. The parfaits were exactly what we needed after all that hotpot. The Citrus Garden Green Tea had a nice blend of green tea, citrus, and coconut that worked surprisingly well together. But the Brown Sugar Black Tea Parfait was our favourite. The tapioca balls were perfectly chewy and not too sweet, and the mix of black tea and grass jelly gave it such a good combo of textures. It was rhe perfect cool down. From what I hear, if you can say their tongue twister 3x in 30s you can get 50% off their new ice cream parfaits!

Had the pleasure of speaking with the manager, who kindly invited me back for dinner after my…read moreprevious experience. I really appreciated the effort they made to reach out, invite me back and try to make things right. During this visit, the service was much better and the staff were very accommodating and attentive throughout the meal. Food was delicious as always. I tried the laksa broth for the first time and it instantly became one of my favourites super rich, flavourful and comforting without being too heavy. Everything we ordered was tasty, which reminded me why I've always enjoyed Haidilao so much in the first place

Came here with a few friends and honestly understood why people are always talking about Haidilao…read more The service was on another level from the moment we walked in. Everyone was super friendly and attentive without making us feel rushed. The broth selection was great, and the ingredients tasted really fresh, especially the sliced beef, shrimp paste, and handmade noodles. Watching the noodle performance at the table was actually pretty fun too. I also loved how customizable everything was with the sauce bar. Even though it was busy, the staff kept checking in and made sure we had everything we needed. The whole experience felt more like dining out for an event instead of just having hot pot. Definitely one of the better hot pot spots I've tried in Toronto, especially if you're going with friends or family.

After a disappointing experience at the downtown location, we decided to drive to the Scarborough…read morelocation because we were still craving Haidilao and were so glad we did. From the moment we arrived the staff were kind, welcoming and attentive. A special thank you to our server Alex, who truly made our night. He was friendly, easy to talk to and made us feel so comfortable. When one of our marbled beef orders had too much fat, he quickly offered to replace it without hesitation. He even walked us out when we were leaving which was such a thoughtful gesture that really stuck to me. Alex made us feel more like friends than customers. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. This visit completely made up for our earlier experience. We will definitely be coming back and highly recommend the Scarborough location for both great food and amazing service.

The service was top-notch; the server and hostess were so attentive. I rarely go to AYCE since I…read morecan't eat that much, so I was happy that Haidilao has a lunch set option for under $20. Have all the veggies and noodles you want with a choice of 1 protein and 1 soup base. They even offer to peel and dehead the shrimp for you. Since it was my birthday, I received a festive table setup and a Marbled Beef Cake.

I absolutely loved my experience at Daimaru! The staff is extremely attentive and for an all you…read morecan eat the quality of the meat is actually really good. It was a bit of a wait, given it was a Friday night but totally worth it! To top it off the creme brulee is divine! I always end up eating at least 2-3 for dessert!

**FOOD SAFETY CONCERN** DANGER **…read more We are a table of 9 adults (7 of them seniors) and 1 baby. If you bring a baby, they do not have high chairs, only booster seats FYI. We called ahead since we are a party 6+. We had to try multiple times because our call was left unanswered.. Overall food was great .. until I found something shiny stuck to a shrimp in the hotpot. I was able to figure out what it was once I took it out. A flexible SHARP STEEL filament - Likely from steel wool. GROSS!!!!! And DANGEROUS!!! After I found that, it ruined my appetite and night. I became paranoid and worried about my family biting into steel. Will this result in a trip to the hospital? The server was apologetic and helped us change the broth immediately but honestly I wish there was more from management. It's not like finding a strand of hair. This is serious!!! Daimaru's lack of food safety and poor hygiene is unacceptable. I am still fuming that this happened. They are lucky I found it before any of the 7 seniors found it stuck in their throat or intestines. The nice servers had to hear our anger and frustration. Eventually after the second complaint from us did the manager finally decide to come in personally and address it. Should have addressed it the moment it happened in my opinion. If you eat here, eat at your own risk and check your food carefully. Attaching our receipt of the resolution: 10% off our entire bill. Won't be recommending to anyone.

