Yunshang Rice Noodle (North York)

Restaurant: Yunshang Rice Noodle
Address: Unit 5, 5285 Yonge St.
Phone: 416-233-6662
Operating Hours: Mon-Sun 11:30 - 12 AM
Website: www.yunshang.ca

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Menu

Temporary Soft Opening Menu

Yunshang Bridge Rice Noodle, $19.99

Yunshang Rice Noodle with Mixed Mushrooms ($11.99) plus extra Seafood ($2.99) and extra Beef ($2.99)

Top left clockwise: Deep Fried Cuttlefish Balls, $6.99; Sliced Beef, Tripe and Ox Tongue in Chili Sauce, $8.99; The Salty Popcorn Chicken, $6.95; Cold Glass Noodle in Chili Sauce, $5.99; and Deep Fried Squid Tentacle, $6.99 

Review

Yunshang Rice Noodle is the largest Canadian-owned rice noodle chain that is opening their 9th location in North York. Under 3 years old, they are rapidly expanding with 5 more locations opening up across North America. Their base broth is made fresh from pork bones that is cooked for 12 hours daily. There is no MSG in their food and they cook with only the freshest ingredients.

I tried a few of their dishes, including their limited edition Yunshang Bridge Rice Noodle ($19.99)! This is set of rice noodles with assorted premium seafood presented beautifully on a wooden bridge. You get to choose between 5 different noodle soups. I chose the Coconut Curry Rice Noodle, which has a hint of spiciness. You first place all of your raw meat into the boiling soup. After you let it cook, you can place your rice noodles in to eat. This is definitely a creative way to display and eat Chinese rice noodle. I enjoyed the variety of toppings available.

My friend and I devoured the Deep Fried Cuttlefish Balls ($6.99), which we definitely recommend. The Salty Popcorn Chicken ($6.95) and Deep Fried Squid Tentacle ($6.99) were decent, but not much different from other Chinese restaurants. The one dish I advised everyone to stay away from is the Cold Glass Noodle in Chili Sauce ($5.99). I am not a picky eater but this was one of the few dishes I was unable to finish, and I always finish my plate.

For their grand opening celebration, Yunshang Rice Noodle will be giving away FREE Yunshang Bridge Rice Noodle to the first 100 people on March 15th and March 16th. It starts at 6 PM and only at their new North York location. No purchases are necessary and first come, first served (no reservations). After that for a limited time only, 50 Yunshang Bridge Rice Noodle sets are available daily.

[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

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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).

[Product Review] Full House Desserts

Company: Full House Desserts
Product Type: Traditional Hong Kong desserts
Address: 9425 Leslie St. & 4750 Yonge St., Suite 121
Operating Hours: Thurs-Tues 5-11 PM, Wed CLOSED
Website: www.fullhousedesserts.com

Full House Sago, $7.49

Mango Pancake, $8.99; Durian Pancake, $10.99

Review

Full House Desserts specializes in traditional Hong Kong desserts. They have two locations, one in Richmond Hill and the other in North York. I was invited to review their desserts and share my thoughts!

I visited their North York location, which is conveniently located by Yonge and Sheppard if you are coming off the subway line. The North York location is a take-out shop where items are already prepackaged and ready to be sold. They have a selection of hot desserts, such as the Black Sesame with Almond Soup ($5.99) and Sweet Ball with Sweet Ginger. I opted to try their cold desserts instead because I couldn't take the food home right away.

The Full House Sago ($7.49) contains mango and pomelo pulp. If you are a fan of mango, you would love this pudding dessert because it packs a punch. In comparison, the Mango ($8.99) and Durian Pancake ($10.99) is full of fresh cream with the fruits stuffed in the middle. They are incredible soft and fluffy to cut through, quite similar to Japanese pancakes! The pancakes can be left in fridge for a couple of days without losing any of the freshness. I like the pancakes because the fillings are delicious; but I prefer it in small doses since I'm normally not a cream person. It's perfect for sharing since you receive two pancakes per order. If you love cream fillings, then definitely give these pancakes a try.

The consistency and taste from these Hong Kong desserts are quite different than what I am used to. If you haven't had traditional Hong Kong sweets yet, Full House Desserts is a great starting point. I think these treats would be a hit at Asian family parties!

