POCHA 1989 in Toronto

542 Church St, Toronto, ON M4Y 2E1, Canada

★★★★☆
(471 reviews)
Categories: Restaurant Korean restaurant

About

Korean Restaurant and bar

Website
instagram.com
Address
542 Church St, Toronto, ON M4Y 2E1, Canada
Plus Code
MJ89+3J Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Sunday
6 PM–2:30 AM
Monday
6 PM–2:30 AM
Tuesday
6 PM–2:30 AM
Wednesday
6 PM–2:30 AM
Thursday
6 PM–2:30 AM
Friday
6 PM–2:30 AM
Saturday
6 PM–2:30 AM

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible car park
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Late-night food Small plates Spirits
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Parking
Free of charge street parking

Photos

Reviews

4.0
★★★★☆
471 reviews

Most Mentioned

korean (58) patio (23) spicy creamy udon (20) budae jjigae (13) army stew (11) bulgogi (11) soy chicken (8) soju (8) glass noodles (7) kimchi stew (6)
5 stars
266
4 stars
98
3 stars
24
2 stars
18
1 stars
65
★★★★
July 15, 2024

I've been wanting to come here since it opened. They open so late that I never had the chance to come. Anyways I finally had that chance on the weekend. We ordered the bulgogi rice, chicken and rose tteokbokki. The bulgolgi rice was delicious. The dish was definitely meant for sharing. The chicken was juicy and not overly breaded. It didn't need any extra sauces. The best dish I think was the rose tteokbokki. This dish was creamy and I didn't expect it to be spicy but it was. It was spicy but so good that I had to eat it. I took it home and eating with rice was the best!! Service was fast and they were always checking to make sure everything was OK. Even filled up the water and stuff, I didn't need to ask for it. Very attentive. The chairs and tables were very clean. All the portions were huge and I was so full afterwards. 3 people 3 dishes was too much but so much to take home for yummy leftovers. The only thing was the bill that came. Didn't expect it to be so expensive. I'll definitely come back to try other dishes. This place is so good. Wish it opened earlier!

★★★★★
July 2, 2024

Best army stew I've had. also seating is unique in the sense that you can sit inside the restaurant and still get fresh air because the entrance is large

★★★★★
June 25, 2024

Their chicken is the best I’ve had in Toronto. They are sooo juicy and tender, flavourful and honestly just super delicious. Tteokbokki was standard but they do have a lot more ingredients such as glass noodles. Large portions so it’s better to share as a group. Will definitely come back again!

★★★★★
March 24, 2024

I came on a Friday night at around 8pm and we were able to get a table for 3. Compared to Ehwa, I think they focus more on the food. We ordered the sweet and spicy fried chicken combo which cames with fries. Interestingly the topped the chicken with almonds. Food was overall really good and came in decent portions. Would recommend and come back for drinks and a meal. But if you're looking for drinks and snacks, I'd pick Ehwa any day.

★★★★★
January 29, 2024

Wanted to go here for the longest time and today I finally did. The interior was really unique and honestly found it aesthetically pleasing. Service was great and the server came in checked a few times to make sure everything was good. Food came fast and all together and everything was delicious. Had the Soy Garlic Chicken, Fried Squid, and Pocha Udon and everything was huge in terms of proportions. Highlight was definitely the fried squid for me. Will definitely come back in the future if in the area!

★★★★★
September 19, 2023

Had an absolutely delightful experience. The highlight of the meal was undoubtedly their mouthwatering soy sauce chicken dish. The fried chicken was a true masterpiece. The crispy, golden-brown exterior gave way to tender, juicy chicken that was bursting with flavor. The seasoning was perfectly balanced, offering a delightful combination of savory and slightly sweet notes. It's no exaggeration to say that this was some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. 100% recommended!! The ambiance of the restaurant was also noteworthy. It struck a perfect balance between cozy and trendy, making it an ideal spot for a casual dinner with friends or a romantic date night.

