UPDATE 2020-Sept.13: In another heartbreaking loss of a major GTA buffet due to the forced COVID-19 closures, Genghis Khan Mongolian Grill will not be reopening as per its owner.Genghis Khan Mongolian Grill is located at 900 Don Mills Road, two lights north of Eglinton in North York / midtown Toronto. The Mongolian Grill has a large interior, with an imposing grill area.
The interior of the Mongolian Grill is gorgeous, the serving steamers shine and are very attractive-looking and have swing-up lids. Large original murals of life in the Mongolian steppes decorate three of the wall sections. The restaurant features both a buffet and of course the grill, where a diner fills a bowl with a myriad of possible ingredients and gives it to the chef who cooks it on the massive solid cast-iron grill, then returns it in a larger bowl, so the diner can fill their initial bowl to the brim without worrying about later spillage. I went for weekday lunch which was $18. $2.99 AYCD pop is available.
Mongolian Grill provides recipes on the diner menu paper which show possible combinations, but for my first grill I improvised and chose beef, broccoli, udon, mushrooms, spinach and pineapple, seasoned with cilantro, black bean, chili oil and garlic paste. The beef is from nice tender cut. The results were awesome… I could be a chef!
From the buffet, General Tao chicken was deliciously different with large tender pieces of chicken and not over-sauced; I absolutely loved it. Bourbon chicken was also moist and tender and had excellent spicing. Fish filets were a bit dry, but with the tartar sauce that was not too noticeable.
Chicken wings were moist, fresh and delicious. Sweet and sour pork was excellent, much better than takeout to be certain, with more flavor then just sweetness. Crispy tofu with garlic was good with an interesting flavor. Kung pao fish was very good to excellent with a great sauce.
Mongolian Grill has dim sum with six steamers. Steamed dumplings were good but needed some sauce. Fried dumplings were more flavorful, also authentically spiced. Spring rolls were very good and the plum sauce was awesome: it was actually almost all plum rather than plum-flavored liquid sugar as is found elsewhere, clearly made on premises and better than any other I've had. Chicken shiu mai was excellent and authentically spiced. Scallion balls were good and subtly flavoured.
Salt and pepper chicken was very good. Even boring old mixed vegetables were excellent, with a nice sauce. Beef with rice noodles was very good with smokey savory beef; it also needed some of the nearby sauce, but that is why it was nearby. Hot and sour soup was phenomenally good; rather than overwhelming sourness there was overwhelming deliciouness. Mushroom soup was so far the only thing without as much flavor as it should have had, but it just needed a bit of salt to come to life. Coconut custard dumplings were wonderfully translucent and tasty. Steamed pork dumplings were very good, with a bright flavor. String beans were very good in a light garlic sauce. Stir-fried rice noodles also very good. Potato and egg salad was good and interestingly different spicing. Whole okra is a dish that is not common; it had subtle seasoning and was good.For my second trip to the big grill: chicken, rice noodles, green and red pepper, liquid ginger, ginger paste, bok choy, Mongolian sauce, and tofu... yummy! Again all those flavors melded well; the ingredients are very fresh and good in appearance, cooked just long enough that the vegetables aren't soggy and retain their flavor.
Finally, it was time for dessert, there is a chocolate fountain and ice grinder with flavor array present. I tried the latter and it was delicious and unique. Chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and cookies-and-cream ice creams were all excellent. Mocha mousse cake was very good and not overly sweet. Tiger brownie was very good... another item that should be everywhere. Cream puffs were good. Brownies were excellent.I had a wonderful lunch and I'm looking very forward to returning with Mishy.
This is one of the best Chinese AYCE's I have ever been to, and is more authentic and interesting than other similar-quality ones such as the Mandarin (which is also more expensive.) Everything was fresh and expertly made, and the quality and attention to detail showed. I was especially impressed that even though the grill is the star of the show and the name of the establishment, the buffet items were still superior to any elsewhere. It was definitely worth the price.
Rating: 9.5-10/10
