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| - Hoja is the first Luwei restaurant that I have come across in Toronto. In fact, it was my first time being exposed to Luwei. I appreciate how much care the owner puts into spreading knowledge about this culinary art; definitions are inherent in the signs outside and the staff members explain the concept to all new customers. Aa such, the owner deserves some major props for opening this restaurant in downtown Toronto rather than up north so that more people from diverse backgrounds can learn about Luwei.
There is a DIY aspect to dining here. You choose your broth, vegetables, protein, type of carb (rice/noodles), and level of spiciness. Therefore, Hoja can cater well to picky eaters and it is a good spot for returning customers to mix up a new combination during their next visit. Just remember that there is a price for each choice, so be careful to do your mental math before ordering. If it's your first time visiting or you don't have any particular preferences, Hoja has your back as well. Their pre-set combinations with various proteins have a set price and you're guaranteed to get a variety of ingredients.
For my first visit, my friend and I ordered the pre-set beef combo and the pre-set lamb combo. We both got thick noodles, Hoja House Special Broth, and medium spiciness. I enjoyed the meal, but I did have a few gripes:
- The ingredients were the same when we compared our combos, but what was uncanny was that the lamb and beef slices tasted almost identical to one another.
- There were very few slices of meat in the pre-set combinations.
- Since they chop and cook the ingredients per order, there is a ''raw'' aspect to the meal. Specifically, the vegetables and noodles are on the harder, crispier side compared to what you find at other noodle restaurants. This could definitely suit the taste of others, but I prefer noodles and vegetables that have softened a little first. An easy fix for me was to wait 10 mins before eating. It still remained hot, so don't worry about eating lukewarm food.
Nonetheless, Hoja has some great highlights, such as their strong level of spiciness, their fluid DIY transactions, and their great flexibility with the composition of the meal. Even if you have an average or poor experience here, don't write it off. If you tweak your selection of ingredients/broth/spiciness and possibly let the meal ''sit'' for 10 mins to soften (if that's your thing), you'll have a hearty, flavourful Luwei meal!
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