Dining Out: Half and Half Mandu, Bossam Kalguksu, and Haemul Pajeon at OnGi Korean Noodle & Soup

There's a new Korean noodle restaurant that just opened up in Koreatown North called OnGi that I've been seeing all over IG, and as I was in the middle of drooling, I sent one of the reels over to Minji to make plans to eat there immediately. And what better time to go than during Thanksgiving long weekend?

Half and half mandu (kimchi and pork with vegetables)

We ordered the half and half mandu (that includes three kimchi dumplings and three pork and veg dumplings) and the haemul pajeon (seafood pancake) to share, and then Daniel and I both decided on the bossam kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup with steamed pork) while Minji got the tteokguk (rice cake soup). They also give each table a big container of geotjeori kimchi as a side dish. It is crisp, sweet, garlicky, and ULTRA-ADDICTIVE. Eat it with everything. You won't regret it.

The mandu are huge and plump and — most importantly — retain their moisture. I find that once mandu cool down, they get kinda grainy and dry, but these ones don't. I preferred the kimchi ones as the pork ones were just a little too bland for me (though Daniel preferred the pork ones because he can't eat spice and Minji liked both equally, so it's really subjective here), but overall, the mandu here are delicious. You can add two mandu to any bowl of noodles for $4.99, but an order of six is $15.95, so if you have people to share with or just have a really hearty appetite, it's well worth it to get a full order.

Bossam kalguksu
Next, the noodles. The pièce de résistance, and for good reason. The kalguksu here is SUBLIME. Smooth and springy with a great chew and overall mouthfeel. They're served in a rich, flavourful, perfectly salted, almost milky beef broth that is so addictive that I actually drank half the broth on its own once I finished the noodles. This is noteworthy because I usually leave the broth due to sodium overload but IT IS WORTH EVERY DAMN SIP HERE. Also the bossam is soft and tender and juicy and flavourful, and will absolutely up your kalguksu game. This bowl of noodles was worth every goddamn penny.

Haemul pajeon

Finally, the haemul pajeon arrived. The variation here is thicker than the usual pajeon, but also way more jam-packed with seafood and green onions. It seems like it was double-battered just to hold the sheer amount of ingredients in it, because it had a phenomenally crunchy texture, almost as if it was deep-fried. Basically, it's a HEFTY boy and Minji and I agreed — it's our new favourite haemul pajeon in the city. (Her toddler also agreed with an "MMMM!!!") However, if you prefer thin pajeon, then you might not enjoy this one as much... but frankly, it's worth trying, anyway.

Overall, the portions are great, value is excellent, service is friendly and efficient, and the space is cozy and spotlessly clean. It currently holds a 4.9 rating on Google, and I actually think it's well-deserved. (Note: We got there around 2:45PM today and didn't have to wait for a table, but there was a steady stream of customers for the entire hour that we were there. So if you're coming on a weekend day, I would definitely avoid prime meal hours if you don't want to line-up.)

OnGi Korean Noodle & Soup

5529 Yonge St.

North York, ON M2N 5S3

(647) 435-2700

ARIH Dual Biotic Soda in Red Ruby Galore, Clear Lemon, and Peach Mango Horizon + Energy Drink in Tropical Wave, Lemon Crest, and Orange Hour

Okay, so ARIH's drinks were finally released in Canada at the end of August. This was actually sooner than I had anticipated since brands have to adhere to Canada's packaging (all wording has to be bilingual in English and French) as well as Health Canada's regulations (on top of approving all ingredients, they've added warning labels at the top right corner of all food/drink packaging if the product is high in sugar, cholesterol, etc.). Like the ARIH noodles, the drinks seem to be exclusive to PC (President's Choice) retailers here, like Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, and Shoppers Drug Mart.

I originally wasn't going to get the drinks because I thought they were going to be insanely high in sugar, but when Iris was at Loblaws getting them and asked if I wanted any, I asked her to take photos of the nutritional value tables for me. And surprise of all surprises — the Dual Biotic Sodas are only 20 calories with 1 gram of sugar and the Energy Drinks are only 10 calories with 0 grams of sugar (!!!). This is TREMENDOUSLY good news for those who are health-conscious, diabetic, or just watching their sugar intake in general. Basically: I CAN DRINK THESE!!!

