| rev:text
| - I like the interior, even though it's worn and in desperate need of fixing/patching here and there.
The food is just ok. None of my Korean-Canadian friends consciously choose to go eat here. It's not that the place is terrible, but it's just not that memorable in terms of Korean cuisine.
When I do go, it's usually in the winter, at night, after dinner, for hot sake. It's the only place I can go for hot sake. But even then, I go grudgingly because I find the hospitality and service disgraces all that is truly Korean. Ok, I exaggerate, but man, it's really offensive to the Korean who enjoys Korean-style drinking.
There is a rotation of four wait staff from what I recall. One dude in particular is very annoying and forces me to exercise super-human self-restraint because each time he serves me, I want to ring him by the neck and deliver a hard muay thai kick to his inner thighs (those of you who are familiar with martial arts will know why this would hurt). He isn't deliberately a jerk, it's not like that. Ever meet someone who sets your hair on edge b/c they naturally have that sneaky "look"? This guys has it with a touch of attitude. And the way he communicates, with his mannerisms, drives me up the wall. I don't imagine I'm alone in this view. Surely, there must be other people in his life that have come and gone who right now are talking about a friend they have/had who is/was quite possibly the sneakest bastard in the world. Ok, I exaggerate, but only to paint an accurate picture of whom I speak. However, admittedly, I digress.
Back on track. Whenever I go to Ehwa for Korean style drinks, all I get is the alcohol and that's it. No service ahn-ju. They tell me that if I want all the service ahn-ju, I have to order the combo. It's their policy. Yes, I enjoy drinking Korea-style (see my Kokoya review if you want to know what this 'style' is) and the main reason is the "service" (this means freebie in Korean) I get as accompaniment to the alcohol. Even if I order ahn-ju on the side (three of them) I still don't get the service ahn-ju (odeng tang, creamy corn on hot plate, fries)! Why? Because i didn't order the combo. These people just don't get it. My bill for the night came out to way more than I would have spent if I ordered simply the combo. But still, no service.
I know what you're thinking. I'm being difficult. Not at all. Anyone who goes Korean-style drinking will tell you service ahn-ju is just how it's done. Examples: Sul Zip (@ Yonge and 401), Cozy Cafe (@ Yonge & Spring Garden), Kokuryo (@ Yonge and Elmhurst). Go ahead, ask a Korean! Stop one on the street - becareful not to incorrectly select a Chinese or Japanese - and conduct a survey.
In short, this is not a good Korean restaurant. It's not a bad one, but no Korean I know craves this joint, nor even goes back after they've been introduced to it FOR FOOD. Those Koreans that patron this joint, like me, go for alcohol/ahn-ju. And the only reason I go here is b/c none of the other Korean-style drinking establishments serve sake.
I cannot, in good conscience, and as a Korean, recommend this restaurant as a quality place for dining. If you're there for drinking and ahn-ju, that's different. Then I can recommend it based on decent ahn-ju. However, because of Ehwa's policy against giving "service" ahn-ju, I must state that the service is sub-par to other comparable Korean-style drinking establishments.
Give credit where credit is due:
This restaurant does one thing exceptionally well. And truthfully, I honestly think this is the ONLY place in all of GTA that serves this particular dish...[JAPANESE] CURRY GAM JA TANG (pork bone soup). And yes, it's delectable if you like Japanese style curry. I have yet to find another Korean establishment that serves a curry flavoured pork bone soup. I'll give them credit, this is the only one item on the menu that clearly stands out. However, be warned, the last time I was there, I ordered this dish and the pork was not tender (very dry).
My Chinese-Canadian male friends love this place for drinking because of the contemporary Korean music videos they play on three television sets of dancing female Korean teenagers dressed up in skanky outfits. Ok, I'll concede, this part is quite enjoyable for me as well. Curse them for serving sake and showing cool K-pop videos with hot young chics! If not for these, I'd never go back!!!! ;-)
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