Vegan Vietnamese spot on Dundas…read more Had to do the banh xeo. It was massive. Shame they didn't have the rice wrapping paper to roll. Fried rice was glorious. Was told they use a mixture of soy sauces. Would definitely return!!

I'm very surprised no one has written a review on this place yet...okay, let me be the first…read more This may be a delayed review as I have visited this place twice a few months ago. On both occasions, the service and food were great. I highly recommend the Som Tum (papaya salad)..the taste was on point that you can't tell it's vegetarian as it's usually made with fish sauce. Will definitely return and try other dishes and update.

If this place existed in Philly, we would be here every week. For our wallet's sake, we are happy,…read morebut we are sad we only got to dine here once on our trip. We walked in late after a movie on a weeknight, and there was plenty of seating; we snagged the best seat in the house right by the bar so we could watch the food be prepared. We probably ordered about half the menu and a cocktails. Highlights were the salmon aburi, which was fun to eat and a good size and the moto bun, which was extremely filling. The con of sitting at the counter is that you saw they actually fry the bread for this slightly (and towel it off) before making the sandwich, which is kind of gross, but man, was it good. It was a bit perilous getting to the bathroom up these windy stairs in the back so be aware if you have mobility or issues. Service was quick, casual and kind.

Hanmoto announces itself with admirable restraint -- a single light above an unmarked door on…read moreLakeview Avenue, offering no signage, no fanfare, nothing but the quiet confidence of a restaurant that has earned its reputation without ever needing to court it. This is the American-Japanese izakaya at its most considered: a place where the concept feels genuinely inhabited rather than merely adopted. The room is intimate and unhurried, possessed of the kind of mood lighting that flatters both the food and the conversation. The atmosphere skews decidedly hipster in the best sense -- effortlessly cool without tipping into affectation. Noise levels remain convivial rather than oppressive, making it well-suited to a romantic evening or an occasion where one actually wishes to be heard. The menu is deliberately compact, a restraint that signals focus. Signatures such as the Dyno Wings, Salmon Aburi, and Hamachi Tartare reveal a kitchen fluent in the language of Japanese flavour while unafraid to let an American sensibility -- bold, satisfying, approachable -- guide the hand. Small plates arrive with the casual ease of izakaya tradition, inviting grazing and sharing in equal measure. The bar program is a particular strength; the cocktails are handled with genuine care and merit serious attention. Service carries the warmth and easy charisma of a neighbourhood spot that has long since found its footing. The staff possess a breezy, unforced personality -- refreshingly unpretentious, and all the more welcoming for it. For those seeking a date-night destination that trades in atmosphere without sacrificing substance, Hanmoto remains one of Toronto's more quietly brilliant propositions.

Lee is the one restaurant I look forward to every Summerlicious…read more One reason is that every year they create a completely new menu instead of reusing dishes from their regular menu. As an Asian fusion restaurant, I always come curious to see what new ideas the chef has come up with. The last two Summerlicious menus disappointed me a little--they felt a bit uninspired, with dishes like the vegetable curry and croquette. This year, however, the creativity is back, and I'd happily recommend Lee's Summerlicious menu again. Fried Wild Cod The crispy cod is served in an edible crispy rice basket, making it feel like sharing bread at the start of the meal. The fish is fried perfectly with a crisp exterior and moist, flaky interior. Paired with Thai sweet chili sauce, it's light, flavorful, and great for sharing. Gazpacho Picante A refreshing take on gazpacho. The avocado gives it a smoother texture, while the hint of spice adds another layer without overpowering the chilled tomato soup. Refreshing and a great appetizer. BBQ Jerk Pork Ribs Three generous ribs--almost a main course on their own. The meat is tender while still retaining a bit of bite, similar to the texture of slow-cooked jerk chicken. The jerk seasoning is excellent, coating every bite with rich, aromatic spices. Pan Roasted Salmon The salmon is beautifully cooked with a nicely caramelized exterior while remaining juicy inside. Each accompaniment brings something different: the olive tapenade is deeply savory, the parsnip purée is smooth and slightly sweet, the lima bean adds a creamy, nutty richness, and the lemon-tomato-pepper vinaigrette brightens everything with acidity and a gentle kick. Lima Bean Succotash Probably the prettiest dish on the menu--and also the most unusual. The lima beans and peas are cooked until tender without becoming mushy. The flavors are layered, but there's a subtle bitterness throughout. After asking the chef, we learned it's the natural flavor of lima beans and was intentionally preserved as part of the dish. Fried Organic Chicken The fried chicken is juicy and tender, reminding me of Japanese karaage. It comes with two fun sauces: one is rich and spicy with a hint of coconut, while the other is a sweet pineapple-lime mayo that pairs surprisingly well with the chicken. The pandan rice, however, was fairly ordinary. The desserts are still classic Lee--beautifully plated, but the flavors are more restrained. We tried the Rhubarb Almond Frangipane Tart, Lemon Mousse Panna Cotta (our favorite), and Strawberry Raspberry Monkey Bread. This year's Summerlicious reminded me why I fell in love with Lee in the first place.

