Korean restaurants have become a regular hangout place for many people. Due to the flexibility with the time it closes, it is very convenient for people to gather around on a friday night after work. Located near Yong and Finch, the whole street is filled with different kinds of Korean restaurants, hence, another name for that street is North York’s Koreatown.

Here are some of the best Korean restaurants in Koreatown that will satisfy your different needs.

1. The Fry

Known for their Green Onion Chicken and Garlic Butter Fries, The Fry is the go-to place for those that wants to eat something before having a couple of drinks at the bar. They have multiple of franchise on Yonge Street, making it more convenient for people as a lot of restaurants there have a long wait line. Depending on where The Fry restaurant are located, the hours they operate may be different. However, the ones on Yonge Street opens at 5 pm and closes at 2 am.

What makes Korean Fried Chicken so different? Unlike the heavy battered fried chicken we are used to, Korean Fried Chicken uses the technique of double frying to keep the chicken moist and crispy. The first fry is to cook the chicken, so the temperature of the oil is lower and the chicken is in there for a longer period of time. The second fry is to make the chicken crispy. After letting the chickens cool down a bit, in goes back into the oil at a higher temperature for usually about 5 minutes just to get the golden crispy skin on the outside. Also, Korean Fried Chicken does not have a heavy seasoned batter like other fried chickens does. They are often seasoned sauces after frying or they leave it plain. Most Korean Fried Chicken comes with pickled radish as a side dish. The pickled radish helps remove the brassiness from the chicken.

1. Koryo

What’s better than a bowl of warm tasty soup in the winter? Koryo serves different kinds of Samgyetang, which is ginseng chicken soup. They have Perilla Seed Samgyetang, Green Tea Samgyetang, Seafood Samgyetang,Whole Abalone Samgyetang, and Organic Pine Mushrooms Samgyetang. Koryo also serves different Korean soups and dishes a variety of Bibimbap and Tonkatsu.

The owner of Koryo owned a restaurant in South Korea that had been operating for more than 40 years. Koryo has 2 locations, with the one on Leslie and Cummer being the first restaurant and Yonge and Sheppard being the second one.

1. Busan Galmaegi

When people say Korean food, the first thing that comes to mind is Korean BBQ. Busan Galmaegi is the perfect place for that. They offer three traditional Korean grilling styles. Iron grill for raw cuts, gridiron grill for marinated meats, and stone plate for intestine. They are known for their Kalbi, a beef dish.

Also located on Yonge Street, is their sister restaurant, Daldongnae. Just like Busan Galmaegi, Daldongnae serves Korean BBQ. However, unlike the other restaurant, Daldongnae has a authentic Korean BBQ vibe in it. With round tables, wood interior and exhaust fan sticking down, it is just like the ones in Korea.

The pan they serve here is also different. This pan allows cheese, eggs and other small ingredients to be cooked at the same time as the meats.

1. Jameh Bossam

Just like it’s name, Jameh Bossam, this place specialized in Bossam. Bossam is thinly sliced pork belly that is boiled with small amount of coffee powder or other spices to remove the odor. Bossam is usually served with a salted shrimp sauce, raw garlic, kimchi, and cabbage on the side for people to wrap with.

Jameh Bossam locates on 39 Spring Garden Ave, North York, ON M2N 3G1 and they also offers food delivery.

There are a lot more authentic Korean restaurants on Korean Street than these 4 restaurants. Check them out the next time you are trying to find a hangout place.

Sources:

“Busan Galmaegi.” Busan Galmaegi, busangalmaegibbq.com/.

Lee, Pillip. “Premium Korean Restaurant.” Koryo, http://www.koryorestaurant.ca/. “The Fry Canada-Korean Fried Chicken.” THE FRY, thefry.ca/.