ODDSEOUL

I used to love oddseoul. I hadn’t been back since before COVID, but it was one of my go to spots. It was one of the only places in the city that wasn’t fast food and still served food after midnight. We would end so many nights there. It had such a good vibe and the food was always memorable. This time was really disappointing. The japchae noodles were good and tasted pretty much how I remember them. But the avocado slaw was completely different. I don’t remember it having spinach before, and it used to be chopped smaller and easier to eat. This time it was drenched in vinegar. Way too acidic and overpowering. We ordered the Korean fried rice and it was extremely salty. Not well seasoned. Just salty to the point where it wasn’t enjoyable. We also had the Loosey (version of a cheeseburger). The meat was very overcooked and dry. But what really bothered me was the response when we asked for a knife to cut it into smaller pieces to share. We were told they don’t have knives. Fine. Then I asked if they could cut it in the kitchen and was told no. That’s not about “concept.” If a customer makes a simple, reasonable request, you listen. Refusing to help in any way is ridiculous. Feedback should always be passed along. On top of that, the little deep fried pork bellies, which used to be one of the best things on the menu, are gone. Those were amazing and honestly part of what made this place special. It’s just sad because this used to be such a staple for late nights. I really hope they bring back the quality and some of the items that made it great. Right now, it doesn’t feel like the Odd Soul I remember.

I remember pre-COVID, this place was packed all the time. It's under new management, the menu is a bit shorter, and I'm missing what was special about this place, because it is not the only "grunge decor, Korean fusion small plates" place around anymore. (Don't get me started on small plates 😑) Or maybe there was nothing special about it all along aside from being an unmarked spot on Ossington...? Service was good, cocktail was fine but I noticed some inconsistencies on the cocktails going out. Squash poutine was alright, wish it was hotter and had more kimchi ($10 on happy hour).

We usually go to this little neighbourhood spot when we want a casual bite and a drink, but with a bit of a twist. Oddseul is always comfortably full and almost always has two heroes working, one in the front and one in the back. This time, we tried the philly sandwich and the kimchi poutine. Both were delicious and very comforting. The drink I ordered wasn’t very strong, which I’ve noticed with their cocktails before, sometimes I like that, sometimes I don’t. Although I slightly prefer its sister spot, we somehow end up here at least once a year. And it’s always nice.

Absolutely disgusting place. The underside of the table was covered in gum. I told my server and he said there was no space elsewhere and he couldn’t clean it now. He was also pretty aloof, and he tried to seat an extra 4 people at our table, which already the shared table barely had space for us let alone another group. We left before we ordered, no appetite after seeing the gum.

Oddseoul is one of those hidden gems you almost miss — no sign, tucked just off Queen and Ossington, I’ve been here so many times over the years and finally decided to leave a review. The vibe is what I love most — laid-back, a bit grungy in the best way, with ‘90s hip hop usually playing and great drinks to match. Food-wise, there are a few staples I always come back to: • The Loosey – their take on a Big Mac with a Korean twist. So good. • Bulgogi Cheesesteak – loaded, super flavourful • Kimchi Fried Rice – perfectly balanced and satisfying While they often rotate menu items, these 3 have been on the menu for a while, and for good reason — they never miss. On a recent visit, I also tried the KFC wings — big portions, though the sauce was a bit salty for me. The Jap Chae was nice too, but didn’t blow me away. One thing I wasn’t crazy about: we were given wooden utensils on the patio. Not sure if it’s a new thing or just for outside seating, but it wasn’t ideal. Other than that, Oddseoul is still one of my favourite lowkey spots for good food, good music, and solid drinks. Always excited to see what they come up with next!

Amazing experience!! The food was tasty and the vibe was nice, but what made it even better was Joey. Super friendly and attentive – he really made the night enjoyable. Definitely recommend!!!🤍

Service 0/10* Food 10/10 (*except for the server who helped us at the end, we appreciate you) I had a reservation and when we got there they didn’t have a table for us. Bartender was rude, unapologetic, gave us different drinks than what we ordered without any explanation. Ignored us for the rest of the evening. Waited 45 minutes for food and ended up taking it to go because we were so disappointed with the bartender’s attitude and wanted to get out of there. Food was amazing though.

The food was fantastic and the service was quick and lovely. We sat on the patio, which was great. Odd that they give wooden forks, but it didn’t take away from the experience.

Cute spot to go with small groups on Ossington strip. Food was unique and an absolute 10/10. Drinks were less so but in all honesty, this is where you go for a late night poutine (um kimchi, tempura squash, and cheese curd?! Hello). Fast and friendly service.

The place is tiny but cozy. The food explodes with flavour! My friends and I ordered the chicken wings, jap che and baos. The staff is also very friendly and gave us good tips on what to order.

Came in on a random Tuesday night as soon as they opened, and we were lucky to be seated at the table of our choice. The service in here was awesome because everyone was so attentive and checked in just to say hi and not interrupt conversations but in a really friendly way. There was three of us were here, and we decided to share almost everything that we ordered and nothing failed our expectations. My favourite was the bao bun and the Philly cheesesteak. It's a really small intimate environment and within an hour it was packed with a few bar seats left! Can't wait to come back and try more of things on the menu.

