So I started writing this post about a month ago (pre-holiday) on what was turning out to be a not so great day, until I stumbled upon this place. Now you are probably asking, why the delay in posting? I was all set to write it up and had all my pictures ready to go, until I realized that for some reason the picture of the food itself (the most important picture) didn't take (it was just one of those days)! So rather than posting something with just photos of the restaurant, I decided to wait and go back to re-order the same thing I had before and take a picture of it. And yes that does mean that this place is fantastic, so much so, that I went back to order the same thing just to get a picture of it so I could share it with you guys. So now onto my post!
I was first introduced to Banh Mi Boys when I was watching You Gotta Eat Here, and was intrigued. It just so happens that there is one located right by my hairdressers so I saw an opportunity to try it out and I did (twice).
**You can skip this part if you just want to know about the food, this part explains the dreary day**
Not that anybody cares, but just in case anybody is wondering why was the day so dreary, several reasons. First, the weather was rainy, on and off, and really humid, second I was on my way to my hairdressers to get a much needed de-yetifying (that's how I am going to spell it) of my hair and the subway was not co-operating. There was a fire at Lawrence station so we all had to get onto shuttle buses all the way down to Eglinton. By the time I actually got to my hairdressers I was 20min late, and since I have such thick hair, I had to reschedule (totally not blaming my hair dresser, blaming the subway and the fire, but mostly the fire) because there was no way my amazing hair dresser would be able to get my hair done in time for her next client. So there I was, it's humid, I was tired from scrambling to get downtown, my hair looked like a poodle, and I was sadly walking back towards the subway until I saw the sign, probably the best sign I had seen all day that day "Banh Mi Boys" and then my day no longer seemed that bad.
**Ok, done telling my sob story, now onto the good stuff!**
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| (How could that not catch my eye) |
So after my less than stellar morning I am walking back towards the subway and this sign catches my eye. I knew I had seen it before on the TV and decided, what do I have to loose, so I crossed the street and hoped for the best.
It was just after 11am when I went in, and even though not super busy, it was starting to fill up. The restaurant is very inviting, with bright colours, amazing smells, and a nice temperature (I really needed to cool down). The staff are super friendly and fast! After finally deciding on what to order, cause even though it all sounded a bit foreign to me it all sounded really good, I went up and placed my order.
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| (Better shot of the mural) |
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| (Red booths all along the one side and I love the wooden wall) |
Above are more shots of the interior, I did actually have a really nice pic from the cash register out so you could see the full length of the restaurant, but like my first picture of my food it did not save. But you can sorta gather that the place is small, and boy does it fill up fast. The second time I went was just before 12pm and all the table were full (I sat up at the front on one of the stools) and the amount of people coming in just for take out was incredible, but a really great sign, cause if this place wasn't any good it would not be so busy (and it means they turn over food very fast). I've said it earlier and I'll say it again, I love the interior. The bright red booths, the stark white tables and the beautiful mural on the one wall with the neat wooden wall on the other side, they really made it a cool place to come and eat (both style and temperature wise!) And I know I keep mentioning the temp of the place, but it adds to the ambiance. On those really hot, sticky days, you don't want to walk into a place that is hot too, you want to walk into a place that has the temp just right, not hot and not cold. So they get five stars for temp, design, cleanliness, and service.
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| (Kalbi beef steamed bao) |
Now onto what we are all really here for, the food. I ordered the steamed bao with kalbi beef. I know what beef is and what steamed means so I figured how bad could it be. When they are making it up for you they ask you how spicy you want it, I went with medium. To understand a bit better what I ordered I googled it (remember google is your friend). Basically a bao is like a bun that is steamed, and kalbi beef is a Korean short rib. The beef was super tender, juicy and really tasty, the spice level was perfect for me, not so hot that I was crying but just a bit of a kick, the veggies were crisp and added a level of coolness, the vinegar (if I recall correctly) from the veggies cuts through the spice and the richness of the meat and all the flavours worked together so well. The bao itself, was fluffy and tender and had a subtle flavour to it. All in all I really enjoyed this, so much that I went back to get the exact same order to share it with you. Of course I will be going back to try everything (and I do mean everything, not all at once of course) on the menu, and I will check out the Yonge St. location (mainly because they have a chicken rapping on their mural). I highly recommend that you go check out this place, you will thank me later, and hey maybe you'll run into me there! I think it goes without saying that this place gets my Kate Stamp of approval.
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