With a serious hankering for some good ol' comfort food - it's been getting really chilly these last few days - we strolled on down to Manpuku...it rocks.
On the way, checking out the new addition to the AGO.
I like that the new restaurant inside is named Frank, for the architect and the style of food...clever.
More inspirational/quizzical building watching. I've heard tell that some think the OCAD addition looks like "a dalmation with a hard on"...wish I had snapped the giant red elevator shaft entering the top left side.
Anyhoo, time to check out the menu. We're hemming and hawing over whether to get the shigure don, the curry don (beef, pork, or veggie? It's all so good!)...
No hesitation here; having the takoyaki is a must.
One of the great things about this gem other than that it's clean and cozy and has really nice staff, is that the menu is pretty basic. I mean this in a really good way; there's nothing too elaborate or showy, and contains nothing that you wouldn't wish you could make at home for yourself for a comforting lunch or small dinner. It's all solid, simple, well seasoned, properly done food, which I can't stop gushing about whenever I'm lucky enough to find a great place that does it up right!
I'm probably not doing this much justice, so feel free to check out the actual menu here:
I'm probably not doing this much justice, so feel free to check out the actual menu here:
In the end, we ended up sharing...
Pork curry don: thinly shaved tender pork over an addictive mild, slightly sweet curry with some nice potato chunkage, over steamed rice.
Gotta have the togarashi.
Shigure don: I don't know a ton about the cut of beef used, but let me just say that it's tender and juicy, with a nice sweetness from the onion. Definitely one of my faves.
And then came the takoyaki! The server/part owner, I believe, let us know that these are made to order and so would take about ten minutes...and so worth the wait.
These awesome, tender nuggets are made from a batter poured into special cast iron takoyaki pans...
...and contain little morsels of octopus. So good.
On top, loop de loops of mayo, homemade takoyaki sauce, toasted seaweed and bonito flakes. I would probably go back there right this minute just to have these, they're so addictive.
Thank you Manpuku for such a happy lunch.
Manpuku
105 McCaul Street
(inside Village by the Grange)
open for lunch and dinner, closed sundays
Thank you Manpuku for such a happy lunch.
Manpuku
105 McCaul Street
(inside Village by the Grange)
open for lunch and dinner, closed sundays
www.manpuku.ca
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