Eat BKK (Yonge and Steeles)

Restaurant: Eat BKK

Address: 6307 Yonge St.

Phone: 647-350-9336

Operating Hours: Mon-Sun 11:30 AM - 10 PM

Website: www.eatbkk.ca

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Menu

Spring Roll and Soup of the Day, included in the $10.95 lunch specials

Green Curry Chicken, $10.95

Khao Soi Poutine, $9.95

Pad Thai Chicken, $14.45

Pad Kaprao Crispy Pork, $13.95

TTT (Tipsy Thai Tea) $7.95

My Review

I won a $50 gift card to the newest Eat BKK location by Yonge and Steeles. I decided to take a friend with me so we could have a feast. Honestly, $50 covers A LOT of food. If I knew how much food we would have ended up with, I would have 100% invited another friend or two. (Funny enough, my cousin won a $50 gift card as well and I went with her for lunch with two other co-workers; it fed the four of us perfectly). The new restaurant is very spacious and was made to accommodate fans of the original location at Yonge and Sheppard (which is a lot smaller). 

I thought the Khao Soi Poutine was unique, with a lot of meat thrown on top of fries. It was a fun appetizer that was great for at least three people since the beef was filling. The Pad Kaprao Crispy Pork I ordered was not the greatest, only because the rice was a bit cold and not as soft. My friend said he quite liked their Pad Thai Chicken. We both ordered Thai Iced Tea and I decided to get the rum-spiked version called the TTT (Tipsy Thai Tea). It was still similar to the original Thai Iced Tea minus the rum. Great if you are a fan of boozy fun drinks, otherwise the regular Thai Iced Tea is just as good. Honestly the amount of food we got was way too much for two people. Eat BKK is super affordable and you can get so much for so many people at little cost. 

You should come here for lunch if you are in the area. For only $10.95, you get a substantial plate of food along with spring rolls and soup (this is the same for the Yonge and Sheppard location). It makes for a super hearty lunch and you get the most bang for your buck! 

I definitely recommend checking out Eat BKK. I was told that both restaurants have slightly different menus. A couple of items at the Yonge and Sheppard location are not on the Yonge and Steeles menu, and vice versa.

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.

Boston Pizza (Yonge and Empress)

Restaurant: Boston Pizza
Address: 100-5170 Yonge St.
Phone: 416-792-3172
Operating Hours: Mon-Thurs 11 - 1 AM, Fri-Sat 11 - 2 AM, Sun 11 - 12 AM
Website: www.bostonpizza.com

Review

I've been to this location once before during the summer with my coworkers. It was decent service at the time and close to our office so we decided to go again this time around for a coworker's birthday. I'm giving a 1 star based on the service we have all received today. There was a total of 11 people, most arrived right at 12 PM and the rest arrived no more than 10 minutes later. At the time, the restaurant was not very busy. The server took some time to get everyone their drinks. Water was forgotten twice for a couple of people. Our orders were finally taken around 12:20 PM long after everyone got their drinks.

While we waited, another server came out with a couple of plates. We were pretty sure neither platters belonged to anyone at our table. The server gave us a bit of attitude and tried to place down the food. It turned out the food belonged to the table next to us. The group of 7 people beside us came around 12:15 PM and they received their food around 20 minutes after ordering. Our table was still waiting and everyone was getting agitated by 12:40 PM. Most of us only had the ability to take an hour away from the office. Food started coming out around 12:45 PM. Everyone finally got their meals by 1 PM...except me. It wasn't brought out until another coworker of mine pointed out that I haven't received my food yet. The server forgot my plate completely and I did not get my food until around 1:10 PM. I ended up having to scarf down everything as fast as I could because I was supposed to be back at the office half an hour ago. I was not out til close to 1:25 PM. Half of my coworkers were still in the process of eating by the time I left the restaurant.

For lunch, I ordered one of their $10 lunch combos. With the wait that we all had to do for our food from the moment we were seated, we might as well have gone to the food court and paid for the same price but get our food immediately instead.

