Ichiban Sushi

Ichiban Sushi (6212 Yonge Street, Unit 103A, Toronto, Ontario)
416-226-5022

Complimentary salad.

Other complimentary items.

Sheila's order of chirashi sushi.

There isn't really a huge variety.

My sushi meal.

Included miso soup.

There were orange slices there before we ate them.

I remember the fish tasting good enough, and that's really all I can say based on memory.

Would I return? *shrug* maybe.

Oh, I just noticed a mention of a low carb menu on the special offer section of their site. I think I know someone who would appreciate that.

Total damage: approximately $30 for two people.

Jack Astor's

Jack Astor's (580 Progress Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario)
416-296-0965
Hours:
Mon - Wed 11 a.m. - 1 a.m.
Thurs - Sat 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.
Sun 11 a.m. - 1 a.m.

Some seasonal alcohol beverage I had during the winter.

I remember it being chocolatey, good, and slightly overpriced.

Cheesy garlic bread.

I think the bread used to be free back in the day, but I could be mistaken. This came with my meal for an additional $2.50 or so. I think it's worth it. It's soft, greasy, cheesy, and delicious.

Steak, mashed potatoes and fries.

Yes... I do not know what I was thinking choosing both fries and mashed potatoes as sides. I like the deep fried onions, and the mashed potatoes were okay too, I think. The steak itself wasn't that amazing, but it was tolerable.

Would I return? Yes. I like paper tablecloths that I can draw on with crayons in a place that still serves me alcohol. It's just the right amount of classy for me. 

Total damage: I don't remember the exact amount, but it was probably $30-$40.

Tracy Dessert

Tracy Dessert (3255 Highway 7 East, Markham, Ontario)
905-470-2222

I know this place as the mango place because more often than not, there are cases of mangoes on the shelves near the back of the restaurant. As a result, whenever I go to Tracy Dessert, I usually get one of the mango desserts despite my allergies.

Mango tapioca mixed.

I've never had unripened mangoes there, and that particular visit was no exception. The bowl is filled with clear little tapioca balls in a somewhat creamy, sweet soup. It's one of my preferred Chinese desserts.

It should be noted that the place isn't huge, and the tables are surrounded by stools without backs. It looks very Asian when walking in. For those with back problems, take-out is an option. 

The tea that is served tastes a bit like corn. 

Would I return? Yes. It's a familiar, affordable place that's open late enough and satisfies my random Chinese dessert cravings.

Damage:

Tokyo Kitchen

Tokyo Kitchen (20 Charles Street East, Toronto)
(416) 515-0387

 Berta introduced me this nice Japanese joint near Yorkville. The prices were quite decent for downtown Toronto.

Sapporo beer.

I like it when Japanese restaurants have Japanese beer available. There was an amusing moment when the server came out with two mini glasses, expecting us to split the beer. She was very apologetic when we told her it was just for me. The beer was not as exciting as I thought it'd be. The mini glass was cute though.

My salmon and salmon roe on rice. It had a Japanese name that started with an o, but I don't completely remember what it was called. 

The rice had a prominent vinegar taste, which was nice. The salmon was quite soft and the quality seemed pretty good to me. The salmon roe would pop with salty flavour, but the little balls weren't as turgid as the ones I had with the sushi at Le Cafe Michi.

Berta's udon.

She seemed to like it.

Our waitress was extremely polite - so much so to the point that I felt like she just moved to Canada. It was somewhat endearing. 

The restaurant has a very comfortable vibe, and there's a terrace for those who like to eat outside.

Would I return? Yes. The prices are reasonable, the place looks nice and clean, and the service was good and polite. Also, it's a Japanese restaurant with Japanese staff. That's kind of a rare find in Toronto.

Total damage: Okay, I don't actually remember, but it was approximately $15 for my meal that included the imported beer. 

Eggspectation

Eggspectation (220 Yonge Street, Toronto)
416-977-3380
Monday to Saturday: 7 AM to 9 PM
Sunday: 7 AM to 5 PM

Banango: "banana and mango blended with fresh orange juice and ice".

Tasted like the drinks I used to make in the blender - not bad. I thought it would be more slushy-textured though because ice was listed in the menu. 

Eggstravaganza: "two eggs (any style) and two slices of French toast, choice of sausage, ham or bacon, served with grilled potatoes and chef's fruit garnish".

