Mapo Korean BBQ 마포상회 – 708 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G 1L4
Country: Korea   
Seating: Only indoor seating as all the tables have a small barbecue. 
Dinner guests: Dancing Queen,  Pornstar Sam & Ry-Hy
Must-try dish: Combo D (various cuts of beef and pork with mushrooms)
The high: Each table is built with a barbecue in the middle so it’s an interactive dining experience. 
The low: The bill can only be split in two at the most so be prepared to do some math.

There’s a certain excitement that comes with knowing that Korean Barbecue is on the schedule for dinner. It’s knowing that you’ll be full from charbroiled meats that you cook yourself at the table, plus an endless supply of kimchi to balance the hefty amount of protein. The end of the meal leaves you feeling happy and satisfied, or at least that’s the way we felt leaving Mapo Korean BBQ 마포상회 in Toronto’s Koreatown. 

Upon entering the restaurant, you’re immediately taken to South Korea with K-Pop dominating the sound waves, the smells of grilled meats wafting through the air, and each individual booth is a nook made of wood. The place is packed all night long, with everyone constantly eating and having a good time. It could be an advertisement for where to spend your evenings if you’re looking for a good time. 

The majority of the menu is written in Korean but the servers are always circling to help out with recommendations, or cooking and cutting the meat with the guests. This is a blessing more than it is a curse. The obvious thing is to order raw meats and vegetables to cook on the grill in the middle of the table, where everyone can get involved in the process from start to eating. 

We opted for Combo D to kick things off which is raw cuts of beef and pork, with a few mushrooms in an attempt to keep things healthy. The meat types include beef rib eye, thin cut sliced beef brisket, honeycomb cut pork belly, and pork neck. We took our time putting the meat on the grill, eating it all, and then repeating the process until everything was gone. 

When it came to the ribeye steak, one of the staff members cooked it and cut the meat into thin slices while it was on the grill. This made it easier to eat, and easier to share. The combo that advertises it feeds four to five people also hilariously comes with a small bowl of spicy tofu soup that is meant to be shared among the group. Godspeed on that side of things! 

An order of Bulgogi was also on deck to be grilled. This came already marinated and sliced, so it required even less work than the earlier meat plates. Bulgogi is seasoned pieces of beef that are barbecued, and are often one of the more popular dishes on a South Korean menu in Toronto. It tends to be a safe bet for a skeptical palate, but it’s also delicious. 

The Seafood Pancake may initially sound strange, but it’s an incredible addition to a feast of grilled meats. It also comes fully prepared so that you can eat it straight away. Unlike breakfast pancakes, this one is savoury as it’s cooked with herbs, onions, garlic, and a medley of miniscule seafood pieces. It’s round like a pizza, and comes sliced in a similar way making it simple to grab a piece. Whether you love seafood or not, this is a terrific dish since it’s full of flavour without having a dominant taste of the sea. 

As always in a Korean feast, small side bowls filled with a variety of pickled vegetables are served to accompany the meal. They’re called Banchan. This is where the kimchi comes into play because Mapo Korean BBQ 마포상회 gives unlimited amounts of kimchi if you ask, which is dangerous for a table of five who can’t get enough of the stuff. It was an absolute treat! 

In keeping with the Korean theme, there’s an impressive selection of flavoured soju bottles that pair perfectly with the meal. We recommend the blueberry (lots of antioxidants) but go for what entices you most. 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)