Dining Out: Marinated Raw Shrimp and Crab, Boiled Pork Belly, Stir-Fried Kimchi and Pork with Tofu, and Fish Cake Soup at Anju Korean Kitchen

As I was casually strolling through Instagram, I came by a reel of the raw marinated seafood at the newly-opened Anju Korean Kitchen and sent it to my friend Minji, who was so excited about it that she immediately suggested it for our reunion lunch with Daniel and Samuel. (I say "suggest," but there really was no choice in this. We were gonna eat some goddamn raw marinated seafood and no one was going to stop us.)

Marinated raw shrimp (spicy + soy)

Marinated raw crab (spicy + soy)

Boiled pork belly with green onion kimchi

Stir-fried kimchi and pork with tofu

Fish cake soup

Entirely worth visiting for the seafood alone. There are tons of Korean restaurants in the Toronto area, but very, very few of them offer marinated raw seafood, and Anju's is excellent. (Minji, a seafood-obsessed Korean who hasn't been able to eat raw meat or seafood in nearly a year because she was pregnant, was ecstatically satisfied.) Basically, we've already decided to come back here ASAP. But if the line-up out the door is any indication, I suspect that the wait times for a table will only get longer after their grand opening...

Anju Korean Kitchen

7333 Woodbine Ave., Unit 4

Markham, ON L3R 1C4

(905) 205-1547

Dining Out: Brown Pork Katsu at Brown Donkatsu

Okay, so one thing about having novovirus and eating just bland foods for a week means you quite literally crave everything that you can't eat which, in my case, is DEEP-FRIED ANYTHING. I was supposed to go to Brown Donkatsu for my friend Daniel's birthday last week but because of my sensitive stomach, we went to De Chou instead (which was also very delicious but didn't obviously curb the craving for deep-fried foods). So Minji, Daniel, and I finally went for dinner at Brown Donkatsu this evening and, let me tell you, it was everything I dreamed of.

Brown pork katsu

I got the original brown katsu, which is the classic Korean deep-fried cutlet in their signature brown sauce. I could not tell you what is in the brown sauce — it's like gravy but slightly tangier, maybe a touch fruitier — but IT IS DELICIOUS and is my most favourite accompaniment to katsu (curry is a close second, but still doesn't touch the brown sauce). The donkatsu here is also always spectacular: juicy and moist in the centre, and ultra-crispy and perfectly golden. Been coming here for over 15 years and it's still the best I've ever had. (And if it's any indication of how good the food is, this place is always packed, even on a random weekday evening.) CRAVING SATISFIED.

Brown Donkatsu

First Markham Place

3235 Highway 7, Unit 22

Markham, ON L3R 3P3

(905) 944-0990

Dining Out: Sundae and Seolleongtang at De Chou

I had novovirus for the past few days, so I've eaten nothing but white bread, rice, congee, and scrambled eggs since Sunday. Originally, I had made plans with Minji and Daniel to take Daniel out for an early birthday dinner at Brown Donkatsu (one of his favourite foods, which is fair). Except I can't go straight into eating deep fried/fattening foods after eating nothing but bland easy-to-digest foods for four days, so I asked Daniel if there was any other place they'd want to go to that was a little more stomach-friendly, and he said, "Let's go for some Seoul soul soup." So Minji suggested De Chou.

Sundae

Seolleongtang

We decided to share an order of sundae which, in Canada, is apparently mostly glass noodles and rice more than anything else so it's easy on the stomach. I've only ever had sundae in Korea, but the one here is still tasty and flavourful without any metallic aftertaste from the blood or intestines, so it might be easier for those new to sundae to try. Of course, what we came here for was "Seoul soul soup," which to Daniel, is seolleongtang — slices of beef brisket and glass noodles in a milky white beef bone broth served with rice on the side. I added enough salt to taste and then scooped my entire bowl of rice into the soup. Delicious, rich, warm, comforting.

Now I know why Daniel calls it "Seoul soul soup."

(And I'm happy to report: no stomach problems afterwards.)

De Chou

Victoria Business Centre

3601 Victoria Park Ave.

Scarborough, ON M1W 3Y3

(416) 497-8883

Dining Out: Tteok Mandu Guk and King-Size Meat and Kimchi Mandu at Jin Korean Noodles

My friends Minji, Daniel, Samuel, and I were all craving something hot, soupy, and comforting for dinner since it's been -10℃ everyday for the past week. So we made the unanimous decision to go to Jin Korean Noodles:

Tteok Mandu Guk
Half-Half King-Size Mandu

Since we just started the new year, I decided to get the tteok mandu guk (rice cake soup with dumplings) as per Korean New Year tradition, and we shared an order of their signature king-size mandu (half meat and half meat with kimchi). I gotta say, I've been coming here since they opened during the pandemic and they never disappoint. Their line-ups get crazy but it's always worth the wait. Will have to come back ASAP for my favourite kalguksu. It's noodle soup season, after all.

