PAT central is a must to visit if you come to K-town in Toronto, they carry all kind of items from Asian snacks, ramen, household item, fresh-meat to ready to eat food. At the front entrance there is also a small Taiyaki shop that is made fresh to order (they take cash only though, and yes they do have atm near by for your convenience) read more

PAT Central Market - Kimbap - International Grocery Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Saw online that many people go to PAT Central to try their taiyaki! I chose the red bean and it was so nicely balanced and crispy! I also tried their custard one and that was really good too! Price was $3.25 each! You can find the little corner when you enter the market! read more

PAT Central Market - Red Bean Taiyaki - International Grocery Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Although it's not as big as other Korean grocery chains such as H-Mart and Galleria Supermarkets, PAT Central Market has all the essential Korean grocery items and ingredients - including whole shelves and aisles of rice, noodles, frozen dumplings, kimchi, ready-made foods (banchan, Korean seafood and mung bean pancakes, gimbap, soups, bibimbap veggies, etc.). They also sell some household items such as sink strainers, utensils, and other useful kitchenware. The produce section has a decent selection and quality. When in season in the winter, their persimmons are usually sold ripe and taste delicious. One of the main draws of this supermarket is the on-site taiyaki stand in the corner near the front of the supermarket, making freshly made taiyaki with filling selections of red bean, black bean, or custard. They used to have more selection such as green bean, but it was discontinued (not as popular). read more

PAT Central Market - Taiyaki with custard filling - International Grocery Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Pat Central is my happy place coz I love all things Korean! This store has a large selection of Asian goods at reasonable price. With their endless aisle after aisle, it's truly a foodie nirvana. From fresh meat (love their pork jowl) and produce to prepared foods such as fiery homemade kimchi, kimbap/gimbap and various banchan sides or just grabbing some soju for a party, this place exemplifies the beating heart of Korean culture. You can find housewares ranging from adorable pots and pan for your ramen as well as other kitchenwares like Korean portable grill for your next samgyeopsal bbq. They also sell a small variety of Kbeauty products includings serums, toners, ampoules and moisturizers. Every time I come here I spend hours just wandering around so make sure you make a shopping list because you will most likely get sidetracked by all the colourful and exotic Korean foods on display. read more

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Love me some Taiyaki! The outside of these cute little fish-shaped cakes was crunchy like waffle ice cream cones while the inside was warm and gooey like pancakes! Soooooooo yummy! The fillings could be either sweetened red bean paste or custard- I chose both, and both were great! And it was fun watching how the Taiyaki were being made from scratch. To me, this is food nostalgia that brings back sweet childhood memories. LOVE IT! read more

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I've been meaning to go here forever. I've been passing by it likely for years. I finally decided to take myself on adventure after dinner to buy some snacks for the week and treat myself to one of those fish waffles. They had so many different snacks to buy from savoury to sweet. They also have the most kimchi I've ever seen in my life so if you're a fan maybe you should check this place out. After I bought my snacks I walked over to the counter to buy my fish waffle. I got the one with red being in it. It was delightful and everything I was looking for. It was a chilly night so it's warm to get my hands warm as I walked home. The outside was crisp the inside with soft and chewy and the filling was not too sweet which I loved. I'll be coming back here soon for sure read more

Really great grocery store. We loved their Kimchi fried rice and seasoned bean sprouts.

Great prices, the selection is great too - they always have what I'm looking for. The pre-made/box items can be a little overpriced but for the convenience of having everything in one store it's fine. The fact that they have parking behind it is great too, even if the lot is small and policed by staff who will question you on whether or not you're even going to the grocery store read more

A great Korean market right on bustling Bloor Street! Right when you walk in there's a Kevin's Taiyaki stand to your left serving red bean or custard filled fish shaped waffles hot off the iron. I'm partial to the custard but the red bean is classic. They are pretty up to date on their pop culture references as they had a big display of dalgona candy - the candy that was featured in Squid Game! The same shapes are offered and the boxes have the business card logo of the hosts. The shop isn't huge but I found that they had a good selection of a bit of everything. They had smaller 900g packages of sushi rice that would be a lot easier to lug home than the full sacks and even some specialty items like the frozen Ramen Isshin kits that you can make at home. read more

