gps_shag's Profile
HELP - Looking for real Hakka Food in TO!!!
Just had dinner at Kimling Chinese restaurant (2173 Lawrence Ave E) tonight. Singularly unimpressed. Real hit and miss. Everything was very oily and greasy. The pepper chicken was pretty tasty, but the lemon fish had an unappetizing preserved flavour.
Everything seemed to be deep-fried in the same old oil. I've been burping up this same stuff all night.
Overall, it didn't seem like Hakka to me - it just seemed like sub-par Chinese food.
I definitely will not be going back.
New Yorker looking for a good burger...
Had a pretty good burger at ACME burger on the Queensway (735 The Queensway). Nothing super-fancy, but big and juicy.
Best tea (bagged or loose)
Don't forget TenRen Tea for lots of different Chinese teas.
454 Dundas Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5T 1G9
Tel: 416/598-7872 Fax: 416/595-5080
330 Hwy 7 East
Richmond Hill, ONT L4P 3P8
Tel: 905/881-8896
4350 Steeles Ave. East, Unit 103
Markham, Ontario L3R 9V4
Tel: 905/305-9086
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Ten Ren
454 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T, CA
Apple Cider.......Help find
Costco has big 3L jugs of great apple cider you could use.
Rol San vs. Bright Pearl
The food at Rol San is pretty good, but I really don't like the cramped dark rooms. BP is so bright and open, with 30-foot (?) ceilings, and the food is also good - I'd rather sit in Bright Pearl for a couple of hours rather than in the dark at Rol San.
Introduction to Good Chinese Food
Agree with this point. Remember there is a vast difference between REAL Chinese food at good restaurants, and Canadian Chinese food (stuff like Manchu Wok.)
Is a little Christmas gift appropriate for our favorite server?
Either cash or a gift card. A grocery store giftcard would be great - everyone needs food!
Turkey brining bags
How about a really big stockpot? I have a monster 20 quart stockpot that I used this weekend - easily fit my 20lb turkey.
Got it for about $39 or so at Home Outfitters or Linens and Things or some store like that last year.
Plain Chinese Breads
Agree. T&T has fantastic non-chinese breads too. I can't resist getting one of their raisin breads whenever I go.
Best Food Courts
Second that! That ugly neon lighting from Sbarro makes my brain hurt.
Want really bad food? Go to Baton Rouge - Eaton Centre
I would put Baton Rouge in the same class of restaurants as any of these chains, anyways. Baton Rouge, Jack Astor's, Casey's, Kelsey's, Milestone's - they're all the same restaurant with different names. Just uninspired bar and grills for the masses that want to spend $25 on a quick dinner. Sometimes you need a place like that.
Best fancy Japanese (omakase preferred) in Toronto for cooked dishes (no raw seafood)?
I think the Kaji omakase is mostly raw. Haven't been recently, though.
Lunch at Thuet- not given option of ice water [moved from Ontario board]
Do you mean a simple glass carafe/pitcher, or something that looks a little more like branded bottled water?
Best Deli
You're right - I just think of anyplace that serves latkes or lox/cream cheese on a twister as "deli" food. Even though it isn't.
Cozy Coffee Shop for a First date???
hee hee - Bal zac......
(what am I, eleven years old?) :)
Tipping BEFORE the meal - what would you have done?
I agree with this as well. No tip for when I pick up, but a tip for the delivery guy if food is brought to the house.
Best (Funniest? Wittiest?) Food Quotes
Here in Toronto there are two sister restaurants: one called "Bonjour Brioche" and the other is "Hello Toast." Both are pretty good, too!
lemon in ice water
Toronto here. I've seen it fairly often - maybe 20-30% of restaurants. Definitely not the majority.
Lunch at Thuet- not given option of ice water [moved from Ontario board]
Don't think that this only happens at upscale restaurants. My wife and I had a late lunch (?early dinner) at 3:30pm at a Casey's (.... yeah - Casey's. Don't make fun. We were starving.) The restaurant was deserted, and we were given the options of "sparkling or still?" Never seen that before in a chain restaurant.
Blood Sausages
Starsky (2040 Dundas St. East, just west of the 427) in Mississauga has them. They have a huge selection of sausages and cheese, and they always have big plates for you to sample.
http://www.starskycanada.com/
Underwhelmed and Overpriced at Harbour Sixty Steakhouse (long)
Regardless of the quality of the steak, the real question is: why would you even think of ordering wine with that kind of markup? Due to the incredibly overblown prices for wine in virtually all higher end restaurants, I've never ordered any wine with dinner out. It's just not worth it.
Sausage in Toronto
Second that. I got a few lean ground turkey sausages at Whole Foods.
alternatives to the Keg
Le Biftheque can manage a decent steak, and the service there is usually pretty good. The only warning is stay away from the complimentary deep-fried croutons they always have out on the tables - you can break a tooth on those things.
Worst/Best Tourist Trap Food in TO
The one good thing about New Ho King is the price. I remember many a time trudging from U of T over to NHK for their $3.25 special - a lot of food for a broke student.
Good Take-out Sushi Downtown?
I'm a fan of either New Generation sushi (493 Bloor Street West at Brunswick) or I Love Sushi (494 Queen St. West) for takeout. New Generation has HUGE maki. I Love Sushi will give you a free california roll with orders over $20 (....or was that $25?) Not super-high-end, but a great deal. Huge amount of good food for a reasonable price.
Quick question -- do T.O. grocery stores still have those big brown paper bags for groceries?
I just leave a bunch of these cloth bags in the trunk, and pull them out whenever I reach the grocery store.
Worst/Best Tourist Trap Food in TO
hahaha - my wife said the same thing - Sassafraz is her vote for the worst.
Best Deli
I've been to Centre Street Deli twice, and I've never been impressed. Pancer's and Kiva's are much better places.
