(Image: Renée Suen)
Name: Hanmoto
Contact Info: 2 Lakeview Ave., @HANMOTO_
Neighbourhood: Little Portugal
Owner and Executive Chef: Leemo Han (OddSeoul)
Chef: Joe Kim (Electric Mud BBQ, Origin Liberty, Momofuku Toronto)
Bartender: Ihn Huh (Swish by Han)
The Food: A short menu divided into raw and hot items that, in izakaya fashion, are meant to accompany booze. Expect to find Japanese riffs on snack food favourites like the Moto Bun, a fried coco bun filled with Japanese chicken curry and Jamaican slaw; and something called Dyno Wings, deep-fried, deboned chicken wings stuffed dumpling-style with seasoned ground pork, then tossed in a spicy house-made sauce. The Uni Bomb—a daily special and the bar’s play on do-it-yourself tacos—features tongues of sea urchin and all the ingredients needed to make your own hand cones.
The Drinks: A short list of beers, including a few Asian brands, available in bottles, cans or on tap; a few house wines; and a rotating selection of cocktails that, like the food, have a Japanese spin.
The Place: Garage grunge meets Art Deco, with a hit of neon. Han and his father decorated the eclectic space with salvaged finds, like the chairs and the prescription sign hung above vintage cabinets, along with metalwork from the now closed Swish by Han.
306091 Hanmoto is tucked away on a side street off Dundas West, behind The Churchill. (Image: Renée Suen) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-02-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-02.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hanmoto-little-portugal-izakaya-oddseouls-co-owner/slide/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-02/ hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-02 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
306090 Han and his father tore down the drywall of the ex–vintage store, exposing a surprise garage door. A wall with a mural painted by artist Andres Miranda is now in its place. (Image: Renée Suen) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-01-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-01.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hanmoto-little-portugal-izakaya-oddseouls-co-owner/slide/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-01/ hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-01 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
306093 Bamboo-lined workspaces and bar tops help to maximize seating and counter space. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-04-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-04.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hanmoto-little-portugal-izakaya-oddseouls-co-owner/slide/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-04/ hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-04 0 0
306096 The Moto Bun: Japanese curry chicken and Jamaican slaw on a coco bun. ($7) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-072-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-072.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-072.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hanmoto-little-portugal-izakaya-oddseouls-co-owner/slide/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-072/ hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-072 0 0
306095 Nasu dengaku: Japanese eggplant, fried beets and miso hollandaise. ($8) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-06-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-06.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hanmoto-little-portugal-izakaya-oddseouls-co-owner/slide/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-06/ hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-06 0 0
306098 Dyno wings: giant, deboned chicken wings stuffed with pork and tossed in a spicy house-made sauce. ($8) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-09-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-09.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hanmoto-little-portugal-izakaya-oddseouls-co-owner/slide/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-09/ hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-09 0 0
306097 Grilled shishito peppers topped with togarashi, grated parmesan and bonito flakes. ($8) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-08-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-08.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hanmoto-little-portugal-izakaya-oddseouls-co-owner/slide/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-08/ hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-08 0 0
306099 The North Town Nashi: Mizu Shochu, lime, shiso and Asian pear go into the bar's spin on the mojito. ($12) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-10-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-10.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hanmoto-little-portugal-izakaya-oddseouls-co-owner/slide/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-10/ hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-10 0 0
306101 Miso ice cream: shiro (sweet, white) miso, topped with nori powder and puffed cereal balls. ($7) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-12-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-12.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hanmoto-little-portugal-izakaya-oddseouls-co-owner/slide/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-12/ hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-12 0 0
306092 The beer list. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-03-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-03.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-hanmoto-little-portugal-izakaya-oddseouls-co-owner/slide/hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-03/ hanmoto-toronto-restaurants-03 0 0
West: 14
East: 2