The full album can be found HERE !
Even as one who doesn't happen to be a huge fan of rice-based dishes, I found the cha-han to be surprisingly addicting. Octopus pieces were scarce, and rice was aplenty, but the sauces somehow tied the dish together to form a tasty creation. The acidity of the pickled ginger also aided in digestion.
Most of the menu items were only accompanied with a very brief description, thus the interpretation of presentation and flavour was essentially up to the customer. Perhaps we could have asked one of the waitresses for a concise explanation of the dishes, though, in the end, we simply chose to go with whichever option sounded the best.
Given the portions served, neither of the meals were really worth their price. However, they were indeed satisfying enough that I would return to try more of their lunches. I'll forever skip curry though, as it's common understanding that they likely use packaged Glico curry from the adjacent shopping centre.
As the fourth week of the Sidewalk Sale was currently taking place, we decided to browse the area after lunch.
Both staring blankly at each other, she then asked the guys behind the bar, and returned with one of the three choices. As it was evident that I wouldn't be trying the other two, I proceeded to order one of their new releases - the Brown Sugar Oolong Milk Tea with 2J (tapioca and coffee jelly). However, not only did the girl look completely past me to welcome the older gentleman behind me, she completely disregarded the man's insisting gaze for me to order first. Indeed, this location has beyond fabulous customer service.
I don't think they bothered to give my requests for 50% sugar and less ice a second glance. 50% sugar was oddly identically similar to the excessive sweetness of 100% sugar; somehow, my drink also contained more ice than a Royal Milk Tea with unchanged ice levels. I cannot recall ever having such issues in the newer North York store, and fail to comprehend the reason behind the Steeles location's horrible attitude towards customers and incapability to understand and deliver products to meet consumer demands.
In the time where the only three visible members of staff had their snail-like composure torn by incoming bubble tea goers, I pulled out the buns from Bakery Nakamura.
The bear-shaped bun was actually pretty yummy, if one could just ignore the hardness of the bread itself. The cream, thick and rich, did not happen to be as sweet as I had feared. There was a unique, delightful chocolatey-ness about it.
For the prices though, I think I'd be best taking my business back to Akko.
I had also wanted to include another round of Wooffles & Cream in this trip, though their Instagram account was belatedly updated with a message saying that they would be closed for the day "due to technical issues". I made no attempt to hide my overwhelming disappointment at seeing this news and cheered myself up by giving in to new Tony Moly purchases.
For those that have stuck with me and my extensive rants through the past year, you shall know that I am a faithful international IGOT7. (I mean, I even expressed-ordered their first full-length album!) And seeing that they had just made their summer comeback with their "JUST RIGHT" mini album, I took great measures to pester this friend countless times throughout his entire vacation in Asia, even going as to sending specific addresses and screenshots.