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| - This place is aces.
It's a tiny hole-in-the-wall that you wouldn't notice at all (probably seats 4-6, I don't know how people figure it could seat 10+) and giving it 5 stars makes me feel like M.F.K. Fisher pointing out a hidden gem that most ~*uncultured tourists*~ will never see. (There's your shot of culture for today.) The exterior signage just indicates Japanese food, so you might not see it right away. It's right off the corner of Yonge and Byng, kind of close to the condo complex thing on Doris Avenue.
I'd previously dropped by once for a couple onigiri because I was really close. The onigiri were boring - not flavorful, but the rice was cooked and formed well. The onigiri don't get the 5-star rating. What that's for is my second visit, where I ordered the half okonomiyak/karayaki combo (C2 on the menu). I also got a croquette, mainly because I felt weird placing an ~$8 order over the phone for pick-up. (The lady on the phone was really nice and didn't make me feel weird. It was all me.)
The okonomiyaki was crisped very nicely on the top and the powdered seaweed added a lot. Very savory, thick pancake, very filling. I got the mayo on the side and I was very pleased with that choice. As such, you should get the (Kewpie) mayo. The karayaki (basically a folded savory crepe, similar to the okonomiyaki aside from texture) was really good too - there was some pickled ginger there which I wouldn't normally be fond of but loved in this dish.
The simple croquette that I almost didn't order was really good too. The breading was crisp in that pleasantly light way where it feels almost flaky when you bite it. It wasn't heavy-feeling. The mashed potato inside was so beautifully soft. It might have been a little bland for some, but I felt the textures elevated it and the breading and filling were tasty enough that it didn't matter. It was a really good size also - would be a great snack for later if you're picking stuff up anyway.
I would definitely recommend placing your order ahead of time, both because it's such a small place and because everything is made fresh to order by a staff of 2. That said, I really think that for what it's serving, it can't be beat.
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