Hanmoto - Toronto, Ontario

Great hidden gem of a spot! It doesn’t have a sign but it’s just off dundas st. The best thing about this funky space is that they serve delicious Japanese food late - no need to go to McDonald’s for a late night fix. Highly recommend the tuna tartare, salmon ... aburi and okra dish. The miso ice cream is covered with seaweed powder so would avoid if you’re not a fan of seaweed. Service is fast and friendly. Good date night or late night spot, though the music is pretty loud. Note that the washrooms are located upstairs so not wheelchair accessible. If you come for dinner,go early, as there’s only a few tables avail for couples. I will be back again! Yum! Read more

Hanmoto is in Trinity-bellwoods area so it is easily accessible via TTC streetcar (505). The restaurant is sort of hard to find as it looks to be apart of a house. As soon as you enter the restaurant the waitress is waiting to seat you. The seating is consisted of small ... tables and stools. The vibe of the restaurant is that of a late night snack bar. The washroom in the restaurant is sort of sketchy looking and awkward to get to (you'll see when you go to it) I went on a Saturday at exactly 6:00 PM (when they opened) and although I was the first person there, after about 10 minutes almost no table seating was available. Ordering: There is a small menu available at the table, one side with drinks and other side with food. Cost: I paid $60 including tax for my meal. I got the Moto eggs ($9), Moto Bun ($17), Karaage Wings ($17), Paper Crane ($16) Wait Time: You get your meals one at a time so maybe 10 minute wait per item. The Paper Crane drink was good but sadly reminded me of a lemon popsicle after multiple sips. The Moto Eggs was the standout dish for me. It was soft and savory, but also had a crunchy component from the fried chicken skin. Overall an excellent snack item. The Karaage Wings was not on the menu, but the waitress recommended it so I tried it out. The wings were breaded and juicy but the sauce that came with it was bland. The Moto Bun had curry, slaw and and a coco bun. The Moto Bun was hard to eat since it was the last item we got. All the breading from the other meals made it hard to eat. The coco bread was really buttery, the slaw was creamy and the curry sauce was rich. It sounds like it should be good but it just felt overly greasy, and with tonnes of breading (including the coco bread) it was just too much. Overall: The atmosphere of the restaurant is great, the music played matched the vibe. The seating is limited so be sure to go there early (or reserve if you can). The drink I got was okay. The The standout of all the items I got was the Moto Eggs and it was only $9 which seems like a steal compared to the price of the other food items here. The vibe of the restaurant can't be understated though it was great and definitely a good date spot. As seating is limited in the restaurant bringing more than 3 people might be kind of tough given that the restaurant is small and walking space is limited. Read more

Follow @bredgyeats for yummy food pictures! Come early to snag one of their limited seats for their eye-catching, unique and delicious food that's a match made in heaven with a bottle of booze, but you'll enjoy it without any drinks either. Starting with their chunks of salmon that's torched to perfection ... to develop its fatty natural flavours. It's topped with sesame and nori flakes for an extra depth of flavour that's the perfect filling for a nori wrap. Speaking about wrapping, I don't really understand how they wrapped such a plump, juicy pork meatball within a chicken wing, each tender bite releasing a waterfall of savory pork juices that is contrasted with a crispy chicken skin glazed in a sweet tare and finished with sweet chilis, nori, and mayo. Equally addicting is their katsu bun, with fried coco bread sandwiching a beautifully layered pork belly, where the fat has fully rendered its juices to be locked in within the panko breadcrumb crust. The batter also acts as a sponge to soak up the tangy katsu sauce and creamy mayo, with a bit of freshness of lettuce as well. Me so addicted to miso, so of course I had to get the ice cream with it inside. It has an intense milky flavour like condensed milk, whose sweetness is mindfully balanced with a savoriness from the miso and fine dusting of nori. The rice puffs also provide a delightful crisp to each bite. Got the Salmon Aburi, Dyno Wings, Katsu Bun, and Miso Ice Cream Read more

Loved the food, it was tasty and presented in original and nice ways. The service was friendly and efficient, we arrived 20 min after they opened and there was no line but when we left there was about 10 people waiting for a table. I get the atmosphere is part ... of their concept but it was not my favorite. Read more

I’m a snob when it comes to Japanese food, so I won’t be too harsh. Overall a cute place with cute decor. I know this is an izakaya so anything goes. It has some nice shareable dishes with some nice cocktails. They Need to broaden their sake list and serve hot ... sake in the winter. Read more