★★★★★
August 18, 2023

I come here 4 times and more later 🤣 also recommended for family and friends to come. I get what I want from this place, from the food, drink, music, atmosphere, staff so everything is really cool and chill. As other reviews mentioned big portion, sometimes you need a container to go 😂 and I tried 4 flavours of soju in total 😎👍🏻😜😬

★★★★★
May 30, 2023

Great food! We ordered rice bowls, chicken soy sauce and the seafood carbonara. Must try! Dining at the patio was so great seeing people walking along the gay district. Service were great too!

Local Guide
December 14, 2024

Its absolutely disgusting that they are using low quality fatty cartilagy chicken thighs for there fries chicken. They are using the lowest quality chicken from the worst part of the chicken. We all Hated it. Will not return. Very overpriced.

★★★
December 14, 2024

Food was ok. But way over priced!!

★★★★★
November 21, 2024

Don t be put off by the negative reviews, many are very old, they ve turned things around for sure. Portions are hefty, food is tasty, ambiance is good.

October 21, 2024

This establishment gave us a first time experience. While the food was decent, the service was shockingly poor. Mid-meal, our server asked us to transfer to a different table since ours was situated in between empty ones and they d like to combine them for a group which completely ruined our experience. Definitely our first and last!

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Great choice, fast and helpful service, huge portions. The plates were very tasty.

★★★★★
October 21, 2024

Flaveful food

★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Good food, quite expensive but good service.

★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

very good place overall but definitely not the $10-20 range that google maps shows, was about $40 a person with a four person party. amazing food good atmosphere :D

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

People usually leave reviews to complain rather than compliment so.. i look at the 1 star reviews before trying out a restaurant. Specifically I look at how..reasonable? the complaints are and I can say confidently that this place is a solid 4.7 stars if u know a bit about economy and the restaurant industry. If ur more on the entitled side id say their busy establishment and the fact that korean servers dont come to u unless u call them, could come off as lack of service. But the price and portion SHOULD make up for it in my opinion.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Vibey pocha on Yonge. Popular with locals and tourists. Oden soup was very good.

★★★★★
September 21, 2024

Always a nice place to chill after work.Great service.

★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Decent food, prices r v high but portions r large w lots of meat/protein Edit: 3/5 they hv shrunk their portions...

★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

This pocha is a great spot for korean street food and has a dog friendly patio. The food was reasonably priced and delicious but, service was VERY slow since it seems like not many people are working and they have a high volume of orders.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

I ordered the rice balls because it was one of the cheaper options on the menu, I keep ordering the rice balls upon each subsequent visit because I m obsessed with them. (Warning: slim pickings if you re a vegetarian or vegan but you can order requesting no meat on a lot of items)

★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Horrible all around. Had to beg for service. If you re not Korean or East Asian, prepared to be ignored

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

love the spicy creamy udon

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

This is amazing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

Very nice and welcoming with incredible dishes

August 21, 2024

They forgot to include 1 item when I did a take out. Washrooms dirty.

★★★★★
July 21, 2024

Best dine ing experience

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

The service was ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL! The staff were so patient and kind with us with every interaction. The food had huge portion sizes, so definitely worth the price. Delicious Korean food with explosive flavor. I will definitely return here with my friends. It was an amazing time.

★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Prices are a little high compared to other places but the portion was also larger and undeniably tasty. Will be back!

★★★★
Local Guide
June 21, 2024

Authentic Korean cuisine and liked their rosemary spicy chicken.

★★
June 21, 2024

The food was great, and the service too, but the plastic cups really cheapened the experience for me. In fact there was quite a lot of plastic involved unnecessarily. Waste aside, it just feels nasty... and is easily remedied.

★★★★★
June 21, 2024

Love this place - delicious food, great service and unique atmosphere!

★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

I ve been coming to pocha for years!! The ambience is really nice. My only issue is that I always get the beef bulgogi and add mozzarella cheese on it (yes, I know). But today the server said they don t do that!! I ve literally been coming here for years and always order the bulgogi that way (and I have the pictures to prove it too LOL).

