Ka Chi Brings Korean to Kensington
8 St Andrews St
Phone: 416.597.1999
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Along St Andrew's St, where Chinatown meets Kensington Market, a little Korean restaurant is busy winning over regulars from both sides of the neighbourhood.
I'd just left the Moonbean cafe in Kensington with intentions of getting some dumplings in Chinatown when Ka Chi caught my eye. Texting my partner who was en route, I spell out the change of plans and head inside to get a table for two.
We start with the Potato Pancake ($5.95), which is pretty much the same as a latka or plate-sized hash-brown. Instead of straight potato though, it's mixed with a colourful blend of chopped veggies and served with a soy-based sauce. Altogether it's really fresh and fluffy for a fried pancake, though naturally a bit oily. Still, we love it and would order it again in a heartbeat.
In terms of mains, we order the Glass Noodles with Vegetables ($7.95) and the Bibimbop with Beef and Fried Egg ($8.95) - 'cause no review is complete without it.
While that was being prepared we were treated to an assortment of seven different pickled Korean specialties (pictured at the top).
The glass noodles arrive first. The portion is generous but not ridiculous and it's topped with plenty of green pepper, carrots, cabbage and sesame seeds. I thought it could have used a pinch more salt, but coming from a spicy kimchee tasting, I wouldn't trust myself to be the judge of something so delicate at that moment.
Beef Bibimbop arrives next and looks amazing. The sizzling hot stone pot goes wild as I mix some chili sauce into the massive bowl of steamed rice, veggies and thinly sliced beef. The only weak spot of this dish was that the egg yolk was nearly fully cooked while the egg white was a little too raw on top. Reverse those two and this could have been one of the best bibimbop bowls I've had.
Comments (6)
A+++
Good restaurant, clean elegant place, good prices, very good food and would recommend to anyone in the Downtown Core craving for super good Korean food !
i won't call it 'elegant', but definitely clean. authentic Korean food but often extremely cramped. quick service. one thing i particularly enjoy is their seaweed banchan.
Often extremely cramped? Sounds like a very busy place. must be try this place.
Quick service? Very good.....I hate those places with lazy waiters and waitresses. This place sounds like my kinda restaurant. Definitely I'll try very soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best Korean food, south of Bloor Street and North York. Great side dishes, lots of good ingredients in mains. Hot Tea instead of water. Fast, good service - the servers work like dogs, but look clean-cut and smiling and courteous. Taste-wise it is very very good, although slightly oily. I'm Korean, and i'd attest this is the Real Deal.
Still my favourite Korean restaurant in Toronto, as close as it gets, and I live in Korea! My fav place to go as a student.
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