Odd Seoul is an ossington favourite. We absolutely love this Korean fusion they offer. From incredible jap chae to a Korean inspired poutine, you can't go wrong with anything on their menu. It's a crowded spot and the only thing that I wish was done better is cleanliness. The countertops and floors tend to look a little dirtier than most other restaurants. This place is a must visit spot! Try anything on their menu, you won't be disappointed

The prices are good and the food tastes good but overall this place has some shortfalls. The shareable plates are well designed, portions are for two. The food came out very quickly, think 3-5 minutes. It tastes great but you can tell they just reheat certain meals. For example the Bao sandwich was warm but the meat was cold. This was generally the theme, the food was just slightly warm, reheated. Also they had the music so goddamn loud you had to shout to hear anything. I assume people mainly come for drinks rather than food which would make more sense If the prices weren't decent I'd give it a 2. Closer to a 2 than a 4

Our friends were looking for a patio to enjoy the nice weather on a Saturday and stumbled upon Odd Seoul because all other patios were packed. The patio itself was hidden at the back of the restaurant/bar and was decorated very cute and had backyard vibes. The inside of the bar itself was dim lit and dive bar atmosphere. The service was friendly, and they didn't charge us gratuity for our large group. The food here is mediocre, I only ordered 2 items: Japchae ($15) and bulgogi cheesesteak ($12). The portion for the Japchae was quite small for the price and it was really salty - tasted like they added too much soy sauce maybe. It didn't taste authentic. The bulgogi cheesesteak was good but nothing amazing. The bread reminded me of a Vietnamese "Banh mi", not bad for $12. The cocktail drinks were okay, I would say average pricing for cocktails at bars nowadays ($17 before tax and tip). However, the soju was ridiculously marked up in price at $30/bottle. Would I come back? Probably not, the food is not what I would crave and I feel like there are better bars to check out on Ossington.

We were looking for somewhere to grab an early dinner on New Year's Eve, and Oddseoul was offered as a suggestion. I'd been years earlier and I remembered liking the food, so I was definitely into the idea. We showed up a little after 6:00 and were seated at a long, shared table, but fortunately nobody sat directly next to us. We figured we'd grab a few dishes and share them between us: Spicy Scallion and Avocado Slaw ("Mixed greens, cabbage, pickled chillies, bell peppers, crispy shallots, sweet and spicy sesame dressing"): I was expecting a small little salad but this is a surprisingly (and impressively) enormous concoction. It tastes great, too. The various components all work really well together, and that sweet and spicy sesame dressing is nothing short of addictive. Squash Poutine ("Tempura squash, cheese curds, curried gravy, roasted kimchi, pickled onions"): I'm not sure what I was expecting with this one, but this dish seriously exceeded my expectations. The delicious curried gravy is really what sets this apart from other similar dishes, while the roasted kimchi and pickled onions take the whole thing completely over the top. The Loosey ("Korean Big Mac, Served on Texas Toast") and Bulgogi Cheesesteak ("Sliced marinated steak, american cheese, sambal mayo, toasted baguette"): I had to get both of these because they sounded so amazing, and they definitely lived up to my expectations. They were presented in a fairly traditional way, but the ingredients and flavors set them apart from other similar dishes. Delicious. I also grabbed a couple of cocktails, the Best of the Best and the Neon Sour, and they were both excellent. Our server was friendly and helpful, but perhaps not quite as present as I would've preferred. (I might've ordered a third drink if she'd been around more.) Oddseoul is terrific and exactly the sort of place I love (i.e. a small hole in the wall). I'll be back soon.

Definitely fusion, definitely hip! There was a live DJ playing the night I came here with some friends who were visiting from out of town and we had planned for a long night of bar + food hopping in the area. Oddseoul had a long wait outside when we first arrived so we ended up checking out another spot a few minutes' walk away so we wouldn't get hangry in line. Once we came back to Oddseoul (I wanna say around 9pm?), the wait was a bit shorter, but there was definitely still a lineup outside. The food -- not bad! But also nothing to write home about. The ambiance -- cool! Like I said earlier, definitely hip. This meant that, for me, it was too dark and too loud for my taste. Definitely a fun time, but I couldn't hear my friends and was eager to settle up the bill and go onto the next place so we could have some good conversations. (it'd been a while since I'd seen these friends and I wanted to catchup!) The service -- A++! They were attentive, got our order correct, and somehow heard us over the music?? Maybe they can also read lips. Or they're just very well-versed in the menu options. Overall, definitely a fun time! Would recommend it as a fun spot to hit up, but wouldn't recommend it for a chill, haven't-seen-you-in-a-long-time-let's-catch-up moment.

March 26, 2023 - went here for dinner with some friends. The space is small but the atmosphere is nice and service was wonderful. The server always checked in on everyone. We ordered: KFC wings 3/5 Kimchi Fried Rice 2.5/5 Bulgogi Cheesesteak 2.5/5 Pork Belly Bao with a add on for $5 3/5 Jap Chae Salad 3/5 I liked the Kimchi Fried Rice, Pork Belly Bao and Jap Chae Salad. It was kind of a hit and miss for some of the food.

One of my favourite places in Toronto for Korean fusion. Another cute little gem in Ossington. I went a few weeks since lockdown restrictions lifted and was really anticipating a long wait just as I would pre-COVID. My table of 5 came a few minutes after opening and we were able to secure a seat at the high tops easily. The menu seems to have changed since pre pandemic. My favs: Squash poutine 5/5 -- it's so delicious with umami flavours lingering. Crispy and creamy all at the same time Pork belly taco 5/5 -- thick slice of pork belly given-- super flavourful and well seasoned. Pulls apart easily. New drink 5/5: I forget what the name of this is but it has lychee in it! Probably my favourite drink at Oddseoul to date.