★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

I , and coworkers, really enjoy the food and the atmosphere here . But the issue I have why would they added the tips on my bill. I gave them tips more than what they added on the bill. This makes customers very uncomfortable. I hope they let customers tips, not they tip themselves.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 21, 2024

I went for a vegetarian Spicy Creamy Udon and OMG was it good! My god I would go as far to say that it was the best bowl of noodles Ive ever had

★★★★★
May 21, 2024

I would say its probably even more delicious than Korea. I was really surprised that the snacks were so much better than I expected. If youre going to have a drink with friends, dont go anywhere else, but go here!! It was so good that I went two days in a row. Be sure to try the sweet and spicy seasoned chicken!! All the other snacks were delicious, but this one was really delicious. The staff are also very friendly.

★★★★
April 21, 2024

Feel like this place is overpriced, but delicious food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Really vibrant Korean bar that plays all my personal girl group kpop faves on the aux and has awesome Korean beer Pricey as all bars are my friend and I got 3 drinks and 1 dish (budae jiggae) and split an 80$ bill at the end of the night. However, service was really great and the vibes were amazing!

Local Guide
April 21, 2024

i wish i can review zero

★★★★★
April 21, 2024

The best Korean restaurant in toronto.!

★★★★★
April 21, 2024

This is the first I ve ever tried such great Korean dishes. The taste was immaculate. Although the place is a little small, the atmosphere is great. Anyway, food is bombastic. I would return back!

April 21, 2024

I never got to try the food because we were never served. The hostess sat us and gave us water. We sat there almost 20 minutes and no one came to our table to even ask our drink orders or even say they would be with us soon. Mind you, we were sitting near the kitchen and multiple employees walked by us.

★★★★★
March 21, 2024

Our fav neighbourhood bar! We love coming here when we can t decide on anything else because it never disappoints. We are always lucky with seating but it is usually RAMMED. Large portions & anything you order is super fresh. Our go-tos are the spicy udon, bulgogi cheese fries & sweet soy fried chicken. Asahi on tap is always fresh. Come hungry & you will NOT be disappointed.

★★★★
Local Guide
March 21, 2024

Its cold at the door.Tastes good,recommend the fried chicken.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 21, 2024

A bit of a hole in the wall place.The service and food were both excellent

★★★★
Local Guide
February 21, 2024

Great atomosphere, opened pretty late, food was decent, great place to go with friends and catch up while eating good food!

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 21, 2024

Pocha 1989 was an absolute gem for our post-dinner drink plans. The laid-back tropical vibes instantly puts you in a relaxed mood. Great spot to unwind!

★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Amazing tteokbukki and chicken !

★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

The location is a short walk from Wellesley Station. They have a fairly large outdoor patio as well that I heard is a nice area when it s open during the warmer months. The interior has a decent size dining room, tall ceiling, lots of seating. The tables are close together but you still feel like a sense of privacy for your own table. I was sitting at a table close to the doors. Even with some curtains set up by the door, the wind definitely makes it super chilly if you re sitting at that table anytime the doors open. Had the deep fried boneless chicken in soy sauce with fries (Combo C). The fries came first and there wasn t a lot. Nothing really special with the fries to be honest. They were served with a small ketchup container. The chicken had almonds and chilis and other garnishes. I found that it wasn t really very crunchy on the exterior, and the sauce was quite bland. I d say that I ve had better fried chicken in other places. But the service was quite attentive and the place does have a nice atmosphere to spend time with friends.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 21, 2024

Love this place. Food is always great. Fried chicken although costs 30$ but is a portion that s good for 4 people. I love their sweet spicy chicken that I tried the first time but didn t see it on their menu this time so just went with soy chicken. Was good too. Ordered the beef bulgogi which was yummmmmyy! I would like them to change two things if possible! Please add bibimbap and gimbap on your menu and please serve gochujang sauce for the customers as an accommodation with the meal. At least gochujang sauce. Unlike other Korean restaurants that will give pickled radish, kimchi etc as accompaniments. That s all. Will always return as I just love the food here!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Best food selection!!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

This place is always busy right from the opening, so usually you have to wait for minimum 15-20 mins. The food is tasty, however, it is on a pricey side. The atmosphere is great, with nice decorations here and there. Also, keep in mind that since it is busy, it might take a while for servers to come up to your table to take an order or bring a bill.

