Out & About #485 | ThirsTEA + The Fry Mississauga

​Out-of-towners may not be aware of it, but Mississauga does have its disreputable districts.
The intersection of Hurontario and Dundas is not a particularly good place to be come nightfall, and I would advise against taking transit to the area if possible.

Normally, I bypass the crossing altogether by taking a shortened route to Koreatown and P.A.T., but the day's itinerary was a little different. We had planned to try a new spot by the name of ThirsTEA, which happened to be located smack at the southeast corner of the aforementioned area.

​It was quite easy to miss the tiny, dilapidated plaza entirely. Nestled beside a barber shop in an eerie, ashen parking lot was the most recent bubble tea contender in the city. I couldn't comprehend the reason for choosing such perilous coordinates, besides that rent was likely cheaper than within the Square One perimeter.
The asphalt lot was large, but not exactly spacious. Most of the spots were occupied, leading others to park illegally - either behind another vehicle or outside of the designated slots. I was lucky enough to secure myself a spot within minutes of pulling in, but not so lucky in that a seemingly ordinary lady knocked on my car window in less than a minute of turning off my engine to ask for spare change.

​The interior of ThirsTEA was a great deal more welcoming that the outside world. Its quarters were compact, with no more two large tables, one small table, and a series of bean bag chairs for seating, but the vibe was cozy and serving manners were in full effect. Board games and a video game setup could also be found at the larger tables.

Quiet as it was on a Monday afternoon, there was a larger number of walk-ins than expected. In spite of the gloomy external conditions and somewhat disturbing surroundings, bubble tea-goers managed to find their temporary utopia amidst the rain and dreariness.

​The ordering system functioned similarly to that of any other boba shop. However, several aspects of the menu were found to be intriguing. For one, 24 K Gold was listed as one of the topping choices. At five dollars a pop, it was a pretentious item valued greater than majority of CoCo's drinks before tax. The male server behind the cashier was extremely upfront about this addition: He noted that they were currently out of the flashy flakes, then flatly cautioned the very thought of selecting it.
"It's a gimmick." He admitted, with an unapologetic smile.

When asked about the formulation of the shop's milk teas, this same staff member responded that a mix of milk, cream, and milk powder were utilized. Though, it was claimed that a smaller amount of milk powder was used in comparison to other establishments. On that note, there was a third level of customization that enabled customers to choose their desired level of milkiness. The "Milk Taste" category ranged from "Strong", "Normal", and "Light". I hadn't witnessed this option in any of my vast bubble tea visits and thus found this highly interesting.

​Two Roasted Milk Oolong Teas were ordered - one with 50% sugar and tapioca pearls and another with 30% sugar and mini taro balls. The latter proved to be the preferred amount of sweetness for me; in addition, the mini taro balls were a unique spin that combined the chewiness of typical tapioca with the sponginess of Taiwan's popular QQ balls. The groundwork of the milk tea formula, on the contrary, tasted rather average - devoid was Oolong bold presence and the lingering fragrance from roasting.
A Regular-sized cup set me back $4.90, while toppings were the standard fifty cents. Other items on the menu ranged from a base price of $4.30 (Regular fruit slushies) to $6.90 (Large Creamy Fruit blends), all before toppings and tax.

​Service was gushingly friendly and the ambiance was great for a casual catch-up. The seating area isn't immense, but it's a great hangout destination for small groups. A strong, password-secured Wi-Fi network and adaptability to different forms of payment (credit is accepted!) are also factors to take into consideration. The single stall bathroom was brightly illuminated and roomy, though not as sparkling as I would have liked. Dust, urine stains, and a light degree of griminess stared me promptly in the face.

​Had ThirsTEA been located in a safer, more convenient neighbourhood, I'd probably predict myself making a couple more visits. Solely based on price and convenience though, this might be my last visit in a long while.

​We headed over to The Fry for supper afterwards. Dundas is a heavily congested arterial, though it was safe to say that the rain had dispersed some of the traffic.