Squash poutine was awful. Fried chicken was mid and overpriced. Service was great though bless them

Ossington is filled with lots of vibey spots and Oddseoul encapsulates that well. They have great service, banging music, and a cozy interior with a beautiful bar. The cocktails were good, but the food was a bit hit and miss. The bulgogi cheesesteak was a favourite, the chicken wings were a bit sweet and super messy to eat, and the fried rice was just okay. I would've been happy to give this place 4 stars but I had to knock one off for the bathrooms, which were in pretty abysmal shape; it looked like something out of a prison. Otherwise this was a cool spot definitely worth checking out.

Went here for late night eats. Fun, loud late night ambiance. Ordered the Neon sour which was delicious. Good wise it was generally unique and fun. However the dishes either had meat or none. Surprising number of non-meat dishes actually. We had: Squash poutine - Delicious. Excellent complex flavour. The curry gravy was a great touch. The Kim chi seems home made and not what we expected. Jap Chae - a little disappointed. We kept feeling like there should be meat somewhere. Pork belly bao - fantastic. Great flavour. Pork bellies were unctuous. Bulgogi cheesesteak - excellent. Huge. Filling. Duck fried rice - solid dish with lots of duck (9 ozs) Overall the portions were generous. We were 2 people and 5 was too much. Wings btw were not available the day we went. We will be back for good late night fun Korean food.

I was here last night I had a blast fantastic food great energy great music. A must try

Came here from out of town with a few friends. One of them claimed it was a "top ten meal of their life". High praise. Staff is great and managed to get us in late. Very delicious.

We stopped by this place on a Wednesday night while we visited Toronto from Maryland ! Baltimore does not have a good scene at all and after moving from NJ/NY area, my Fiancé and I have been deprived of good food ! A bartender at the Marriott told us about this place and I am SO glad she told us about Ossington strip ! It wasn't packed at all when we got there - also because we went during the COVID scare so that could be why it was a little dead . The bar upon walking in was very Vibey . Reminds my of a bar you can find in Brooklyn . The blonde bartender wasn't very friendly when we came in but then later on there was a brunette bartender that ended up taking care of us and she was very pleasant ! The other girl just seemed like she didn't want to be working -shrugs- . I love that they have a decent selection of cocktails and that they also have SAKE yummy !! We got the Galbi sizzling plate . Super fantastic flavor !!! I normally hate modernized fusion asian food but goodness in Toronto , they definitely know how to do it right . The only thing that lacked a little on this dish was the meat they used . It wasn't really Kalbi and the meat was a bit chewy . For the price , I think it would be smarter to use a better cut of meat ! We also got the kimchi fried rice which was absolutely delicious !!! Fusion styled but freken amazing and probably at the top of my list for kimchi fried rice Overall - such a great place to have a late night dinner at ! You won't find food like this anywhere else !

Finally hit up this place, I've heard many good things about the food here. Friend and I both ordered drinks to start; Spanish Harlem & the Liberace. For the food we ordered the squash poutine, it was super addicting, super soft squash fries and it was topped with curry gravy. We ordered the tempura prawns, it was super saucy and light. I wish there were more pieces. Lastly we got the loosey, which was a burger with loaf bread instead of burger buns. Overall, good food & drinks and amazing prices. However it could get quite loud from the music.

This one is for the odd soul's out there who enjoy a good tapas atmosphere with Korean-American fare. If you know me, you'd know that Korean hofs are some of my favorite spots in the world. Here at Odd Seoul, It's a perfect blend of Korean flavors and lively, loud atmosphere that's perfect for dinner or a stop in your evening. Wait was about an hour on a Friday evening and they're able to text you once your table is ready. Since it's a tight space, you may be sharing a long table with another party. The hardest part is when you begin ordering all your food and think, "how in the world am I going to keep everything on this table?" There were so many items to choose from and all of them were bomb. Some of our favorites were: - Squash Poutine - These fries don't need meat to make them delicious. Amazingly flavored and a great starter to the table. - Torched Mackerel - While on the smaller side, the fish was impressive for Instagram lovers and the smoky flavor was excellent. - Kimchee & Pork Belly Fried Rice - The heartiest dish we had and one of the best. It's served in a Chinese takeout container for looks and was a fabulous dish to split with friends. Order a round of drinks and keep the tapas rolling in for a fun evening. Despite having a larger party, we were able to get full off the different items we selected. If you can withstand the wait time and aromatic smells before your food arrives, definitely check this spot out.

Oddseoul is oddly mediocre as it is supposed to create the innovative fusion between cuisines. The sandwich tastes like sloppy joes, reminding me the Midwest households, too comfort to be gourmet. Kimchi fried rice is cold makes me feel like the chef is heartless the best part is the Bang Bang gelato across the street, strongly recommend.