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The waiter told us to wait for one hour at first, after 15min he called us and told us to come. After we arrived, the waiter told us to wait for ten more mins. And five mins later, he told us to wait for ten more mins AGAIN. Also, we ve got 7ppl and he said that we can only eat for 2 hrs and charge us 20% of tax. Last, he asked everyone to show our id to prove that we re over 20, which we never encountered before. Honestly, I think that the waiter did all of this because we re not Korean(or because we sound like Chinese but we re actually Taiwanese lol) He, the waiter, the Korean, is really rude and serves us with no patience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great vibes. Good food, good alch.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

This spot is one of my faves, the food is so good I m obsessed, the atmosphere and ambiance are always great. My must-visit spot.

December 21, 2023

There was a male waiter who had a very bad attitude. When two people went to eat, there were two empty tables for four people, and there were no people queuing behind them. When another waiter was about to take us to our seats, the man stopped her and told us that the table was for four people, not two, and asked us to wait for the other two people to be seated when there were two empty tables.

★★
December 21, 2023

The food was good and the server was kind. However, I don t eat pork and in the menu wasn t very descriptive about the ingredients, so my kimchi fried rice was full of bacon and I couldn t eat at all. My boyfriend enjoyed his food though.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great place to grab quality Korean food and drink! This place gets busy pretty fast, so make sure youre there early!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

New restaurant. Great prices for some of the best Korean food ive had in Toronto. We got the pork belly ramen and the creamy udon. Delicious!! Also the vibe is excellent

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Ordered the sweet and spicy fried boneless chicken. Nice big serving and tasted amazing! I don t eat pork and didn t realize the spicy creamy udon had pork in it so the waiter took it off the bill or offered to remake it without meat. Really professional and courteous. Ambiance is also really cool.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Good to have more Korean options in the neighbourhood. Food selection is good, but the prices are a little high. Great atmosphere.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Food is decent but wasn t the best I ve had. People come here more for the chill vibes. The braised chicken dish was my favourite though - should give that a try with some soju on the side.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

South Korean spot with amazing food right on King street. The Army Base Stew is like nothing else and a slice of american cheese on top is confusing yet this is the authentic way to serve the dish. Everything tasted amazing and is worth a visit

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Fish cake soup, spicy creamy udon. Love the environment and the waiters are kind. Food : 5/5

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Vibes here were immaculate, fish cake soup was our tables favourite! The rice cake portions were generous. Fun spot to drink with good food and friends

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

-Spicy Creamy Udon Delicious. There are sausage, bacon and fish cakes. The portion is not that big. -Deep Fried Boneless Sweet & Spicy Chicken It s ok, it also has soy sauce flavor -Fishcake Soup Its okay. The soup is a little spicy and delicious. -Spicy Rose Creamy Rice Cake The portion is large. It s similar to udon noodles but a little different. The cream will be a bit greasy after eating it for a long time. There are wide noodles inside which are delicious -Steamed Egg Fairly good (I waited for about 50 minutes at 9 oclock on Friday)

December 21, 2023

I come here for many times. We like creamy udon,army hotpot and fried chicken, rice ball,etc. However, when I go today,Smoked Duck Pasta tastes like dish water. Could not be considered as food. I have feel like to have diarrhea on my way home. What do you say about it?

★★★★
December 21, 2023

Great vibe. Great layout. Food was OK. Would certainly give another try!

December 21, 2023

Dont go here if youre Chinese, the portions are much smaller than the Korean ones next to you, and the fried chicken is just like leftovers on the plate. The total amount of sausage in the spicy udon is not more than half a stick. If you are not taking girls to eat, try not to go. I understand everything.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The Korean vibe is all good... but the space between seats is too narrow and too noisy...

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

large portions & super delicious food!

