Out & About #171 | Toronto Things: Banh Mi Boys + Nohohon Tea Room

​The student life is great, except when finals roll around. Thankfully, I've managed to escape the grueling battle this year (even though I do realize that I'll be confronted with the beast once again come next winter).
 
Taking advantage of my exam-devoid weekend, I decided to participate in DTAC (oddly renamed to "Toronto Fan Days" this year) for the first time ever.

After conducting a brief evaluation of potential photoshoot locations, we headed to Banh Mi Boys for lunch. Their original location at Queen and Spadina was half the size of their second shop at Yonge and College; featuring the same red-white colour scheme and identical décor elements, the only difference was the lack of a vivid-hued mural and an open dining area. Situated within this location were five small tables, a couple cramped bar seats, and a narrow hallway for lineups.

​​Despite it being an early weekend afternoon, all the tables were occupied. Reluctant to sit at the bar in fear of my hair and scarf absorbing greasy fumes from the kitchen, I suggested taking the baos to go.

< Pictured above: Club Bao and Kalbi Steamed Bao (not shown on the menu) 

Sriracha-slathered buns in hand, we scrambled across the street to Nohohon, hoping to sit and munch once the accompanying Japanese-inspired drinks had been obtained.
 
There was only one girl working behind the counter today, and she welcomed us in with a giant, bright smile.

At this point, I feel that it's important to declare Nohohon to be one of the exceedingly few food establishments in the Downtown Core to constantly maintain exceptional levels of customer service.
From their very first day of operation in late June to several brief Ritual orders to this most recent visit, I have never witnessed even a hint of ineptitude, regardless of whichever staff member is/are present. Not only are they extremely friendly, they also proudly serve customers in a positive and pleasant manner – personally delivering freshly-made drinks to the straw/napkin bar and holding the door open for customers are little things that go a long way in customer service, especially when done with a smile.

I would also like to express an appreciation for their efficiently-concocted beverages. Nohohon's drinks are made-to-order, utilize real ingredients as opposed to the sugar-laden powder mixes that bubble tea is commonly comprised of, and includes one complimentary topping. Authentic Japanese matcha is challenging to find, to say in the least, in the GTA, however Nohohon manages to deliver high-quality, hand-whisked matcha to customers that crave the aromatic tea.
 
On previous (un-documented) occasions, I've had the opportunity to try their Yuzu Hot Chocolate (a wonderful citrus-y twist on a fall/winter classic) and Hot Matcha Latte w/ Red Bean (which provided instant warmth and satisfaction)
(Side note: They also offer soy milk substitutions on select menu items; I've also been notified that skim milk is soon to be added to this list as well.)

We opted for the Hot Taro Latte and Lavender Nohohon Homebrew on this occasion. The latter boasted fragrant floral notes in conjunction with a mildly-flavoured brewed tea, while the latte was creamy and smooth, placing a strong emphasis on the subtly sweet taro paste used to create it.

The girl was kind enough to bring our drinks out from the bar and even offered to remove the matcha whisk and other decorative elements from the table situated near the front of the shop to make room for our steamed baos. The offer was politely declined, as resting upon the homey bamboo mat provided sufficient seating.

Hands down: Nohohon has the best, most legitimate Japanese beverages one could ever wish for in the Downtown Core. Their array of iced drinks is priced on par with (if not even more budget-friendly than) major bubble tea chains, while their newly-introduced selection of toasty fall/winter beverages are as comforting are they are competitively-priced. When the time comes to remove myself from downtown and all the action it contains, Nohohon will definitely rank on the list of things I’ll miss from the concrete jungle.

​Back to the steamed baos, it felt as if the Yonge/College had prepared fluffier buns and more tender meat, as my Kalbi Bao essentially took on the characteristics of tough, leftover beef from KBBQ enveloped in a lukewarm, stale bun. In addition to this, the sauce had been smeared all over, making it a challenge to consume it with dignity.

Nonetheless, lunch had been satisfying, and we headed over to MTCC to spend the remainder of the afternoon snapping shots of cosplayers in festive, holiday-themed costumes.
 
View the full album HERE !

Two of Pilot's velvety smooth Mochas were obtained come mid-afternoon, but it wasn't until after we returned to Mississauga that a proper dinner was had.

Sugar Marmalade isn't particularly known for fast, attentive service, nor top-notch quality, (at least not this particular location), but their Minced Meat with Rice was simple and satisfying enough to fit the bill. And, of course, access to stable Wi-Fi is always a bonus.

Frankly, I had wanted to return to suburbia a tad earlier to try out Something Sweet 4 U's larger location in Heartland. Unfortunately, night had fallen and the sky had already began to darken. Instead of the original plan, I returned to Quiapo! Quiapo! for my Halo Halo fix. This time around, they were out of ube ice cream, substituting mango ice cream and a generous helping of shockingly emerald-coloured jellies instead.

Spotted at DTAC, this Koro-Sensei plushie was absolutely adorable! It was a shame that the cosplayer who had borrowed it didn't know of the seller's contact information, besides the fact that it had been obtained at Anime Expo in the states.

The holidays are almost upon us! - I can only hope that the following weeks allow for more time to deal with backlog, chores, and holstering up Christmas lights.

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