Toronto Koreatowns, what's different since last year ?? [Archive]

diggler649

Mar 6th, 2012, 01:22 PM

Okay I'm just curious. Before I moved to Korea a year ago I used to spend long long nights at Y&F and in Christie.
I was wondering what's different there now ?
I won't be back in Canada for the next 4-5 years I guess .. so someone send me an update please! :razz::razz:

Nothings changed at Y&F. Just the same thugs squatting, smoking and listening to Dong Bang Shin Ki on their iphones behind the Shoppers Drug Mart dumpster.

gretzky99

Mar 6th, 2012, 01:32 PM

There are more Chinese living in that area.

elmst200

Mar 6th, 2012, 01:36 PM

A lot of Asians hanging around those areas.

t3359

Mar 6th, 2012, 01:53 PM

flashy_mcflash

Mar 6th, 2012, 01:55 PM

I love Koreatown! Where else can you order a bulgogi dish that comes with five beers or a bottle of soju?

_wes

Mar 6th, 2012, 02:17 PM

wild wings, krazy wings and more canada goose

joeyjoejoe

Mar 6th, 2012, 02:23 PM

Nothings changed at Y&F. Just the same thugs squatting, smoking and listening to Dong Bang Shin Ki on their iphones behind the Shoppers Drug Mart dumpster.

Are you Korean?

diggler649

Mar 6th, 2012, 02:55 PM

Are you Korean?

Nope. 0.5 HK, 0.5 TW. But I used to live at Y&F, neighbours were Korean so very familiar with the culture.

Korean food at Hanwoori rocked, but sadly, place is closed. We would also eat gamjatang at Buk Chang's near the Tridel condos. The soup was so spicy my pubes would start to smoulder halfway through the meal.

joeyjoejoe

Mar 6th, 2012, 03:16 PM

Nope. 0.5 HK, 0.5 TW. But I used to live at Y&F, neighbours were Korean so very familiar with the culture.

Korean food at Hanwoori rocked, but sadly, place is closed. We would also eat gamjatang at Buk Chang's near the Tridel condos. The soup was so spicy my pubes would start to smoulder halfway through the meal.

Even though I'm Korean, I never really got why Koreans love their soup so hot (both in temperature and spicy)... If it's not bubbling, then it's too cold. It seems like the person is struggling to eat it (runny nose, getting all sweaty), but the more in pain they are in the more they enjoy the soup. Add to that the blood sausages, strong odors, excessive drinking and eating food that's still alive... and it's pretty much Klingon food.

flashy_mcflash

Mar 6th, 2012, 03:27 PM

I like to think it's how Chuck Norris eats. Too spicy, too firey hot, served in a hollowed out stone bowl. Balls to the walls, soup-style.

diggler649

Mar 6th, 2012, 03:59 PM

Even though I'm Korean, I never really got why Koreans love their soup so hot (both in temperature and spicy)... If it's not bubbling, then it's too cold. It seems like the person is struggling to eat it (runny nose, getting all sweaty), but the more in pain they are in the more they enjoy the soup. Add to that the blood sausages, strong odors, excessive drinking and eating food that's still alive... and it's pretty much Klingon food.

LOL. Everyone always looked like they were in tremendous pain. I would torture myself by eating that in the summer as well.

ippon

Mar 6th, 2012, 06:01 PM

more iranians in the area.

interesting tidbit. there is a street called Tehran in Seoul and a street called Seoul in Tehran.

jacobe

Mar 6th, 2012, 09:57 PM

interesting tidbit. there is a street called Tehran in Seoul and a street called Seoul in Tehran.

No way, that is too awesome :D I will use this fact at parties. Thank you.

Junigenmukyoku

Mar 6th, 2012, 10:09 PM

I love spicy food! :lol:

madkitty

Mar 6th, 2012, 10:30 PM

Haven't been down to Christie/Bloor for a while, but Y&F - mostly more of the same - maybe some new condos, a few plazas closer to Sheppard closed down (that Pho place, whatever it was called). So you're not missing anything...!

bjl

Wow is 임가네 still there ? I hope they didn't close their food was really awesome. Thanks for the update!

kahion

Mar 7th, 2012, 12:56 AM

Wow is 임가네 still there ? I hope they didn't close their food was really awesome. Thanks for the update!

Both Y&F and Christie locations are still in operation.