Finally visited this place after months of having it bookmarked! I heard good things about their…read moresingaporean slaw, my friends were telling me it changed their lives but I thought it's just a salad... how good could it be? After trying it I completely understood, this was the BEST salad of my life! All 26 ingredients worked together perfectly to make a delicious, tangy, crunchy salad unlike anything i've had before. I also highly recommend the wine paring they suggest having with the salad :) Everything else on the menu was done really well. The cheeseburger spring roll was quite unique, Indo think there could've been more texturally inside the actual spring roll, it was all mush in there. Very nice ambiance, service were very attentive, I had a great time and will be back to try more items :)

Over last summer I saw Akin had dim sum cooking classes taught by the master chef Eric Chong. I…read moreknew I had to go! Been a huge fan and was excited to visit his second restaurant Akin. We were taught how to make har gow and siu mai. I would say mine turned out looking decent but the taste was amazing! Everyone in the class took their own made dumplings home to steam. Instead we got to try the restaurants version (there was complementary dinner as part of the class). This was the best fine dining dim sum we had ever had. The flavour of every dish was danced on our taste buds. I still think of the crab roe fried rice dish. I never like fried rice till trying that dish. It was THAT good. Looking forward to coming back for the tasting menu!!

We went for a February meal which ended up being a Chinese New Year fusion celebration…read more The theme and playfulness of the menu was fun and I really enjoyed it- especially the final dessert. Highlights were: the canapés of auspicious desserts, mala broth fish and lobster noodles. There were a few misses- the jellyfish being so overpowered by the horseradish, the Dan tat and the rice dish being so overly salty, and just overall execution- not what I expected at a Michelin star restaurant. Overall, everything felt cold in terms of atmosphere. I think it was creative and I'm happy to have tried it, but it's not a place I'd jump go back to. Too many misses and unmemorable moments, in a city where we are always looking for a connection.

We stopped by Midnight Market thinking it was still an after-hours club--fair warning, it isn't…read more But the staff was super friendly, and since they share management with Big Trouble, they gave us free cover cards, which was a nice surprise. We ordered the bulgogi dumplings, turnip cakes, miso mushroom udon carbonara, mushroom black garlic spaghetti, and the red curry chicken rigatoni. Everything was genuinely great, especially for the price. For a spot so close to the clubs, it's an awesome place to grab food during a night out. We had someone in our group who's gluten-free, and they were happy to sub rice noodles into one of the dishes. It was thoughtful of them to accommodate, but the rice noodles soaked up the sauce too much and clumped together, making it hard to eat. Still, overall the food and experience were solid, and I'd definitely go back.

The food was great! I believe I got here during the happy hour and it was buy one get one free so…read moreof course I doubled up! In this economy I have to eat as much as I can on a dollar LOL I loved the Asian ambiance with the signage, the lights, the paints, everything. Our server was fantastic. She let us know the faves of the customers and things that we should try. Depending on our taste palette. I would definitely recommend you go p

The food has really gone down hill this past year. They used to have great fries, now they are…read moreskinny and always dry and many burnt. We asked for a simple dietary consideration and it was totally ignored. When we brought it to their attention, the chef just shrugged his shoulders and said it was a mis-communication. There was no attempt to make it up to us or try to make us feel better. They just did not care. We ended up paying for food that we could not eat. We will never go back.

