Mix2 Grill & Hotpot is located at 426 Dundas St. W., just e. of Spadina in downtown Toronto's Chinatown district. (It's very close to Kung Fu Chinese Beef which we've also reviewed.) As could be gathered from the name, Mix2 offers both table-top grill and hotpot and the tables have both facilities. ACYD pop is available for $3.50 with the caveat that the entire table need to purchase it (guess they are cutting down on ... sharing.) Canned non-AYCD pop is also available for $2; Coke Zero is offered. Mix2 uses electric grills rather than gas which seems to be the trend these days, and it's a welcome change. Reusable chopsticks are provided which is also good. Mix2 has an oddly interesting decor of steel mesh between the aisles which made me feel like I was in a rough bar where they need it to block bottles being thrown at the performers. There is no soup on menu though bowls are provided.
Mishy loved the marinated beef and made sure that I noted this for the record. Honey garlic and cheese & bacon sausage were both very good. Popcorn chicken is seasoned with the same seasoning mix provided at table and I loved it, although Mishy said it was too salty. Green salad was good and fresh in a nice house balsamic dressing. Spring rolls are a little bland but that's okay because they can be perked up with the sauces from the sauce/spice buffet table.
I should have guessed that the “spiciness” in the “spicy” chicken wings meant unbearable heat, because it certainly was and ruined the meal for the next 10 to 15 minutes; unfortunate, because they were tasty other than that. Happily it was more than made up for by the AAA beef which was excellent and its seasoning. The other beef was not the best cut but was still quite tasty probably also due to the seasoning. Marinated chicken thigh was excellent and possibly the high part of the meal. The special chicken breast was also quite good although not as seasoned.
I even tried a couple of mussels just to reaffirm my hatred of most seafood and yes it is still there; I consider them starvation-only food. Fish fillet was actually quite good as it was well-seasoned and was fresh. As well the shrimp were excellent which, was also unexpected as being seafood I'm not as much into them as other meats.
For dessert, Mishy loved the chocolate ice cream saying it was absolutely beautiful and among the best she had ever had. I tried some (even though I was still on dinner at the time) and it was extremely good and full of rich dark chocolate notes. Vanilla ice cream was quite good and also fresh and not freezer-burned. Butterscotch ice cream was excellent and also very fresh and no freezer burn. Fried sticky rice cake was delicious and I loved the consistency with the slightly crunchy outer shell. Brown sugar jelly was very mildly flavoured having slightly sweetening from the brown sugar although it did have some raisins thrown in.
The all-inclusive with both is $43.99 weekends and it includes a pot of broth; prices are all-day. However Mishy is right off of hotpots these days and I prefer the grill, so we opted for just that which is $39.99. There is a discount of 5% off for paying cash. Unfortunately there is also a mandatory 15% tip for all parties no matter what size, even just a couple, which I don’t agree with. I note that the base cost is about $8 more expensive than Gyubee for the same hours, however has a better beef option available, more and unlimited desserts, so not that bad of a deal. Other than the “spicy” chicken wings, it was certainly enjoyable.
Rating: 8 / 10
