Restaurants
Momofuku Toronto
Momofuku Toronto has finally opened its doors after a summer full of eager anticipation. The Noodle Bar, from famed, New York chef David Chang, is the first of three restaurants that are soon to include Shōtō, a 22-seat restaurant that will mimic the concept of New York's Ko with 10+ course tasting menus; and Daishō, a larger, 70-seat family style dining room.
The Noodle Bar, on the first floor of the Shangri-La Hotel is a casual, but polished, cafeteria styled eatery. The cavernous ceilings open to the second floor cocktail bar, Nikai (which literally translates to 'second floor') and gives an illusion of space – don't be fooled, in true Momofuku style; the long, communal tables are packed in so tight that you can hardly pass between fellow diners.
You should also be prepared to meet your neighbours which I find kind of fun and can make ordering much easier: "I'll have one of those..." and suddenly I've got a super refreshing yuzu, lime and sake blended Seven Spice Sour Slushie ($10 for the large or $5 for a wee, shooter-sized 'small').
Unlike the New York Noodle Bar, the Toronto menu features only a dozen selections which arrive as they're ready and in no particular order. My choice, the Momofuku Ramen ($14) is a hearty bowl of bouncy, chewy noodles topped with pork belly and shoulder, fish cake, scallions, kimchi, nori and a perfectly soft-poached egg. The broth is the product of slowly simmered kombu, chicken necks and scallions, and for me, is impressively seasoned (read: not-too-salty).
The Chilled Spicy Noodles ($14) comes topped with sichuan sausage, fresh spinach and candied cashews. When we ordered it, our server noted its heat - though upon tasting, we all agree it was kind of tame.
Despite Chang's notoriously public, pro-pork stance there are vegetarian selections like the Shiitake Buns ($8) with hoisin sauce, scallions and cucumber, as well as, the Ginger Scallion Noodles ($12 - top photo) that come topped with shiitakes, cucumber and cabbage.
The Roasted Rice Cakes ($11) are my favourite of the night. The bowl of chewy, gnocchi-like dumplings come dressed in bibim sauce, sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds and are mildly addictive. Clearly a Chang dish.
The jar of mixed Pickles ($6) offers refreshing crunch and I'm happy to have it on the side.
The freshness and heartiness of this kind of food make Momofuku's success obvious.
Caught up in the excitement of it all, we may have ordered too much food and we left before the notion of dessert even crossed my mind... now I can't stop thinking about the signature Milk Bar treats. Can someone, anyone: please report back – is crack-pie on the menu?
Photos by Jimmy Lu
Correction: An earlier version of this profile described the ramen broth as containing pork bones - it does not. Momofuko has officially let us know that there are no desserts at Noodle Bar, not even crack-pie.
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aside from the buzz, how does it compare to Kinton or Sansotei??
Overall, I'd give it a 7.5 / 10. The pork buns were indeed awesome, but I suspect that's because there's a ton of fat on the meat.
The Momofuku ramen was decent, but I think Kinton is better. My Japanese wife thought the noodles were too chewy for ramen, and I thought that the broth could have been warmer. I will admit that the more I got into it, the more I liked it. But for a ramen purist, might not be the best.
The chilled spicy noodles were pretty good, although towards the end the caramelized cashews overpowered the dish. I really liked the meat, though.
This place is likely to get busier soon, and I'd go back to try the Kimchi soup (Chang's Korean, after all, so I'm expecting big things). But for a $50 meal - that didn't include booze - it's not exactly cheap. But then again, you're eating at a celebrity chef's restaurant next to the Shangri-La, so I guess it evens out.
We line up or battle for a table, willingly forgo things like timed service, privacy, and comfort--even seat backs--just for the privilege of trying the food.
I'm sure the food is great, but why do we kiss the restaurant's ass for serving us when, really, a restaurant should kiss our ass for patronizing their business?
If I'm paying that much for a meal--the food notwithstanding-- I'd appreciate more customer service and ambiance than that which I can get at IKEA.