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If you want to get a PAT on the head, a PAT on the back, or - like me - a PAT on the bottom, don't come here. Koreans tend to be very respectful and keep their hands to themselves. Unfortunately. However, like the other Asian and World and Ethnic grocery stores that are popping up all over North America in all the major urban hubs, this place is perfect for finding all of the great imported and rare stuff that you can't get anywhere else. Service is friendly, and best of all, Kevin's Taiyaki is on site, in the NE corner by the street, near the entrance, facing into the store. Get a custard thingy in the shape of a fish. It's hot and yummy and perfect. I'd run here and eat it while I PANT. It's almost a PART of me now. I've had it a few times in the PAST. It costs a PALTry Canadian dollar or two. Five stars. read more

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This is our go-to Korean grocery market in Toronto. We used to go to the Hmarts in Seattle, but the Hmarts in downtown Toronto are way too small. :( PAT has a kitchen in the back of the store where they make in-store banchan and ready-made foods too. They have good weekly deals too, so make sure you check the flyers when you go in. The reason I'm giving a 4 star is because some of the cashier ahjummas are pretty rude (it's really hit or miss... some ahjummas are really nice). Also, it MAY be a little hectic and unorganized on weekends. Other than that, Korean groceries are fresh and reasonable here! read more

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This friendly bustling Asian food market on Bloor is a staple for those in the Annex and beyond. Staff is helpful and the store is spacious without being too big. There's ample produce and it's all kept fresh. In this pandemic time, they also do a good job of keeping things packaged to be protected from airborne pollutants. Some tough to find Asian products but nothing too crazy. This is a Korean business I believe, so the selection does tend to skew, with fresh Japchae and Korean fresh salads being highlight items. Lots of Ramen and noodles of course, and prices are fair. I've been a couple of times during the pandemic and each time the store is enforcing distancing and sanitizer rules. Totally solid. Worth the trip! read more

There are some things in life which are familiar and comforting. I agree with an earlier reviewer, it is nostalgic and sentimental. I am not Korean, but I have spent a significant amount of time in Korea, speak the language and eat Korean food. This place brings back such precious and wonderful memories. They still, to this very day, carry a huge variety of meticulously prepared panchan, my favourite perilla leaf (gaenip kimchi) and other delights. Tons of Japanese and Korean snack foods. Fruit and vegetables are a bit on the expensive side but they carry good organic ginger and my all-time favourite - Korean pears ... This is truly my happy place. read more

An amazing place! I moved to the PAT neighborhood about 10 years ago, fell in love with Korean food, and then learned to cook Korean food. Now, all I need is a good recipe, a shopping list, and going to the PAT. You can get everything! All fresh, and full of flavors. Every sauce you need, vegetables, meats, Kimchi, and all the other dishes that one eats in a Korean restaurant. So if you like Korean food, go there. If you never tried it, go there. Go there even if just to see a nice place with nice vibes and good food. read more

Great selection of asian foods. kal-bi, kimchi, yaki-tai, fresh fruits, vegetables, butcher, packaged goods. I couldn't find better unless I went to Chicago, New York, Vancouver or L.A. It's no wonder why I'm salivating while writing this review. They have a good selection of store prepared items like bulk kimchi, bulgogi, pickled radishes, bento items, even an in-store Tai-yaki in the front [separate business inside the shop] and an assortment of fresh veggies that is sure to satisfy. But the star of the grocer is the meat counter. All the special stuff that makes eating Korean, Japanese, and Chinese foods sing. Really can you go to any corner butcher and get thin sliced meats for sukiyaki, bulgogi, bibimbap, kalbi, or the pork belly that makes buta no kakuni just so? I wanted to make kimchi at home, but you need the pickled, fermented tiny shrimp to get the taste right. Found it in bulk on the rear wall fridge with the bulk kimchi. Go figure!?! The sheer selection of products makes it hard to choose, if you don't have personal favourites. I spent ten minutes trying to determine the heat level and size of gochujang [red pepper paste] not to mention the brand. Hey, it was my first time, what did I know about which was best? And it was my first time making it at home. The simplest part of this review is, it's a great place to get the items you need for a taste of home cooked meals like Mom made with the ingredients she would use. When I first went there, it was for her and to get those delicious meals. Now, I'm trying to recreate that flavour of home cooking and their supplies and goods helps in that adventure. And yes, I'm a fan of this store. Full spread on marks. read more