December 21, 2023

Overrated spot. Not sure why people line up for it. I guess people go for the decorations? They have a lobby but youre not allowed to wait there. The wait staff will rudely ask you to leave even if its a super cold day. Might as well go to another spot instead of waiting out in the cold or having to grab a drink elsewhere. Food itself is average. They try to mix things up to make it more modern but its nothing special. Not worth it for the wait and combine that with the service, I will definitely not be back.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Good place, good quality! The food is great and servers are friendly. Especially try the spicy creamy udon. Recommended dishes Deep Fried Squid

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Great vibe and delicious food

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

One of the best Korean restaurant, bar in downtown Toronto. Love the atmosphere and food

December 21, 2023

I ordered the Budae Jjigae on UberEats.. and there was mold and dust on the lid of the food..? No idea how old these containers are or how they store it or how clean the store is kept but it is so unhygienic and gross.. If that is on the packaging, how do I know my food is safe to eat.. And the ingredients in the soup, huge chunks of cabbage that were so stale and smelly; its like all the ingredients were just thrown into a pot and barely stirred. I try to understand many things because restaurants can get busy and everyone is working hard but this is just so unappealing, I dont think Ill order from here again.. so disappointing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Lots of people on a Tuesday night at around 7:00pm. You write your name on a list and they call you when the table is ready. Waited around an hour for a table of 5 people. Food was good, tasty, good portions, but took around 45 minutes-1 hour to arrive as the kitchen was very busy. Overall good experience, would recommend coming later in the night if you want a quick seat.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

One of my best Korean restaurant The mood inside the restaurant is really beautiful with all the lights

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great Korean food.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Everything we ordered here tasted very good! They can even adjust if you wanted meat free or not! Very accommodating, and provided nice service.

December 21, 2023

i dont usually leave reviews. this spot needs to know basic and common sense FOH customer service. Please 4/11 Tuesday night time shift waiter needs to know it. He has no common sense, rude and arrogant.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

This is honestly a SOLID place. The vibes, the food & the staff are all great! The calamari was really soft and chewy but crispy on the outside, chicken was crispy and juicy & the udon (my favourite) were bomb (so flavourful!!) I m giving it a 4 as it is on the pricey side but the dishes are huge! You can get pretty good Korean food for less but if you re looking for a good date night or to chill with a couple friends it s nice - just be mindful that seating is a bit tight and the restaurant is small - other than that pretty great! I went during spring, but their patio must be POPPIn in the summer, it s huge! Check it out this season :) Experience it if you re curious, but this is a solid spot!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Good place to hang around on the church street with your friends or family. Food is good and prices are reasonable.

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

If you go and eat it in person, its unfriendly and youre dissatisfied... If you order an Uber, the food comes out strangely and youre dissatisfied... The cabbage in the budae jjigae is just raw... Crunchy! The Chinese vermicelli inside the steamed chicken is only hard at the end because it is not soaked until the end! The packaging is also poor.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

I had an amazing experience at this restaurant! The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, and the food was truly delicious.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Long waiting line if you arrive late. The food is amazing though! Don t get a patio seat cuz the homeless people bothered us when we re eating.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Hands down best spicy creamy udon in the town

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

I recently visited a Korean restaurant in my neighborhood and it was an amazing experience.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

I like it best meals and best restaurant

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Amazing restaurant

★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Honestly kinda average, do I recommend it? Not really. Only if youre looking for an asian drinking place. I mean the vibe is good however, since theres not many asian drinking pub bar places downtown, other than Ewah... and Ewah is ugh already. Its weird that they dont have any draft beers for Toronto... so the price really adds up if youre looking for a drink... youre better off going somewhere else. If the price of soju theyre selling was lowered down towards $15 instead, the amount of beer bottles they sell would skyrocket. Why? Its because thats the style in Korean drinking culture. Lots and lots of bottles of beer to balance out the soju bottles when mixing. The style of food is authentic to Korean drinking establishments in Korea. Ive lived there, therefore I can make a fair comparison. This place is full of Koreans and its NOT a place you can talk to strangers unlike Korea. The food was decent tho, but slightly expensive, but hey, its in the middle of Church St. You know what youre getting into when you come to popular areas to eat/drink.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Went to POCHA 1989 with my wife for dinner and it was a pleasant visit. They have delicious food with lots of variety. I liked that the menu has a list of most popular items. The ambiance was very lively which I appreciated very much. Lots of parking behind the building in the underground. Highly recommended.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Hands down one of my favorite places for Korean food and drinks with friends. Pocha has a long waitlist on weekends so either plan earlier or go on a weekday. I love all their Tteok-bokki dishes spicy or carbonara. It s so comforting during the colder days, but also a good meal for all occasions. If you order any rice you have to try mixing it with this dish. I also like how accommodating they are with my nut allergies and could remove the garnish (contains nuts) from their Soy Deep Fried Chicken dish. The rest of the dishes I had like Korean Fried Rice, Budae Soup, and Oden Soup were pretty good too. However I would say the tteok-bokki dishes and fried chicken are the main stars here.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Fried chicken is my favorite dish in this restaurant

