Out & About #1183 | Unexpected Koreatown Hangout Feat. Photo Signature + Damda

Venturing downtown on a humid Monday led me to eliminate one bag for the commute: Biking while donning full UV protection would be too stifling. That said, I remained true to my resolve in sharing baked goods with the office. A cooler bag brimming with brownies, mini choux attempts, and craquelin-topped rolls was non-negotiable for my only in-office day of the week.

​Throughout the day, minimal work was accomplished, which was expected of a week comprising of a statutory holiday. I visited the Union Samples booth thrice throughout the day, obtaining packets of ground coffee, coconut water, and hot sauce that I quickly gifted to a coworker.

Having been intrigued by the banana pudding poster within Craig's Cookies, I ventured inward.

Enticed by the sweet aroma of warm cookies and caramelized sugar, a Rainbow Rice Krispie Cookie was procured. 

​Consistent in their usage of salted butter and an extraordinary amount of sugar, the cookie sent me into immediate satiation. For the next few hours, my appetite was distinctly suppressed.

Around lunchtime, I had received notice that post-work plans were cancelled due to a change in the community centre's summer activity schedules. Being without a change of clothes for dance class and also without a bike helmet for city exploration, I quickly sought out the availability of a downtown local. Miraculously, our schedules aligned!

Without a moment's hesitation, I proposed my Koreatown itinerary: photobooths at Photo Signature, karaoke, and Korean fare at her go-to destination of Damda. This suggestion was received with enthusiasm, and off we went!

​Photo Signature housed a total of four booths: 3 Classic with baby blue, grey, and pink backdrops (similar to Hama Film) and 1 High Angle. Surprisingly, most visitors made a beeline for the Classics, leaving the High Angle free of queues. Pricing was consistent with other photobooths, with 4-cut strips at $10, some alternative layouts at $15, and 4-cut grides at $20. Unlike photoism, I was incredibly thankful that payment could be made using either cash or card.

​The variety of accessories was impressive as well, spanning Sanrio plushies, gargantuan flower headbands, and even flags and a trophy in honour of FIFA.

Complimentary photo sleeves were offered to us by the friendly staff member on site. She then gestured towards the counter where stickers and other art supplies could be used to trim and decorate the photos. For an additional $3.99, cut-outs could also be formed into a mini photo keychain! I mentally took note of this for a future visit with my browsing partner.

Since my last visit, the neighbourhood gained one more photobooth at Bloor and Palmerston.
Ventilation within the combined space of Isabella's Mochi Donuts and photoism was essentially nonexistent. A rotating tower fan covered in greasy fingerprints was angled towards the entrance, yet provided not an ounce of relief to the patrons within the store.

After two unsuccessful attempts at paying on the card machine, I was lent a twenty-dollar bill to complete the payment in cash.

​When we had strolled past earlier, the entryway of the restaurant had been vacant. Ninety minutes later, a lineup had formed and gradually began to extend out the door. There were a total of three parties ahead of us, but the line moved quickly. In about 15-20 mins, we were seated in a spacious booth with menus, water, and utensils placed before us.

​An up-to-date menu was available on the business' Google Maps page, enabling me to tap through the images on my phone rather than leafing through the grimy laminated booklet.

​Naturally, I was adamant about ordering the Squid Kimchi Pancake after hearing plentiful praise from my dining partner. We then took to heartier orders of Stone Pot Bulgogi Bibimbap and Pork Galbi for sustenance. A sixtet of banchan arrived shortly after placing our orders. The spread consisted of marinated mung bean sprouts, seaweed with chojang, a sweet macaroni salad, and three types of kimchi. The cabbage and radish kimchi leaned fiery, but the variation adopting the appearance of candied orange peel was slightly acidic, mildly spicy, and incredibly fragrant with toasted sesame seeds sprinkled on top.

​My Stone Pot Bulgogi Bibimbap arrived in a heavy-bottomed dolsot vessel, accompanied by a two-toned spicy sauce and soybean soup with prominent bits of soybean at its depth. Brimming with bulgogi, zucchini, cucumber, carrot, bean sprouts, and a glorious sunny-side egg, I could hardly believe that the sizable meal had only set me back $16.98! The bowl's flavourful constituents were mixed together with vigor then pressed against the inside of the stone pot to yield spectacularly crispy rice. Too often have my experiences with stone pots been dismal, featuring greasy grains and lack of textural variance; Damda's variation was revolutionary.

​The Squid Kimchi Pancake definitely not disappoint either! For starters, there was absolutely no shortage of squid within the pancake. It was a tad thicker than the wispy, starch-centric versions of other eateries, which allowed for acquisition of height and a sublime chewiness that contrasted marvelously against crisp edges. Above all, I appreciated the jeon was acidic from the kimchi, yet not particularly spicy. Damda's jeon was amazing indeed.

​As with countless businesses in Koreatown, washrooms were located on basement level at the bottom of a steep, narrow stairwell. Only one person could be ascending or descending the staircase at a time. The women's bathroom housed two extremely tiny stalls; one was barely reachable due to the cramped corridor and low ceiling. While the facilities were far from immaculate, they did not incite the same degree of revulsion as Korea House. The toilet paper holder was broken, the paper towel dispenser was empty, and caulking around the sink sported a similar amount of mould, but the toilet flushing capacity was satisfactory and consumer-grade soap (ie. not the liquid pink substance) was present for handwashing.

Service was swift and amicable. The waitresses had worked tirelessly to tend to all customers in a timely manner during the evening rush.

By the time we departed Damda, Hodo Kwaja has shuttered for the evening and it was deemed too late for karaoke. I led the way to Snow Day for my bingsoo fill, for my dining partner had cake commitments at home.

When I approached the cashier, the bespectacled elderly lady with voluminous, dyed hair informed me that the dessert parlour would be closing in thirty minutes. She was seemingly reluctant to take my order, despite my request of the cup size bingsoo, which was presented in a disposable plastic cup by default.

The cup assumed the perfect single portion, especially considering its rate of dissolution in the sweltering summer heat. Tucked into the sleeve were two plastic spoons: a standard spoon with a sturdy handle to enjoy the injeolmi mochi and a longer spoon to reach the underlying layers without removing the lid.

​At $15.95, Snow Day's cup bingsoo was admittedly pricey for its size and the scanty amount of injeolmi- and condensed milk-filled layers. The updated price reflects a staggering increase of $4.95 since the establishment's opening three years ago. Even after a 10% off cash discount, the handheld treat set me back an atrocious $16.20!

Strictly evaluating based on gustatory contentment, I was generally pleased with the product. Despite desiring more toppings (fillings?) in the underlying layers, the bits of injeolmi-dusted mochi, sliced almonds, and generous drizzle of sweetened condensed milk arranged on top were fabulous.

I excitedly dug into the specimen while the conversation transitioned to a topic far more interesting than work - coincidentally not unlike the last time I stepped into Snow Day!