TheRed

Mar 7th, 2012, 01:41 AM

Wow is 임가네 still there ? I hope they didn't close their food was really awesome. Thanks for the update!

wow what is this place!?

eudaii

Mar 7th, 2012, 01:43 AM

koreans eat bulgogi

TheRed

Mar 7th, 2012, 01:55 AM

koreans eat bulgogi

humans eat beef.

diggler649

Mar 7th, 2012, 09:44 AM

wow what is this place!?

Yes, someone Korean please translate.

Google translate is saying it's Imgane? But not sure if that sounds right.

flashy_mcflash

Mar 7th, 2012, 09:47 AM

Are there any other places like Paldo Gangsan on the strip there with the same food/beers/soju deal?

LaserEnvy

Mar 7th, 2012, 01:39 PM

wild wings, krazy wings and more canada goose

http://i43.tinypic.com/2e52koo.png

transitguy1

Mar 7th, 2012, 01:42 PM

Okay I'm just curious. Before I moved to Korea a year ago I used to spend long long nights at Y&F and in Christie.
I was wondering what's different there now ?
I won't be back in Canada for the next 4-5 years I guess .. so someone send me an update please! :razz::razz:

The number of Koreans keeps increasing, so does their credit card debts

Aznsilvrboy

Mar 7th, 2012, 05:56 PM

Yes, someone Korean please translate.

Google translate is saying it's Imgane? But not sure if that sounds right.

임가네 = Im/Lim Ga Ne which roughly means "Lim's". It's a common name format for Korean restaurants. There is also Kim Ga Ne.

CDNPatriot

Mar 7th, 2012, 10:23 PM

The cool ones moved to Richman'sHill or Richmond Hill with their parents and live in their basement.

The cooler ones life in an uptown one bedrom condo along the Yonge subway line.

Syne

Mar 7th, 2012, 10:35 PM

Protoss is all the rage this year.

ippon

Mar 8th, 2012, 03:04 AM

The number of Koreans keeps increasing, so does their credit card debts

just like the increase in number of trolls like you in rfd.

Piro21

Mar 8th, 2012, 03:31 AM

The number of Koreans keeps increasing, so does their credit card debts

Does the TTC know you're trolling this much while admitting to being one of their employees?

FrankRH

Mar 8th, 2012, 03:37 PM

Whats Protoss

webdoctors

Mar 8th, 2012, 03:44 PM

Whats Protoss

This reminds me, U can pre-order the next starcraft now....

LaserEnvy

Mar 8th, 2012, 03:52 PM

This reminds me, U can pre-order the next starcraft now....

South Korea already put their economy on hold until the game's release

madkitty

Mar 21st, 2012, 12:31 AM

Yes, someone Korean please translate.

Google translate is saying it's Imgane? But not sure if that sounds right.

Sorry for the late reply Yes it is ImGaNae ! It's that restaurant with Orange Banner, right next to Green Mart at Yonge and Finch.
I spent hours there with my friends for dinner eating "Bossam" wrapped in letuce, then we went to SoHo Launge Bar (same side of the street but NorthBound, passed Morning Glory), my friend was the owner so we had lots and lots of soju there. The owner of the bar is REALLLLLYY nice (and cute ㅎㅎ). And then final destination was Shoot Karaoke ! (then back home .. but I can't remember that part well..)

Gee.. I miss Toronto :cry::cry:

madkitty

Mar 21st, 2012, 12:37 AM

Are there any other places like Paldo Gangsan on the strip there with the same food/beers/soju deal?

A year ago, Crazy Wings was an americanized korean bar with no Soju and waitresses there didn't even know what Soju is.. So I guess it wasn't Korean at all.

SOHO Bar is the only place "Korean-Bar-Like" that offers Combo sushi or meet + Soju for a reasonable price at Yonge and Finch. In the summer time "The Owl Minerva" (you have to go down direction North York Library, west side, it's right in front of e-outlet PC and that convenience store, was it eMart?) They offer BBQ table Bulgogi + soju, quite pricey thou

There's another soju-bang (Soju Bar) around Sheppard but I can't remember the name thou, and it was expensive as hell..

SOHO is good and they have a membership card that gives 5%~20% off according to your visit :cheesygri Addictive, give it a try :cheesygri

geokilla

Mar 21st, 2012, 01:27 AM

Protoss is all the rage this year.

Yep... So many Protoss in MLG. It's gonna be PvPvPvPvP.....

flashy_mcflash

Mar 21st, 2012, 09:17 AM

A year ago, Crazy Wings was an americanized korean bar with no Soju and waitresses there didn't even know what Soju is.. So I guess it wasn't Korean at all.