A small pub like eatery thats easy to miss in Ossington. They have a tiny sign on their door that says the name of the place, so I suggest looking closely if it's your first time and you're trying to find it! We got there 5 mins after opening and almost half the tables were already full. The place is very dimly lit with a bunch of candles as the only light source. They have a pretty small menu and their portions are small. There's no description of the foods on their menu so I would ask a server for details if you have any allergies or aren't familiar with Korean food. The food is perfect for ordering a bunch of things to try and share with friends. We ordered the pork belly tacos, squash poutine, Korean fried chicken wings, and japchae. Tacos were great! They're fairly small but pretty filling. The pork was soft and definitely lots of flavoured packed into it. Squash poutine was also good. The gravy is actually a curry gravy that made this dish even more unique. The squash was crispy yet soft at the same time! Chicken wings were SUPER flavourful. They're drenched in a sweet and slightly spicy sauce, so be prepared to get your hands dirty. They could've been crispier in my opinion. Japchae was decent. I've had better from other Korean restaurants, but it was pretty good for a fusion place. It's a great place to grab a drink with friends and some small appetizer sized foods for a fair price. But again, make sure to come early since they get packed!

Wow. This place opens and fills up really fast. For good reason too. The food is delicious and the drinks are tasty. I would say because this place fills up fast there's people waiting for your seats from the get go. Service is fast and friendly. I had one of their fruity cocktails called the Liberace. Definitely, a cause for a hangover the next day. It is made with jamaican rum, dubonnet, peach bitters, lime and ginger beer. YUM!! It's a tapas bar. Come with people and share the deliciousness. The kimchi and pork belly fried rice is a must. The tempura prawns smothered in this sauce was perfection. Crispy and juicy at the same time. Smoked pork belly mandoo flavourful and tender. Lastly, for the sake of being healthy the spicy scallion and avocado slaw. Fresh with a kick but not so overpowering I couldn't enjoy it. Definitely would go again.

This place is a hidden gem. If it was not for yelp I would not have known about this place. I have walked by the restaurant many times and it looks like an abandon building. There is no sign at all. Therefore, you need to look closely at the address or it would be miss. The food is delicious! We tried 3 different sandwiches, the poutine, the tofu and the fried rice. All was yummy! One thing to note is I would stick to 1 sandwich to try because they are heavy on the mayonnaise. I personally think the food would still be good if they put less mayo. Either way prices were quite good for tapas. I definitely would come back to try other things in the menu!

Super nice staff, but really small tight place inside. We were a party of 5, waited about 20-30 minutes on a Friday night at 7pm. There's absolutely no space to wait inside even for 1 person, so everyone lines up outside. We ordered everything on the menu except the duck fried rice. Avocado slaw - 3.5/5 very basic, nothing special but good Squash poutine - 5/5 instead of gravy they use curry! Tasted great and was different, squash just tasted like potato tbh Bulgogi cheesesteak - 3.5-4/5 again nothing special but it was good Jap Chae - 4/5 again nothing special but good KFC chicken wings - 2/5 way too much sauce and it tasted sour like they used Tabasco or something Kimchi fried rice - 1/5 way too bland no flavour at all, only saving grace was the egg lol The loosey - 3/5 literally just tasted like a Big Mac, nothing korean about it (didn't take a picture of it cuz it just looked like a sandwich) Drinks were all a 4.5/5, interesting flavours but really small portions I think Music was really loud, would have been nice to be one or two notches down, but vibe was nice Overall I would never come back, but it was nice to try it out

A toronto classic. Vegetarian options. Nice music, ambiance,not too expensive on food. Been on ossington forever, and will probably be a part of the strip forever.

Good place for a date with low light environment. There is limited seating but lots of space at the bar if you want to sit there. The restaurant is consistently understaffed with 2 servers for the restaurant and the bar so expect delays in food, mix ups of food going to the wrong tables. The food was tasty, but the menu is quite limited with less than 10 items. Given the restaurant name I was expecting some authentic korean flavors. This was not my experience with not a single east asian flavor or staff member from the kitchen, servers, or even the guests. This restaurant thinks if they put kimchi ontop of buttersquash poutine it makes it korean. The loosey goosey sandwich was a big mac essentially burger on toast. Having some Korean or Japanese liquors on the wall and serving dishes on a plastic chinese style dish does not make this place cool nor does it give you the dining experience you were expecting from the name of the restaurant. Myself and my dining guest ordered two items to try before ultimately deciding we would go elsewhere for a more worthwhile dining experience despite still being hungry. Not a place i would go to again.

I really loved the vibe of the back patio. Service was also amazing. The cheesesteak was super yummy but the loosely sandwich was just okay. Will definitely be back to try the kfc (they ran out)

Super hip place recommended by some Toronto locals. The wait time was an hour but we left our names and walked around the neighborhood. Glad we came back because the drinks were delicious and the food was great! The place is quite small but the meal was really enjoyable.

Oddseoul is kind of a hole in the wall that is easy to miss unless you are specifically looking for it. It's a small restaurant, so best to come here in small groups of 2-3 people. The lighting is pretty dim here, hence the poor photo. The menu is pretty small, and comprised of fusion dishes and drinks. Most appetizers are around $8-10. Portions are on the smaller side here (e.g. the loosey and philly cheesesteak were around half the size of a normal sandwich). The squash poutine had curry gravy, kimchi, cheese, mayo, and pickled radish/ginger. The loosey tastes like a big mac but in sandwich form. The bulgolgi cheesestake is often raved about, but to be honest I don't remember anything about it (oops). I would probably recommend the squash poutine as that stood out the most to me!

