Introducing: A-OK Foods, a new ramen and snack bar from the owners of Yours Truly
(Image: Renée Suen)
Earlier this year, Yours Truly shifted to an all-tasting-menu format, eliminating the popular bar snacks that had helped build the restaurant’s good name. Now, owners Matt Cherkas , Dan Hawkins and Aleem Jamal-Kabani are bringing some of those favourites back at A-OK Foods, a new snack and ramen bar open for lunch and dinner on Queen West between Ursa and County General. The changing menu, led by head chef Chris Jang, features Chinese, Korean and Mexican flavours, but the big draw will no doubt be the chewy house-made ramen noodles, a rarity in Toronto, made on a special machine imported from Korea and then aged for up to three days.
The barebones 35-seat space, designed by Jessica Nakanishi and Emil Teleki of MSDS Studio, evokes the relaxed, outdoorsy feel of a hawker alley, with turquoise picnic tables and counters made from stacked cinder blocks topped with sheet metal (the floor tiles will soon be done over in grey). Both Jang and sous chef Geraldo Quintero are alumni of Yours Truly, and while they trained in fine dining, they share a love of slinging casual plates to a buzzing room. Unlike most Toronto ramen shops, A-OK uses a chicken-based shoyu broth for its soup ($10.50), which is served with sous vide pork belly, soft-boiled egg and a crisp fried seaweed chip topped with nutty sesame seeds. The snack plates include KFC (Korean fried chicken) wings ($8.50), served with spiced wedge fries with sour cream and a Mexican fuego hot sauce, and yakitori-inspired skewers ($5, $8.50 for two) glazed in a mole-like chili-chocolate sauce and dressed with sour cream and cotija cheese. There’s also cold somen noodles topped with a spicy pickled snail salad ($9), tofu ceviche ($8) and Sichuan tsukemen ($10.50), a noodle dish served with Sichuan peppercorn- and chili-laced black bean sauce. A-OK’s drink menu is simple, featuring a pilsner on tap ($6), wine ($7) and horchata ($3.50), with hard-to-find cans of Kikusui sake ($13) on their way in December. Oh, and fans of Yours Truly’s salt cod inari will be happy to hear that A-OK will be selling the finger-friendly stuffed tofu pouches too ($7).
179503 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-intro-A-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-intro-A.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-intro-A.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-intro-a/ nov12-a-ok-foods-intro-a 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179502 A-OK does not take reservations (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-20-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-20.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-20.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-20/ nov12-a-ok-foods-20 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179494 A-OK will be carrying the hard-to-source Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori, a honjozo (draft type) fresh sake that’s neither pasteurized nor blended. Expect this to join the drink list in late December. (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-12.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-12/ nov12-a-ok-foods-12 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179500 Veg skewers ($5 for two): grilled chayote and portobello mushrooms finished with a savoury soy-garlic glaze (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-18.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-18/ nov12-a-ok-foods-18 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179489 KFC wings ($8.50): Korean fried chicken, with a puffed-up rice flour batter, served with spiced wedge fries, sour cream and a Mexican fuego hot sauce (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-07/ nov12-a-ok-foods-07 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179499 Tofu ceviche ($8): ex-vegetarian Geraldo Quintero’s Mexican-flavoured dish is composed of firm tofu cubes, coriander, diced celery and peanuts tossed in a chili vinaigrette. The hearty dish is served with fried tortilla chips (which we’re told will eventually be replaced by pappadums) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-17.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-17/ nov12-a-ok-foods-17 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179498 Snail salad ($9): a spicy cold somen noodle dish topped with pickled sea snails, cucumber, onion and carrots. The spicy, slightly acidic snack was one Jang grew up with in Korea (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-16.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-16/ nov12-a-ok-foods-16 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179496 Sichuan Tsukemen ($10.50): cooked ramen noodles paired with a dipping sauce made with jajangmyun (Korean black bean paste), Sichuan peppercorns and dried chilies (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-14/ nov12-a-ok-foods-14 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179493 Pork skewers ($8.50 for two): a Mexican version of yakitori brushed with a mole-influenced chili-chocolate glaze and finished with sour cream and cotija cheese (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-11.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-11/ nov12-a-ok-foods-11 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179495 Shoyu ramen ($10.50): the milky soup base, made from chicken bones and feet that have been simmered overnight, is seasoned with soya sauce and a hint of yuzu before being ladled over house-made noodles, sous vide pork belly, soft boiled egg, green onion, goji berries and a crisp fried seaweed chip with nutty sesame seeds (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-13.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-13/ nov12-a-ok-foods-13 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179491 A-OK’s chalkboard menu (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-09.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-09/ nov12-a-ok-foods-09 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179484 Jang took courses at ramen schools and participated in apprenticeships in Korea and Japan before developing his own recipe that incorporates kansui (alkaline water), semolina flour and a two-to-three-day aging step (to develop gluten). The resulting noodles are chewier and have a dull tinge compared to the unaged, brighter yellow and less springy ramen typically found in the city. The fresh noodles are stored in a custom wooden storage box and kept covered to prevent dehydration (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-01/ nov12-a-ok-foods-01 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179490 The ramen machine imported from Korea (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-08/ nov12-a-ok-foods-08 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179492 The temperature-controlled preparation kitchen on the west wall, which houses the ramen machine (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-10/ nov12-a-ok-foods-10 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179487 Beverages, served in disposable tumblers for now, will soon be served in biodegradable cups (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-05/ nov12-a-ok-foods-05 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179501 Looking out toward Queen West (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-19.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-19/ nov12-a-ok-foods-19 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179485 After: Jessica Nakanishi and Emil Teleki from MSDS designed the casual 1,300-square-foot room. The aluminum pendant lamps are first editions by designer John Sabine. The tiles on the floor will soon be painted grey (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-03/ nov12-a-ok-foods-03 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179486 Before: what the room looked like a month ago, during construction (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-04/ nov12-a-ok-foods-04 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179488 Sous chef Geraldo Quintero and head chef Chris Jang, who explains the blend of flavours on A-OK’s menu by pointing to their cultural backgrounds: “I wanted to have Mexican influence from the beginning. Korean and Mexican flavours are very similar in their balance of spiciness and freshness.” (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-06/ nov12-a-ok-foods-06 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
179497 The street signage for A-OK jutting out above Queen West also includes the katakana script for Queen West (クィーン・ウェスト). The name is derived from the familiar hand gesture (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: A-OK Foods Introducing: A-OK Foods https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12-A-OK-Foods-15.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/a-ok-foods/slide/nov12-a-ok-foods-15/ nov12-a-ok-foods-15 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
A-OK Foods, 930 Queen St. W., second floor, 647-352-2243, @AOKfoods
Fuck yeah!
LET THE LINEUPS BEGIN!!
If Noodle Bar and Grand Electric had a baby…
Gonna OD on that salt cod inari
um , i dont think so , another noodle bar.
whatever
sous chef’s name is Gerardo Quintero ***** (author spelled it wrong)
hi shakir ;-)
If only Toronto Life were as honest as my hips. They never lie.
What kinda ramen purveyor doesn’t offer miso ramen??