Jin Korean Noodles

230 Commerce Valley Dr. E., Unit 7

Thornhill, ON L3T 7Y3

(905) 764-5922

Dining Out: Pork Belly, Beef Short Ribs, Beef Rib Finger Meat, and Seafood Pajeon at Daldongnae

While I ate some amazing things in Orlando, the one thing I really started to miss was Asian food. Minji and I were hardcore craving Korean BBQ, so along with Daniel, we headed over to my favourite K-BBQ restaurant, Daldongnae, where we feasted on pork belly, beef short ribs, beef rib finger meat, and seafood pajeon, and MY GOD, IT HIT THE SPOT.

K-BBQ grill and banchan

Pork belly, beef short ribs, and beef rib finger meat

Pork belly

Pork belly

Beef short ribs and beef rib finger meat

Seafood pajeon

For some reason, the first meal I eat out when I come back home from traveling anywhere is Korean food, and it is always particularly satisfying.

Daldongnae

135 York Blvd.

Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3B4

(905) 707-0683

Dining Out: The Banatella at Croffle House

The Banatella

Went to Croffle House with Minji and Daniel for a little dessert. In honour of Jungkook's birthday, I got the Banatella Croffle (banana and Nutella, if you couldn't tell by the name), dedicated to his love of banana milk. (Also because I just like the combination of banana and Nutella. But I'm sure he likes Nutella, right? Who doesn't like Nutella?) I said before, croffle > waffle > pancake, and this has only solidified my opinion. (I'm sure Jungkook would agree.)

Croffle House

Times Square Richmond Hill

550 Highway 7, Unit 83

Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3Z4

(905) 707-1615

Dining Out: So-tteok So-tteok, Cheese Corn, "Gangnam Style" Wings Combo, and Padak Fried Chicken at BBQ Chicken

Starting the long weekend off right with Minji and Daniel at BBQ Chicken:

So-tteok so-tteok

Cheese corn

"Gangnam Style" Wings Combo

Padak fried chicken

BBQ Chicken revamped their menu recently, so when we saw so-tteok so-tteok and cheese corn, we knew we had to get them alongside our fried chicken. Of course, the chicken here never disappoints (today's choices were the "Gangnam Style" wings with fries, which is an ultra-tasty combination of black pepper sauce with garlic and onions, and the Padak fried chicken, a classic crowd-pleaser and my personal favourite), and cheese corn is always a reliable side dish, but this is the first time I tried deep-fried tteok and it's pretty goddamn revolutionary. Easily a must-order here. Now, I'm not going to say it replaces tteokbokki because that would be blasphemous, but if you're in the mood for tteok but want something less saucy, the so-tteok so-tteok here (which is served deconstructed rather than on skewers) is fucking glorious.

BBQ Chicken

8110 Birchmount Rd., Unit 1 and 2

Markham, ON L6G 0E3

(905) 305-8110

Dining Out: A Reunion Korean BBQ Dinner at Daldongnae

My friend Hannan is in town this weekend and called me up to see if I was free to meet up. I haven't seen him since his wedding in 2019 so, of course, we had to have a reunion dinner. He wanted Asian food so I suggested Korean BBQ and he very enthusiastically agreed (they do not have many Asian food options where he lives). So off to Daldongnae we went:

Beef boneless short rib and beef tenderloin

Beef boneless short rib

Beef tenderloin

Kimchi fried rice with cheese

Seafood pajeon

Since he doesn't eat pork, it was all beef tonight, which was actually a really nice change (I love samgyeopsal, don't get me wrong, but sometimes you just need some short rib), and the kimchi fried rice and seafood pajeon were the perfect accompaniments. It was his first time trying both, and he was absolutely DELIGHTED. (I mean, that's fair.) He's only been to Korean BBQ once before and it was an AYCE place, which basically doesn't count, so I'm so glad I could introduce him to an authentic experience. Only problem now is, he loved it so much that I think he may develop an addiction to K-BBQ.