PAT Central Market - Gangnam style noodles, anyone? - International Grocery Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Korean grocery store on Bloor. It's a cool place with many interesting Asian products. I always ended up buying fruits there as they have good deals. But my favourite is the little section where they make desserts. Those desserts are called Taiyaki. I can only describe the dessert as a warm soft cookie in the shape of a fish with fillings in the middle. My favourite filling is custard, but you can choose from red, green, and black bean pastes. They make this dessert there so it's fresh and delicious. A must try if you are in Koreatown. read more

PAT Central Market - International Grocery Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

There's a wide selection of Korean, Japanese, and Chinese ingredients (and some other accessories) at a good price. The line is sometimes kind of long on weekends, but if you go early in the day on a weekday it should be mostly empty. I had a bad experience buying meat here once, so I avoid the fresh stuff, but I still like to buy the frozen bones. read more

PAT Central Market is a lot of fun, especially if you are white (because you can browse the aisles wondering WTF everything is!) I come here more to browse than to actually buy much, but I do stock up on my fav Korean ingredients (Korean hot paste, kimchi, bulgogi meat, etc). I also sometimes come in here when the white people grocery stores are closed to pick up essentials like chicken breast and fruit/veg. I'm sometimes not impressed with the overall cleanliness of PAT, sometimes it seems a little grubby/unclean, but this seems to be normal for most Asian grocery stores I've been to (with the exception of that giant superstore one down by the Docks) read more

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Great variety, great value, lots of korean stuff-- sides, sauces, snacks. And there's Taiyaki inside XD I personally prefer Kevin's Redbean Taiyaki -- burn my tongue every time but kept going back for more. But yes I rely on this place for fresh meats and snacks. Large enough to have most day to day groceries. Also has some yummy korean snacks and samples on weekends. Really nice cashiers and certain things go on sale once in a while. Love the place read more

Stock is limited and not fresh at all. Service is average. Not worth visiting unless you have no car. If you could, just go to a no-frill, which would be better in every aspect. read more

Decent selection of Korean groceries as well as some Japanese imports. I can get my staples here and be confident that they stock fresh goods. There used to be a kitchen in the back but I think it became too much to handle so they seem to bring in outside foods. In the ready made section, I like the kinpiri gobo and the jap chae. The store is clean and the veggies are fresh and well stocked. Aisles are a bit narrow but they were limiting customers so social distancing was possible. If only they could do outdoor food trucks or carts on Saturdays, I'd have my hotteok craving filled. read more

Ajummas are so nice here to you and try their hardest to help out and get you to what youre looking for and to communicate to their best ^^ Most korean products you're most likely looking for are here. There are also very high quality sweets that they do sell here but they only restock once a year so keep an eye out and try what you usually don't see cause they're usually really good. Always love coming here for their freshly made korean sweets! I love their sticky rice delights so much as its something new from my usual vietnamese or filipino sticky rice desserts. Maybe these are an acquired taste however to more westernized palates as my coworkers didn't know if they liked them or not when they tried it. However, I highly encourage people to try something new! Maybe you'll like what this place has to offer. They also have a taiyaki stand which is like a crispy japanese pastry shaped like fish filled with sweet decadent filling and the custard is always my goto! If it's possible always ask for a fresh piping hot one!!! So much better but if you don't mind taiyaki cold and sitting out on display then go ahead heh. I don't usually buy produce here unless I specifically want korean nappa cabbage or korean green radish and the like (kimchi, glass noodles, buckwheat noodles, or fish more commonly fished in korea) because I go to the Super King Market by Black Creek for cheaper priced things. They also have the lovely assortment of drinks that are popular in japan and daily made sushi, gimbap, and triangle sushi by the other end of the market from the entrance which i love browsing for a quick refrshing snack! read more