Came here for the first time. My partner tried a different location and kept telling me about it…read more Decided to come here today. We got there around 5ish. The place itself was pretty empty. They had a large seating area. Only 2 tables plus us. The food came fairly quickly. They have a sauce bar and with some fruits there. I found the menu to be pretty small. A lot of it were like filler food. Like spam, different types of balls. It was mostly just beef or seafood. The beef didn't taste as tender as other places we been to before. It actually tastes quite dry. Our server also never really came around. We had to wait till someone comes around. Another weird thing that they do is add a mandatory 12% tips onto your bill. They do tell you before hand, but it felt obligated when it's forced onto the bill. Super weird

Matsutei Sukiyaki offers comforting Japanese hot pit in a warm and cozy atmosphere. They offer both…read moreAYCE hot pot and à la carte. There's also AYCE drink option available. You can choose between many varieties of fresh ingredients: noodles and rice, vegetables, seafood, meat and broths. The sauce station makes crafting your own sauce easy and enjoyable. We visited for a weekday dinner and ordered the "Premium Set AYCE" and enjoyed the delicious hot pot and the vibes. For dessert, you can order soft serve ice cream and "Hanami Dango". The staff are friendly and guide you through the experience. The service is fast and efficient.

It's a small place with great flavors and hospitality. The crew that works here was extremely…read morehelpful, polite and patient. I was starting to get really hangry and irritated after walking around the city all day. We started with Korean beer and shots of Jinro Is Back Soyu. It was a good idea. Overall the food was quite good. I recommend everyone to check this restaurant out for themselves. The Korean pancake with seafood and vegetables was huge and much crispier than the one I've tried before. My beef tartare bibimbap was perfect. Just thinking about it makes me want to have it right now. The sizzling hot plate with pork and squid also looked very impressive. It must have been delicious as well, because one of my companions ate the whole thing with no problem. The spicy shredded beef brisket stew/soup 'Yukgaejang' was something which i wouldn't survive, but my man finished everything to the last drop. Jin Dal Lae is the number one restaurant when searching for Korean food in Toronto on Yelp. I'm glad we gave this place a try.

TLDR - Affordably priced. Good portion. Reasonable taste…read more There were so many Korean restaurants on Bathhurst and Bloor that were highly ranked on Yelp that we decided to choose one based on the second most reliable pointer - there were many Koreans dining inside. Hence we entered Jin Dai Lae. Good decision (yes, I am patting my back). Entree pricing was $3 to $4 lower than Markham/Richmond Hill. Portion was so big that you would be full, and might have to doggy bag. Most importantly, food tasted good. Short ribs stew had many pieces of beef. Squids hot plate was saucy. It wasn't too spicy, so it was good for me (menu didn't have a chilli sign either). For people who like it hot, you can ask for some chilli sauce.

We had a great time at Souper Hot Pot arriving at around 7PM on a Sunday in June, or course there…read morewas a wait list, after all this was Yonge St and any popular place will be jammed on a weekend at that time. We dropped our number there for the callback and headed out onto the street to kill some time. Just to the south of Souper across Grenville St is Hoops Sports Bar & Grill and since I was with my drinking buddy, natch we dropped in there for a pint. Things were going swimmingly at that point at the old watering hole, when my phone went off so we bottoms up and skedaddled north across the street back to Souper. Uh not so fast cow-people, there was a mix up and they said they would call us again so back out onto the street and we did a take 2 back to Hoops. I ordered us another pint, each, pushing what we should be doing on empty stomachs when suddenly my phone went off again. Since there were two, almost full, pints in front of us, and we were more hungry than thirsty by that point, I had the job of finishing off the brew. So my recollection of Souper is a bit muddled, but I do remember the spice and the seafood, both standouts at Souper. The atmosphere was quite electric that night as well, typical of anywhere in Yonge St downtown, and we continued having a blast into the June night, with full bellies and all.

Coworker recommended me this place. Looking at the website, it looks promising…read more We came at good time (only 5 group in front of us). By the time we left (almost 1.5hr later), there was 15group waiting-time. Not usually big fan of hotpot, but oh my...this is good! Got the laksa broth. Theres diy section for sauces. Drink is good (maybe it's grape? it was offered in a small paper cup by the door as we exit). Free soft vanilla ice cream at the end (perfect to balance the savory soup). Fast service. Busy! As you come in, right away walk to the machine by the door to register ur name for waitlist. P.S. Reading reviews, somebody mentioned about mixing broth. So I tried to do the same, but it's not allowed (only order 1 type of broth). Highly recommended

This is a new concept for us US-East Coasters and we enjoyed the customer service and the process…read moreof how to get your ingredients and how they served your bowl. So, how this works is you get your pot/bowl, get the ingredients you want first, they scale your bowl on how much to charge you, then you select your broth. I didn't want to die that night, so I got the Collagen Bone Broth. Very simple! You can also make your own dipping sauce on the side which made it very convenient if you got a simple broth like me. Restaurant is very modern and hip. I love how things were kept clean, such as the table, floor, stations to get your sauce. We ended with getting the matcha ice cream which was really good! Highly recommend this spot, for sureeee!