For my 5th food adventure of the day, my cousin and I made our last stop at Odd Seoul, which she recommended that the Korean fusion food is pretty good. We ordered the following items since we weren't too hungry: Buffalo fried tofu (3.5/5) - I usually don't eat buffalo wings because I think the flavor is a bit strange. They ran out of the kimchi fried tofu, so we decided to get the buffalo fried tofu instead. The flavor was okay. Bulgogi cheesesteak (5/5) - This was my favorite item. I've never had a bulgogi cheesesteak and I really enjoyed this. Wings (4/5) - The wings were super saucy, so be prepared for the mess. Grapefruit infused soju (3/5) - I think when we were ordering this, I was expecting more of a flavored soju versus fruit-infused soju. They only added like 3 slices of grapefruit, so this cost about $3-4 more than the regular soju. I hate drinking original soju alone, so even the grapefruit wasn't infused enough. If they offered flavored soju, I bet they would make a better profit! This restaurant/bar is a good hangout spot for young adults. There's loud music and delicious Korean fusion food. Though, I would still prefer actual Korean bar food over Korean fusion food.

The Odd Seoul was so wonderful, we went there twice during our 4 day stay in Toronto. Atmosphere: wonderful, lots of exposed brick, candlelight on the table, small place, nice music. A little loud, but not too bad. Food: Over two nights, we had the loosey, buffalo fried tofu, spicy scallion and avocado slaw, smoked pork belly mandoo, squash poutine, kimchi and pork belly fried rice. Snow White and Spanish Harlem for cocktails. The excellent dishes were the slaw (more like a salad), it was UNBELIEVABLE. Spicy, crunchy, hearty. I could have easily eaten just a big plate of the slaw and been very happy! The other outstanding dish was the squash poutine. Sounded awful but was amazing. I don't know what all was in the dish, but I do know it was addictive. The very good dishes were the buffalo fried tofu, nice heat, good dressing and cucumbers on the side and the fried rice. Turns out, I am not a big fan of kimchi, so I could have done without the kimchi on top, but overall, it was the bomb. The loosey, could easily go in the excellent category, it was really good. Nice toasted bread and meat patty had great flavor. The pork belly mandoo, eh, it was just okay. Not up to the flavor of the other dishes. Both cocktails were great, although the Spanish Harlem was my favorite. Service: Not that great either night. First night, the young dark haired woman preferred to stand around and talk to her co-worker. Saw that repeatedly. The second night, it was a little better, but we still needed to track the server down for assistance. Both nights I was seated facing the small kitchen and I know the kitchen staff was working at top speed, so any missteps were not their fault. Overall, the good prices, wonderful atmosphere and quality of food made up for the service. We loved it so much and I would definitely go back again!!! It's a small restaurant and they do not take reservations. We went early and had no problem. Note to the wise: there is no signage, it's near the Cuban restaurant and the name is on their mailbox. Somehow, we walked right by it twice...weed is legal in Toronto too, so that might have been at play!

Totally walked by the entrance - totally unassuming and barely had any signage. That being said, once we entered, I was very impressed. Great vibes, good music (some classic old school hip hop), brick walls, dive-bar-esque but with flair and very clean. Since it was a Korean joint, wanted some soju and unfortunately, they were sold out and won't have any till the following week. A bit of a turn off considering soju is a main staple and out for a week, kind of strange... So we got some cocktails instead - had the snow white and my boyfriend got the liberache. Wasn't a fan of mine (barely had any yuzu, and the flavour was quite muddled). Loved the liberache - light, flavourful and if you love ginger beer, it's great. A bit overpriced I thought in terms of cocktails. Next time, I hope they actually have soju. Food - short menu, Korean-inspired/fusion. Loved the simple plate setting and playful yellow chopsticks. Here are our faves: 1. Bulgogi Cheesesteak - for $5 this was amazing! Wished it had more bulgogi and less Philly cheesesteak, but overall flavour wise and bang for your back this was great! 2. Tempura shrimp - huge shrimp and bold flavour 3. Wings - yummy but very hard to eat (and I go in with my hands no problem), should separate the wings to make this a more pleasant eating experience 4. Kimchi fried rice - smoked pork was a nice touch, but for some reason, I was really yearning that saltiness from the spam - maybe a bit of salt would have rounded out the flavour better. That being said, this was still a hit.

Food: Spicy scallion & avocado slaw - this was a filling salad, worth trying out. Tempura chicken with devilled eggs - tasty and sharable portion size. The Loosey - did not try this but was told by my Big Mac loving friends that it tastes like a Big Mac. As it is a crowd favourite, I will try this next time I eat here. Kimchi & pork belly fried rice - okay. Tempura prawns - good (because I like seafood) but I did not see how this item fit in with the rest of the menu and the amount is not worth the price. Atmosphere & service: Quite dark inside which most bars at night tend to be, service was good. Around 9:30 pm on a Monday night was when I noticed less of a crowd. Price: A little on the high side for me and depends on the dishes.