ARIH Dual Biotic Soda in Red Ruby Galore, Clear Lemon, and Peach Mango Horizon
I asked Iris to get me two of each flavour. Like the noodles, ARIH have only released three flavours for each drink type in Canada instead of all seven. (Hoping this is for market testing only and not the permanent line-up here.) So for the Dual Biotic Soda, we got Red Ruby Galore, Clear Lemon, and Peach Mango Horizon; for the Energy Drink, we got Tropical Wave, Lemon Crest, and Orange Hour. They're currently retailing for $2.49 per can, which is actually on par with independent pop brands and cheaper than most energy drink brands. Basically, I think the pricing is very fair, though I do wish they would sell them by case instead of by can. (Indeed, Iris, who also got two of each flavour for herself, had to place a total of 24 cans on the supermarket conveyor belt to be scanned and had to bag them all by herself. I did thank her profusely.)

Now, having had all of September to try these, I will say: I like the Dual Biotic Sodas more than the Energy Drinks. There wasn't a single flavour of the Dual Biotic Sodas that I didn't like, though the Red Ruby Galore ended up being my favourite. While the sodas are obviously carbonated, they have a very smooth, almost milky finish — closer to a can of Milkis than Sprite. I'm guessing this is because of the pre- and postbiotics in the drinks (basically, they help with gut health over time). I would definitely buy the Dual Biotic Sodas again. I hope they bring the other four flavours into the Canadian market at some point, though — Pineapple Drift and Apple Flare sound AMAZING.

ARIH Energy Drink in Tropical Wave, Lemon Crest, and Orange Hour

The Energy Drinks actually have 100mg of caffeine in each 355ml can, which is about the same as an average 8-ounce cup of coffee. (For reference, a can of Red Bull of the same size has 114mg.) The Tropical Wave flavour ended up being my favourite, but they all have a kind of bitter chemical aftertaste — not sure if this is from the coffee bean/guarana extract they use for the caffeine, or if it's from the sugar alcohols, or if it's from the postbiotics. (However, the Dual Biotic Sodas also have sugar alcohols and postbiotics and don't have this aftertaste.) The Orange Hour was the worst of the three in terms of flavour and had the strongest aftertaste. I do have to admit that I am not an energy drink person — I prefer to get my caffeine from coffee and tea — and I likely won't re-buy these, but I still prefer them to most of the other energy drinks on the market.

Dining Out: Seoul Soup, Beast Mode Kimchi Fried Rice, Chicken & Waffles, Korean Milk Bread French Toast, and Golden Corn Cheesecake at Wild Beast Cafe

A new Asian fusion restaurant called Wild Beast Cafe started popping up all over my Instagram over the past month and the food looked amazing, so I saved it into my "visit soon" list. Then Minji messaged me a week later with a reel featuring the same restaurant, so we knew we had to make a date to try it. Apparently, Wild Beast Cafe is a re-branding of Glass Kitchen, but Keith Pears isn't associated with it so I'm guessing there are different owners involved but the same kitchen staff. While Glass Kitchen had completely separate brunch and dinner menus, Wild Beast has a more curated, singular, all-day brunch menu. They are only open until 3:30PM from Monday to Thursday, but are open for dinner service featuring the same brunch menu from Friday to Sunday. So, Minji, Daniel, and I went to check it out this afternoon and shared a variety of dishes:

Seoul Soup: Gochujang soup with pork belly, tofu, potatoes, zucchini, tomato, onion, and mozzarella, served with baguette
Beast Mode Kimchi Fried Rice: Kimchi fried rice topped with slow-roasted pork belly, creamy corn cheese, sunny-side egg, nori, chili, chives, and perilla oil
The Seoul Soup was excellent, kind of like a sundubu jjigae meets a French onion soup. Savoury, warming, comforting, and super-flavourful with just the perfect amount of spice. Even though we shared this, it is an individual portion and isn't too heavy; you could easily have this as your starter and still have room for a main (and possibly a dessert). Both Minji and I agreed, however, that the star of the meal was the Beast Mode Kimchi Fried Rice. The addition of creamy corn cheese and juicy pork belly to kimchi fried rice makes it insanely addictive — kind of like a Korean BBQ meal all in one bowl, so it's obviously amazing.

Chicken & Waffles: Korean sweet soy fried chicken on black sesame bubble waffles
The Chicken & Waffles features Korean-style fried chicken — we picked sweet soy glaze so Daniel could enjoy it, too, but there is also a "Korean spicy" option — with black sesame HK-style bubble waffles. The chicken had that incredible crunchy skin that Korean fried chicken is known for, and the sweet soy glaze had a great umami flavour. I did find the bubble waffles to be lacking, though — it wasn't firm enough to hold up to the chicken and none of us could detect any actual black sesame flavour despite the colour of the waffles being black. Despite that, the portion is huge — three gigantic pieces of chicken with two huge waffles — so you do get pretty good bang for your buck. And this ended up being Daniel's favourite.