The ramen, though, I don't know. The toppings are the best in the city, bar none. The broth, though, I don't know... it's almost bland, to me. Kinton and Sansotei (despite the latter's occasional Oxo twang) are better broths if not better bowls.
On the whole, Momofuku is the tits and I'm glad we've got it. I would have put the thing (especially the noodle bar) in a younger neighbourhood, but oh well.
Honestly, I'd be curious to know what Chang would've thought of my meal yesterday. In a Star article this morning, he talks about how he'd rather have his staff fail than be mediocre. But really, after all the expectation and build-up, I was expecting fireworks. I'll have to go back once they've found their groove, I guess.
Am eager to try the Toronto ones the next time I’m up.
Communal tables at 1/3 the price.
In general I take no issue with food in Toronto. Where we most notably struggle to be a world-class city for dining is in our service. When I go to an expensive place and the servers auction the plates ("I have a penne for someone, a steak for someone else, a curry here -- who wants 'em?") it is a failure on the restaurant's part to create an experience in line with the expectations.
That Chang strives for the opposite is commendable. I also think he succeeded. For weeks he held private services just so the servers would be comfortable, knowledgeable and well-trained. He didn't rush his people into performing.
Try this: next time you go, ask your server about all the ingredients. Ask what's in each broth. If you have questions about the food, they can tell you about it knowledgeably, without the, "uhh ... I'll have to ask the kitchen what's on your plate" that you'll see elsewhere.
Rumor is that they just can't get them right so have given up.
We had basically every dish on the menu and I found the Ginger and Scallion dish to be the standout.
Will go back for the fried chicken as I thought it was great in NYC.
Anyway, the food looks gross to my western palate.
Excited to try momofuku!
Btw, can't wait to try.
I thought Momofuku would blow Ippudo out of the water. Buns are better, ramen is tastier, and the menu has more range at Ippudo. Overall, i'd say there are better places in Toronto for buns and the range of sides (koreatown), but the noodles and ramen are significantly better than anywhere else in Toronto. Still, no Ippudo. Hopefully they step it up a bit! It's too early to give a full judgement.
Finished with a bowl a ramen. Broth was nice and savoury.
Avoid the lines and go for lunch.
Torontonians have already been exposed to many great restaurants. Restaurants such as Kenzo, Kinton, Swish by Han and BiBimBap have similar items on their menus and they all taste great. I think we have been spoiled already and are missing the wow factor.
All in all I enjoyed the food and will return soon. Looking forward to the opening of his other restaurants.
Ramen noodles: $1 "AT THE MOST"
Fish cake: $2.99
One egg: 25 cents
2 slice of pork belly: priceless
A piece of Kimchi: 25 cents
The place looks like a public library, go to any other asian restaurant and get better noodle for a third of the cost. Come on people, if you focus hard enough, you can make your decision, it's possible.
I arrived just before 6 and was told a table was available immediately. I mentioned that the rest of my group would not arrive for another 20 minutes and that I would wait at the bar. There were a lot of bartenders hanging out behind the bar but took a bit of effort to get their attention, they did create a great cocktail though.
I received a text message saying my table was ready and that it would be held for 10 minutes. I misread it as my table would be ready in 10 minutes, so went down after 15 to ask the hostess why I hadnt received a followup text message. She clarified my misunderstanding and told me it wasnt an issue and that I should assemble my party (group of 4) and my table would be ready shortly.
We leave the bar and wait at the entrance and are told that the group sitting at our table has paid but is not making any effort to leave. I ask the hostess if she can say something to the group about the line and she says no. We wait for over 45 minutes at which point we see multiple groups leave (including pairs sitting beside each other) AND a group of 5 leave. We ask to be seated at the 5 person table and are told that the table is for 5 people and they cant waste a seat. I point out that 2 other tables are using empty seats as bag rests to which the hostess is non responsive.
