New restaurant opening soon in Toronto will feel like a trip to Seoul
A new restaurant opening in Toronto next month is a love letter to South Korean street food by quite literally transforming the space into a Seoul side street.
Toronto's love affair with Korean cuisine is a well-documented, long-running one. Hell, even the Toronto Blue Jays can't get enough of the stuff, and there's a good reason for it.
The city is home to the largest Korean population in Canada, with the pleasant byproduct of Korean restaurants steadily on the rise, both within and beyond the Koreatown enclave, for decades.
Ever since an influx of Korean expats began immigrating to Toronto around the 70s, Korean culture has been an inextricable part of the city's identity, and I, for one, wouldn't have it any other way.
Alley Pocha, the latest Korean restaurant soon to put its stamp on the city, pays homage to Korea's late-night food culture, borrowing its name from the very street stalls that power it.
"More than just a restaurant, we wanted to bring the feeling of traditional Korean pocha culture to Toronto: a place where friends can gather late into the night, share food and drinks, and enjoy a warm atmosphere together," a member of the Alley Pocha team tells blogTO.
The team itself, they explain, first came together over a shared love and longing for Korean street food culture. Together, they took on the challenge of recreating "that cozy and emotional feeling you get when walking into a hidden tent bar tucked away in a Korean backstreet."
It helps that this restaurant is tucked away in its own respect, taking over the quaint Euclid Avenue address that most recently housed Thay Bar. Still, the team isn't stopping at incidental location similarities when it comes to really selling the experience.
"What makes Alley Pocha unique is not only the food, but the atmosphere itself. From the outdoor tent setup and lighting to the music and overall mood, every detail was carefully designed to make guests feel as if they've stepped into a Korean night street in Seoul," the representative explains.
"Our goal is to create a casual yet unforgettable space where people naturally want to stay together."
Think vibrant posters, neon signs, string lights and colourful stools pulled up to portable tables. It's carefully curated to be sure, but all to the end of creating a space that feels like it's seen its fair share of late, soju-fuelled nights, right at home with its Koreatown neighbours.
On the menu, you can expect to find a selection of classic pocha staples, like octopus sashimi salad, udon soups and golbaengi (spicy sea snail, don't knock it 'til you try it) pasta, lending scents and flavours to the already encompassing sensory experience of Alley Pocha.
The restaurant will be in a soft-opening period from June 3 through 7, during which all appetizers will be marked down by 30 per cent, before launching into its grand opening week from June 10 to 14, when the team is running a $4.99 soju deal. Maybe the Jays will consider trading up their usual table at Mapo for a new Korean joint this summer. I sure will be.
Alley Pocha will be located at 690 Euclid Ave.
Alley Pocha