I first heard of Odd Seoul by checking reviews on Yelp and I was clearly steered in the right direction! On my recent trip to Toronto I loved walking along the Ossington Strip or as I may call it hipster heaven. Good restaurants - check Great dive bars - check Cute shops - check Record stores - check Okay - now back to Odd Seoul, I was dining alone which allowed me not to wait and snag a seat at the bar. I had an early dinner around 6:30 and by 7pm the restaurant was packed and I heard the hostess saying the wait was one hour plus depending on the size of your party. So take this as a warning, it's popular and you should get here early or be prepared to wait! Everyone was friendly, even though the restaurant was so busy. The bartender offered a lot of great recommendations since I wanted to learn what his favorite menu options were. In terms of cocktails, the Spanish Harlem was a delicious spicy tequila drink that I would highly recommend. When it came to food I wished I could have tried more options, though I knew two dishes would be plenty filling. I couldn't resist trying the famous squash poutine (only $8 for a gigantic portion) and I can't say I was disappointed. Squash instead of french fries made this dish a little bit less gluttonous, but still every bit as tasty. I couldn't finish the portion, though I loved the sauce, toppings and small Korean touches like the sesame seeds and slaw. Additionally, the Bulgogi cheesesteak was super yummy and only $5. The beef was perfectly cooked, nice and tender and topped with cheese and onions. The bread was fresh and this small sandwich was extremely filling. By this point I was absolutely stuffed and had only spent $26 CAD on an excellent cocktail and two great dishes. I hope I can return with friends on my next trip to Toronto in order to try a larger variety. Thank you Odd Seoul for creating a unique and fun experience.

Love love love this place! We went on a Monday night assuming it wasn't going to be busy but it was pretty busy when we got there. With only 2 servers, in the restaurant they defs gave us good service!! The food was also amazing, we literally ordered like half the menu and even ordered seconds of the squash poutine!! Our faves was defs the squash poutine & bulgogi cheese sandwich!! The only thing that kinda disappointed us was the chicken wings bc it was drenched in the sauce but everything else made up for it!! Follow us on Instagram @cindysfood :)

Food: We shared a couple of things. First, we had the buffalo fried tofu which was delicious! The tofu was perfectly crisp and the buffalo sauce gave a nice flavourful kick. Next, we had the bulgogi cheesesteak which was very yummy too. We also had the Kimchi and Pork Belly fried rice which was really nice. It had egg on it and was overall very flavourful but not too spicy or heavy at all. Our favourites were probably the steams buns! They were so good. Go and try! Everything came in larger portions than we expected which was GREAT because everything was so good. We also had some drinks. I got the Liberace which i really liked. Service: Nothing too memorable about the service but overall nice and efficient. The server was helpful in helping me choose what drink to get which indecisive me always appreciates! I ended up loving my drink. Space: A nice space! Didn't feel too too crowded even when it was busier later in the night. Price: Reasonably priced! A great place for interesting, flavourful, and yummy food!

It was packed from the moment we arrived, a clear sign they were back. I use to frequent this place pre pandemic and was waiting for the doors to reopen, I had reservations as most do with new ownership a few things changed as they should. But overall Yohan took really amazing care of us and made it a great experience.

Great food and great ambiance. Sat at the bar with my friend on a Friday. Reservations are definitely highly recommended. We got the salad, the shrimp and the pork neck. Was more than enough food for two people. Would highly recommend the salad and the shrimp, but the pork neck was average. The pork neck is also a huge portion. PS. Would check out the Gift Shop speakeasy right across the street after dinner

We found a cockroach in our delivery order. This is unacceptable, we had high hopes for the squash poutine. I came here for happy hour before and loved the food but really? A cockroach?? I am so disappointed in my favourite Toronto joint. Also the food was horrible compared to my happy hour experience. I get it restaurants are struggling during covid but the quality of food still needs to be met. You cant serve poutine with a cockroach inside. Seriously. I am heart broken.

Phenomenal food. Drinks were above average as well on a very strict scale. Been to a lot of nice cocktail bars so have to judge accordingly. But certainly solid drinks that most will enjoy. The food is the key here. Really flavourful food. Every bite is packed with a punch. Ingredients are clearly very fresh as well. Tapas style so things are meant to be shared which is great. You can try lots of different items. Get the squash poutine (photo attached) and o. s. Wings (also attached with image). Both are exceptional. Restaurant itself is quite small. But they take your number and are kind enough to call you wen the table is ready. There's lots of good spots to have a drink while you wait such as the Bellwood's brewery. Music is awesome at Odd Seoul as well. Really enjoyed the vibe. Highly recommend this spot. Must try.

Great place to grab some relatively cheap Asian fushion eats and grab some drinks. The food here is quite affordable and most are Korean/Asian inspired. What I've tried: - squash poutine.. Highly recommend! Has almost like an Indian taste to it (reminds me of a samosa) and the squash is great, especially the crunchy pieces - wings.. Not bad! For those who love saucy wings, this is for you! - tempura chicken and deviled egg.. So good! The chicken has a great batter to it that really adds to the taste and the sauce that comes with the dish amplifies the taste even more. The deviled egg is yummy too - kimchi and pork belly fried rice.. Prob one of my favs. They served it in a Chinese takeout container! - torched mackerel.. Super cool. They torch it in front of you! Comes with some ginger and a sauce. Serving size is quite small however so be warned! - tempura prawns.. Yummy! A little overpriced I think

