The Haam

Restaurant: The Haam
Address: 342 Adelaide St. W
Phone: 416-977-7258
Operating Hours: Mon-Thurs 11 AM - 3 PM & 5 - 11 PM;
Website: www.thehaam.ca

Menu

Cerviche, $14

Seaweed Sashimi Salad, $12

Spicy Chicken Karaage, $14

Panko Soft Shell Crab, $14

Miso Eggplant, $10

Unagi Pressed Sushi, $15

Tokyo Rose, $11 (front)

Review

On their website, The Haam states that they serve Korean food. In actuality it's more like Asian fusion with a mix of Korean, Japanese, and Mexican. I had the chance to try a few of their appetizers. I quite enjoyed the Panko Soft Shell Crab ($14) and the Miso Eggplant ($10), but I thought all the appetizers were quite good.

I got the Tokyo Rose cocktail, which was quite pretty look-wise but taste-wise it was simply a-ok. By the time my Unagi Pressed Sushi ($15) came out, I was already quite full from the appetizers alone. The Unagi Pressed Sushi is still an excellent dish and I wished I had more room in my stomach to enjoy it properly without overstuffing myself.

The restaurant is not that big so I suggest you make a reservation if you go in the evening or weekend. I think the diverse menu and atmosphere makes it a cute date spot. It's not overly fancy or intimate but the space is small enough to give you that cozy feeling. Not to mention they have some adorable menu covers, ranging from Studio Ghibli to Disney!

[Product Review] Cheese Garden

Company: Cheese Garden
Product Type: Japanese cheesecakes, drinks and desserts
Address: 5291 Yonge St. (North York); Unit G120, 3250 Midland Ave. (Midland); B58-4300 Steeles Ave. E (Pacific Mall)
Operating Hours: Mon- Sun 11 AM - 10 PM (North York); Mon-Sun 12-10 PM (Midland); Mon-Sun 12-8 PM (Pacific Mall)
Website: www.cheesegarden.ca

Interior

North York location

Menu

Yuzu Pistachio Double Fromage Cheesecake, $22.95

Double Fromage Cheesecake, $18.95

Uji Matcha Tiramisu, $11.95

Baked Cheese Tart, $8.85

Review

Cheese Garden is a Japanese cheesecake shop that offers a variety of desserts with currently three locations in Toronto. I had the pleasure of getting a sneak peek of their new and limited edition Yuzu Pistachio Double Fromage Cheesecake ($22.95) in celebration of their second anniversary. This cheesecake is only available from October 13th through November 4th, with only 50 available at each store and one per customer! If you visit any of the Toronto stores on October 13th or 14th, you can get 50% off one pastry item (excluding the Yuzu Pistachio Double Fromage Cheesecake).

What is yuzu, you may ask? With a quick Google search, yuzu is a citrus fruit that looks like a wrinkled lemon. It's quite sour and tart so yuzu is normally used for flavouring. The Yuzu Pistachio Double Fromage Cheesecake consists of three layers: the frozen yuzu mascarpone cheesecake at the top, with the baked pistachio cheesecake encrusted with sugar roasted pistachios in the middle, that all lastly sits on top of the pistachio sponge cake. The cake is covered with pistachio sponge cake crumbs and is decorated with gold flakes and a yuzu-shaped chocolate. The crumbs are incredibly fluffy (which reminds me a bit of fake snowflakes).

The flavour of the Yuzu Pistachio Double Fromage Cheesecake is quite unique. I enjoyed it more the second time around when my taste buds got used to it. It would definitely appeal to people who like flavours like matcha or hojicha. I think the presentation of the cake in the wooden box is absolutely adorable and is perfect for a birthday or small party.

If you feel that the yuzu pistachio flavour may be out of your comfort zone, try their classic Double Fromage Cheesecake ($18.95) instead! This is perfect for people who like original flavoured products that are kept simple without all the fuss, but is still delicious.

I also got to try the Uji Matcha Tiramisu ($11.95) and Baked Cheese Tart ($8.85). The Uji Matcha Tiramisu is a very light and easy dessert to eat. The Baked Cheese Tart is similar to an egg tart but is a lot sweeter and spongier.

