Our second day in Toronto started much the same way as our first, with a walk to Chinatown. I was a bit ambitious with our itinerary since there's so many good spots to hit up!
Our first stop was Yin Ji Chang Fen, a Chinese restaurant chain specializing in rice noodle rolls, congee, and snacks. The restaurant was founded in the 1950s in Guangdong, China and there are currently 5 restaurants in the GTA.
We ordered the marinated beef & shrimp with chives rice noodle roll ($7.25), dough stick rice noodle roll ($5.50), king mushroom with truffle paste rice noodle roll ($6.50), and Hong Kong style curry fish balls ($5.99). The rice rolls are thin, silky, and delicate. My favourite item would probably be the dough stick since it was still really crispy. The beef and shrimp were fresh and the mushroom truffle was decent. You can smell the truffle but the taste wasn't as apparent.
Our next stop, we hit up Daan Go Cake Lab. Daan Go, which translates to cake in Cantonese, is a bakery started by Christopher Sui, who was a contestant on MasterChef Canada. The bakery blends Western cakes and techniques with Asian-inspired flavours and designs. I was first introduced to them when MH got me a box of the most adorable character macarons back when she lived in Toronto.
It was such a hard choice to make, but for my box of 6 macarons ($20.00), I chose salted caramel, mango, blueberry, black sesame, pandan, and matcha. Super adorable and they make a perfect gift. The macarons are also really good, true to their flavours with good texture.
Another dessert spot I couldn't miss out on was Krispy Kreme. I have really fond memories of visiting the Krispy Kreme in Calgary with my family and buying a dozen doughnuts for the ride home. The original glazed is really all you need. Soft, fluffy, and just melt in your mouth. Can Krispy Kreme come back already?
Last stop! We were quite full but I knew we needed to try Juicy Dumpling for their incredibly cheap xiao long bao. Because it was noon, the restaurant was packed with a line-up through the door. Thankfully it doesn't take long to order or receive your food. I ordered just the steamed mini soup dumplings (pork) for $3.99. The dumplings were originally $2.99 when they first opened but that's how you know inflation is real. Still, at $3.99, you're getting a steal of a deal. It's not winning awards for best xiao long bao, but it's still really tasty.
After wandering around some more, we headed back to the hotel to rest. We decided to split up for the rest of the afternoon before reconvening for dinner.
LT and I wanted to visit CN Tower. Super touristy, but I thought might as well. I thought $43/ticket was quite steep and I didn't think it was worth it. The views are great but we walked around the perimeter twice and ended up leaving all within 30 minutes. I think the better option is to visit the 360 Restaurant for a meal, since it also includes admission to the observation level.
For a similar price, Ripley's Aquarium would be my recommendation. Even though it was a Monday, it was packed with kids and families. It's so mesmerizing to watch all the fish and aquatic creatures. The underwater tunnel is probably my favourite feature!
Loved the jellyfish!
For dinner later that night, I had made reservations at Aloette almost a good month in advance. The restaurant is sister to Alo, a renowned fine-dining establishment with one Michelin star. Aloette is more of a casual neighbourhood bistro, but still elegant and upscale with an interior almost reminiscent of a train dining car.
The meal started off with some complimentary bread and butter. I'm not kidding when I say this mini potato cheese loaf was probably the best bread I've ever had. Warm, pillowy soft, and smeared with a bit of yeast butter, I could've had 10 loaves for dinner and have been perfectly content.
From left to right, we ordered foie gras terrine ($26.00), crispy squash ($16.00), and cavatelli ($34.00).
The foie gras terrine was garnished with grilled grapes and crushed hazelnuts. Served with toasted brioche, the terrine was savoury and rich. It was a bit crumbly to spread but ate very creamy. It was such a large portion that I wished there was more brioche to go around.
The crispy squash was probably my favourite dish of the night. The squash is fried in cubes and drenched in a rich brown butter hollandaise. The sunflower seed garnish is what brings the dish to the next level. Toasty and sweet, it's almost as if the seeds are candied. A textural masterpiece.
Conversely, the cavatelli was probably my least favourite thing we tried. The pasta was mixed in a rich cream sauce with chanterelle mushroom, corn, and guanciale. I found the cavatelli a bit tough and dense. I liked the pops of sweet corn but others found the dish to be overly salty.
The Aloette burger & fries ($24.00) is a mainstay on the menu. The patty is topped with lightly sauteed onions, shredded lettuce, aioli, and fried Beaufort cheese. It was a bit messy to divvy up into four portions but we made do. I thought the burger was good, but nothing super memorable. The fries were crispy and addictive, especially dipped in the bloody mary aioli.
Our other main was the grilled short rib ($48.00) with ssamjang aioli, pickled radish, and lettuce. Strong Korean inspiration in this dish as you're meat to wrap the meat with the lettuce and accompaniments. I did find the meat almost too fatty, as it was tough to chew through some bits. The ssamjang aioli was really good though.
Ended dinner with their signature lemon meringue pie ($12.00) and a candle for KE's birthday. The lemon is super sour and tangy on its own so you definitely need the sweet meringue to balance it out. Definitely needed to be shared.
Fin!
- CT