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Love the ambience. Food portions are enormous. Service somewhat slow, but more than made up for by the how tasty and gorgeous the food is! Highly recommend making a reservation in advance

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The only good thing about this place is the atmosphere. Food is typical fast food quality, but for $25-30 per plate. The taste is fine, however the service is just really bad. Would not go back again, just buy alc at LCBO and ramen at a convenience store.

December 21, 2023

The amount of food was too small and the rice balls were undercooked so it was difficult to eat.

December 21, 2023

I had ordered braised chicken in soy sauce and they literally gave me 6 or 7 pieces of chicken only. I really disappointed at all. The rice was undercooked as well. I had ordered since 2021 and it changed a lot when i compare to past and now.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Its so delicious and theres so much food!!!

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Not many choices in menu

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

food was really tasty and the service was awesome thank you!

December 21, 2023

Continuously called them but kept ignoring my call. my Uber order was forgotten with my money being charged. The restaurant called me back instantly when I gave them a 1star review and asked if I can cancel it. The food never arrived and took me several days to get my money refunded from Uber. Although I understand that the store was busy when I placed my order, their process is very unprofessional and not understandable. They should not do delivery services. I expect better when I am paying 3-5$ for delivery, 3-5$ for service fee ( which sounds ridiculous considering their terrible delivery system), and 18% for tipping. If you are willing to go to this place, visit them in person.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Great service and the food is soo good! Best place to eat during the patio season !

★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Servers were non-existent so you better order everything you need on the first go. The food was generally really good, if a little pricey ($60 between two people for fries and a main). Atmosphere was meh. This place would be good for take out, but I dont recommend eatting in here.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

I experienced great food and great service tonight. I m sure its the best Korean restaurant in Toronto

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

This might be one of the best restaurants I have been to in the city. Great patio, service is so friendly and the food is absolutely amazing. We had the Spicy Creamy Udon, Oden Soup, and Fried Chicken in both a sesame sauce and a sweet and spicy sauce. I loved everything. I dont know how this place doesnt have 5 stars across the board.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Absolutely incredible experience and the most hospitable servers. The food was delicious. Easily some of the best Korean food ai ve had in Toronto. Would recommend.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Excellent!! It s a place to discover!!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

So good! Have been back twice in the three days now. Amazing vibe amazing food and amazing quick service. Did I mention they are open until 2.30 so late night munchies are sorted :)

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

so good!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

So cozy and homey. Will visit again for their ramen

December 21, 2023

Fried chicken was mostly soggy batter. Chicken was not fresh. Bulgogi was disappointing and flavourless. Really not sure why this place is popular.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Pretty good food, and big portions. Good for a night chill out. Cute and lively decor, the patio looks great for the summer vibe, but wasn t able to get it, but the inside was very nice as well. I Got the Spicy Rose Creamy Rice Cake 10/10, and Deep Fried Boneless Chicken with Soy Sauce 8/10.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Really large portions. All the Bulgogi dishes are delicious. Of all the times we ve been here, the service has always been pleasant. Great neighbourhood gem.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

SO. FREAKING. GOOD. The food is delicious, the portions are very generous, the atmosphere is cool and laid back and the staff are lovely. Perfect for a rainy day or a chill night out. Got the spicy rose tteokboki and the soy ssauce fried chicken, both yummy

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Cool bar vibe

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The chicken I ordered wasnt so freshed. The spicy and sweet sauce was too salty. The fried squid has too much flour, and it wasnt fully cooked. Toco Wasabi was also really salty. The only thing that was good is the big patio.