 
Korean Milk Bread French Toast: French toast with a crispy exterior and soft interior, finished with warm butterscotch anglaise, fresh berries, and banana brûlée
Golden Corn Cheesecake: Basque cheesecake with corn anglaise, garnished with grilled corn and sweet & salty popcorn
The French toast was good and satisfied my French toast craving, but I didn't find anything particularly special about it. They use milk bread instead of the usual stale brioche, but once it's pan-fried, they honestly have very similar textures. That having been said, this French toast is very kid-friendly (Minji and Daniel's toddler was obsessed) and the torched banana is a really nice addition. Finally, we got the Golden Corn Cheesecake — Minji's corn and dessert addictions all in one neat package. The basque cheesecake was fantastic — great flavour and perfect texture — though I do wish it had a more intense corn flavour. Like rather than having the corn components added on top of the cheesecake, it would've been more unique to have corn infused into the cake itself. It was tasty, but not a must-order, even for a corn fanatic like Minji.

Still, Wild Beast Cafe has a lot of very interesting, delicious-sounding Asian fusion dishes that I want to try. The prices are also surprisingly reasonable here — all of this ended up being about $45 per person after tax and tip — but it doesn't take away from the great service and the lovely presentation. Minji and I have already agreed to come back to explore more of their menu — the TTC Mussels, Gangnam Rosé Fire Pasta, Inferno Seafood Pasta Jjamppong, and Short Rib Benedict are calling my name.

Wild Beast Cafe

505 Highway 7, Unit # 98 - 99

Thornhill, ON L3T 7T1

(365) 556-0257

Dining Out: Pina Colada Bingsu at The Cups

After feasting at both Woojoo Bunsik and Daldongnae in the span of three hours, Iris and I somehow managed to find room for dessert. (To be fair, we did walk around 10,000 steps while we were out, which really helps when the two of us ate enough for four people...) It was not a part of our BTS food pilgrimage (I guess BTS doesn't care to eat dessert...?), but since we were in Koreatown North, we thought it would be churlish not to get bingsu. So we went to The Cups.

Pina Colada bingsu

We knew we were going to share one bingsu so we wanted to try a flavor that neither of us had tried before. After some debate, we decided to go with the Pina Colada: Pineapple chunks, green grapes, pineapple purée, whipped cream, and coconut powder. Okay, I know that I waxed poetic about Snowday's watermelon bingsu and I do maintain that it is the perfect summer dessert, but the Pina Colada... Oh. My. Goodness. The way both Iris' and my eyes LIT UP after that first bite... Iris had actually initially been against the Pina Colada, but when I pointed out that it was mostly pineapple and not coconut, she caved. And SHE IS SO GLAD SHE DID because this is our new favourite. Like, as we were eating it, we were talking about when we could eat it again.

Suffice it to say, we had a ridiculously successful outing. God, I can't wait to go on another BTS food pilgrimage.


The Cups
5647 Yonge St.
North York, ON M2M 3T2
(647) 343-7277

Dining Out: The BTS Combo at Daldongnae

Iris and I continued our BTS food pilgrimage at Daldongnae, where the members reportedly visited on FOUR separate occasions while they were in Toronto. Now, we've both been to Daldongnae many times (it's been my go-to K-BBQ restaurant for years), but we went to the location near Yonge and Finch because we were already in the area (it's literally two doors down from Woojoo Bunsik) instead of the one at Yonge and Sheppard, which is the location they actually went to. It doesn't really matter, though, because the main reason for our visit to Daldongnae was the BTS Combo — "a limited-time combo featuring the dishes BTS enjoyed" for $80.99, available at all of their locations until September 23.

Thin-sliced pork belly, pork shoulder butt, and boneless beef short rib
Thin-sliced pork belly (daepae samgyeopsal)
Pork shoulder Butt (moksal)
Pork shoulder Butt (moksal)
Boneless beef short rib (galbisal)
Cold noodle soup with kimchi broth (kimchimari-guksu)

Incredible meal, as always at Daldongnae. This combo is actually meant for three people, but Iris and I ate all of this (plus most of the soybean stew, banchan, corn cheese, and egg that came with it) by ourselves. Granted, we didn't have a lot of carbs with the BBQ, but this was also only an hour after feasting at Woojoo Bunsik... What can I say? It's the power of BTS.