3.5 stars I saw a…read more$10 deal with AsialiciousTO for 3 Vietnamese style pork tacos with asian slaw and salsa. Since we were kind of in the area we decided to eat here. There's paid street parking on both sides of the street. I did read a review that there's complimentary parking behind the restaurant though. Mai Bistro has a small patio out front that's covered and indoor seating as well. We opted to sit on the patio. Since it was our first time at the restaurant the waitress explained the various menus to us. There was a written menu for Today's Specials and some of them were crossed out. I'm guessing that those items have already sold out. I saw a photo of the menu from a couple of years ago and in comparing with the menu from the other day I can see that prices have increased for some dishes. To me, prices veer on the higher side. The grilled lemongrass pork with rice and asian slaw was $22 and the shrimp ceviche with fresh salsa and avocado on a crispy tortilla was $11. My Vietnamese style pork tacos were a good deal for $10. Even at the regular price of $14 the price isn't too different from tacos at other restaurants. The pork was flavourful and portions are like what I found from food trucks in LA (but leave you wanting more).

This restaurant was recommended to us from Naomi at Strewn Winery…read more We asked if there was a dress code as we were underdressed due to the fact we had just spent the day packing for our camping trip and driving to Canada. She assured us not to worry as the owners are very kind and it was a place you could dress up but accept casual wear as well. So off we went. Pulling in we saw it was a restaurant attached to the Orchid Hotel. And old but beautiful looking home converted to a hotel/restaurant. Once inside I saw white linen table cloths with nice stem ware and crisp white napkins and silverware. I looked at my sister and said I think we are underdressed lol. It was a Thursday around 5 pm, no reservation but it wasn't super busy yet so we were immediately seated. The host was kind, and put two tables together for our party of 5. The menu was simple which I liked. We ordered appetizers to start, the spring rolls and the crab cakes. I apologize for not taking pictures, I was tired and forgot so I'll just say they were delicious. Sidenote: I don't like seafood but one taste of the crab cake and I could have eaten both cakes myself! So very good! For the main course I ordered the Thai chicken coconut curry which had a side of rice. My hubby ordered the salmon with rice and vegetables. From the first bite we both let out yummy noises. We each took a bite of each other's food and I can say the salmon was absolutely delicious as was my curry dish. The portion sizes were great. We were both so full. My brother in law got the lamb-it looked like it was cooked perfectly and he said it was delicious. My sister got the fish and chips-it came with a couple different sauces but all she wanted was tartar sauce and ketchup. She didn't ask if they had any because she didn't want to offend the chef lol. My niece got a beautiful big salad and enjoyed it but neither enjoyed their pics as much as us other 3 did lol. The host was engaging, he explained that it's a family run business for the last 37 yrs and the last 15 years he and his brother and mother have been running it alone. His mom runs the hotel and he and his brother run the restaurant. I recommend eating here if you're ever in the area.

This restaurant is small, like 8 tables. The food was interesting, made fresh and every sauce was…read moreperfect. I think it is family run as the mom was in and out of the kitchen and the waiter look related. The service was great, food was plentiful and unique, but make a reservation or you'll be sorry!

This is a great spot if you're looking for a fun night out with shareable small plates. The space…read morehas a really nice vibe, with a beautiful interior and plenty of tables, making it feel lively without being overcrowded. We ordered the ceviche, tartare, branzino, truffle gnocchi, and chopped salad. Everything was delicious, but the standouts for me were definitely the branzino, the ceviche, and the chopped salad. Those three dishes complemented each other really well and were the highlights of the meal. The truffle gnocchi was okay, but much richer and heavier than I expected, so it's probably best to share. The tartare itself was excellent, though I wasn't a fan of the chips it came with. The food came out quickly, and the service was friendly and attentive throughout the meal. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this place if you're looking for quality tapas style small plates, good drinks, and a great atmosphere.

Dropped in for dessert after having dinner nearby…read more Place is very dingy feeling. I've been here before and know the food is great, but the dingy feeling is so prevalent it feels a touch unclean. Staff was fantastic. We were given a glass of prosecco for our wait and a dessert was comped because it was a birthday. Aside from getting free stuff, the attitudes of the staff were great. We sat at the chefs counter and had a chance to chat several times with the cooks. Sticky bun: delicious and creamy. Candied bacon was a nice touch. Ice cream sandwich: ok. Cardamom was a touch overpowering. Texture was nice. Down by the way drink: Apparently award winning. It was nice but not my style. More my fault than theirs. Several main dishes looked very nice like the burger and the fish. Will be back to try other things too.