Hoja Luwei

Restaurant: Hoja Luwei
Address: 615 Bloor St. W
Phone: 416-536-0615
Operating Hours: Mon-Sun 11:30 AM - 11 PM
Website: N/A

Interior

Review

My Order: Lamb Combo, $9.50

Hoja Luwei specializes in Taiwanese street-style cuisine, located in Koreatown. You're given a checklist menu to customize your own noodle bowl with sauce or broth. If you are indecisive like me, you can simply check off one of their combos with pre-selected ingredients. If you are a picky eater or want everything piled onto your bowl, you have the option to select as little or as many ingredients as you like.

I was actually confused with the menu at first, so I was checking off the combo along with a bunch of other things. Once I realized my mistake, I immediately selected the lamb combo just to keep it simple. I went for the broth but I probably should have gone for the sauce instead because I prefer my food more dry. Nonetheless, it made a hearty meal that was perfect for the cold weather.

The shop is set up to have a "street-style" vibe, similar to the food shops that could be found on the streets of Asia. They have one long communal table with high seats and very limited tables that seated two people. Which makes for great lunches but not somewhere you'd host an event/dinner.

Hoja Luwei is an affordable restaurant that allows people to get a taste of Taiwanese street food. It's an ideal spot to drop by for a filling lunch or to have something to warm you up on a cold night.

Aroma Espresso Bar (College St.)

Cafe: Aroma Espresso Bat
Address: 540 College St.
Phone: 416-901-5859
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM - 10 PM, Sat 8 AM - 10 PM, Sun 9 AM - 9 PM
Website: www.aroma.ca

Interior

Menu

My Order: Freekeh Salad and Grilled Chicken Breast Personal Sandwich, $5.95

Aroma Espresso Bar recently introduced a new salad to their Savour Summer menu called the Freekeh Salad. Freekeh is a whole grain that is used throughout the Middle East that is high in fibre. It's vegan and vegetarian, but not gluten-free. When I tried it, I was full instantly. It has a nutty taste which some people may like. I preferr quinoa over freekeh but it was interesting to try regardless. It's great if you are looking for healthy food options and are looking for something new to try. You can also add meat options to your salad as well.

Cafe Diplomatico

Restaurant: Cafe Diplomatico
Address: 594 College St.
Phone: 416-534-4637
Store Hours: Sun-Thurs 8 AM - 1 AM, Fri-Sat 8 AM - 2 AM
Website: www.cafediplomatico.ca

Exterior

Menu

Review

My Order: Tuna Melt, $6.50

When the weather was warmer awhile back (oh how long ago that was!), my friend and I wanted to find a nice patio to eat out on. We trekked along College St. to see if there were anything that tickled our fancy. We saw Cafe Diplomatico and their patio looked pretty decent. I wanted to simply check out the menu to see if there was anything that I would like to try. When we went in to pick up the menu, the owner (or at least I think he was), started ushering us in. He assured us that the food was going to be fantastic and there was no reason to hesitate. My friend and I were walking for quite some time now and the food seemed decent. So in we went!

I wasn't craving pizza, so I tried out their Tuna Melt sandwich. It was pretty tasty. My friend enjoyed his medium pizza and beer. He said that the beer was cheaper than in most restaurants. A pitcher of Bone Shaker was only $20, comparatively to $22-23 at most restaurants.

Overall, I had a pleasant time at Cafe Diplomatico. It was full by the time we were all settled in, probably because of the interaction the owner had with everyone passing by on the street! Would I come back? I think once is enough for me, but it's a nice patio along College if you are looking for one.