Toronto Blue Jays players are obsessed with this local Korean restaurant
A popular Korean BBQ restaurant has become the de facto home for the Toronto Blue Jays, welcoming big names from Kazuma Okamoto to Kevin Gausman.
Anyone living in Toronto has grown comfortable in the knowledge that, while the MLB season is in full swing, there's a fair chance of crossing paths with a Blue Jays player.
You're likely to see outfielders in and around the Rogers Centre, or sluggers at swanky downtown steakhouses. Less expected, however, would be to bump into a Blue Jay in Koreatown, but, as fate would have it, that may actually be your best shot.
For the past few years, Blue Jays players have had a fixation with Bloor West stalwart Mapo Korean BBQ, and they're on to something, because blogTO readers have similarly voted the staple among the best Korean BBQ in the entire city.
There's an entire cabinet at the colourful restaurant devoted specifically to Blue Jays paraphernalia, including autographs, polaroid photos and signed balls from current and former players, like Bo Bichette, Kevin Gausman and Yusei Kikuchi.
Most recently, the restaurant shared a reel compiling some of their recent visits from current team members Kazuma Okamoto and Kevin Gausman, plus past players like Bo Bichette, Santiago Espinal, Alec Manoah, Hyun Jun Ryu and Cavan Biggio.
"It was a great honor to have some @bluejays players visit @maposanghoebbq_," the caption of the post reads.
"We're always grateful for every customer who chooses our Korean BBQ in Toronto. Thank you for your support."
If bulgogi and bibimbap were behind the Jays' 2025 World Series run, then I say serve it up!
It seems that the Jays are spreading the word about Mapo to their rivals across the MLB, too: the restaurant also proudly displays autographs from past visitors like MLB Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. and Cincinnati Reds stars Elly de la Cruz and Noelvi Marte.
Mapo Korean BBQ is located at 708 Bloor St. W.
@maposanghoebbq_/Instagram
