Hello 123 was conceived by the same people behind tasty vegan chain Kupfert & Kim. This is their only licensed sit-down venture other than the Spadina Kupfert & Kim.

The space that was once a family-run convenience store has been transformed by MSDS. The vibe is comfortable and organic, with lots of light coming from windows that completely open to the street.

Tempeh and tomatillo ($8) sees meaty, nutty tempeh skewers given a house rub that’s really more of just a chili that imparts a nice spicy flavour to the protein, well balanced by the cooling salsa.

The pulled pineapple slider ($6) is an absolute star for a steal, way more than a mere slider that could probably be cut in two and shared as a nice snack. It’s messy and sloppy, sweet and tangy with adobo sauce, aioli and crunchy cabbage slaw, everything you want from a bar sandwich.

The rutabaga and pesto ($8) is served with steamed bok choy, watercress, and sesame seed, and the bright nutty pesto balances out the big starchy chunks of rutabaga.

The smashed avocado burger ($14) is nearly as delightful as the pulled pineapple, with a house patty of walnut, quinoa, mushroom and lentil topped with classic red onion, lettuce, pickle, aioli and a salsa verde, the avocado adding a nice creamy texture and fattiness. It’s served with side greens and rutabaga that mimics typical fries.

The Spicy Bap ($13) is more of your typical veggie bowl, a base of brown rice topped with a medley of mushroom, tofu, kale, carrot, eggplant, kimchi, mung bean sprouts, and some spicy gochujang that isn’t messing around.

All cocktails are totally vegan, too, and there’s not a dud in the bunch. A Kombucha Thyme ($11) is made with tequila, amara montenegro and ginger kombucha for a sweet and juicy but funky drink.

A bourbon sour ($12) eschews the typical egg white foam for aqua fava made from beans, otherwise employing the usual bourbon, Angostura bitters, and amara for this classic.

The Pineapple Sesame ($12) is a precious little cocktail that combines mezcal with a house peach rosemary shrub.

They also do smoothies with options for combinations like blueberry, cashew, vanilla, and sea salt or mint, ginger, hemp, kale, and pear.

Kupfert & Kim fans are sure to recognize smoothie bowls with chia and house granola served for breakfast.

Hello 123 is imagined as a friendly hangout where you can work on your laptop during the day and meet up with friends for cocktails at night, all while grazing on a menu of plant-based cuisine from breakfast to late night that goes way beyond the basics.