Nakwon Kisa is located at 4985 Yonge St. in North York, which is north-central Toronto, very close to the Yonge and Sheppard subway interchange. Nakwon seems to be a small chain as has at least three locations, but this is the first we’ve been to. It was very busy (given the low price) and I think we were the only non-Koreans there at least for the first half of our stay, which is good as this usually means quality and authenticity. Boricha roasted barley tea (or was it oksusu-cha roasted corn tea?) is included at table so we didn't have to buy any beverages... we weren't absolutely sure but are pretty confident it's the former. Note that there is a 75 minute time limit. I was able to comfortably get through everything without running into it.
Cream soup reminded us of cream of chicken and was delicious, unexpectedly so. Miso soup was also very good, savoury and plenty of dashi... better than at many Japanese places we've been to as it was not watered down. Egg salad was made with apple and was unexpectedly good combination that we've never had before. Kimchi as usual was too hot, but at least it wasn't agonizingly so.
Tteokbokki, called spicy rice cake here, was very good, though it’s still too hot spicy for my taste. Pork and chicken cutlets, which are the same as katsu in Japanese restaurants, were both very good. There is sauce nearby in a pump dispenser which is also labelled as “Katsu sauce” but it's unlike the Japanese sauce and taste more tomatoey... I actually preferred them dry and Mishy commented that she loved the chicken cutlet as well. She also liked the beef bulgogi, and I loved it, especially the quantity available. It had a very nice flavour and I ended up having seconds. Even the soy-braised short ribs were very good and I'm usually not big on ribs.
Using the QR code on the menu, gimbap can be ordered, which is very much like maki rolls and included without additional cost. I had the yubu which is tofu. The available soy sauce was quite good, and not salty at all but a sweet soy-based sauce. The two of them were quite delicious together. There’s also ramen and drinks available from the same QR-code menu, however they all cost extra. Diners can make their own bibimbap from purple rice and ingredients from the bibimbap station including egg strips, bean sprouts, seaweed aka nori, radish. There’s red sriracha-like sauce, and a little of the soy completed it. The result was quite good!
For dessert, there is a freezer full of Melona and various Korean bars at the front. I had a banana Melona. Service was very good with dirty plates being removed almost immediately. The food was as good as any Korean AYCE not self-identified as discount, but it certainly was discount at only $20.99 for the weekend lunch buffet. (It’s $30.99 for weekend dinner, but only $18.99 for lunch on weekdays.) Everything was fresh and well-made. These days this is a fantastic price and I don’t even have enough points to express it.
Rating: 9-9.5 / 10 + 2-2.5 value adjustment = 11-12 / 10 = 10 / 10