Paese Ristorante

Restaurant: Paese Ristorante
Address: 3867 Bathurst St.
Phone: 416-631-6586
Operating Hours: Lunch 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, Dinner 5:30 - 11:30 PM
Website: www.paeseristorante.com

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Menu

Review

Paese Ristorante is a pleasant high-end Italian restaurant located in Wilson Heights. It's not in a location where you would typically find other fancy restaurants therefore stands out on its own. It's attached to L'eat Catering, the original parent company that provided food to local businesses since 1983. Afterwards, Paese Ristorante was created in 1989. L'eat Catering is one of the top 5 catering companies within Toronto,

I had the pleasure of sampling some items off of Paese's menu with my cousin. I tried one of their cocktails, which was the Paloma Italiana with pink grapefruit. I really liked it because I am a huge fan of sweet girly drinks. So it was a great choice for my preference. My cousin picked up their Bellini but found that the prosecco overwhelmed the taste of the peach nectar.

I highly recommend one of their appetizers, the Grilled Octopus. We absolutely loved the dressing mixed with the vegetables that came along with the octopus. It was a perfect blend of taste. Afterwards, we got to try a couple of their pizzas. We had the Pollo and Laabroni. I think their Pollo, which consisted of roasted chicken, smoked cheddar, eggplant, sliced tomato and basil, to be the best of the two. It had the best combination of toppings since I'm a huge fan of cheesy pizza and eggplant.

We tried pasta next. My cousin got one of their basic spaghetti dishes (I don't think it's on the menu) and I tasted their Ricotta Gnocchi. I liked the gnocchi in my dish but not so much of the chicken that was mixed in with it. The chicken was quite bland and was out of place in terms of taste. My cousin wasn't a fan of the spaghetti either. The two pasta dishes we tried were a missed for us.

Lastly, we made room for dessert. I got the Butterscotch Pudding and my cousin chose the Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait. When I took the first bite of the Butterscotch Pudding, it was perfect. The more I ate though, the sweeter it became, As someone who no longer craves super sweet desserts, it got overwhelming for my taste buds. I recommend this dessert, but only if you share it with someone else.

Paese has great customer service if that is what you are looking for in a dining experience. They also do private bookings.

Han Ba Tang

Restaurant: Han Ba Tang
Address: 4862 Yonge St.
Phone: 416-546-8218
Store Hours: Mon-Sun 5 PM - 2:30 AM
Website: N/A

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Menu

Review

When Han Ba Tang first opened, it got quite the buzz online in the Toronto foodie community. Han Ba Tang is a Korean Asian Fusion restaurant that transforms your everyday Korean ingredients into unique tapas. I went with one of my best friends and she was eager to try it out after I showed her BlogTO's article on it.

When we arrived, the restaurant was packed. There were no single tables left aside from the communal one. The communal table was a free for all and was empty when we got there. It didn't bother us that there might be people sitting beside us later. The restaurant had an extremely relaxing vibe and honestly was a cool place to hang out with friends to try some unique dishes. I shared the Spoon Pizza with Bacon ($10) and Kimchi Pancakes with Bacon ($7) with my friend. I enjoyed the Kimchi Pancakes with Bacon a lot more. It was crispy and made for a great appetizer. Since we ordered more appetizers than meals, the food wasn't filling. However, the price point was decent and I liked the atmosphere. I would definitely consider bringing some friends here again.

Boneyard Grill (Toronto)

Restaurant: Boneyard Grill
Address: 1554 Avenue Rd.
Phone: 416-349-0849
Store Hours: Sun-Thurs 11:30 AM - 9 PM, Fri-Sat 11:30 AM - 10 PM
Website: www.boneyardgrill.com

Interior

Menu

See full menu here: www.boneyardgrill.com/dine-in-menu/

Review

My friend and I got the pleasure of attending the grand opening of Boneyard Grill's Toronto location near Lawrence station. The interior setup is much like a family diner, unlike most BBQ restaurants I have been to. We got to try an array of their popular dishes, notable their ribs and coconut shrimps! I have to admit, I don't remember having ribs so delicious and tender before! The meat simply melted off the bones! My friend and I kept piling our plates with them! The pulled pork sliders and chicken wings were tasty as well, among their other menu items. Honestly, none of the food I tried disappointed me.

If Boneyard Grill opened late, I think it would be a perfect place to go to after some late-night partying. It's also a good family dinner if everyone is craving for some delicious BBQ! If you aren't in the midtown area, they have their original location up in Thornhill.