SOHO Bar is the only place "Korean-Bar-Like" that offers Combo sushi or meet + Soju for a reasonable price at Yonge and Finch. In the summer time "The Owl Minerva" (you have to go down direction North York Library, west side, it's right in front of e-outlet PC and that convenience store, was it eMart?) They offer BBQ table Bulgogi + soju, quite pricey thou

There's another soju-bang (Soju Bar) around Sheppard but I can't remember the name thou, and it was expensive as hell..

SOHO is good and they have a membership card that gives 5%~20% off according to your visit :cheesygri Addictive, give it a try :cheesygri

I think I've seen Owl of Minerva - there's one downtown too, right? Like around Chinatown Centre or Dragon City? I'm definitely going to check out SOHO though - it sounds wicked. Thanks!

diggler649

Mar 21st, 2012, 09:29 AM

Sorry for the late reply Yes it is ImGaNae ! It's that restaurant with Orange Banner, right next to Green Mart at Yonge and Finch.
I spent hours there with my friends for dinner eating "Bossam" wrapped in letuce, then we went to SoHo Launge Bar (same side of the street but NorthBound, passed Morning Glory), my friend was the owner so we had lots and lots of soju there. The owner of the bar is REALLLLLYY nice (and cute ㅎㅎ). And then final destination was Shoot Karaoke ! (then back home .. but I can't remember that part well..)

Gee.. I miss Toronto :cry::cry:

Yeah, I know that one. I used to eat there all the time when I lived up there. That's the place with the ghetto parking at the back where if you're blocked in, you have to go around the restaurant asking everyone if you're the one that owns the gold Buick Century.

madkitty

Mar 21st, 2012, 09:17 PM

I think I've seen Owl of Minerva - there's one downtown too, right? Like around Chinatown Centre or Dragon City? I'm definitely going to check out SOHO though - it sounds wicked. Thanks!

Indeed they have 3 Owl of Minerva but honestly I wouldn't recomment to go anywhere than the one in Finch (especially not Chinatown ..).
Let me know what you think of SOHO, I so miss this place ;)

madkitty

Mar 21st, 2012, 09:19 PM

Yeah, I know that one. I used to eat there all the time when I lived up there. That's the place with the ghetto parking at the back where if you're blocked in, you have to go around the restaurant asking everyone if you're the one that owns the gold Buick Century.

I can't remember the parking lot thing .. but have you tried the TTC parking lot ? It's free after 8 or 10 PM isn't it ? .. not sure ..

masterhapposai

Mar 21st, 2012, 11:44 PM

sweeper

Mar 22nd, 2012, 12:54 AM

bunch of odd looking wannabe thugs hanging around Anderson's more often now, late at night.

which is right beside SoHo's and may be unsafe.

the Korean community should reclaim that corner from them before it escalates. just start smoking on that parking lot and these guys will go away.

John Anderson's Restaurant next to Finch Station?

Aren't they all just young Korean punks? Or is there some pseudo-ethnic turf war in the mix? :D

madkitty

Mar 22nd, 2012, 02:49 AM

John Anderson's Restaurant next to Finch Station?

Aren't they all just young Korean punks? Or is there some pseudo-ethnic turf war in the mix? :D

I didn't even know Anderson had a restaurant there. I just saw it on Google map lol I wanna see that pseudo-ethnic turf war !

masterhapposai

Mar 22nd, 2012, 09:59 AM

John Anderson's Restaurant next to Finch Station?

Aren't they all just young Korean punks? Or is there some pseudo-ethnic turf war in the mix? :D

No korean ever goes to Anderson's.

The non-koreans at Anderson's sometimes hang out on the deck and nearly face Soho's, but they've been pushed around the corner to behind or side of Anderson's. Just need to push them a bit farther out.

There are also many random punks that come out of the Go Station just north of all this, and at night you can hear yelling and sometimes a fight or two. So this "Anderson crew" could be in response to that as well. Maybe they were picked on by the Go Station punks. But, in the end, these guys are up to no good.

thelefteyeguy

Mar 22nd, 2012, 10:24 AM

Indeed they have 3 Owl of Minerva but honestly I wouldn't recomment to go anywhere than the one in Finch (especially not Chinatown ..).
Let me know what you think of SOHO, I so miss this place ;)

there's a new one at Bayview and Major Mac ...not sure when it opened.

the old lot where the Galleria was is now a huge construction site...another year and the massive condos/retail will be completed.

diggler649

Mar 22nd, 2012, 02:58 PM

sweeper

Mar 22nd, 2012, 03:04 PM

masterhapposai

Mar 22nd, 2012, 07:54 PM

I have a question for you noobs. Do any of you find it gross drinking from plastic cups and water jugs that are so common at Korean and/or Vietnamese restaurants? There's something about drinking from plastic in establishments that just doesn't sit right.

this drives me crazy

the overall quality and service level of the korean restaurants here are on par with something setup by a third world country. I don't think its like this in Korea. And I know first hand that home made Korean food is superior.

