Restaurants
Manpuku
It's Friday night, and there's a line of hungry patrons streaming out the door of Manpuku, the new-ish Japanese eatery in the Village Grange complex. I think there's something in the Canadian psyche that makes us equate queues with quality. Not only do lines build a healthy sense of anticipation (and hunger), they channel that anticipation in an orderly, regulated fashion. Thoroughly regulated excitement? This humble line outside a Japanese restaurant may be the most Canadian thing going.
After an interminably thrilling wait (7 minutes), my companions and I are finally seated and greeted by a chipper server. Tea's on the table, and we make our orders: Curry Udon with Vegetable, Curry Udon with Beef, Kitsune Udon, Niku Udon, Takoyaki, Takosen, salad and chips.
The chips and salads arrive first, and teach us that at Manpuku, "chips" is a euphemism for "cutely packaged fried noodle bits". The noodle bits are pretty plain, and the mixed salad, topped with Italian vinaigrette and deep fried onion pieces, is tasty and tangy.
Next in line are the mains: four steaming bowls of thick ropy udon noodles in broth. The good thing about writing food reviews is that I can steal bites from my companions with impunity. Oh, was that your last fish cake? Sorry. Sometimes I just get so caught up in my work.
I sample each broth, all varied blends of savoury and sweet, and reminders that it was a Japanese scientist who first discovered the umami flavour (For hundreds of years, English words were limited to the four major flavours: sweet, salty, sour and bitter. Although tongues could taste the rich glutamate tones that make the umami, they couldn't form an exact definition for it, grasping around approximations like full, round, deep and savoury). The udons I sampled were all these things, with Curry Udon providing the strongest taste, Niku Udon strong, but less pungent, and Kitsune Udon flavourful, but mild in comparison.
Most of us agree that Curry Udon is the tastiest. It also comes with a vegetarian option, but since I chose a meat based broth for my veggie-topped noodles, I can't vouch for it here.
20 minutes later, the most interesting part of our meal arrives. Made-to-order in custom molds, Takoyaki are crispy balls of dough surrounding a dollop of octopus and topped with wide bonito flakes and Japanese mayo. We also receive Takosen, Takoyaki balls served with crispy shrimp crackers. I take a Takoyaki ball and squish it between two crackers to make my very own seafood-crispy-soft cracker-sandwich.
Although the blogosphere had warned me the Takoyaki at Manpuku is not up to Japanese street food standards, I came in with an open mind. The only Takoyaki I'd had previously was in Korea: closer to Japan, for sure, but still not actually Japan--so I assumed that my standards might be a bit relaxed. I can't say whether the Korean version is as good as it is in Japan, but it's definitely better than Manpuku's attempt. Where I expected a crisp outside with generous bonito flakes, and a light, soft inside with a big piece of octopus, Manpuku's Takoyaki are heavy, doughy, lightly garnished and accompanied by only the merest hint of tentacle. With strong tones of seafood and salt, crispy skins and sweet mayonnaise, Manpuku's Takoyaki treats are worth trying, but may disappoint former inhabitants of Japan.
Reasonably priced, and serving tasty simple dishes, a meal at Manpuku is definitely worth a 12-15 minute wait in line. Any more, and I'd try another day.
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NOTE: Be prepared to wait for your food, despite the fact that it is supposed to be fast food. Most japanese wait considerable time anyway for their food in Japan. Also remember to say hello to the staff, they work very hard to make it special. Lunch time is super busy.
If you want more JPN "fast food", they're better restaurants out there.
Also, Japanese folks don't wait a considerable amount of time for their fast food. I don't know where in Japan you went.
I've found Manpuku very satisfying amid all the other crappy "Japanese" restaruants in Toronto.
Bob, what better japanese fast food places are there? I certinly cant think of anything that comes close in this city.
I've been to Manpuku many times and I don't see your rationale behind the 'bad quality' food there. I find the food quite enjoyable and the wait times are usually fairly quick unless it's busy (which happens often) but just shows that many others share my opinion of their food as well.
As for the takoyaki, I find the size of the tako is fair without making it too pricey. I disagree with your comment about it being frozen as they do have an authentic takoyaki machine which you can see by the bar and you can watch them pour in the batter and place the tako into it.
If you do have any recommendations about any better Japanese fast food places then please mention them on here. However, I still find that Manpuku gives the best bang for your buck!
There are other non-tempura/non-sushi Japanese restaurants run by Japanese Canadians. Manpuku isn't the only choice.
I agree about the takoyaki though. I think it's freshly made, but the one time I ordered it there was way too much batter and just tiny tiny bits of octopus. Not very satisfying.
But the noodles I thought were fine, and for a really good price too. Much better than most fast food in that range, anyway.
When I got back from being in Tokyo, I dearly missed having fast-food Japanese curry (even the curry at Yoshinoa in Tokyo was better than anything i had in Toronto).
Then a friend told me of Manpuku.
I bolted over there and ordered - well - the curry. Killer. Just like I remember in Japan. Since then, I've been back and ordered everything else.
Now, Manpuku isn't going to win any Peter Beard awards, but lets be honest, they're not out to achieve that. They are bringing homemade, cheap, Japanese fast food to a market where "Japanese food" equates with sushi and teriyaki. And I don't think a lot of Torontonians get that - that this type of Japanese food is far more ubiquitous in Tokyo than a 7 course omakase. Well that and ramen.
Like I said, if you have ever been to Japan, Manpuku is sure to bring back memories. And based on that alone, I'd keep going back.
PS: For what it's worth, all of my Japanese friends (some which recently immigrated from Japan and some of which are Canadian born) love Manpuku because it reminds them of.....(insert memory here).
I'm headed for Tokyo again in April. Amazing street Takoyaki here I come!!!
I'm Japanese and most of my other Japanese friends would never go back. The food's mediocre at best.
I'm Jamaican and you wouldn't catch me dead in a handful of Caribbean spots in Toronto. But does that mean they are "garbage" or that unanimously everyone should dislike them? I would hope not. I don't consider myself the utmost authority on Jamaican food. And likewise, I doubt anyone considers you or your friends the authority on Japanese food.
Take it for what it's worth: My Japanese friends like it and your Japanese friends don't. While we're at it, I bet I can piss farther than you.
Doesn't this imply that your Japanese friends have a certain degree of authority on Japanese food? If you didn't think so, then you wouldn't be using this to back up your point about Manpuku.
However, when someone else (me) uses the same line, you challenge their (my Japanese friends) opinion.
So, which is it, chenyip?
quality product, friendly staff, fair price.
I'm all for open discussions about food, but vague and unhelpful comments like "this place sucks" doesn't add to the discussion.
And really, I wasn't even arguing that it's the best Japanese fast food around. I was simply saying that some of my Japanese friends like it because it brings back/up fond memories. And if that's what you like in a cheap food shop, then perhaps this place is worthy of a visit.
Soooo. I guess what it boils down to is that some people like this place, and some don't. Nature of the beast I suppose.
I had no idea that there was a Veg option for Curry Udon!
I'll be definitely going for that next time!
Their takoyaki definitely doesn't have as much tako as you'll find in Japan, but for people who aren't that crazy about octopus this is definitely a good thing and from the many times I've eaten there I can see it's a popular item among both Japanese and non-Japanese customers.
Most notable dishes I've had there were the curry udon and shigure don.
you're off on both counts
Service is always fast, and Sake (sp - one of the owners) always remembers us and our orders which is nice. Prices are very reasonable. Cozy which is nice, but can get busy - but the wait is never too long. Love this place!