PAT Central Market - Korean Sticky Rice Cakes !!! One with kabocha/pumpkin and the other with sweeter mung bean - International Grocery Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Largest supermarket in Koreatown, selling all your Korean needs. Some items include gojuchang, some premade Korean side dishes, and miso paste. . After shopping or while shopping treat yourself to a taiyaki! It's a fish shaped pastry, with your choice of filling. read more

I know that you used to be alive and in the ocean, Mr. dried out fish. But now you've found a much better home. A place where you're truly appreciated. A place to hang out with all of your dried fish friends. What a fascinating store. read more

PAT Central Market - International Grocery Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This spot is a old staple in Koreatown. This place is mainly relegated to Korean goods. The space is decently sized but the layout is of a low to mid level grocery store (I guess one is spoiled by the precedent set by Galleria Supermarket) All the mainstream Korean items are for sale here (Kalbi, knick knacks etc etc and of course kimchi) The prices are decent from what I could tell. Prepackaged products were decently represented. For the meats from I checked the they a variety of qualities. Seafood items were somewhat limited. Fresh produce wasn't anything to write home about but decent from what I could see. The location is decent as it is not that far from downtown so if you don't want to trek all the way to galleria this is a good alternate. read more

Pure nostalgia and sentimentality brought on by the fish cakes earns this place a special place. The red bean filling is a classic and they did a good job of keeping the outside sufficiently crisp while putting enough filling to keep the whole cake from being too dry. The custard filling is more of a novelty for me but it did with. I'd go back in a heartbeat on our next time in Toronto. read more

"Hello I am a middle-class white person who brought a list to this store and needed someone there to literally HOLD MY HAND AND WALK ME AROUND THE STORE and this didn't happen as I expect from my experiences at other fine establishments such as Kelsey's Steakhouse and Casino Rama. Ergo therefore it is my supreme disappointment to leave this ZERO star review as my dignity has been forever besmirched by the sub-par customer service." LOL. PAT Central is one of my favorite places in my neighbourhood. Sometimes I just go zone out in the freezer section listening to the ambient K-pop. I'm going there right now to get some things for pork bone soup. read more

3* for the quality of the fruits & vegetables, 4* for the selection of other groceries, 5* for the delicious taiyaki in-store. =4* overall. If I ever come by here I always drop by to have a custard taiyaki it's soo good everyone must go try it. read more

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Walked through, typical Korean market. Pricey sesame oils stood out, that's about it. But let's move on to the main event - the fried fish shaped waffley things from the stall at the entrance. The custard one, I recommend if you don't have cash, bring your first-born - it's 6 stars and worth pawning something you'll possibly regret later. Get it and find a quiet spot to be alone with it - don't ask questions, just go. The red bean one on the other hand wasn't quite as good - still ok but more like a 3.5. Custard fish all the way - I'd come back just for those. Already making mental plans.. read more

SHOPPING LIST FOR P.A.T. CENTRAL (compiled by Andrea W. for your convenience) -enoki mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, Asian purple sweet potatoes -daikon, baby bok choi, chili peppers, bags of peeled garlic -marinated bulgogi, marinated kalbi, thinly sliced meat for shabu-shabu -fresh and frozen gyoza of all descriptions, shumai, edamame -frozen fish, clams, shrimp, chicken parts -frozen mochi, ice cream (red bean, green tea, ginger...), imported frozen treats -beans, soy beans, fermented soy beans -senbei, rice snacks, rice cake, shrimp crackers -gyoza flavoured potato chips, BBQ squid flavoured potato chips, edamame chips -fresh chapchae, packages of freshly prepared bibimbap ingredients -fresh local kimchee and imported kimchee -a dozen different locally made pickled side dishes (soy bean, daikon, seaweed, bamboo shoot, fish cake, potato...) -dried mushrooms, dried fish, dried seaweed all and sundry -rice, noodles (udon, soba, ramen, vermicelli, transparent) -50 varieties of packaged instant noodles -Korean style metal chopsticks, sushi-making equipment, Asian kitchen gadgets -7 spice powder, soup base, tinned vegetables, Japanese curry packages -tofu, tofu noodles, konyakku, quail eggs - tea (green, black, oolong, barley...) -okomomiyaki mix, chijimi mix -ponzu, soy, okonomi sauce, teriyaki sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, bean curd paste, miso soup paste -fresh onigiri, fresh inari and maki sushi -Pocari Sweat, C.C. Lemon, Calpis, glass bottled ramune, iced tea -Korean energy drinks in tiny bottles -mushroom-shaped chocolates, bamboo shoot-shaped chocolates -Meiji chocolate, Moringa chocolate, Milky candy, Pretz, Fran -Pocky, Men's Pocky, strawberry Pocky, marble Pocky, coconut Pocky, almond crunch Pocky, blueberry Pocky, matcha Pocky and Brazilian pudding Pocky ------------ I have made it a personal mission to introduce as many people as possible to the joy of P.A.T. Let me know if you become a fan! read more