Odd Seoul Hack: How to Pig Out On Korean Tapas And Keep Your Dignity Too 1) Spot the Hidden Restaurant: Like many hidden bars and restaurants in Toronto (Track & Field, Apt. 200, 416 Snack Bar), the seductive beauty about Odd Seoul is first in finding it. To help you navigate, when you're at Bang Bang, peer across the street for an unmarked storefront. They open 6 PM-2 AM, Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday. 2) Seating: The small space adds charm and character to Odd Seoul, seating less than 50 hipsters. There are seats at the bar, 1-on-1's, or group tables (5-6 friends). No reservations, so you'll have to add your name to the list upon arrival. Waits can be 30-45 minutes (but np, head to Communist Daughter/Get Well for a drink while you wait). 3) Service: Cool/chill but never discourteous. It can be slow, but this is easily mitigated when you know what you want to order (a must try: the sinful and borderline criminally delicious pork neck; see below). Because this place is so popular, I do recommend being mindful of others waiting in line. -Nobody wants to miss out on the pork neck while you take baby sips of your drink and listen to you whine about how you couldn't get tickets to Adele's 2016 sold out concert. 4) Vibe: A dive bar with hip-hop and funk music, usually full of late 20's to 30's peeps. Hipster attire and moustaches are rampant. Wooden tables illuminated by Einstein light bulbs, which set a retro mood with a line of sight view into the kitchen (where the real magic happens). 5) Food and Drinks: Hands down, we come here for only one thing: the off-the-menu pork neck platter ($25). It is a succulent, sweet-spicy-smoky roast pork sections that are marinated in daeji gogi (Korean) spices, with a side of fresh and tangy bean sprout salad - perfect for 2 people. You'll feel like royalty when this platter comes out, and then... --Fair warning #1, the pork neck does take about 30-40 mins to prepare. Fair warning #2, picture the scene from the Walking Dead, where the zombies feast on some gory guts. Yes, the best way to enjoy this mouth-watering dish is to shamelessly eat with your hands - and nobody will judge! -Other snacks are $5-20, and drinks range from good lagers and IPAs to crisp cocktails.-- Odd Seoul, a cloaked, Korean-American snack bar along the Ossington strip, is one of the most beloved restaurants in Toronto. Whether you are a local hipster, Yelp Elite, or new to Toronto, come here to eat Korean tapas and merry-make; the flavours of the pork neck are out of this world.

Finally got in here after weeks of being turned off by the long wait time. This time, I put my name on the list and popped next door to Koukla for a drink while I waited the 45 mins for my table to be ready. Was it worth the 45-minute wait? Probably not. Would I come again? For sure. Odd Seoul is, as many others have said, a hipster paradise not dissimilar to many other Ossington and Queen West spots. Darkly lit with exposed brick, fun original cocktails, and snack-size Korean-inspired bites. Also, there is no sign out front so a bit of mystery in trying to find it. My friend and I tried the Spanish Harlem, which is their take on the margarita. Really tasty and with a subtle chili kick! I also ordered a glass of wine (though wine was not listed on the menu). We got the Buffalo Fried Tofu and the glass noodle salad to share. Both of them were really good! My friend had never tried tofu before and, though skeptical, she liked it. Obviously, being vegetarian, I may not be their target audience, but our server was great in pointing out to me what I could eat. There were a lot of meat options too, of course, which included traditional Korean elements like kimchi and pork belly etc. Despite how busy it was, the service was friendly and our server was happy to make recommendations for us. I'd come back, especially if I could put my name on a list ahead of time. ;)

I think the name of this restaurant describes the food pretty accurately; they serve Asian inspired fusion food, all the combinations are interesting but some were just odd. After walking past the store a couple of times due to the very minimal signage, I finally found the shop by checking the map again and finding the store that was located next to it. Inside is very dim and all the tables are quite small and cramped. My friends and I were seated at a long high-top table along with another group of people. I didn't mind too much but getting up for the restroom would be difficult due to all the thick winter jackets blocking the already narrow spaces between chairs. We ordered quite a few items off the menu. I start from what what I enjoyed the most, which were the tempura prawns. They were fried perfectly, and the mayo-based sauce was very tasty. The squash poutine had a bit too much going on. I really liked the fried squash but not so much everything that was on top of it. The spicy pork neck came out sizzling with a pile of cold pickles, cabbage, green onions on top. We had to dig for the meat pieces. This dish had very strong flavors, especially the pickled radish, and was very savoury. There wasn't enough rice to balance out the saltiness. The buffalo fried tofu on the other hand was a bit lacking in the buffalo sauce, and the fried rice was just a bit too bland compared to all the other dishes. Overall, this is a good(and kinda pricey) place to grab a drink and maybe some food on the side, but not great if you are on the hunt for a grand meal.

Finally had the chance to try out this little gem on a Thursday night. I was shocked at how busy it was at 10:30 PM on a Thursday - but that is usually a good sign anyway. We had to wait about 10 mins for two bar seats which wasn't a big deal, but it is a super small place so there isn't really a specific waiting area. My friend and I waited on the side of the bar. The ambiance and decor is very dark and hipster and music isn't too overly loud either like the typical tapa izakayas so thats a big plus. It is a very cozy late night feel. We opted for the scallion & avocado slaw, tempura prawns and kimchi & pork belly fried rice. My friend & I enjoyed all 3 dishes a lot. Tbh, we weren't really expecting much but right when we got our first dish - the slaw - we were SHOOK at how much it exceeded our expectations. So flavourful for a salad.. I also like that it was served on those traditional asian-style plates your parents buy at home, made the experience very homey which suits the decor and ambiance so well. Anyway, we had high expectations for the next two dishes and as expected, we were definitely not disappointed. We even ended up getting another order of tempura prawns! They were so perfectly fired and had just enough sauce to compliment the crispiness. The kimchi & pork belly fried rice was good too but it was just like any other good kimchi fried rice at other korean restaurants. For some reason this dish was served in a chinese take out container?? Service was phenomenal - our water was always refilled without us having to ask, and we were constantly checked up on (not too much where it was overwhelming tho). I will definitely be returning and recommending Odd Seoul to my friends! You need to check it out if you haven't - you're missing out :P

