Momofuku means lucky peach in Japanese. After watching the 1st season of the TV series Mind of Chef, I was intrigued by David Chang's outlook on food. I received his book as a gift for Christmas and have tried a few of the recipes, they all turned out excellent. David's philosophy is simple but tasty and he has no issues with eating instant ramen noodle!
So while I am in Toronto I had to go try his noodle bar (it's the first floor of a multi-floor food project, there is a milkbar that does desserts and the other floors have other food related things, those don't interest me). It really is a bar, part of it is a bar and there are tables where groups can sit. I sat right at the bar and got to see the cooks in action, they really keep the food flowing. I was told the menu changes but there are set items. I ordered the "extremely spicy noodle" for $13 and an order of his famous pork buns for $10 (2 buns). The waitress warned me that the spicy noodles were hot and they were hot, nothing too crazy but they do serve it with a small glass of milk to help cut the heat for those who don't listen LOL. I enjoyed the noodles but I think I should have ordered the momofuku ramen as I thought the spicy noodles came in a broth, I may still go back and try it if time permits. The spicy noodles were flavorful and at the bottom there is a small bit of kimchie, the scallions and cut up red thai peppers really make the dish pop.
The pork buns were amazing, they were so good, the fat of the pork belly was render nicely and the sliced cucumbers added a nice cooling flavor and some crunch, all served in a folded steamed white bun pancake with a generous squirt of hoisin sauce . I could have eating 3 more orders!
So while I am in Toronto I had to go try his noodle bar (it's the first floor of a multi-floor food project, there is a milkbar that does desserts and the other floors have other food related things, those don't interest me). It really is a bar, part of it is a bar and there are tables where groups can sit. I sat right at the bar and got to see the cooks in action, they really keep the food flowing. I was told the menu changes but there are set items. I ordered the "extremely spicy noodle" for $13 and an order of his famous pork buns for $10 (2 buns). The waitress warned me that the spicy noodles were hot and they were hot, nothing too crazy but they do serve it with a small glass of milk to help cut the heat for those who don't listen LOL. I enjoyed the noodles but I think I should have ordered the momofuku ramen as I thought the spicy noodles came in a broth, I may still go back and try it if time permits. The spicy noodles were flavorful and at the bottom there is a small bit of kimchie, the scallions and cut up red thai peppers really make the dish pop.
The pork buns were amazing, they were so good, the fat of the pork belly was render nicely and the sliced cucumbers added a nice cooling flavor and some crunch, all served in a folded steamed white bun pancake with a generous squirt of hoisin sauce . I could have eating 3 more orders!
The pork buns are amazing!
The "extremely spicy noodle", Momofuku's words not mine.
The finished bowl of spicy noodles, as you can see the milk is still all there LOL. It was hot!! | |