★★★★
December 21, 2023

Every food is good. A plate of boneless chicken feet with rice ball is 45 dollars, i think its better to order other menu Food

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Food is average but atmosphere and location is great!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Service was wonderful, we got checked up on often and the food didnt take long to arrive.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The food was delicious and definitely tasted like authentic Korean. That said, it is on the pricier side and I dont think it needs to be.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

A go-to on Church at 2a.m. when all hope is lost. The K-pop boiz never disappoint.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Very fine cuisine

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Pretty amazing atmosphere with a number of customers sitting outside at the patio with beautiful lights on a late summer night.. favorite dish out of three, spicy creamy udon is evil comfort food but really so tasty. Fried chicken is good too and comes in large portions. Not impressed by the bulgogi with rice tho because the rice seemed to have dried out and beef pieces are too scattered. Overall still a very decent dinning experience!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Delicious food, very nice made and full of flavors. The restaurant has a lack of atmosphere, but the food impeccable.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Food is actually very good here. Highly recommend the spicy rose creamy rice cake and army stew! Cute atmosphere with palm tree decorations.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

I have very little idea of what I ate for an appetizer, but isnt that half the fun? Reasonable prices and great look-and-feel. Stop by for some cheap noods with a friend. The staff were friendly, but very hands off. Be prepared to hunt down someone for water. It was also difficult to get some recommendations based on dietary restrictions.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Chicken is so tasty with a lot of sliced almond and green onion. Every portion they have is for more than 2 people. Seafood creamy pasta had squid, shrimp and seaweed which is even tasty after cooling.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Fantastic Korean bar with snacks and food. Love their flavored Soju and the atmosphere for drinking. Servers are helpful and friendly. My only complaint is that the drinks are slightly pricey but isnt in Toronto these days. Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great little Korean hotpot place in the middle of the village. People watching here was fun and the food is authentic! Try the army stew

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The service was pretty bad but the food was good.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Koran restaurant to try, the atmosphere is friendly, the options are varied and the waiters are nice

December 21, 2023

Waiters didn t attempt to take our order until we had to wave aggressively to get their attention, and when taken order the food took extremely long for each of us and had to ask multiple times to when our food was gonna arrive (4 plates total two of the same exact menu item). Difficulty when dividing the bill even though told beforehand we will be splitting individually. Overall bad service don t recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The first time I came here is with my friend, and I truly like the food taste there. In near the Sheppard Yonge Stn, and its open for a new spot, I couldnt try it yet but I can say the cozy vibes and tasty food here make me always want to have to come back next time Background Rate: 8.5/ 10 Food Rate: 8/10 Recommend coming: 9/10

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

The food really delicious. Recommended people to come here

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Can everyone order this rice ball? It s so delicious that I can t stop eating it. The fish cake soup is as delicious as expected. The spicy cream udon really exceeded my expectations. I didn t plan to order it. It turned out not to be greasy at all and was quite delicious.

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Westernized Korean food.

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Got the braised chicken with soy sauce. Friends got the beef Bulgogi on rice and kimchi jigae with pork belly. The broth for the braised chicken was good. Friends said the beef Bulgogi kimchi jigae were solid choices as well. Portions are pretty big. Waited a long time for the food though. Would come back to try the other foods they have there too.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

super yummy. I ordered the fried chicken and rice balls. apparently theyre usually very busy but the time I went had no wait.

December 21, 2023

Food

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Worst experience of my life, i had boneless chicken legs, asked the waitress if its very spicy because i cannot eat spicy food and she said a little, i ended up paying 50$ to eat rice, couldnt even eat 1 pc of the legs. First and last time

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great food, nice ambiance and great service. I tried spicy creamy udon, mala ttokbokki, and fried chicken. Fried chicken is a must and the other food was great too. Not enough drink options for non Korean but its alright. Hope they can add more non korean drinks like Jin&tonic, vodka craberry etc. Other than that, the food is great and we had a great time!

★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Sticky, greasy

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The pancakes with ice cream is delicious. I would definitely come back for this dessert and to try more food.