Daldongnae

6034 Yonge St.

North York, ON M2M 3W5

(416) 226-6034

Dining Out: Basil Cream Tteokbokki, Crab Meat Rice Balls, Unagi and Tuna Mayo Rice Tofu Pockets at Woojoo Bunsik

As we were heading back home from the BTS concert a couple Sundays ago, Iris and I decided that we had to make our way over to the Yonge and Finch area to see the BTS Boulevard street signs in person. Because how often does your city add street signs in honour of your favourite band? (For those who don't know, the City of Toronto officially re-named a section of Yonge Street in North York, "BTS Boulevard," in honour of BTS' two concert dates here for their ARIRANG Tour.) And since the signs are only up until September 23, we decided to head over there this weekend to take a look in person and then do a little BTS food pilgrimage while we were in the area.

We decided to start with a trip to Woojoo Bunsik, where J-Hope, V, and Jungkook stopped by to order a whole lot of Korean street food. Take note: the restaurant itself is very, very small — there's an open kitchen behind a counter, with four 2-person tables in a cramped space, so if you go during prime lunch or dinner times, you probably won't get a seat. We went around 4:00PM, which we figured was the least busy time at a restaurant, but there were two tables already taken and another couple came in after us. So, be warned.

Basil cream tteokbokki
Since we had never been there before, we decided to forego most of the "BTS menu" (the restaurant has posted what the BTS members ordered all over their walls as well as their social media), and ordered what sounded the most enticing to us: the basil cream tteokbokki, the crab meat rice balls, plus the unagi and tuna mayo rice tofu pockets. Everything was so immediately delicious that every time we opened our mouths to take a bite, we were met with resounding "MMMMM!!!!" sounds from each other. The basil cream tteokbokki was incredible — mild (this is excellent for those who can't handle spice, like Iris), aromatic, very rich, and extremely creamy. If you can't handle a lot of cream or rich foods in general, I would go with one of the other options, but the best adjective that comes to mind with this dish is unctuous. The actual rice cakes are perfectly thick with the most insane, bouncy, springy chew. I might even go so far as to say this is the best tteokbokki I've ever had. (Yes, even better than the ones I had in Seoul.)

Crab meat rice balls
My friend Minji ordered from Woojoo Bunsik two to three times a week when she lived in North York and highly recommended the rice balls. All the rice balls come with mayo, pickled radish, seaweed, and onion crisps, and we decided to go with the crab meat variation. The "rice balls" come deconstructed in a large bowl — we didn't actually know how big each portion was and definitely should've shared one instead of ordering one each since we got so many other items — and a plastic glove is provided to mix the ingredients and roll them into balls. Oh, my god, this is so freaking good. It's kind of like a mashed up onigiri, but I actually prefer this because the ratio of the rice to the other ingredients is so much more balanced. I definitely need to thank Minji for this recommendation.

Unagi and tuna mayo rice tofu pockets
Finally, we decided to get two variations of the tofu pockets. Partly because J-Hope, V, and Jungkook got the entire menu of them and we wanted to try at least one item that they had ordered here, but mostly because they looked too fucking good to resist. Each tofu pocket comes stuffed with rice mixed with mayo, pickled radish, and onion crisps (yes, it's the same ingredients as their rice balls), and we chose the unagi and the tuna mayo options. One bite into the unagi pocket, and both of us looked at each other with wide eyes and stuffed mouths and exclaimed, "HOLY SHIT." Despite the unagi and tuna mayo having such different flavour profiles, we could not decide which one was better. We just wished we had bigger stomachs, because all of a sudden, it made sense why the three members of BTS ordered all seven variations of these tofu pockets. 

As we were leaving with full stomachs and full hearts, entirely delighted with the unbelievably delicious meal we just had, we were already discussing when we'll be coming back. We've decided it is absolutely necessary to try every item on the menu. 

BTS Boulevard street sign!
And, of course, we got a picture of the street sign, which I almost forgot was the whole point of this trip.


Woojoo Bunsik 

6026 Yonge St. 

North York, ON M2M 3W5 

(416) 218-0026

ARIH Modern Noodles in Vongole, Truffle Bulgogi, and Gochujang Butter

ARIH NOODLES HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED IN CANADA!!! 

After months of being exclusive to the US, ARIH Modern Noodles (a.k.a. BTS instant noodles) is finally available here. Granted, we only got 3 of the 7 flavours so far — Vongole, Truffle Bulgogi, and Gochujang Butter — but I'm not even mad about it because a) it seemed unlikely that Canada was even going to get them, and b) they're literally the three I wanted to try the most. (Note: I have not actually tried them yet. I got them and was just extremely excited about it.)