Finally the group we were waiting for vacates (on their own accord) and we are seated. Food service is good, our server is helpful, however as we having our dishes cleared away we hear her announce a special to the couple sitting beside us which wasnt offered to us.
We got the chicken and pork buns, frankly Banh Mi Boys tastes better, larger portions and cheaper. We all got the Momofuku Ramen and its disappointing, the fish cake tastes like mock crab and there is a large helping of Kimchi in the bowl.
As soon as we are done paying, the waitress comes and tells us that the hostess would like to let us know there is a lineup for seats and that we are welcome to move to the Shangri-La lounge.
The food is decent, but definitely not worth the wait and dealing with the inept staff. If there was NO line, I may return, but most probably would walk the 1.5 blocks to Kinton.
That's alright, however I would say that the drinks are pretty damn expensive. $16 for a cocktail is pretty damn crazy.
The food was decent but nothing to write home about. I don't think I will go back when I get get better food in Chinatown. But if you are looking for a noodle place with hip atmosphere the food isn't terrible.
For the price you are paying for a bowl of noodle, it's totally not worth your time. For $15, you get a huge bowl with only 1/3 filled. Not to mention the little portion or poorly cooking. It's nowhere close to authentic Japanese noodle. If you gonna place a restaurant in the top hotel in the city, shangrila, at least don't use disposable chopsticks and chinese soup spoons. The bowl is over sized for the tiny soup so you will have trouble getting the soup with it. It makes the whole dining experience so cheap. I wonder if they went over to China and just got whatever utensils they can get.
Totally not worth trying. Nothing give you a hint of Japanese-ness to your dining experience... server uniforms, service, attitude, food... just because it called ramen don't make it ramen. I've tried all of the ramen places in Toronto and by far this is the worst!
Did I mention they have long lineups and wouldn't seat you until your full party has arrived?
Worst of all, food was bland and boring. All harsh, bitter, no subtlety and very overpriced. Last visit for us.
The sentiment that this place is overhyped and over-appreciated without merit is spot on. I have been here for lunch and was thoroughly disappointed for spending the time and the money there.
Customer service and a great consumer experience anywhere has waned because of 'fanboism' and fanatics. We are as consumers need to come together in a meaningful way to demand a better consumer experience once again.
@raveorbash is launching next year to help consumers share and be heard on their experiences with local and non-local businesses in a meaningful way to help us make better buying decisions for goods and services.
Follow us to track our progress.
My dear reader, here's what's in store for you when you decide to make a reservation at the illustrious DAISHO!!!!!!!! Are you listening, dahhhhhhlings?
- If you show up 10-15 minutes early, DO NOT bother to make your presence known to the host/hostess. You will be stared down like a naughty schoolchild. How dare you inquire about your reservation, silly goof?! Go sit somewhere on a stoop until you are summoned. Once they seat you, you will have the privilege of kissing the establishment's ass for the duration of your stay. CONGRATULATIONS! The night is off to an awesome start! Woohoo!!!
- Do not ask whether they serve noodles. Don't even think about making this honest mistake. My friend asked our server whether he could order a noodle dish and was told flatly,"No." When he asked for clarification, the server barked back condescendingly, "If you could have the noodles, I would've told you that you could have them the first time you asked." The first rule of Daisho is you do not speak about noodles. The second rule of Daisho is you DO NOT SPEAK ABOUT NOODLES!!!
- Comfortable seating? Silly peasant, you don't deserve a backrest.
- The biggest issue: about 3/4 through the meal, my friend realized there was a hair in the food he just began chewing. For anyone that this has happened to, I'm sure you can understand how revolting and downright uncomfortable this type of situation is. My friend proceeded to pull out inches of hair out of his mouth with a hunk of meat around it. Our server witnessed this happening and quickly ran over to her manager to alert him about the situation. I could not believe what I saw next. She re-enacted the whole situation to the manager and LAUGHED about the entire thing in full view of the entire restaurant. It was not a laughing matter. The server came several minutes later and cleaned up my friend's plate. I could not believe that the manager made three trips around the restaurant before he approached my friend to speak to him about the situation. At this point, no one at the table had an appetite and all of the otherwise mediocre --> good food just sat there until the staff took it away.