Daldongnae

135 York Blvd.

Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3B4

(905) 707-0683

Dining Out: Padak Fried Chicken, Gangjeong Fried Chicken, and Rose Tteokbokki at BBQ Chicken

Dinner at BBQ Chicken with Daniel and Minji because there's nothing like fried chicken after two days of eating hot pot:

Padak fried chicken
Gangjeong fried chicken
Rose tteokbokki

I asked Daniel and Minji to make the flavour decisions, so they ended up ordering two that I'd never tried before and I inadvertently found my new fave flavour in the padak chicken. I didn't even think I liked green onion that much, but the flavour and texture of it works supremely well with sweet, tangy fried chicken. Anyway, the new goal is to make my way through the entire BBQ Chicken menu now. (Except for maybe the ultra-spicy variants. I do value my tastebuds.)

BBQ Chicken

8110 Birchmount Rd., Unit 1 and 2

Markham, ON L6G 0E3

(905) 305-8110

Dining Out: Galbi Q Fried Chicken Combo, Crispy Shrimp Menbosha, and Rose Tteokbokki at BBQ Chicken

What's the perfect meal to eat after watching the Agust D Tour movie? Korean fried chicken, of course.

Galbi Q fried chicken combo
Crispy shrimp menbosha
Rose tteokbokki

I don't know if it's because I haven't had fried chicken in over half a year or because I just haven't had Korean food in months, but this meal was, like, extra satisfying? The shrimp menbosha is still revolutionary, of course, and the rose tteokbokki is reliably delicious, but as someone who usually prefers non-sauced fried chicken, I thought the Galbi Q flavour fried chicken was incredible. It's sweet like honey garlic, but it has a deeper, smokier, more savoury flavour. Would absolutely order again. (Oh, and best tip: Dip the fries into the rose sauce from the tteokbokki. It's SO FREAKING GOOD.) Bb.q Chicken, you remain my favourite Korean fried chicken restaurant. "Best of the best quality," indeed. 

BBQ Chicken

8110 Birchmount Rd., Unit 1 and 2

Markham, ON L6G 0E3

(905) 305-8110

Food Delivery: February Macarons from The Social Blend

You know who always gets me the best Valentine's presents? Myself.

The Social Blend February Macarons
The Social Blend February Macarons

Like Christmas, I don't really celebrate this holiday, but a holiday is always an excuse to treat myself to something I wouldn't normally. It's practicing self-love, but like, within reason. As expected planned, I did not ration my Lunar New Year's macarons, so I obviously had to get another box from The Social Blend. (Listen, it's not my fault that Lunar New Year and Valentine's Day fall so close to each other this year. So this is still within reason, okay?) The actual Valentine's Day Box didn't excite me as much as their February exclusive flavours (denoted with an *), so I got a custom box of nine: 

Strawberry Crunch
Double Raspberry
Blueberry Cheesecake
Cherry Blossom*
Chocolate Salted Caramel*
Strawberry Lamington*
Mandarin*
Mixed Berry Pistachio*
White Chocolate Mango*

I just realized Family Day is coming up next Monday and these will definitely get stale by then, so unfortunately, I won't be able to ration these, either...

The Social Blend

130 Eglinton Ave. E.

Toronto, ON M4P 2X9

(416) 484-9919

Food Delivery: Year of the Dragon Lunar New Year Macaron Box from The Social Blend

Happy Year of the Dragon! 🐉 I am starting off the new year with some fat Korean-style macarons, featuring the adorable Lunar New Year Box from The Social Blend:

The Social Blend Lunar New Year Box
The Social Blend Lunar New Year Box

It's been nearly three years since I've ordered macarons from The Social Blend and I forgot just how freaking good they are. (My condo management stated that food cannot be left with concierge, and since I'm at work for 9 - 10 hours a day, I'm just never home to get the delivery, so I had to stop ordering them. But a couple weeks ago, I realized that I could just have them delivered to my office building instead. Not sure why it took me so long to think of this, but I guess better late than never!) 

Matcha Rice Puff — Matcha with Fried Rice Puffs
Firecracker — Grapefruit
Red Money Pocket — Strawberry
Dragon — Oreo
24 — Earl Grey
Golden Dragon Pearl — Salted Caramel Chocolate
Sakura — Cherry Blossom
Mandarin — Mandarin

I should probably ration these but — oh no! — they'll go stale within a few days. So I guess I'll just have to polish these off and get myself another box for Valentine's or Family Day or something...

The Social Blend

130 Eglinton Ave. E.

Toronto, ON M4P 2X9

(416) 484-9919