PAT Central Market - P.A.T. Central on Bloor St. - International Grocery Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Oh, PAT, with all your kimchi and pickly delights, you put a spring in my step and a stank in my fridge. I can shop in nearby Chinatown to stock my Asian larder with soy sauce, soba noodles, and sesame oil. But when I need a taste of the homeland, I make the trek to Bloor Street Koreatown. If you wondered who's buying the fire hydrant-sized jars of kimchi, that'd be me. I also come here to get meat for Korean BBQ, dried anchovies for soup stock, doenjang (a miso-like paste on fermentation steroids), Korean chili flakes, and a hundred other esoteric pantry items for the Korean cook. PAT also carries a decent selection of Japanese goods and appliances. It's where I bought my trusty Zojirushi rice cooker, the Rolls-Royce of rice cookers. read more

I'm sorry. I really wanted to like this place and was super excited to visit, especially based on all the positive reviews. Unfortunately it just didn't live up to my expectations. The prices seemed a little high for the prepared foods ... a serving of premade bibimbap was around $5. The serving was small, there was only a small dollop of red bibimbap sauce included, the vegetables looked kind of wilted and sad, and I don't remember seeing a packaged on or expiry date. This is kind of expensive considering you can get a much larger serving of fresh bibimbap with unlimited red sauce and unlimted (depending on where you go) side dishes for $8. The pickles and sides section was disappointing too ... a very small container of assorted sides i.e., fish cake, marinated and prepared tofu, etc was around $4 - $5. It really does seem like more is served in the restaurants ... for free! I did walk away with a plastic container of kimchi but for $5 I was hoping for more. Oh well. Checked out the marinated meats - raw and marinating in their bulgolgi and kalbi sauces - but there was no "packaged on" or expiry date either :( So, we left those alone. The produce section is not bad ... but not great either. Prices don't seem particularly cheap and the produce that night didn't seem that great either. Looked around for a good 10 minutes for a squirt bottle of red bibimbap sauce but didn't see it anywhere ... I am sure it was there but we were in a bit of rush so we didn't have a chance to ask any of the friendly looking gloved ladies. Briefly checked out the frozen foods ... particularly the seafood ... and it all seemed a little over priced :( There is free parking in the back but space is surprisingly limited! The lot itself is relatively generous but there were only two free spots on a cold, rainy Tuesday night - 1 hour before closing time. Not sure what the situation would be on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Really disappointed and had super high hopes since I love korean food and pretty much all things korean related - especially their chopsticks. Unfortunately there was only one style to choose from and I didn't like that particular style. Sorry! read more

PAT MARRRRRRRT! Sometimes I come here before I go out for Korean food to wet my appetite Sometimes I come here after I've had Korean food in K-Town to buy more food. And sometimes I come here to buy a MASSIVE 4 FOOT TALL BAG OF FORTUNE COOKIES FOR 10$!!! And other times I just want a can of cola. The end. read more