ARIH Modern Noodle in Vongole, Truffle Bulgogi, and Gochujang Butter

It looks like they'll be exclusive to PC retailers here; they were first seen at Shoppers Drug Mart, and I have also seen them at No Frills, which means they'll likely be available at Loblaws, too. Shoppers is retailing them for $9.99 which is definitely steep for a pack of 4 instant noodles, but Iris' dad got them for us on Senior's Day last Thursday, so we got a 20% discount on them. (Bless him, he went to five different locations before finding them.) And hey, $2 for a meal is basically unheard of in this economy, anyway.

Now, we're just waiting for the drinks. (Hopefully, they'll have zero sugar options by the time they come here.)

UPDATE (09/04/26): I have now tried them all. The actual noodles are EXCELLENT. Thick and bouncy with the perfect chew. (Assuming you follow the cooking times listed in the instructions, the noodles will always come out great.) This type of noodle works particularly well with sauces as it holds all the flavour, unlike soup noodles, which benefits from a thinner noodle to hold the flavour. The Gochujang Butter was, by far, the winner of the three for me — the spiciness of the gochujang and the creaminess of the butter powder work perfectly together. 

The Truffle Bulgogi was decent, but while I expected the truffle flavour to be quite artificial, I didn't expect just how sweet the bulgogi component was going to be. I actually needed a bowl of cucumber slices to cut the sweetness throughout eating it. With this one in particular, I do not recommend using the entirety of the sauce packet. I'd start with like, half of it, and work your way up. Finally, the Vongole was my least favourite, which surprised me because I thought it would be so much better. Might need to play around with the ratio of sauce to noodle, but the clam flavour was just TOO artificial for my taste. This was super disappointing since so many reviewers gave it such a good rating. But this is also the only flavour I only ate one pack of, so maybe I need to give it a second go...

Dining Out: Mango Bingsu at Snowday Bingsu Cafe

My friend Iris and I decided to take advantage of the total BTS takeover of Toronto this week to go down to the Royal Ontario Museum to take part in their ROM Quest: BTS this afternoon. It's a BTS-themed scavenger hunt that takes you all over the museum to answer questions through Scavify. It's fun and interactive and you get to feel a bit like a kid again going through the museum and all its galleries. Everyone gets a participation prize, too — ours was a ROM pencil that changes colour with heat. In case you're interested and in Toronto, the BTS one is running every weekend through the rest of August!

Mango bingsu

After we left the ROM, we went over to the Eaton Centre to check out the BTS Comeback Fan Zone event (honestly, it was just a big photo op and writing notes to tack up to a wall, kind of disappointing) and the BTS Nike by You event at the Nike store (unfortunately, the line-up was way too long and we didn't love the designs enough to merit waiting), and then took the subway back uptown. On the drive back home, we decided we deserved some bingsu for all the steps we got in today (10,864!), so we dropped by Snowday and shared the mango binsgu. I maintain that the watermelon bingsu is the ultimate summer dessert... but c'mon, I'll never say no to mango. I was my first bingsu love, after all.

Snowday Bingsu Cafe

5 Glen Cameron Rd.

Thornhill, ON L3T 5W2

(905) 597-8838

Dining Out: Sashimi Platter and Hoe-Deopbap at Mi-Ne Sushi

Ever just crave a shit ton of raw fish?

Sashimi platter
Hoe-deobap

Well, I do, so I went with Chelsea and Braden to Mi-Ne Sushi, where we shared the sashimi platter and then I proceeded to get the hoe-deopbap because I hadn't had it in nearly four years and OH MY GOD, IT WAS SO FUCKING GOOD. Firstly, I don't know why I hadn't gotten it in so long. Probably because most sushi restaurants don't offer it unless they're Korean-owned... Which leads me to a second point: I don't know why I haven't gone to Mi-Ne Sushi in so long. They've been open for over a decade in the same location, which is very close to where I live now, and I keep forgoing it to try out newer sushi places. But if this dinner is any indication, their quality is incredible and, most importantly, CONSISTENT. I have never had anything less than an excellent experience here. Their fish is fresh and abundant, portions are fair given the price, the presentation is always beautiful, and their service goes above and beyond. I need to make Mi-Ne my regular sushi spot.

