Menami: Toronto, Canada

Name: Menami
Address: 5469 Yonge St, North York, ON M2N 5S1, Canada
Website: Website
Instagram: @menamitoronto
Wifi: No
Tender: Debit,  Credit, Cash
Neighbourhood: Willowdale, Toronto
Type: Japanese/Udon

Menami is located in North York just at the corner of Yonge and Finch. The space is a mix of modern and rustic with a lot of the interior accents and decor being sourced, created, and furnished by the owner themselves. It’s a mix that goes well together and being further north it’s also fairly spacious in comparison to most places in the downtown core. Specializing in Udon, which are handmade in-house they’re known across the city for their noodles which perfect in both taste and texture. Not surprising considering the amount of research and care done by the owner to ensure their noodles reflect the high quality produced in their motherland of Japan, and even sending their chef across the globe to study the Japanese process of hand making these age old traditional noodles.

Off the tapas menu we try out the Corn Kakiage ($5 CDN + tax) and the Smoked Salmon with Parsnip Sauce ($10 CDN + tax).

The Corn Kaiage are balls of corn niblets and batter that are deep fried and drizzled with honey mayonnaise. They’re fried perfectly and the corn pairs well with the honey mayonnaise. One of the most popular menu items its easy to see why.

When the Smoke Salmon arrives it looks exactly like salmon sashimi as it’s sliced in the same style and thickness. Another well executed dish the smokey flavor is subtle and doesn’t overpower the delicate taste of the salmon. The cucumber adds freshness to the dish and the creaminess of the parsnip sauce ties everything together.

The Wakame Salad ($7 CDN + tax) is plated beautifully and served with kalso, wakame, salted cucumber, harusame, red radish, deep fried yuba, and sesame seed. Light but flavourful it’s the gold standard of seaweed salads and with it’s rich deep green color it’s levels above the neon green seaweed salads that are found at most Japanese places in the city.

As part of a Valentine Day special set menu we try the Potato Cream Curry Udon. True to their reputation the udon noodles themselves are cooked perfectly and do in fact have the perfect texture and right amount of “spring” to them. This particular udon offering has a cream sauce which is piped beautifully on top, reminiscent of a beautiful birthday cake or pastry. A quick mix of the bowl reveals generous portions of udon noodles and curry sauce. It’s rich dish with just the right amount of spices and smooth creaminess that you’ll be tempted to pick up the bowl and just drink any leftover sauce. While this particular udon bowl is currently only offered as an option for their Valentine Day set menu there are plans to bring it to the permanent menu in the coming months.

Also off the Valentine Day set menu is the Dondeki. Pork jewel steak is sliced thinly and dressed with a teriyaki sauce.  Lightly spiced shredded cabbage, udon soup, and rice are served on the side. It’s done well and all the components of the dish work nicely together and make for a nice alternative to udon offerings. There are plans to bring this dish as well as other offerings to the permanent menu as well.

Also newly added to Menami are cocktail beverages. Previously focusing solely on Sake they have recently expanded their beverages to offer a variety of cocktails as well. Think Rosemary gin and amaretto Kailua there’s enough to keep anyone not keen on Sake happy.

The newest and most noticeable addition to the menu is the macaron ice cream sandwich. Also part of the Valentine Day set menu, but soon to be added permanently it’s the first and only dessert to have ever been offered at Menami. Previously Chae, the owner, was reluctant to add desserts to the menu stating that desserts are not the focus or specialty of Menami and that with so many local dessert shops in close proximity to the restaurant that patrons can quickly and easily find a sweet treat just steps away. After much request from customers though she’s since decided to offer something beautiful, yet simple to accommodate those want something sweet without having to leave the restaurant. This has come in the form of macaron ice cream sandwiches. The macaron shells are sourced from Morocco chocolat, which are then filled with ice cream infused with the flavors of Japan in the form of green tea and black sesame.  The ice cream is good, but the macaron shells are dry and don’t add much to the dessert. A macaron shell with a crisp outside and chewy centre would make this beautiful treat, otherwise it would be better to serve just the ice cream alone or perhaps using soft cookies instead of macaron shells as they tend to dry out easily if not eaten within a day or two of being made.

Like the Smoked Salmon the Albacore Tuna Tataki ($12 CDN + tax) looks similar to that of a slice of sashimi. It’s served with wasabi, soy sauce, green onion, green onion oil, and wakame seaweed. Like the smoked salmon it’s has a light smokey flavor and the meatiness of the tuna goes well with the green onion oil.

On the meatier side is their Roasted Pork Belly ($11 CDN + tax). Covered in a dry rub and then convention oven roasted it’s served on a bed of spring shiso mix with a side of pickled onion the pork is crispy on the outside and tender in the centre. The pickled onion also goes well in helping to cut the richness of the pork belly.

Of course the draw of Menami is ultimately their udon, which boasts an extensive part of their menu. The Tsuke Udon with Shrimp Tempura ($10 CDN + tax) and the Kitsune Udon ($9 CDN + tax) are both served in a traditional Udon broth with grated daikon, ginger, green onion and seaweed. It’s warm and comforting and of course their signature handmade noodles shine amongst the subtle flavors of the broth.

 

Lastly there is the Mentaiko Cream Sauce Udon ($12 CDN + tax). Served with mentaiko, green onion, and spicy tomato oil it’s not exactly traditional udon and is the fusion brainchild of the owner who also holds a love for Italian cuisine. Best described as a fettuccine alfredo udon it’s warm, creamy, and certainly reminiscent of an alfredo but served with their signature udon and a little Japanese flair  with the mentaiko, scallions,  and spicy tomato oil. It’s the best of both worlds that somehow manage to fuse perfectly together and is defeinitely one of my favourite dishes here.

 

I’ve eaten at Menami more than multiple times in the past, but after coming in to try their Valentine’s Day menu offering I came to realize that I’ve never actually done a comprehensive profile on what I can honestly say is one of my favourite restaurants in Toronto. As such, in addition to the Valentine menu I have added various additional dishes I have tried to this write up from previous visits. For reference, the Valentine Day special menu is below and priced at $48 per couple (aka $24 per person).  It is available from February 13-15, 2017 and includes 3 appetizers, a main, and dessert for each person. It’s a steal for a three course meal of such high quality and calibre and on Valentine’s Day to boot when most restaurants are keen on charging a premium for love birds looking to stare deeply into each other’s eyes over warm meal.

Regardless of special menu or  not their daily offerings are equally of good value with generous portion sizes and meticulous care taken in the execution of their dishes. It’s also one of the few places I can confidently say is one of my favorites to dine at in the city.

 

 

Disclaimer: This post was not sponsored, however the meal/items were complimentary. All opinions expressed are my own. All menu offerings and prices are accurate as of time of posting. Please refer to restaurant/shop for most up to date information.

*All images are copyrighted Allons.Y Styling & Photography. Please do not use or re-post without written consent and provide credit where applicable