★★★
December 21, 2023

Food was amazing but only 3 servers even their patio was opened and it was full. It took forever to order extra beer. And they were not really kind or friendly. Food : 5/5

★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The vibes were great but the food lacked in flavor

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

I love this spot! It was my first time coming here and I will def come back again. I love the pork belly kimchi jjigae we got. It reminds me of a sour pork Filipino dish that I really love. The ambiance is good and i love how the place is so instagrammable. Definitely a spot to have drinks and food with friends.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The food is delicious. I enjoyed it. And I recommend it. Its not the right style to go with alcohol, but it was delicious haha.

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Way over priced and service was horrible

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Big portions and great atmosphere:)

★★★★
December 21, 2023

Ordered through Uber Eats Bit on the pricier side for Korean menu, but I was satisfied. Bulgogi tasted great. Kimchi stew lacked deep flavour, but its huge portion made up for it (more than enough for two servings). Despite slightly high price, I was satisfied with both menu.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Pocha 1989 offers a variety of shareable portions. We got the crispy soy chicken to share between 3 people and we were stuffed! Although the food was great, we waited over 45 minutes for the chicken to arrive which was unexpected. Nevertheless, I look forward to trying other dishes!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The food was so so good. We ordered the army stew and soy sauce fried rice cakes and both were so flavourful and yummy. The prices seem steep but the large portion sizes make it worth it. There were two of us and we left the place STUFFED and with leftover rice cakes.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

The food was delicious and the server was very friendly.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The decor was great, and the service was okay. Food portions were big - enough for two people. Id recommend going with a bigger group (3 or more), just be aware that bigger groups cannot split the bill.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Awesome mood, yummy foods, friendly staffs also. Perfect time in here!!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great classic bar food (fried chicken, fries, fish cake soup). Drinks are standard soju and rice wine. Atmosphere is great. I would avoid the dessert (ordered it last time and it was way too sweet and the bingsoo was not very good)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Parking: Not applicable

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

I went to this place today. its was a busy night, but severs were nice and foods here was really amazing!! It s busy here every day, but every dish is delicious and the service is good

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Pretty typical Korean restauraunt/bar

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

I came as a group of 4. Atmosphere, food and music were amazing. Definitely will visit again! I strongly recommend rose rice cake and fried chickens.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

The food here is so delicious and Dave is so handsome and so nice that Ill be coming here forever! I love you Dave~~ big fan of pocha especially kimchi porkbelly soup so delicious. The server Dave is so nice and handsome.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

The chicken feet is ten out of ten. But there is almost always a long waiting line.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Food was fresh and hot. The portions a big enough for two. The restaurant is always busy but not overly loud. The service was fast and the servers were pleasant and knowledgeable. Perfect for a casual dining for two or with friends.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

This place feels like youre in Seoul! Got the spicy rose udon, army stew and a fried chicken. Top 3 fried chicken in the city. The atmosphere is great for drinks!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Surprisingly delicious and large serving of food! Rose teokboki was delicious. They do take their time to come to your table. The restaurant gets full very quickly!

★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

All dishes were soups. Limited menu. Expensive. Group of us went and spent 40 each but left hungry. Kid-friendliness: Not at all kid friendly

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Really big portions (spicy rose cream rice cake could have fed 3) and tasty plates. Great spot to dine family style.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Pocha 1989 is a great local Korean bar spot to spend an evening with close friends over a few bottles and soju and great late night bites! Upon entering, I saw quite a few tables with the FIsh Cake Soup in hotpot style which is a great meal to share especially to warm up from the frigid winters. The broth is light but with the right amount of seasoning to accentuate the fish cakes. The fried octopus was fried perfectly with the right amount of batter to pair with the perfectly cooked meat of the octopus! It pairs with the Yakult Soju! The service that me and my friends was quite good as the waitress was quite attentive with the amount of tables to help out with. I cant wait for my next visit!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Cool spot to hang out with friends in Korean vibes. The food was kinda fusion style which was interesting. I recommend the spicy creamy udon and fried chicken

December 21, 2022

The girl server tonight was soooooo mean and not respectful. The girl s hoodie says new start . She poured water on my phone and she saw it but didn t say sorry and just walked away. Even knowing the environment is noisy and music is loud, she keeps speaking with low voice on purpose. And lots of other things showing she s mean. The server here are not even trained. Would ve go to Ehwa next time.