Koyoi Restaurant & Bar: Forget the line ups at Guu!

Since moving to Toronto, I have pinpointed several favorite places that I visit regularly. On that list, Koyoi probably sits at the top as one of my most visited restaurants here. I was introduced to Koyoi by a  friend and since then, I've been taking new friends there and telling people about it. Well, what better way to spread the word than to do it on the internet? 

Beef Tataki　牛たたき   $5.99 + tax 

Koyoi has a special meaning to me because it is a restaurant that broke a lot of my eating habits. Many foods that I would never touch elsewhere, I would gladly eat or even crave at Koyoi.

If you read my post on Seasons in the Park, you'll remember that I like my meat cooked thoroughly. I always thought I can't eat raw meat, but this beef tataki turned things around. In fact, this is the only raw meat dish that I will eat. For some reason, although raw, the beef tataki at Koyoi doesn't have the bloody taste that I hate. Instead, the ponzu sauce, combined with the radish and green onion, creates a magical concoction in your mouth.

Okonomiyaki お好み焼き $7.99 + tax

On top of raw meat, okonomiyaki is another dish that I hardly ever enjoy. From previous experiences, okonomiyakis have always just tasted like mushy dough covered in heavy sauces to me. Koyoi, however, does it differently. Instead of drowning the pancake in sauces, they keep the amount just right. I enjoyed this much more because I could actually taste the ingredients in the pancake and the sauces didn't overpower everything.

Check out La Amigo, my amigos!

I don't frequent La Amigo Restaurant, but every time I plan to eat here, I highly look forward to it. The place doesn't look like much, decor is normal and the service is mediocre. Actually, the first time I visited, the entire place was empty so I didn't expect much. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I've dined here a couple of times now, but I always order the same thing...that's just how good it is!

Lobster Chowder & HK Style Borscht & Garlic Bread

The Chef's Specials start off with a soup and some garlic toast. I was quite surprised to see lobster chowder as one of the soup options. I'm not a big fan of creamy soups but this was pretty good, and it had bits of real lobster floating around. I love HK style borscht...it's one of the main reasons why I love HK style restaurants. La Amigo's borscht is one of the best I've ever had. It has a very intense tomato flavor and is a tad spicy.

I usually leave the bread that comes with the soup untouched, but La Amigo's garlic bread is very, very good. The edges are nice and crispy, while the middle is oh-so-pillowy soft. It has a good amount of spread to achieve full flavor without making the bread soggy. I wish there were more pieces!

Lobster Paella $32.95 + tax

The Lobster Paella is very yummy. There are lots of juicy lobster chunks and the rice is very nice. It's sort of like a fried rice, but with various spices that taste quite exotic to me. Once you start eating it's hard to stop! Don't be intimidated by the relatively high price...there is an entire lobster in this dish and the portion is gigantic. It's great to share or to indulge yourself if you're extra hungry.

Make way for Sunway!

Even though Richmond is filled to the brim with bubble tea joints and Taiwanese style restaurants, I have yet to find one that is representative of authentic Taiwanese food. That is until I discovered Sunway. I haven't explored much of their menu yet, but it is quickly becoming my Taiwanese go-to place in Richmond.

Sunway Pork Rice in Egg $8.50 + tax

The pork rice in egg (蛋包飯) was delicious. What I especially liked about it was that it tasted very homey, as if it were mama's own cooking. The egg layer was thin and cooked to a good degree. I was very impressed that the chef was able to fry an egg to such a wide surface area without breaking it! Inside consists of piping hot ketchup fried rice, which was quite flavorsome and went well with the egg. The mayonnaise dressing on top may seem odd at first but it really did add a nice tang to the dish without overpowering it. This was quite a large portion and left me bloated by the time I was done with it.

Seasons in the Park: The Perfect Place

I have to admit that this post is overdue, but I just had to share my love for Seasons in the Park before I go back to blogging restaurants in the East coast. 

I can't remember when my first time here was, but ever since I could remember, Seasons has been my family's go-to place whenever there is a celebration or when we have guests visiting us. The restaurant sits at the top of Queen Elizabeth Park and has breathtaking views. I always go to Seasons for lunch but the scenery is just as stunning as I imagine it would be at night since the park itself is very beautiful. 

On top of the great decor and view, the service here is impecable. Not long after we placed our orders, the waiter brought us a warm basket of bread. I liked that the crust was crispy and the inside soft and fluffy. The bread is also unlimited here. I always have to stop myself from filling my stomach with loads of bread!

Caesar Salad    $10 + tax

Nice Cafe is a nice cafe

Brunch was never my "thing" until I moved to Toronto. When I lived in Vancouver, the closest thing I've ever had was dimsum. As a result, when the only time that worked between my Vancouver friends and I was earlier in the day, we decided to be "classy" and meet for brunch. 

Being a rookie at brunch in Vancouver, I had to do some research to select the restaurant for our party. The brunch we wanted to go to originally wasn't open, so I had to look for an alternative. I came across Nice Cafe and decided to give it a try given its high ratings online as well as its convenient location. Given the large size of our party, I thought it'd be safer to call in beforehand to make reservations. Once I arrived at the restaurant, I was thankful that I had planned ahead. The restaurant is fairly small but extremely packed, with people crowding by the door waiting. 

Eggs Benedict    $7.10 + tax