Out & About #530 | North York Things: MeNami, Hey Sugar + Karaoke

"So much for being open on public holidays."
I had suggested sushi for my long overdue meetup with ochungg, namely Japan Eats located on the ground floor of Yonge and Sheppard's predominantly Chinese condo building. Alas, we arrived to find both front and back entrances locked and the interior was empty. Despite my prior research, the information on their social media page had proved inaccurate.

​With one of us craving sashimi and the other in favour of Korean, we settled on MeNami. Reservations hadn't been made in advance, but, thankfully, we were seated without a wait. Those arriving closer to 1 PM were spotted standing by the entrance for short periods of time.

As a familiar choice for both of us, narrowing down our selection was a fairly uncomplicated task. ochungg opted for the Salmon Cream Sauce Udon, while I pointed towards the Fresh Salmon Don without a shred of hesitation. Fresh greens and sashimi were precisely the two elements I had been searching for.
Other additions to the menu included an eighty-dollar Family Day Special, which showcased a few of their signature dishes, and a new series of cocktails (that were arguably less appealing than their initial lineup).

We had also agreed on requesting a Fresh Fried Ika to share. Regrettably, the portion was much smaller - and greasier! than past visits.

​Trying the Fresh Salmon Don was a first for me. Comprising various components and an extravagant presentation, it was managed to fill the sashimi void without leaving behind feelings of satiation. The dish was served with a choice of sweet soy sauce or a spicy, tangy gochujang-based dressing; being concerned over the degree of spiciness, I requested that the sauces be served on the side. Our server, who was all grins and expertly blended eyeshadow, obliged with a smile.

The main was a medley of mixed greens, pickled peppers and cucumbers, tenkasu, and chunks of salmon sashimi.
A bowl of warm, steamed white rice and clear dashi-like broth accompanied the ceramic platter. The rice grew mushy quite quickly - it was either not of a short-grain variety, or had been cooked with an excessive amount of water. The soup acted as a palate cleanser between bites of pickled vegetables and onion.

​With the exception of a bone amidst the sashimi chunks, I was quite fond of the don overall. In comparison to the restaurant's other dishes, it possessed a more subtle profile, yet did not skimp on flavour nor texture. 

​Atmospheric conditions were milder than predicted, so we trekked down to Hey Sugar afterwards.

​Their unconventional, chewy toppings had left a lasting impression previously, so I bade loyalty to the Golden Tapioca Taro Ball Milk Tea, swapping the black tea base for a lighter Jasmine instead. ochungg did the same, whilst persuading me to take the more conservative route of a size downgrade.

​It was tasty, though far from being as memorable as the Black Sesame Milk Tea. Perhaps my tastebuds were befuddled as well, for we headed straight to karaoke afterwards. Parchedness has the ability to alter one's critical gustatory perception, after all.

​At Twister, the elderly man in charge invited into a room that offered access to songs of all languages. With the simple press of a button, we could alternate between the standard Chinese and Korean song selection systems.
The timer had been set for three hours, though we hadn't planned to stay beyond an hour and a half originally. Despite the fact that we had evacuated with about 26 minutes remaining, the ahjumma behind the cashier charged us the full amount anyway.

​The remainder of my evening involved picking up a Cranberry Cream Cheese Crown from Bake Code for the drive back, then two takeout orders of Sikgaek's Signature Samgyetang.

​We also later concluded that Chicken Ginseng Soup was much better when consumed in the restaurant.