I Saw the Swine (4$ plus tax) - Kom Jug Yuen @ 371 Spadina Ave.

Don't come near me because I think I have swine fever! Fever for the tantalizing barbecued pork at Kom Jug Yuen that is.

A friend mentioned seeing a pink neon construction paper sign outside of a quaint Chinese restaurant on Spadina that read: "Best BBQ Pork in North America -4$". Well, I didn't believe him, so I decided to go and see the sign. I saw the sign, and it opened up my eyes, I saw the swine.

Upon entering this unassuming, small Chinese restaurant you are most likely going to start making some assumptions. Well don't. Because you don't know anything, and even if you did it wouldn't stop me, or anyone else who's tried the bbq pork here from going back.

The walls are lined with pictures of dishes they serve as well as neon construction paper signs (similar to the one that first caught my friend's attention) that list prices for restaurant specials. The decor is... interesting. My favorite work of art is the painting of the flying ponies. But, I digress.

Back to the topic of interest. Promptly after you are seated, one of the friendly staff at the restaurant will bring you a complementary bowl of soup and some hot tea. The soup is fairly simple; it consists of a nice broth, some potatoes, carrots, and on some occasions, what I am guessing is pork. It does a great job of whetting the appetite for the bounty to come. If this is your first visit to Kom Jug Yuen, I would definitely recommend the dish they claim is the best in North America.

For 4$ (yes 4$!) you get a plate of steamed rice, topped with a generous amount of bbq pork, along with some steamed greens. My goodness the pork... It is so so tasty. It is amazingly moist and flavourful. The seasoning they use finds its way to the centre of every morsel. The best part has to be the glaze. It is sweet, yet savoury, and a perfect red hue. With your serving, you're likely to get some end pieces. Consider them the "red smarties" of your meal. Save them until the end and then relish in their chewy, candied, perfection. I think I'm salivating as I write this and I just had the stuff less than two hours ago. The meal is topped off with some fresh orange slices and a fortune cookie. Recap: Tea, Soup, BBQ Pork/Rice/Greens, Orange Slices, Fortune Cookie. $4.

I have no idea how the meal is only 4 bucks. It blows my mind. If I was to buy the pork and cook it myself I doubt it would be any cheaper, and nowhere nearly as good. I'd just end up with a sticky kitchen.

Amongst the media frenzy of swine flu news, I've read articles on how the present swine flu epidemic is causing pork prices to plummet because of the mass ignorance and lack of awareness in the general population. People think that they can get swine flu from pork and thus aren't buying it. Call me a twisted optimist, but maybe there is an upside to this whole "end of the world" flu thing. As long as these dummies think they'll get the swine flu from spareribs there will be $4 bbq pork at Kom Jug Yuen. Go get it before this all dies down.


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Something like a Pho-nomenon (7$ plus tax) - Pho Hung @ 350 Spadina Ave.

Pho - Some speculate that the name comes from the French word feu (fire), as in the dish pot-au-feu, which similarly to pho uses the French method of adding charred o­nion to the broth which enhances both colour and flavour. Some people believe the origin of the word to be the Chinese currency fen.

Fen or feu, this delicious Vietnamese dish has kept me coming back to Pho Hung for at least a weekly visit. I've sampled from the menu, ordering the likes of Bun cha (vermicelli noodles, grilled pork and some spring rolls), and a variety of Pho bowls, and I think I've finally decided on my fave meal.

Number 2 on the menu, Pho with rare beef, is a simple dish in complicated times. Comprised of a sizable serving of thinly sliced rare beef, al dente vermicelli noodles, and a perfectly seasoned broth, this bowl of goodness is definitely a soup that eats like a meal.

You also have the option to deck your pho out with crispy bean sprouts and fresh basil. Last but not least, if you fancy your pho a little spicier, douse it with the readily available sriracha and hoi-sin sauce each table comes equipped with. I don't like to talk politics, but when it comes to sriracha, I'm liberal.

Just when you think things couldn't get any better you get the bill - 7$ plus tax.

I never really agree with most ratings so I'll spare you the ambiguity. I won't be using ratings on this blog. If I'm writing about it, it means that I think it's good. Check out Pho Hung and see for yourself, I think you'll enjoy.


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Are you a student? Are you cheap? Do you like food?

If so you've come to the right place.

I've recently moved to Toronto to start grad school.

I heard Toronto has great food.

I'm on a quest to find cheap and tasty meals.

If you have any suggestions feel free to pass them on.