At an intersection dominated by two of the world's beastliest burger factories and one of Parkdale's most nefarious looking pub crowds, Asia 21 stands out as the best sit down establishment King and Dufferin has to offer.
While local standards such as wood grain laminate table tops and wall mounted TVs persist, the mid-sized dining room is well maintained and there's always a quick round of welcoming smiles from the staff.
Unofficial counts put the number of items on Asia 21's menu somewhere near forty thousand with an offering that'll make seasoned Pho Hung'ers forget they aren't on Spadina anymore. That said, my happiest experiences here have been when I've stuck to the Pho (rare beef; no tripe special for me, please). The broth is definitely what keeps me coming back - delicate and delicious and entirely capable of standing on its own. If you're a habitual hoisin user, I recommend you take a few sips before getting down to routine.
A quick heads up on the deep fried spring rolls. First, they're big and come in twos. If three people are sharing, one order will probably suffice. Second, these roll have a meaty centre which isn't called out on the menu. My guess is that the meat is pork, but I'm so unsure that the surprise could just as easily be the neighbourhood children. Kid meat or not, also delicious.