Just back from there 30 mins ago. The food is generally nice but the service was terrible. The staffs only smile to customers who are English/Korean speakers. If you are an international visitor/student, they just look like someone died. I'm not so sure that they are not intend to be that way until they mocked and laughed at my face in their own language when I almost accidentally took my debit card off before the transaction was done. As a loyal customer, I'm very disappointed and unpleasant. I don't think they really care about losing a customer since the market is so popular, however, I feel sorry for the nasty staffs who never realize they are living in Canada, a multicultural country. I would defiantly tell my friends to love the food from there but also never go there. read more

There are many great things about PAT, let me share some with you: The Drinks Selection: My favourite thing to do is to go their and pick out a random one and find out what it tastes like. It's like an adventure in your mouth for under two bucks. Those Melon Popsicles: They have them there by the box and if you buy one, you get to do this scratch and win type deal and if you win you get a free box. THEY'RE SO DELICIOUS! Tasty goodness: A great place to find all your Asian cooking needs. Bulgogi? Yes please. Kimchi? Okay! Noodles? I'll take every kind! Also, it's close to Hodo Kwaja so it gives me a good excuse to also pick up some delicious walnut cakes. read more

I don't shop here often but when I do, it's always a good experience. As soon as you enter, you can smell the aroma of freshly baked fishie cakes. It's a treat every time. PAT supermarket is very clean and organized. The staff are friendly despite an occasional language barrier. There's at least one person fluent in English. The produce is fresh and the prepackaged items are nice. Limited seafood but they have a wide range of meat selection. Snacks galore! I love trying the different Korean goodies. read more

MMmmm, you should definitely find the chance to come here and have their fish-shaped cakes right when they're fresh off the grill!! I've come here before when it was unfortunately a slow day so they only had pre-made cakes, and I gotta say, those ones are nothing in comparison to having them served hot and fresh. Of the times I've come here, I've only had their custard filling and honestly, I don't think I want to try other ones because it's just so delicious! The custard has a very subtle sweetness to it that's not overwhelming or artificial, and it's so creamy and smooth! The fishie cake is cooked to the perfect light crunch, and then insides are gooey and soft. This is a great snack to treat yourself to if you ever frequent this area! read more

I have a soft spot for grocery stores, when I realized that there was a Korean and Japanese grocery store in the Koreatown - I had to visit. I was impressed by their selection of produce and Japanese products. I bought some of their in-house kimchi and it is pretty darn good. I can't stop adding it every meal I have. Like more Asian inspired groceries, cramp aisle ways but it was fairly clean inside. I will be back for more of their kimchi and other goodies! read more

What CAN'T you find here? I mean, if you're on a mission for forty different types of cheese puffs with names that translate to dirty deeds, you're in luck. If you need any product with a bodily fluid in it (hey, it says on the label) it's here. Kidding aside, you can find almost any vegetable, meat or sauce that you desire here. Some of the meats may be of questionable quality, but the majority of them look ok. I love this place. Even more, I love the red bean cakes in the shape of fish. Even if you don't buy anything, you will have fun here! read more

As far as I know, this is the go-to Korean grocery store down town. If you compare with the suburban Korean stores, it does fall short in terms of prices, freshness, selection...everything. But if you're living in Toronto with no car, this is as good a choice as any. Well, more like the only choice. This store does not have a fresh fish counter, so if you want fish, it's the tank freezer for you. It does have a good butcher counter. They will even unpackage and repackage meats for you, if you want a different quantity. These are quite good in quality. Some of the produce is cheapest here, tomatoes and avocados, for sure. For some other produce, check out Bloor Fruit Market across the intersection. They do have a points program which amounts to something like $20 per $500 spent in the store. The points program and the flyer are often only offered in Korean-speaking format, so if you are not Korean-speaking, and still want to be treated as a first-class citizen, you better be proactive, and ask about it. The store also rents space out to a few other small businesses, I think a makeup store (Charmzone), a health food store (red ginseng, etc), a shipping store and, my favourite, the fishcake store (Kevin's Taiyaki!). If you ever wanted to see 30 different brands of soy sauce, this is the place to see it. As a discarded daughter of the Richmond Hill/Markham/North York persuasion, this place does leave a bit to be desired, but it could definitely be much worse. read more