JangBang is a newly opened joint in the increasingly competitive area of College and Bathurst. Locals and students out for an inexpensive night on the town have quite the choice in this one small block - there's always been cheap beer, drinks and food aplenty available at places like Sneaky Dee's, Toby's and Crown and Tiger - but now they have a live music venue alternative that's just waiting to have its programming slots filled.
Simply furnished, small, dark and intimate, JangBang is owned by Michael Jang who acknowledges that programming is a work in progress. But he's passionate about giving the masses an alternative to the larger Sneaky Dee's across the way as well as introducing Torontonians to the newest in Mexican/Korean bar snacks that are currently taking LA and New York by storm.
The former Thai Grill is given a new interior that's stripped down, gritted up and dressed in all black with a few twinkly lights added in for good measure. Multiple booths line the wall and a small stage located smack in the middle of the space is ready for anything and everything - from open mic nights to fresh local bands to dancing to the various dj's that'll be scattered throughout the week but standard on Saturday nights.
PBR is the draught beer of choice and is served in mason jars for about a fiver but specials will be frequent so keep your ear to the ground, and if draught isn't your thang, then cans of it'll set you back $3.50. Other bottles of beer are $4 and a mixed drink will run you $4.50. At those prices - anyone can have a good time and that's the entire point of Jangbang.
Back to food, the menu is kept simple, cheap and super tasty with all ingredients sourced as locally as possible and everything made in-house. The 4 menu options run from four to six bucks and include tak kal-bi tacos (chicken), ko-gi tacos (beef), Mandu (dumplings) and Korean Pizza. If you've never had Mexican/Korean fusion this is your new, must go to place.
Open Tuesday thru Sunday from 7pm-2am, Jangbang is the type of bar that will live or die based on what its patrons want to do with it, but if an owner's enthusiasm is any indicator of future success, then Jangbang's got it made.
Additional Details
- Beers on Tap:
- PBR
- Signature Drink:
- Ask for a recommendation
- Bar Snacks:
- Mexican/Korean Fusion tacos
- Patio:
- Yes
- Music/Genre:
- Rock, eclectic, indie, dj’s
- Live Music:
- Yes
- Who Goes There:
- Locals, students, music fans
- Hours:
- 5pm to clode Wed-Saturday
Discussion
29 Comments
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How unfortunate, this is what happened to thai grill.
I love the idea. Students don't need bars ripping them off, they need cool places to hang out and have fun again.
Nice!
been to this place a few times...
killer Karaoke! great vibe. this place will be huge
I don't know, is it?
Their only beer on tap is PBR? That's a bit of a fail. Those tacos sound interesting though.
This place seems cool and is a welcomed addition to the neighbourhood. I just hope there's veggie food.
Mexican/Korean fusion is very big right now (the New York Times wrote about it several weeks ago) but finding good Mexican is not easy in Toronto. Best of luck with that!
I took over around apr/may, and tried so hard to attach the bookings/acts/parties aspect to the Thai Grill, but everything got lost in translation, and sadly cost me a lot... Thus, here's my last ditch effort to make something of this awesome location. Why PBR? Sentimental NYC memories, the association with NYC dive bars and local starving artists... so it fits with us. Why no other beers on tap? Broke, and haven't really decided...Let me know what you would like to see on tap! ...Veggie Food on the Menu! Graciously and always looking for local support and love. Cheers + Peace. Hit me up with your suggestions/rsvp/bookings!! Much Love, MJ
Awesome place to go for cheap drinks and a good time. I love the open mic nights!
Looking forward to checking it out!
Hey Michael,
Are there no local alternatives to PBR?
there are alternatives for local beers on tap
i think the mentality behind this place is they want the student hipster crowd, skinny jeans, plaid shirts, geek glasses, messy hair, beards, converse shoes and music that isnt poppy or top 40 crap.
its a niche market, so it will be interesting to see how this does
Yes! I'm so excited to visit. A bit sad I no longer live in the neighbourhood as it looks like this would have been my favourite bar
Good heads up, will check it out soon
I'll check it out soon as well. I'd also like a local alternative to PBR. Which I have say is pretty rank beer.
It's wonderful that they have Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap.
PBR is a fantastic delicious tasting beer.
If you were to stack PBR against the awesome microbrews of the world, PBR would easily hold its own.
I don't understand why people who are apparently so passionate about beer (the ones who give out medals and all that recognition crap) don't like PBR.
PBR is the best.
i'll be checking this place out for sure!
thanks for the heads-up
you'll be happy to know that the dumplings come in a vegetarian option and the korean pizza as well. both are vegetarian/vegan friendly. one half of the menu ain't bad.
After trying to get food at Sneeky Dees on Friday at 2:30 and not being able to sit down I'd say there is more than enough room for a player on the block.
Welcome JangBang!
Looks amazing, Michael! How about some Toronto brews on tap too, like Mill Street varieties and Duggan's? We'll be visiting you soon!
If your focus for food is to go local, do the same with the beer. Don't support the corporate beer giants and their industrial swill. If you want advice, walk over to the Cloak and Dagger - they have excellent local taps and brewery contacts.
When is open Mic Night?
I never understood people's fascination with Pabst. In the words of my fiancee "It's a beer for people who don't like good beer."
ADVERTISING 201 = PLANT
PBR is terrible! Anyone who writes an entire paragraph about how good it is must have a vested interest in moving some of the product. GET OUTTA HERE! That stuff is grrrRRRRROOOSS!!
"Holds it own" - HAHAHHAHA! It doesn't even hold it's own against Old Milwaukee!
Seems like a new joint with some great potential to be a fun place to hang throughout the week and to party down on the weekend! I love the idea of a smaller joint in that neighbourhood that's got some dj's and live music. Sneaky's always pisses me off with that buzzer when the food is ready!
As for PBR - totally appropriate for the spot. Cheap and easy drinking. I'm sure once they're doing the volume they'll do some more brews. You see those 7 open taps!? #9's a fantastic brew for sippin', but people party with lagers...
Open mics are thursday nights. Hit up www.facebook.com/jangbang.bar for more info too.
i definitely see the nostalgia with PBR. hanging out in chicago in the cool, low key bar/clubs, you could grab a bottle or pint of PBR for cheap. it's cool that jangbang can create those kind of staples/memories for the toronto natives/visitors.
Any respectable beer drinker can tell you that PBR tastes like ass!
Just as an FYI - We're now serving Korean Tacos Wed-Sat, 5pm-close.
checkit: http://thekoreantaco.com
Just as an FYI - We're now serving Korean Tacos Wed-Sat, 5pm-close.
checkit: http://thekoreantaco.com