Upon hearing that I was a Guu virgin, my friends decided to take me downtown to the infamous izakaya for dinner, during which we had a most gloriously epic meal:
Sho Chiku Bai Nigori Unfiltered Sake Milky Mild
Guu Original Ramune
Gyu Carpaccio: Seared beef sashimi with ponzu, wasabi mayo, and garlic chips
Salmon Tataki: Seared B.C. salmon sashimi with ponzu, wasabi mayo, and garlic chips
Takoyaki: Deep fried octopus balls with tankatsu sauce and karashi mayo
Kinoko Bibimbap: Rice, mushrooms, and cheese with seaweed sauce in sizzling stone bowl
Kakimayo: Baked B.C. oysters with mushrooms, spinach, and garlic mayo topped with cheese
Horumon: Pan-fried pork intestine with sweet garlic soy sauce
Ikapiri: Deep-fried calamari with spicy ketchup and wasabi mayo
Dessert: Avocado cheesecake
Dessert: Banana tempura with coconut ice cream
Dessert: Black sesame ice cream
Okay, let me make it clear from the get-go: I love Guu. It is a small space with dim lighting, wooden tables with cafeteria-style benches, and it is deafeningly loud and full of energy. Apparently, our 45-minute wait was considered very short for a Saturday night, seeing as they don't take reservations and a typical wait can be up to 1.5 hours. The moment you walk in, all the staff will welcome you with a hearty yell of "Irassyai-mase!" and you can be damn sure every single table is packed to the brim. Everyone is friendly and enthusiastic, and it's a very infectious attitude. Of course, an izakaya being a drinking establishment and all, we ordered milky sake and Sapporo for the drinkers and ramune for the non-drinkers. Then, on to the most important part: The Food. And, let me tell you, it is so, so, so addictively, deliciously good. The beef sashimi and the salmon tataki were just... dreamy. Apparently, ponzu, wasabi mayo, and garlic chips is a combination I simply cannot refuse. And Guu has these dishes in abundance, which is another reason I need to return.
The kinoko bibimbap was another favourite, since I remember thinking, "Sweet baby Jesus, this is the best rice I have ever eaten." And that's saying a lot 'cause, as an Asian, I've eaten a lot of rice. In fact, the only thing we ordered that was less than phenomenal was the calamari, which I thought had a little too much sauce and made the deep-fried squid soggy. Dessert-wise, the black sesame ice cream stands out as the clear winner. Deceivingly soft and packed with flavour, it's like frozen black sesame soup but even creamier. If you have room for dessert (and you should always have room for dessert), that is what you should end your Guu dining experience with. Guu is not the cheapest place to eat, as you pay by the amount of dishes you order — for the seven of us, after tax and tip, it was $36 a person, and this is apparently on the cheaper side. But, let me tell you, it is worth every damn penny. And there will be a next time, because deep-fried oysters, okonomiyaki, grilled beef tongue, pan-fried pork cheek, and kimchi udon (and about ten other dishes) are calling to me.
Guu Izakaya
398 Church Street
Toronto, ON M5B 2A2
(416) 977-0999
i LOOOOOVE guu - izakaya and sakebar :) but sakebar has shorter lines i think.
ReplyDeletetry their chicken wings next time!
i know it sounds really non-Japanese authentic, but they're SOOOO guud ;) no joke.
Everyone's been saying that Izakaya is better than the Sakabar, but I'm still down to go because it's AN EXCUSE FOR MORE GUU!!!
DeleteWe ordered chicken wings because they were one of the monthly specials and they weren't so good -- our whole table was like, "ehhh." Maybe they have different types of chicken wings... No worries, I will go again to "research."
I think I had the chicken wings at sakabar - you had the dry wings at izayaka right? i had the wet wings at sakabar and the sauce was AMAAAAZING. but btw the two guu's, i think the izayaka has better food, but i like the decor better at sakabar.
Deleteand yes to research. lotsa and lotsa research.
No, we had the really saucy wings at Izayaka... But it's not on their regular menu, it's only on the specials menu for this month. I will need to eat more wings. You know, for research purposes.
DeleteYeah, the consensus is that Izayaka is more grungy but has better food. Whatever, I'm always down to try new things! :) Anyway, we only managed to tackle a portion of the dishes on the menu, so I obviously need to go back soon.
I haven't been to any of the Guus and don't really want to. I don't believe in waiting in line for food at a restaurant. Why they can't take reservations, I don't understand. It's the same reason I won't go to Terroni. Also, not a huge fan of the Japanese/Korean nouveau hybrids. I think it's because I eat so much Asian regularly that I prefer good old Western/European when I go out. But the baked oysters look AMAAAAAZE!
ReplyDeleteI wait in line for food at a restaurant on the regular, so I'm used to it, lol. I really don't mind if the food's worth it. They probably don't take reservations because you'd have to reserve weeks in advance. The Momofuku restaurants in NYC have that policy; I think people have to reserve a month in advance.
DeleteGuu isn't really a nouveau hybrid -- izakayas have been around for decades, but they're just not common here, which is why it seems like such a novelty. I eat Asian food regularly, but there's always room for more! I think you should try Guu at least once. If you hate it, then at least you can say it wasn't worth it.
Oh my God - the food looks amazing.
ReplyDeleteThe style of the dishes (portion + decoration) reminds me a bit of Nobu.
It was amazing, Fieran. VISIT TORONTO SO WE CAN TAKE YOU OUT FOR MANY FOODS.
DeleteI've never been to Nobu! I've always wanted to try it, but everyone tells me that it's so overhyped. Maybe I'll go there, anyway. :P
No chance with Toronto right now. I'm going to Washington next month but there won't be time to add "my-own-stuff" to the trip as the timeline is tighter than I thought it would be :( I'm quite bummed out about it but I'm hoping next year I can go to Toronto. If only you lived in Vancouver! *CRY*
DeleteNobu is hyped..but it's quite nice. I've only tried the UK Nobu though. The portions and the taste is great but my Asian food tastebuds are a bit less refined after being so depraved :)
SAD BUNNY. :( Hopefully next year, Fieran!
DeleteLol, I should see if I can pay a visit to Nobu on my NYC trip in September. I mean, it must be hyped for a reason, right?
for your next venture in to downtown asian food, feast your eyes on these places (food is more or less the same as it is the same family that owns it, difference being Sukhothai is in a sketchy area and takes reservations and is cheaper, Khao San Road is in a more popular area, no reservations, lineups out the door every night and serves alcohol)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sukhothaifood.com/
http://www.khaosanroad.ca/
order "thai spicy". it'll knock your socks off. SERIOUSLY!
also, when you go, call me so that I may join you :)
I will be sure to check them out in the near future and I will be sure to call you out when I go, lol. :)
DeleteOH! another thing. Should have a craving for Izakaya but not want to face the crowds at Guu, check out Fin Izakaya at Yonge + Eglinton. The food there is definitely comparable but bigger place and less stress about having to wait hours to get a table. Plus, their chicken wings are probably some of the best wings I've had to date.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.finizakaya.com/
I brought a friend there and they said better than Guu... you be the judge!
Oh, that sounds great! I think I'll check out Fin Izakaya before the other two, only 'cause it's closer. Shall call you when I decide to check it out. :)
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