Mi Mi Restaurant – 688 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1Y3
Country: Vietnam 
Seating: Only indoor seating. 
Must-try dish: #19 Coconut curry chicken soup 
The high: This family run operation makes you feel welcome from the instant you step inside the front door. 
The low: The menu is intimidatingly large. 

Mi Mi Restaurant has been a Riverdale institution for 29 years, and counting. It’s run entirely by a family, and it’s not uncommon to encounter three generations in the restaurant. It’s also a local for a lot of people in the neighbourhood, whether it’s for takeout or to sit at a table to dine, the owners seem to know many of the names of the people coming through. It’s constantly busy, but there’s a quick turnaround so it’s easy to get a table if you’re in the mood for classic Vietnamese dishes. 

A staple order would include one of the soups, and there’s a wide variety to pick from. On a day you’re looking for comfort, there’s nothing better than Mi Mi’s chicken noodle soup. It’s like getting a hug in your belly. For a heartier meal, go for one of the beef soups. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, the seafood soups are a meal you’ll never forget because of the generous portions of seafood mixed with noodles and warm broth. 

Both Mat and Andrea are well versed with the delicious soups, so a deeper exploration of the menu was the evident play for the night. With excellent guidance from the family members, the order steered away from the safe dishes and took us on an adventure into Vietnamese cuisine. 

Instead of spring rolls to start, we opted for #5 BBQ Pork Sausages – which are essentially a long, juicy meatball that pairs well with a spicy sauce that accompanies the dish. It seems simple, but it’s an easy win if you’re looking to try something new for an appetizer. 

Did you know that these are Vietnamese dumplings? Neither did we. The Vietnamese-style dumplings are the most fascinating things to eat because they look different than they taste, and the texture is hardly what you expect from a pocket stuffed with seafood and meat. It would be a mistake to skip out on tasting #10b Banh Bot Loc// crystal steam dumplings with shrimp and pork because the flavour is phenomenal with a gelatine-like texture that is both confusing and amazing. 

These dumplings are made with tapioca, so they have a gelatine texture but are made with ground up shrimp and pork, and then wrapped in banana leaves. The flavour is similar to classic Chinese dumplings at Dim Sum, but the texture adds a real party to the mix. Absolutely order these! 

Although we wanted to stay away from soups in this meal, one of the specialty soups on the menu enticed us to order it, and we loved it. The #19 Coconut curry chicken soup is a hidden gem in Vietnamese cuisine. It’s rich and savoury with a tiny kick in heat but should be okay for the majority of people. 

There are similarities to Thai curries because of the coconut milk base, but it has a more velvety texture from the addition of condensed milk in the recipe. This dish is decadent and delicious, but is recommended to share to avoid heaviness. The curried soup also comes with a beef option, and is served with a choice of rice or noodles. 

The #98 BBQ Pork & Pork Spring Rolls (2) is displayed on the menu with an image, which is one of the reasons why it’s one of the most popular dishes at Mi Mi’s. On top of that, there’s no going wrong with grilled pork and spring rolls over vermicelli noodles. A mildly spicy sauce is recommended to pour on top. 

The atmosphere at Mi Mi’s is what makes it such a successful neighbourhood restaurant because it feels familial, but you also have your space. It’s nice to see an entire family working together to share their recipes with others. We felt especially welcome at Mi Mi’s. 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)