​Waltzing into the Korean eatery, we were welcomed immediately and given the opportunity to choose any table.
The decor was fun and colourful, and booth seats entailed access to outlets located near ground level. Wi-Fi wasn't available though.

​A middle-aged was the only member of staff on the floor for the evening. She seemed to tend to orders quite well, until the restaurant grew busy in the later hours.
Chilled water was brought to us as we perused the menu. Another party walked in at this time, and she made sure to divide her attention evenly between us when not hiding in the depths of the kitchen.

​Conflicted between the Green Onion Chicken (C1) and Yang Nyeom Chicken (C6), we inquired whether the combo could be accommodated for under the Half & Half Chicken (C8) or Special Half & Half Chicken (C9) orders. Our waitress stared back at us, aghast that such words could be uttered.
"No!" Her bubble gum pink lipstick began to crease. Her finger flew to the menu and sputtered something along the lines of "This is just different sauce."

My interpretation was that the Special Half & Half orders only applied to varieties that were both coated in sauce. The Green Onion Chicken did not meet this prerequisite. We engaged in discussion, then settled on small orders of C1 and C6.
One ought to note that a small order could have easily fed two moderately hungry creatures. But both options appealed to us, and having access to a vehicle enabled leftovers to be devoured at a later date and time if need be.

​Side dishes of crudely cubed white radish and disappointing mounds of cabbage slaw appeared shortly after orders were placed. A small bowl also accompanied the trio; this was a less sanitary apparatus than Mr. Chimaek's bone bucket, should you ask me.
Also in tow was a piping hot plate of sweet corn kernels. They bubbled away intensely in a creamy - but not cheesy - pool of satisfaction.(And no, they thankfully did not taste like MyMy's spoiled mayo corn.)

​Green Onion Chicken (파닭) had been my first choice, and I am proud to declare my fondness for the creation. Raw onions can be overbearing, but the tangy Teriyaki-like sauce blend nixed any pungency while shedding light to the chicken's ridiculously crispy batter. Not an ounce of greasiness escaped the asymmetrical chunks of white meat. Fleshy and crunchy, it was truly the epitome of savoury indulgence.
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Fried Chicken tossed in Secret Savoury Sauce (양념 치킨) was saucy and equally delicious. A thorough coating of what can only be depicted as the Korean rendition of sweet-and-sour sauce had been slathered about crunchy fried segments of protein, yielding Jinyoung's favourite style of chicken. Crispiness had not been compromised in the process; a mild kick remained apparent in each bite.

Two small portions equated to about three-and-a-half meals' worth of sustenance. Those with large appetites may disagree and shrink this number to one-and-a-half or two.

​A single bathroom stall was found at the back of the restaurant. Facilities were modern and fully functional, and all was pearly white and pristine. My one complaint: the inexplicable blanket of filth atop the valve box of the toilet, given the rest of the chamber's lack of it.
Hung beside the electric hand dryer was a sign that heeded the usage of the apparatus behind a closed door. Its operating noises were quite rambunctious.

​Service was on a steep decline from the moment our orders were delivered. The middle-aged lady tended to takeout orders, seated incoming patrons, and scurried back and forth with baskets of chicken without a single smile. It gradually became a mission to request additional napkins and a new set of chopsticks, for she was nowhere to be seen for periods on end.
When it came close to our time of departure, she did not hesitate in hurriedly processing payment and kicking us out. In fact, I found her eagerness so prominent to the point where she returned with one bill when we had clarified that we wanted it split evenly.

​I despised that she reached out to grab my payment card when I politely requested to complete the procedure myself.

Moreover, I refused to accept that she gestured for a large party to commence pushing tables together when I was still seated and gathering my belongings. Worst of all, she had cast a dirty, impatient scowl in my direction before turning on her heel.

I gravely regretted tipping her at all.

​All in all, I'd recommend The Fry to other Mississauga locals, simply because great-tasting Korean Fried Chicken is difficult to come by. But let me suggest ordering takeout or dining in only when friendlier staff is on the premises.

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