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 :)

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.

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.

Cute spot to go with small groups on Ossington strip. Food was unique and an absolute 10/10. Drinks…read morewere less so but in all honesty, this is where you go for a late night poutine (um kimchi, tempura squash, and cheese curd?! Hello). Fast and friendly service.

The place is tiny but cozy. The food explodes with flavour! My friends and I ordered the chicken…read morewings, jap che and baos. The staff is also very friendly and gave us good tips on what to order.

got the supreme chilli katsu with rice I should've got the one my friend got, decent portion very…read morepricey, the service was good I found the dish to be very sweet, the chicken was breaded good and tasted tender, the sauce was okay tasted too rich, I'll goto the one in Markham to see if it's better

Delicious meal!!! Clean and fast serving restaurant. The food was hot, crispy, and tasty. No…read morecomplaints at all. The food was abundant and choices were overwhelming yum!

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

A nice trendy restaurant on ossington serving up a some Malaysian flavours…read more We came here in a cold winter evening with another couple and the food was great! It's definitely worth trying for something different! The wait staff were attentive and quick to offer suggestions for food and drinks. We had the scallop crudo, beef rendang, tacos, roti and curry, salad, cauliflower, and sago sago for dessert. The scallop and the roti and curry were the most memorable but everything was great! It's a bit on the pricier side, but that's Ossington!

Was excited to check out this place. Easy and simple ossy restaurant to get to. Friendly staff,…read moreservice was smooth and easy. Dishes were served in a quick manner with quality ingredients. Flavour 3/5 Service 4/5 Location 4/5 Price 3/5 Wine selection 3/5

Starting with the rustic look of their kimchi devilled eggs ($7 for 3). The yolks are mixed with…read moresesame oil and kimchi paste, instead of creamy mayonnaise, creating a stiffer paste to pipe back into the egg white. I could certainly taste the nutty oil that always makes my taste buds sing, but would have liked more of the gochujong as there wasn't much heat to the egg. In fact, aside from the sesame oil these tasted like any other deviled egg. Swapping the bacon bits for chopped kimchi may give it that element it's missing and make the dish vegetarian-friendly to boot. Similarly, the kimchi was lost within the ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan mixture in the toasted kimchi ravioli ($13). Chances are any ingredient wouldn't be able to hold up against the swiggle of honey wasabi pesto piped on top of the crispy ravioli as the wasabi was so pungent and overpowering. Some reviewers rave about this dish, but I found the panko crust made it too dry and the pasta was overly chewy. It's not one I'd order again. The bulgogi sliders ($15) were good with a pile of thinly sliced sweet-soy marinated sirloin topped adorned with a perfectly cooked quail egg, which is runny so makes for a messy first bite. The sliders would be even better if there wasn't wasabi in the mayo (Té's chef certainly loves wasabi) and the buns were warm and toasted. If you really want to try the bulgogi I'd opt for one of the main dishes instead. Té's bi bim bap ($17) follows a traditional recipe where the beef is accompanied by cold sesame-marinated vegetables and a fried egg. They swap out the white rice for nuttier purple rice instead and Té's sweet chili sauce is thicker and spicier than other ones I've tried. Sadly, the bi bim bap wasn't presented in the typical hot stone bowl. That vessel is so important as it creates the crust on the bottom of the rice and the heat warms up the cold garnishes and sauce so that once everything is mixed together the flavours really melt and meld together. There's plenty of bulgogi on top of their mac and cheese ($18) and the pasta was excellent as well. I enjoyed the creamy gooey cheese sauce and the parmesan panko crisp on top adds a lovely textured crunch for those who want an extra pop of flavour. This is a really long review visit Gastroworld for the rest.

Finally got to visit this Korean-inspired brunch spot on Ossington! We got their two most popular…read morebennys, which were the Bulgogi Benny ($18) and the Kimchi and Pork Belly Benny ($18). This place seems to be super popular because we arrived right when it opened and all the tables were already booked and we had to sit at the bar. The food was pretty good, but I was expecting a little more out of the hash browns (since these were more like fries) and these were not real poached eggs, also without much hollandaise. For the price I expected much better, and I'm a bit disappointed because it was like they just slapped some bulgogi on an egg and called it a day. Service was okay and the restaurant was cute, but I'm not sure I would go back.