Mi-Ne Sushi

8865 Woodbine Ave.

Markham, ON L3R 5G1

(905) 470-1688

Dining Out: Fresh Watermelon Bingsu at Snowday Bingsu Cafe

So we came back from NYC to an insane heatwave this week (like, over 40℃ each day on the humidex). And I met up with Minji and Daniel today for lunch at Red Lobster (Minji is 9 months pregnant and was craving seafood and Cheddar Bay biscuits, so how could we deny her?) all the way in Thornhill. So we obviously had to go Snowday Bingsu for dessert. You know, to avoid heatstroke. And it was there that I inadvertently found the ultimate summer dessert:

Fresh watermelon bingsu

Unlike the other bingsu options there, this one uses fresh watermelon rather than frozen fruit and is topped with freshly made watermelon sorbet. (It's also supposed to come with chocolate chips to mimic watermelon seeds but I asked for mine without them because, frankly, it already has enough sugar.) It's light and refreshing, sweet and milky, thirst-quenching and happiness-inducing PERFECTION. (Also, maybe it's because I haven't had bingsu in a long time, but I didn't realize they made these smaller cup sizes. It's perfect for one person.) Basically, I'll be back for more.

Snowday Bingsu Cafe

5 Glen Cameron Rd.

Thornhill, ON L3T 5W2

(905) 597-8838

Dining Out: Spicy Tteokbokki and Garlic Crunch Boneless Chicken at Bb.q Chicken

Minji and I wanted to watch The Devil Wears Prada 2 so we decided to have a girls' night (our first one in nearly 2 years!) and went for dinner beforehand at Bb.q Chicken.

Spicy tteokbokki

Garlic Crunch boneless chicken

Got the classic spicy tteokbokki, of course, and decided to try their new Garlic Crunch chicken (we got boneless because Bb.q actually serves dark meat for their boneless option), which we both loved — there's actually no dry rub garlic option on their regular menu (both Soy Garlic and Honey Garlic are sauced), so this was a really welcome flavour. It's definitely more garlicky than the sauced options, but there is a hint of sweetness in it that keeps it from being too overwhelming. (Be warned, the dragon breath is unreal.)

As for the movie — the first one I've watched in theatres in nearly a decade — it was good, but not great. It's still fun and funny, but it definitely lacks the sassiness and charm and witty one-liners of the first one. Andy Sachs, sadly, is still annoying (albeit slightly less naive), though Miranda and Emily are still queens, and Nigel finally gets the credit he deserves. I also found the premise of prestigious print publications having to modernize to clickbait-y, short-form digital content very realistic. However, Andy's romantic relationship was completely unnecessary and, honestly, a little befuddling, and I also hated how utterly unrealistic it was for Andy to be able to afford what looks like a 1,500-sq. ft. luxury apartment in the middle of Manhattan on a salary that is presumably less than $1 million. But, I digress. 

Bb.q Chicken

8110 Birchmount Rd., Unit 1 and 2

Markham, ON L6G 0E3

(905) 305-8110

Dining Out: Jjamppong and Jajangmyeon at Jeon Ju Hyang

Went to watch the BTS World Tour: ARIRANG Live Viewing in Goyang this afternoon at the movie theatre with Iris (frankly, the only time I step foot into movie theatres is for BTS — I haven't heard of 90% of the movies playing right now), and was spectacularly impressed with quite literally everything: the 360° stage; their outfits (I know they always look amazing, but they do half of the concert in the same leather-clad gothic anime pirate villain outfits as in the "Hooligan" MV, and it is OUTRAGEOUSLY SEXY); the perfect live vocals and harmonies; the charisma, stage presence, and general swagginess. 

The setlist does seem shorter this tour, but they performed nearly every single song from ARIRANG (with the exception of "One More Night," for some reason, and "No. 29," obviously — but they even debuted their vinyl-exclusive track, "Come Over," which I'm hoping will be released on streaming platforms soon because it is too gorgeous to require a record player to listen to), which they haven't done with any of their previous albums — they usually integrate a lot more of their discography into any given tour setlist. I was a little bummed that they didn't include more older songs — they did perform "Fake Love," "Not Today," "MIC Drop," "IDOL," "Butter", and "Dynamite" (basically, the stadium bangers) — but they have introduced a new segment we've never seen before called BTS Karaoke, during which two songs from their discography are randomly chosen for them to perform, and it is wildly amusing to see them try to remember their old lyrics and/or choreography. Looks like they'll be doing two different tracks every night on this tour (today's concert included "Take Two" and "DNA," though Thursday's concert had "Mikrokosmos" and "I Need U," so it does seem truly random). I'm not sure if the core setlist will change over the course of this tour, but I can't wait to see what songs they'll pick for the Toronto dates.  