Check out Cheese Garden for their second anniversary to try any one of their pastries for 50% off on October 13th and 14th and can get your hands on the limited edition Yuzu Pistachio Double Fromage Cheesecake (which runs until November 4th).

Fuwa Fuwa

Restaurant: Fuwa Fuwa
Address: 408 Bloor St. W
Phone: 647-618-2868
Operating Hours: Mon-Thurs 11 AM - 7:30 PM, Fri 11 AM - 10 PM, Sat 10 AM - 10 PM, Sun 10 AM - 7:30 PM
Website: www.fuwafuwapancakes.com

Interior

Menu

Raspberry and Caramelized Banana Pancake, $13.80

Creme Brulee Pancake, $15.80

Review

Fuwa Fuwa, which translates to Fluffy Fluffy in Japanese, is one of the latest Toronto food hypes. Fuwa Fuwa is the only fluffy Japanese pancakes place I've been to so far. I got there at 4 PM on a Tuesday with a couple of friends. The place had a decent number of customers but luckily there were seats and tables available so we didn't have to wait.

We ordered the Raspberry and Caramelized Banana Pancake and the Creme Brulee Pancake. They were indeed super fluffy and delicious! All three of us preferred the Creme Brulee flavoured pancake between the two. You can definitely share one plate between two people. It would also help cut down on the cost as well since the pancakes are quite pricey for dessert.

For my first experience with Japanese pancakes, I was quite pleased. The hype was definitely worth it. I would recommend checking the place out if you are in the area!

Sho Izakaya

Restaurant: Sho Izakaya
Address: 1406 Queen St. W
Phone: 647-350-1406
Operating Hours: Mon CLOSED, Tues-Thurs 5-10 PM, Fri-Sun 11:30 AM - 11 PM
Website: www.shoizakaya.com

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Menu

Wasabi Tako, $4

Black Pepper Steak

Spicy Avocado Rolls

Black Bean Noodles, $7

Pork Belly Ramen, $9.50

Mackerel Boxed Sushi, $11

Review

I went to Sho Izakaya for my first ever food Instagram meet. I met a couple of cool Instagrammers and we bonded over some delicious Japanese food. Sho Izakaya is a fairly new restaurant on Queen West that's quite low-key and provides a limited, but very affordable izakaya items! Since they are a newer establishment, they are still in the testing stages of the menu.

The restaurant was kind enough to let us try a couple of things that were not yet on the menu, including the Black Pepper Steak and Spicy Avocado Roll. My favourite dish would have to be the Wasabi Tako. It was my first time ever trying it, so I was excited to consume a lot of wasabi. The Black Bean Noodles were surprisingly a lot bigger than any of us expected. It was basically a full size bowl, which one could consume as an entree instead. There's currently only one ramen dish, which is the Pork Belly Ramen. So if you are looking for a variety of ramens, then I recommend checking elsewhere. However if you do order this bowl, it would be great to eat regardless.

I highly recommend Sho Izakaya if you love izakayas but you can't afford places like Kinka Izakaya without crying over your bill. Sho is not only wallet-friendly but provides delicious food and Japanese-quality service. Plus, if you go now you don't have to worry about the craziness of lineups before it actually gets the recognition it deserves.

Konjiki Ramen

Restaurant: Konjiki Ramen

Address: 5051 Yonge St.

Phone: 647-350-7766

Operating Hours: Wed-Mon 11:30 AM - 8 PM, Tues CLOSED

Website: www.konjikiramen.com

Interior

Menu

Smoky Black Tonkotsu Ramen, $13 + Egg, $1.50

Review

My Order: Signature Clam Broth Ramen (Shoyu), $14 + Egg, $1.50

I work right across Konjiki Ramen, the hottest Michelin-recommended ramen shop in Toronto right now. The small restaurant shares space with Saryo Cafe, a Japanese dessert shop. I skipped out on it when I was at Konjiki because I wanted to try their soft-serve when summer hits.

I got there at around 11:15 AM on a weekday, 15 minutes before it opened. My cousin and I were third in line. No more than 10 minutes later, the lineup grew rapidly. Being third in line allowed us to get a table to ourselves instead of being placed at a communal table. I decided to go for the Signature Clam Broth Ramen. This can be a hit or miss for some people because a couple of my friends weren't a fan of it. I, on the other hand, quite liked it! It was very light and definitely felt like I had the healthiest ramen option possible. My cousin remarked that it didn't have much flavour. If you are a ramen traditionalist and prefer thicker noodles and a heavier broth, then I recommend going for another ramen like the Smoky Black Tonkatsu Ramen.