When I ask why the quality/service is so low, people say I'm trolling. But, for real, where is there a restaurant in Toronto that is both Korean and on the level of at least Moxies/Milestones? Note that Moxies/Milestones are some of Toronto's lowest end restaurants, LOWEST end.

madkitty

Mar 24th, 2012, 12:45 AM

this drives me crazy

the overall quality and service level of the korean restaurants here are on par with something setup by a third world country. I don't think its like this in Korea. And I know first hand that home made Korean food is superior.

When I ask why the quality/service is so low, people say I'm trolling. But, for real, where is there a restaurant in Toronto that is both Korean and on the level of at least Moxies/Milestones? Note that Moxies/Milestones are some of Toronto's lowest end restaurants, LOWEST end.

I think it's because Korean and Chinese restaurants use this white plastic cup that doesn't look good. It doesn't mean they didn't wash it properly .. In Korea we use metal cup and sometimes nice-transparent plastic cup, it doesn't look bad and fits with all your set of dishes. The quality of these cups in Toronto is just too bad that's why it doesn't fit ;)

madkitty

Mar 24th, 2012, 12:46 AM

there's a new one at Bayview and Major Mac ...not sure when it opened.

the old lot where the Galleria was is now a huge construction site...another year and the massive condos/retail will be completed.

I need to save money and buy that Condo ! Thanks for reminding me lol

masterhapposai

Mar 24th, 2012, 01:27 AM

I think it's because Korean and Chinese restaurants use this white plastic cup that doesn't look good. It doesn't mean they didn't wash it properly .. In Korea we use metal cup and sometimes nice-transparent plastic cup, it doesn't look bad and fits with all your set of dishes. The quality of these cups in Toronto is just too bad that's why it doesn't fit ;)

The question is why would they continuously use plastic cups when its so widely known that heated up or acidic liquid in plastic is dangerous for your health? Besides that, plastic always looks dirty and cheap. It doesn't cost much more than $200 to replace ALL the cups in the restaurant with easier to clean and higher quality cups. These restaurants are rammed all the time, so they got the $.

Ok, aside from the plastic:
-Many of the menus are dirty, beaten up. Again, doesn't cost much to replace them.
-Tables are often shaky, weak, especially around the Owl of Minerva area, really cheap tables/chairs
-Dirty floors
-Waitresses don't speak, they rush and grunt even to Koreans and its not they're immigrants, you get better service in Korea
-Food is often old, reheated, over-frozen stuff, highly preserved and definitely not fresh

There's a lot of problems, but Korean food is really good when done right. Just surprising that there's a dozen Korean restaurants around here and maybe 1 is good for Bulgogi (the one that serves in stone bowls and has a basic menu), 1 is good for soup (Owl of Minerva), and.. that's about it. The only real highlight being the Soju/beer deals.

masterhapposai

Mar 24th, 2012, 01:29 AM

The question is why would they continuously use plastic cups when its so widely known that heated up or acidic liquid in plastic is dangerous for your health? Besides that, plastic always looks dirty and cheap. It doesn't cost much more than $200 to replace ALL the cups in the restaurant with easier to clean and higher quality cups. These restaurants are rammed all the time, so they got the $.

Ok, aside from the plastic:
-Many of the menus are dirty, beaten up. Again, doesn't cost much to replace them.
-Tables are often shaky, weak, especially around the Owl of Minerva area, really cheap tables/chairs
-Dirty floors
-Waitresses don't speak, they rush and grunt even to Koreans and its not they're immigrants, you get better service in Korea
-Food is often old, reheated, over-frozen stuff, highly preserved and definitely not fresh

There's a lot of problems, but Korean food is really good when done right. Just surprising that there's a dozen Korean restaurants around here and maybe 1 is good for Bulgogi (the one that serves in stone bowls and has a basic menu), 1 is good for soup (Owl of Minerva), and.. that's about it. The only real highlight being the Soju/beer deals.

The Pho places slap them around silly. They've improved greatly in the last year. Esp the one that opened at the corner of Y&F.

I think there's a huge opening for a high quality restaurant on the corner.