I have been to a few malatang and I had high hopes for this one... it did not meet my expectations…read more I joined the waitlist and got called when my table was ready. The area to pick up a bowl was hectic. Very crowded space between picking ingredients and paying. You don't get a table until you pick up your bowl + paid. Everything was just stressful - lots of people, I am in my bulky jacket, holding my purse, etc. The food took some time to come out. Probably around 30 minutes... Ingredients were missing from some of our bowls. And some of the stuff was overcooked. The kimchi soup also had little soup and was very thick??? All the soups were salty but not particularly fragrant or super flavourful. As someone who loves soup noodles, I was not impressed. The best part of the meal was the ice cream. They had a seasonal flavour, ube, which was good but on the sweeter side. The matcha ice cream was great - and my favourite part of my meal. Our bowls ranged from $18 to $30 per a bowl. It's an additional $2 to add cheese and $3 do a bowl of rice. The restaurant can get very busy on a weekend evening, and noisy!

For me personally this is on the pricier side of regular dining out, but the food and service are…read moreworth it whenever if is in the budget to go. I have an onion and garlic intolerance (I will be sick for 2-4 days if I get any), and some restaurants are born good with handling that. The staff checked all the prepped stuff and sauces and came back with suggestions of what I could have. One of the suggestions was the sukiyaki hotpot. I enjoyed it so much I've been back twice for it, and will be going in the future. The first visit was with friends, and they all really enjoyed their food as well, so my dish isn't a lone syandout.

We came as a group of five on a Sunday night and were seated right away at the communal high table…read more The inside has a nice ambiance, it has a moody industrial style decor with a bit of retro Taiwanese night market charm. We decided to share a bunch of dishes so we can try a bit of everything. The popcorn chicken was so delicious, perfectly crunchy and well seasoned. The BBQ sausage was very flavorful. The beef steak egg pancake was also good, though a bit oilier than expected. Our sukiyaki hotpot with udon had a nice, comforting broth and the toppings were solid. My favourite was the house-special minced pork on rice. Its a pretty simple dish but always hits the spot. The portion size is a bit smaller than if you were to compare to a traditional Chinese style restaurant. I would say this place leans more toward trendy, individual/fusion-style Taiwanese dining rather than big family style platters. In our case, with 5 people sharing mostly appetizers / smaller dishes, we ended up spending about $20 per person (tip + tax included) which is still a pretty good deal. I'd absolutely go back for the popcorn chicken and the minced-pork rice bowl again.

I really enjoyed coming to this restaurant, which is a fusion between HK cafe and Thai ; two of my…read morefavourite cuisines! We ordered the Green Curry, Pad Thai, and Thai iced tea. It was so delicious and prepared well! I liked how the green curry was very filling with lots of chicken and potato pieces. The sauce was also very flavourful. The interior is decorated well, with many HK cafe elements. Service is friendly. They also have an assortment of Chinese/Thai desserts like mango pomelo or mango sticky rice. Look forward to trying their other items next time!

Location/Service This place is right in the heart of…read moreChinatown on Spadina - so very accessible by TTC and plenty of public parking around the block and near Kensington Market. Interior has a very Thailand feel to it - with its bright neon lights, a little bit of a tropical flavour but also blending in a lot of Hong Kong photos and decorations. Staff were nice and friendly and food came in a pretty fast manner. Food This place is a fusion spot that blends Thai style cooking with staple HK cafe dishes - so it's good to try a few things. The Seafood Instant Noodle was presented very nicely - it's a Tom Yum style so the sauce has a spicy kick to it when you pour it all over the seafood and noodles. A really flavourful dish. Good amounts of seafood from squid, mussel and shrimps - perfect to share. Leng Saap (spicy pork bone soup) was a spicer - but it's my go-to Thai appetizer dish that's flavourful and with the meat that just falls off instantly. Thai Coconut Chicken Hot Pot has a fusion of HK cafe fish balls but blending Thai coconut flavours that warming and comforting. Good portion of chicken was there and it was very soft and bouncy to eat. Overall this place is very interesting and I love its fusion concept - I'm excited to try more staple HK dishes next time to see how the Thai flavours add a twist to it!