We came here on a Friday night and we were lucky enough to get a table for 5 people right away! It was packed and we were put at one of the long tables beside the bar. The ambience and decor is pretty cool, it's this one long-ish but still pretty small room, where you encounter the bar when you first walk in and with all the tables near the back. It probably fits only around 30 - 40 people. It has a cool exposed brick decor, dark environment and some cool hipster lights up top. The service was not the best, they were slow and had to be reminded a few times for drinks or dishes that we ordered. They seemed to be busy to care about their customers. We ordered a few dishes to share: a couple Looseys, a couple Bulgogi Cheesesteaks, Squash Poutine, O.S. Wings, Tempura Prawns, and the Spicy Pork Neck. We also had a couple of drinks, we had the cucumber and grapefruit infused Soju drinks. The Cucumber Soju was pretty good and I highly recommend, the grapefruit isn't as great because it's too tart and acidic! In terms of the food, the Squash Poutine was surprisingly good, the squash almost tastes like fries and comes with mayo, seaweed and kimchi, so it's pretty much like the standard kimchi fries that you get elsewhere except replace the fries with the squash. The Looseys and the bulgogi cheese steaks were also pretty good, but nothing special. The Tempura Prawns stood out as well as did the Spicy Pork Neck. The Spicy Pork Neck is a larger dish that is definitely meant to be shared, while everything else we ordered were like small Tapas. This place is pretty good, I wouldn't want to come back though. I feel like it's similar to other places in the area and didn't really stand out too much.

TL;DR a cool interesting twist on classic Korean dishes. Chicken wings 2/5 we are both massive fans of chicken wings. So it takes a lot for us to dislike them. These chicken wings are very saucy but also very salty and sweet at the same time. It was almost unbearable. Any standard Korean fried chicken is much better than this. Kimchi and pork belly fried rice 4/5. This was the highlight of our dinner. It was really interesting to see how these flavours were combined - this dish felt really homey and satisfying. Korean slaw 3/5. The variety of vegetables was quite nice - the fried avocado was a nice touch as well. Our main issue with this was the dressing. It tasted good, but it felt very one note: sweet. Tempura prawns 3/5. While the shrimp were fresh and cooked perfectly the sauce was very very heavy. It seemed almost like a cream or mayonnaise sauce - we really weren't used to this with tempura especially. The breading itself was light crispy and delicious. We just wish there wasn't so much sauce. Spicy pork bun - 4/5. This dish was pretty tasty. It tasted like pork bulgogi inside a freshly steamed bun. We had no complaints about the fluffy bunny, or the pork either. I guess the issue with this dish was that it seemed uninspired, and tasted like something from H-Mart. Would we return? Probably not unless our friends want to go for the fun vibe.

Food tastes good. Portions are small. Service was uncomfortable. We were a group of 8 on a Friday late night and we were all well behaved. There were tables available but the wait staff didn't let us put 2 tables together even though they were beside each other. They asked us to wait for a table of 8 but the table wasn't even done their beers. We waited a while then were able to get tables if we split up - so we did. I work closeby so I would come back for a bite after work but I would never travel here based on the service.

Get the kimchi pork belly fried rice and tempura chicken with deviled eggs!!! I'm not big on deviled eggs but I could've eaten a dozen of these. Easily. They had a nice, surprising crunch and great flavor. The chicken and rice were also super flavorful and the portions were enough for two people to share. They lose a star for the too-loud music (hate when I have to scream during my meal) and the unfriendly bartender that rudely seated us from the bar. It would've been nice to have someone welcome us at the door and personally seat us. Not the bartender mumble under her breath from the other end of the bar...even a smile or walking over to where we stood would've been enough. Anyway, our server made up for this sour first impression and was warm.

I came with my boyfriend and another friend to this busy bar inspired restaurant on a Tuesday evening. The decor is rustic, but modern, with a mixture of bar seating, high tables and small square tables at the back. Being a small group of only 3, we had to share the high table with another group (which wasnt too bad, just a little cramped) Food wise we ordered juicy wings, squash poutine, the loosey, bulgogi cheese steak, grilled mackerel, and the 20oz sirloin steak to share. I loved the squash poutine and the sirloin steak. The squash came slightly fried and was amazingly sweet - and not oily at all. The steak came with huge sheets of thinly sliced pickled radish that you can use to wrap rice, steak, and whatever else you want. It was weird at first but quickly grew on me. Unfortunately I disliked everything else we ordered. The wings are wayy too garlicky. While the loosey and bulgogi cheek steak was tender and juicy, however, everything came with a huge helping of onions. It was just a little too much in my opinion. Pricing wise its slightly on the expensive side for certain menu items - like the $35 steak (it was good, but it didnt seem like a 20oz steak since it was sliced up and covered with a heaping amount of green and white onions). Personally I wouldnt see myself coming back here...but if you like strong flavours and onions and onions and onions, this would be the place to be.