Jjamppong
Jajangmyeon

Now, normally, we would go get Korean fried chicken after a BTS live viewing and/or documentary, but in an effort to be marginally healthier (like, really marginally), we decided to get some Korean Chinese food at Jeon Ju Hyang instead. They don't offer tangsuyuk, but we did get jjamppong (my personal fave) and jajangmyeon to share. And I gotta say, after many tries, I still can't get into jajangmyeon. I know it's beloved by Koreans, but it's just too... one-note? I mean, I've never been a huge fan of lo mein or "stirred" noodles to begin with, but I think jajangmyeon is just a bit too slimy? Anyway, it worked out in the end — Iris can't eat that much spice (we actually ordered mild, but even black pepper gets too spicy for her), so she wanted more of the jajangmyeon, anyway. Jjamppong will always be the winner for me.

Jeon Ju Hyang

5694 Highway 7

Markham, ON L3P 1B4

(905) 201-1002

Dining Out: A Korean BBQ Birthday Feast at Daldongnae

Well, I've officially entered the last year of my 30s. And to celebrate my 39th, I went to watch J-Hope's Hope on the Stage: The Movie with Minji (who is not an ARMY, but I was so proud of her for knowing six songs!) and then we met up with Daniel for a Korean BBQ feast at Daldongnae, which has unintentionally become a birthday tradition for me.

Pork belly, thin sliced pork belly, and beef boneless short rib
Pork belly
Pork belly
Thin sliced pork belly
Beef boneless short rib
Beef boneless short rib
Black tiger shrimp
Black tiger shrimp
Kimchi jeon
Doenjang jjigae

Two orders of pork belly, thin sliced pork belly (you know, for a crispier experience), and beef boneless short rib, with side orders of black tiger shrimp, assorted mushrooms, and kimchi pancake. (We got the kimchi jeon because Daniel doesn't eat seafood and while it's decent, the seafood pajeon is so much better. The one at Daldongnae is still one of the best I've ever had. Minji and I have vowed to get it next time we come here, Daniel's tastebuds be damned.) The BBQ also comes with unlimited egg, corn cheese, lettuce for wraps, garlic slices, kimchi, soybean stew, and a variety of banchan (I don't care what anyone says, acorn jelly is the best of them all and I'm pretty sure between me and Minji, we had at least eight refills).

In lieu of birthday cake (I already blew out a birthday candle at last night's dinner, anyway), we went over to Tiger Sugar for bubble tea and croffles. A lovely ending to a perfectly low-key birthday.

Daldongnae

135 York Blvd.

Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3B4

(905) 707-0683

Dining Out: Spicy Tteokbokki, Black Pepper Fried Chicken, and Soy Garlic Fried Chicken at Bb.q Chicken

Craving Korean fried chicken, Minji, Daniel, and I met up for an early dinner at bb.q Chicken.

Spicy tteokbokki
Black pepper boneless fried chicken
Soy garlic boneless fried chicken

I don't eat Korean fried chicken that often anymore, but I gotta say, bb.q Chicken is still my favourite and my go-to after all these years. Their slogan is "best of the best quality chicken" (yes, that's what the "bb.q" stands for) and while I don't know if they're the BEST OF THE BEST, they are extremely consistent. Their menu has a big variety of chicken types and flavours, appetizers, and sides, but still manages to be well-curated. Aside from the ultra-spicy selections, I've yet to try a chicken flavour I didn't like, whether dry, sauced, or topped. (Every iteration of their tteokbokki is also amazing. I have yet to be disappointed.) And the best part? Their boneless option is always dark meat, so it's NEVER DRY (!!!). And that in itself will always bring me back here instead of other KFC restaurants.

bb.q Chicken

8110 Birchmount Rd., Unit 1 and 2

Markham, ON L6G 0E3

(905) 305-8110

Dining Out: Gimmari and Beef Noodle Soup at Jeon Ju Hyang

Since I'm still getting over my cold, it was obviously time for more noodle soup. So I went back to Jeon Ju Hyang with my mom. I don't know if they've always had this combo deal on their menu or if it's apart of the revamp they seem to have had in the last year, but they offer an appetizer + noodle + can of pop combo for $24.99, which I think is a pretty good value. There's six options each for the appetizer and the noodle dish, so I decided on the gimmari and the beef noodle soup.

Gimmari
Beef noodle soup

For some reason, I'd never gotten any of the appetizers here, but the gimmari is freaking delicious, chockfull of glass noodles and super crispy on the outside. Would absolutely order again, even without the combo. The beef noodle soup was good, but I do think the chicken version here is better — I'm not sure if it's the way they marinade their chicken or the way they cook it, but I prefer the flavour of it more than the beef, which seems more ginger-forward. Regardless, either one works perfectly if you've got a cold. (Ask for more tissues, though — you will have to blow your nose at least a dozen times throughout the meal as the steam works it's way through your nasal passages...)