I was in and out of the restaurant within 30 or so minutes. You will get swift service and the manager might come by to tell you more about the ramen. I really like how efficient and attentive the staff at Konjiki Ramen was. I wouldn't say I am crazy about the ramen but I definitely enjoyed it. I recommend if you have the ability to go for lunch time, drop by at least 15 minutes before opening to get ahead of the crowd. By the time I left, there was a huge line up. Don't go with more than one other person because it's a tiny shop with limited seating.

Teara Lab

Restaurant: Teara Lab
Address: 181 College St.
Phone: 647-351-6680
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 11 AM - 9:30 PM, Sat 11 AM - 6:30 PM, Sun CLOSED
Website: www.tearalab.com

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Menu

Review

My Order: Kalbi Shortrib Sandwich Combo, $11.49

My foodie friend (Toronto Foodie) got two free meal vouchers for Teara Lab so we had to check it out. Teara Lab is a Japanese fusion restaurant that specializes in burgers and sandwiches, serving items such as Teppanyaki Teriyaki Chicken Burger and Yuzu Teriyaki Fish Burger. Located by UofT St. George, it's another campus option for students to go for lunch or after class. There's enough tables at this minimalist-designed restaurant for you to sit and enjoy your meal or you can order to go.

All of their sandwiches sounded appetizing but I decided on the Kalbi Shortrib Sandwich for my visit. I personally enjoyed it and found the combo to be a filling meal. I do think the sandwich prices alone are a bit steep (the Red Wine Braised Beef sandwich costs $13.99). The sandwich prices should be around $7-8 at most. I do recommend trying out Teara Lab if you are an adventurous eater and love Asian fusion or Japanese.
 

Oja

Restaurant: Oja
Address: 689 Yonge St.
Phone: 416-944-8371
Store Hours: Mon-Sun 11 AM - 11 PM
Website: www.theoja.ca

Interior

Menu

Tempura Bento, $8.50

Review

One of my friends started working by Bloor station and I met up with her for lunch. We decided to try out Oja nearby, a Korean and Japanese restaurant with plenty of options. I was surprised with how cheap everything was! I got the Tempura Bento box and it was incredibly filling. Mainly because I had to finish everything less than an hour. It may not look much but if you have limited time to eat, you will get bloated fast!

I will definitely come back here again for a cheap lunch. There are a lot of options and it's at a good location.

Momofuku Noodle Bar

Restaurant: Momofuku - Noodle Bar
Address: 190 University Ave.
Phone: 647-253-8000
Store Hours: Mon-Sun 11:30 AM - 3 PM, 5 PM - 11 PM
Website: www.momofukutoronto.com

Menu

 

Review

My Order: Dan Dan Mein, $14

I finally got to try Momofuku. From what I gathered, it is a three-level restaurant comprising of "smaller restaurants" within it (correct me if I'm wrong please). My friend and I decided to catch up over some ramen at the Noodle Bar, which is on the first floor. Momofuku is quite popular outside of the foodie community. Therefore, my expectations were super high coming into the restaurant.

We arrived during the evening on a Sunday and it was packed. I wasn't a fan of the communal tables, especially since it was crowded. We were squished in the middle between two different groups of people. I had to raise my voice so my friend (and probably the neighbours) could hear what I was saying.

The menu was printed on a piece of paper and since it had the current date, I assumed the menu changes everyday (what a waste of paper!). My friend said the pork buns were great so I agreed to try it. I wasn't overly impressed because I thought it was overpriced and likely something I had before. For my order, I chose the Dan Dan Mein. I was disappointed to see how little the noodles took up in the bowl. Don't give a big bowl if you aren't going to fill it to the top! I liked the noodles but again, nothing I was eager about.

If I go back to Momofuku Noodle Bar, I will attempt their ramen instead which they are known for. If I revisit, I would likely come on a weekday during non-peak hours.

Note: This review only reflects my experiences at the Noodle Bar and not the rest of the Momofuku's restaurants within the building.