I was expecting the fluffy kind of scrambled eggs, but that's okay. Andrew (who ordered the same thing) was actually afraid that they'd be those kind of scrambled eggs, so he got sunny side up. The most interesting thing on the plate was the French toast. They used egg bread (tasted like Challah) which made it very soft. There were a few bites with slightly crunchy outsides. As a result of the type of bread used, the French toast didn't seem too heavy, even with the maple syrup. I quite liked it, and so did Andrew.  Everything else was decent.

It took an annoyingly long time for a server to come and get our order, but when she finally came by, she was very friendly. She brought us two glasses of water in addition to our drinks without us asking for them. 

Would I return? Yeah, I liked the French toast. Though... if it isn't obvious from the site, I do like French toast in general. 

Total damage: $42.32 for two people with beverages.

Goldsor Restaurant

Goldsor Restaurant (550 Highway 7 East, Richmond Hill, Ontario)
905-881-8392

Smoked salmon fettucini.

Iced milk tea.

Cheap afternoon tea specials. The vegetables are of the frozen variety, and the meat might be a bit sparse, but you pretty much get what you pay for. I thought the iced milk tea was pretty good.

Would I go back? Yes. How can I say no to that kind of cheapness?

Total damage: <$10 all inclusive.

Richmond Court

Richmond Court (Times Square Mall)

Deep fried squid and shrimp balls

The squid balls weren't bad, but the shrimp ones tasted a bit doughy and laced with filler.

Total damage: free for me thanks to Chris!

Moxie's

Moxie's Classic Grill (159 York Boulevard, Richmond Hill, Ontario)

Almond crusted salmon with steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes.

I liked it better when people cut my broccoli for me, but at least it tasted pretty good with the butter on it. The mashed potatoes were pretty good too. I like the bits of peel that show real potatoes were used (instead of the instant mix stuff). I really liked the almond crust to the salmon, but the fish itself was on the dry side. The sauce on the side wasn't bad, but it wasn't necessary.

The sweet potato fries on Dorothy's plate were pretty good too. I liked the spicy mayonnaise that it came with.

Service was good, and our waiter was pretty nice.

Total damage for my meal (+ pop): $35.

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chipotle Mexican Grill (San Francisco, USA)

Josie kept telling me that Chipotle in the states is so much better than that thing in downtown Toronto. Naturally, I had to go taste for myself.

I immediately knew it made more sense since the meat and vegetarian versions were priced differently. In Toronto, for some strange reason, regardless of whether you get chicken, beef, or vegetarian, all the burritos cost the same.

Chicken burrito with guacamole.

It was so fat, I couldn't wrap my hand around it completely.

The wrap is also less sticky than the one they give in Toronto.

It was overflowing so badly that during a moderately sharp turn in the car, a black bean flew out and hit me.

Verdict: really freakin' good and filling. I'd definitely go back.

Total damage: approximate $8 USD.

Keung's Delight

Keung's Delight (7030 Warden Avenue, Markham)
905-948-9000

Beef brisket on rice.

Some vegetables included!

Salted spiced fried squid.

Rice noodle rolls.

Fancy dinnerware.

They're really turned this place around since the last time I visited. New dishes, new tables, new chairs. Or maybe they just change everything between lunch and dinner. Who knows. It looked classier than last time I was there anyway.

The beef brisket was decent and soft. The chilli bits and garlic on the squid were nice but a bit clumped up in one spot. The squid was slightly crunchy from being fried when it first came out, but that didn't last long.

Overall, this place is still pretty safe for Chinese food. Would I return? Yeah.

Total damage: free for me! :D

Kaori Japanese Restaurant

Kaori Japanese Restaurant (30 High Tech Road, Richmond Hill, Ontario)


We made another trip to the Japanese restaurant that also serves Korean fare. 

Green ninja cocktail (~$8)

I had Mel pick the cherry out with chopsticks. A combination of green tea liquor and something else alcoholic (I think gin) sounded interesting on paper, but it tasted like awful cough syrup. 

Complimentary side dishes and salad.

Mel's spicy tofu soup.

My spicy noodles.

The mussels were a bit small. There were a lot of onions. Shrimp was peeled; the prawns were not. It was definitely spicy. We figured out that my food was basically Mel's with noodles replacing the tofu. Overall, it was okay.