Jeon Ju Hyang

5694 Highway 7

Markham, ON L3P 1B4

(905) 201-1002

Dining Out: Jjamppong (Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup) at Jeon Ju Hyang

It was inevitable after too little sleep and traveling on a plane: I caught a cold. After three straight days of honey lemon water and canned soup, I needed real food. Which means a big fat bowl of noodle soup.

Jjamppong

I used to go to Jeon Ju Hyang with my mom at least twice a month. But I'd actually been boycotting them because I got COVID from a server there last January, right before my trip to Asia. (I know it was that specific server, too, because he was coughing over my food while carrying it to the table WITHOUT A MASK ON. I felt sick the next day and took a COVID rapid test and it came out positive. Like, SUPER DARK LINES. I lost my sense of taste for over a week and will never forgive that smug teenage motherfucker.) But I decided to give them a try again because I very specifically wanted their jjamppong and the craving was unreal. And, you know, it's been nearly two years. It was time to let go of my grudge.

Turns out, they've had a bit of an overhaul — completely new staff, a revamped menu, and it seems like new ownership, too. (Except the BTS poster they've had up since opening is still there, which is what really matters.) But most importantly, the jjamppong is just as delicious and satisfying as I remember it. So, consider my boycott over. 

Jeon Ju Hyang

5694 Highway 7

Markham, ON L3P 1B4

(905) 201-1002

Dining Out: Downtown Markham Food Fest 2025

Since we didn't make it out to the CNE this year (which, aside from the hour-long commute from the GTA and the most anxiety-inducing parking space hunt, has become way too expensive — with a $25 admission fee this year, an all-time high — and way too crowded), I asked Minji and Daniel if they'd be interested in going to the Downtown Markham Food Fest after work yesterday, which has free admission and is way less stressful than going to downtown Toronto. 

Korean beef bulgogi tater tots from Crunch Alley
Beef, lamb, and sausage skewers from Chinese Northern BBQ
Tornado potato with garlic parmesan from Happy Twist
Taiwanese sweet potato balls from Sweet Potato Ball

Along with live music and performances, they have 40 local vendors this year. Since we got there right when they opened, it wasn't crowded yet and we could take the time to peruse all the food options. There were some vendors that we vetoed off the bat — mostly the Korean food ones that Minji insisted were way too overpriced (e.g. $13 for a Korean corn dog, $8 for a small cup of tteokbokki), but also the multiple vendors that are selling the exact same things (mostly the Chinese BBQ skewers), as well as the higher end local restaurants (like Pears and Ruth's Chris Steakhouse) because their price points were too high for what they were offering. (Also because they're quite literally across the street, so we could easily go to the actual restaurants if we wanted to.)

We ended up with Korean beef bulgogi tater tots (wish there was more kimchi and cucumbers, but the tots were super crunchy and the beef was well-seasoned — 4/5); a variety of Chinese BBQ skewers (9 skewers for $20 is a steal, but the vendor we ended up going to used pre-grilled skewers, so re-heating them on the grill made the beef and lamb a little too chewy, though the sausage was excellent — 3/5); a tornado potato that Minji added copious amounts of delicious garlic parmesan seasoning to (the potato was perfectly fried resulting in really nice crispy edges with the inside still giving a nice chew — 5/5); and Taiwanese sweet potato balls that are basically sweet potato-based donuts that have the most spectacular mochi-like chew (they were also dusted with this sweet-tart purple powder that made them taste like apple fritters and were INSANELY GOOD — 5/5). It was about $17 per person for everything, and we were surprisingly full. (I say "surprisingly," because I usually get way more than this at food festivals. But then again, there were no line-ups, so I guess there was no time to digest in between orders...)

It's not marketed as an Asian food fest which is why it was far less crowded than we expected (at least when we got there around 5:30PM which, admittedly, is a little earlier than most people's dinner times) and there's no stinky tofu (still not sure why people are so obsessed with it — it honestly tastes like regular fried tofu but just smells like sewer), but the majority of their offerings is exactly like an Asian night market, anyway. (It is in Markham, after all.) All of us wished there were more dessert options, but overall, I thought it was worth stopping by. And unlike the CNE or Ribfest, it's free to go in. Not sure why I had never bothered going before, but I will absolutely come back next year!

Downtown Markham Food Fest 2025

Downtown Markham

179 Enterprise Blvd.

Markham, ON L6G 0A2