- For those accusing us of arranging this whole thing to get a discount, because we're cheap bastards - get real. I find it hard to believe that 14 people coming from different parts of the city could've conspired to stage this whole event (QUICK SOMEONE - PLUCK OUT A HAIR!!!). Our party was celebrating a birthday and we were all excited for a night on the town. I was shocked that the bill only came to $40/person given that we ordered 2 items from the large format menu and WAY too many sides. The price was very reasonable for the variety that we got. They are actually not expensive enough to have these disgraceful, pompous attitudes. I expect to be treated with this degree of arrogance only when I'm paying upwards of $150 a plate.
- The proposed resolution: The manager sent complimentary desserts (valued at $80) that we waited 30 uncomfortable minutes for and during which the staff was giving us attitude and making us feel generally uneasy. The manager had also assured us that the bill would be adjusted to rectify the unfortunate situation. The bill had a 10% discount, which was ridiculous given that everyone stopped 3/4 through their meal because they had lost their appetites. There was a lot of food to be eaten, and no one could stomach it at that point. We requested that the bo ssam be removed from the bill, as we never got to fully enjoy it and it was TAINTED WITH HAIR THAT SOMEONE BEGAN TO INGEST. A dispute resulted during which the manager threatened to remove the 10% discount, because after all that was a huge favour to us and how dare we do anything but kiss their butts and suck their toes for their mere existence? It was also insinuated that it was our hair and here's my favourite: the likeliest source of the inches of hair was due to an animal from the source - glad to hear the pork was resting somewhere near a horse's tail!! YEEEEEHAW!!! The situation didn't need to get that heated and it was 100% due to bad management - plain and simple. Yogurt has more culture.
I waited until I wasn't upset about it until I wrote them ... and then they offered me a poor response.
I guess I am bewildered that a) they offered me a form letter in response and b) they really did nothing about my poor experience.
Here is my letter, and their response below.
Dear Momofuko:
I am writing to express my concern about an incident that occurred on the evening of January 18, 2013.
I had made a reservation, well in advance of the aforementioned date.
It was my girlfriends birthday.
When we arrived, we were sat at the bar.
I was disappointed that my reservation was made well in advance and we were sat at the bar to have our dinner.
I understand that at many establishments in Toronto, this is commonplace, however, I figured that booking in advance would have made a difference, considering that there were many, many tables in the place.
The service was slow.
Our plates weren't changed when new courses were brought, and the old ones were quite dirty.
The food was good.
Our server was very kind (she was also the bartender).
The wine was excellent and not over-priced.
Lastly. I understand the concept of the restaurant, however, when making the reservation, I noted that we would be having vegetarian meals.
Most places I go, if there aren't a lot of options, the chef always makes a special meal for me. I don't care about the price.
When my reservation was received, someone could have checked in regarding your limited options.
I would have asked when I arrived - I don't have a problem asking, but I honestly didn't feel welcomed sitting at the bar.
I am going to give you the opportunity to explain why this could happen, and you are willing to do about it.
I waited until I wasn't upset about it to write you.
Sending thanks in advance for your consideration.
- end of my letter
Here is their response
Hello!
Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on your experience at Momofuku. We regret to hear that you were disappointed with your experience. We have addressed with our servers, management, and kitchen team in hopes of avoiding situations like the one that you experienced. Thank you again, it's only through feedback from guests like yourself that we can continue to improve in every aspect of our restaurants.
Please let us know if you return, as we would appreciate an opportunity to meet you!
Thanks so much,
The Team at Momofuku
Also, dislike these trendy spots that attract
PRETENTIOUS, FAKE-LOUIS-VUITTON-HAND-BAG GIRLS LAUGHING AT NOTHING, STARING AT EVERYONE AND CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING THEIR HAIR in a restaurant. You know the kind I'm talking about.