Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar, a new Little Portugal watering hole from the people behind Cold Tea
(Image: Renée Suen)
Mr. Pong’s Real Food, the Canadian-Chinese restaurant that provided fuel for so many late nights on Queen West in the ’90s, closed its doors in 2005. Leave it to Oliver Dimapilis , Matthew LaRochelle and Stacey Welton, the folks behind Kensington’s Cold Tea (which celebrates a different proud Toronto tradition ), to revive the name for Mr. Pong’s Bar, a new watering hole in Little Portugal. The venture is a collaboration with The Lakeview’ s Alex Sengupta and Richard Pope, and features food by Robbie Hojilla (Ursa, Woodlot). But a glance at the artwork on the walls reveals that this is not the Mr. Pong’s you may remember: the jovial, bushy-tailed panda bear mascot has been replaced by a blood-thirsty machete-wielding comic book character who takes out the bad guys and then goes home for a smoke.
Dimapilis tells us he’s confident that mature adults of drinking age will be able to handle artist Andres Miranda’ s ultra-violent take on the iconic bear. The small 30-seat room also features a wraparound bar, some neon signage and a wall of Chinese newsprint at the back. Downstairs, there’s a peep show booth that will house a rotating art installation (and, we’re told, other sundry novelties to look in on). Manager Alex Ioannou (Ronnie’s Local 069) and bartender Matt Turenne (Parts and Labour) buck the craft cocktail and beer trends, favouring hipster-approved cans of Stroh’s ($4) and shots of Jameson ($5) instead. Hojilla has created a rotating menu of unconventional spring rolls ($6 for two), which currently includes beef cheek adobo, vegetarian, poutine, quince with mascarpone (a dessert roll) and lumpiang shanghai made from his mother’s recipe. The concept, of course, is a cheeky nod to the old Mr. Pong’s slogan: “Home of the jumbo egg roll.”
Mr. Pong’s Bar, 1576 Dundas St. W., 647-748-6627, @Mr_Pongs
175129 Quince and mascarpone ($6 for two): a delicate dessert spring roll that uses seasonal fruit, in this case end-of-season quince, with caramel sauce (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-16.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-16/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-16 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
175128 Vegetarian spring rolls ($6 for two): a vegetarian version of Hojilla’s favourite dish from Pho Pasteur, with chopped taro, vermicelli noodles and mushrooms inside a rice paper wrapper (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-15.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-15/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-15 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
175127 Beef cheek adobo lumpia ($6 for two): thin fried wrappers stuffed with beef cheeks that have been braised in soy, vinegar and garlic (a signature sauce from the Philippines) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-14/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-14 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
175126 Lumpiang Shanghai ($6 for three): a classic Filipino spring roll based on Hoijilla’s mother’s recipe., which uses ground pork and shrimp. The trio comes with pickles and a chili plum sauce (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-13.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-13/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-13 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
175125 Robbie Hojilla created the menu of non-traditional spring rolls at Mr. Pong’s Bar (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-12/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-12 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
175135 The peep show booth in the basement (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-17.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-17/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-17 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
175124 Chinese newsprint covers the back walls (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-11.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-11/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-11 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
175118 Two hours before opening (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-5.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-5/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-5 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
175117 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-4.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-4/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-4 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
175116 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-3.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-3/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-3 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
175114 The Mr. Pong’s Bar crew. Back row, from left: Matthew LaRochelle, Stacey Welton, Richard Pope, Alex Sengupta and Robbie Hojilla. Front row: Andres Miranda and Oliver Dimapilis (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-1.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-1/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-1 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
175123 The menu, written out in marker over Chinese newspaper (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-10/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-10 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
175130 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-intro.jpg 656 440 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-intro/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-intro 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
175122 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-9-e1352138259354-96x90.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-9.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-9/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-9 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
175121 Art by Andres Miranda (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-8.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-8/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-8 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
175120 Art by Andres Miranda (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-7.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-7/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-7 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
175119 Art by Andres Miranda (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-6.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-6/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-6 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
175115 The neon sign is written in the same script as Mr. Pong’s original shop sign (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar Introducing: Mr. Pong’s Bar https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-2.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-mr-pongs/slide/oct12-mr-pongs-bar-2/ oct12-mr-pongs-bar-2 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
wasn’t Pong’s closed down after being raided by Toronto police in a theft ring that was predicated on their access to info through their delivery system? pretty auspicious nod…
Where have you been Mr. Pong! Welcome back and I’m looking forward to more fabulous times with you on Dundas West.
I remember the MR. Pong Delivery truck pulling outside “FreakShow” 318 Richmond and the food trucks driver falling asleep only to wake up to an empty truck and a sea of 15 year old goths and ravers. This turned into a yelling matches and the threat of police by both the unfortunately sleepy employee and his boss when he showed up 10 mins later. (the cops showed up hours later and laughed the whole situation off)
My memories of their food stem from that night, my first but sadly not the only time tasting one of their head sized spring rolls. This spring roll that is perhaps the absolute worst spring roll I have ever spat back out onto the side walk. I think that vile bloated grease drenched pile of nearly rotten sprouts they call a spring roll was one of their signature specialities too…
I hope the new owners are successful. However I fail to understand the nostalgia behind some of Toronto’s worst food or a brand that was a laughing stock that’s bread and butter was under-aged drunk kids who didn’t know better.