Complimentary green tea ice cream.

I was pretty full after the noodles, but I managed to finish the ice cream and some of Mel's too.

Would I return? I may wait a while, but probably. I wouldn't get a cocktail, though.

Total damage for my share: $23.50.

Koal Cookies!

More koala cookies. They're just so good! Sadly, they're getting harder and harder to find for some reason.

Haha, that's what I look like when I drink too!

All Star Wings

All Star Wings (10520 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill, Ontario)

I like the spicy ones.

Total damage: Cannot remember. Also got a pint of beer.

President's Choice 1000 Tastes of Toronto

LuminaTO President's Choice 1000 Tastes of Toronto (Queen's Park, Toronto)

Last year, I didn't realize that LuminaTO was so much more than just the President's Choice 1000 Tastes of Toronto. Still, that's all the LuminaTO I attended this year too. 

The area with the wall of plates is usually where President's Choice people appear and hand out free samples of their new products.

I got my four food tickets for $20 and we were off!

At Jon's request, we went looking for the longest line, and lo and behold, it was the Mis Amigos stand.

Moist chicken in barbecue sauce with rice. I liked the chicken, but I was sad that they didn't have plantains this year. The rice was okay; it didn't taste greasy. I'd say the meal is pretty good value for 1 ticket ($5). They also had the option of beef, but I'm pretty sure the chicken was better.

The line wasn't as long as last year. The ominous clouds might have scared the crowds off that day. The event planners were pretty thoughtful this time around in making tables and chairs available. Otherwise, I would have been struggling to eat the chicken with the knife and fork. 

President's Choice smoked meat free sample

President's Choice sparkling peach mango fruit juice sample

I was pretty impressed with the drink. The sparkling dimension makes it taste less sweet.

PC pomegranate sparkling soda

I wasn't really a fan of this. I preferred the peach mango drink.

That's the truck that gave out PC free ice cream samples!

I was actually surprised at how short the wait was, considering it was pretty hot and humid and it's free ice cream.

PC marshmallow chocolate swirl ice cream sample

It was okay. It tasted like a flavour for kids. I got more of the chocolate than I did the marshmallow flavour. I think the PC Cream First Chocolate Fudge Crackle Vanilla Ice cream (formerly known as PC vanilla crackle) is way more exciting.

Um... okay. 

I stopped by the Susur stand to try a cheeseburger spring roll.

The spring roll was good... it reminded me of a cheesy beef burrito stuffed inside a spring roll wrapping. Meat was good, orange sauce was unmemorable, lettuce was unnecessary, pickled carrots and white radishes were nice, and I wish the paper cone it was held in was edible. They gave it to me quite warm, and overall I enjoyed it. 

Amazones

I got the fish and the plantains. The plantains were chewy, but I still liked them. The fish wasn't bad, but I didn't like picking out the bones. The hot sauce was good, and a side of salad was helpful to balance it all out. Again, pretty good value for $5.

By this time, I had basically eaten two whole meals and a bunch of snacks. I still had one ticket left, so I thought I might use it on a drink. I think others were in the same mood because there was a considerable line for the stand dishing out the smoothies. This was at a stand also serving jerk chicken, and had I not been so full, I probably would've gone for a plate of it.

One pineapple mango smoothie for me.

It was so thick that it would stay in the straw. It was surprisingly filling for a drink. I liked that they used separate blenders for different fruits i.e. my drink wasn't tainted with specs of strawberry.

At the end, I felt like this girl.

It was pretty fun to walk around looking at these inflatable displays. Andrew had dubbed it "giant Mushroomland" as we were driving around it on a previous occasion. Their location is a bit distracting, as Andrew had trouble staying in his lane while staring at these things.

That red and white striped mushroom was a bouncy house inside!

This guy would let out smoke out of his nose every so often. I tried to capture that but my camera failed me.

Notes:
There were portable toilets in one area, and a foot pump sink station. The only problem was that the sink station ran out of water pretty quickly.

Drinks were sold at $2.50 for bottled water and $3 for pop. Quite the rip-off.

Museum station is probably the closest to the park.

I think there were more vendors last year. Also, it seemed like less people this year.

It's always a good idea to scour the stands before choosing your targets.

Total damage: $23 for 4 food tickets and 1 pop.