POCHA 1989

There's a lot of Korean restaurant poping up in this city these days, but I really recommend this one you'll never be disappointed. The food was great so I wanna try everything on the menu. Good portion and looks beautiful. I'm sure they really care about their food. And also they served their customers very well. They helped me and my husband to enjoy our dinner. We really appreciate that they gave us a great experience!

I would recommend their Kimchi fried rice and their tofu udon. Their beef bugolgi rice was mediocre, I wouldn't recommend. A big issue with this is they don't have AC, I would not come here in the summer time. There's no ventilation and their lowest tipping rate was 18% which is unreasonable for a place with no AC. Their music is VERY loud, even after asking their staff to turn it down, it is still hard to hear other people. For your reference, their music is louder than warehouse. Overall, their food was okay, but I would not come here again when it's >25 celcius outside.

We came here in the late evening after a Katy Perry concert. My brother and I wanted to eat somewhere close and the food prices at the arena were so expensive. This place check all the boxes; open really late, good portion and great food! Although the service was fairly slow but overall it’s good!

Food tasted great but portions for shareables were way too small. Also, they didn’t have a lot of alcohol options, two of the alcoholic beverages we wanted were “sold out”. For a table of 4, I suggest ordering three different shareable plates and possibly two small appetizers given the small portions. The have a patio in front of the restaurant facing Church St which was nice. Would recommend sitting outside if it’s 25c+ because it’s such a vibe.

Their foods are great. I ordered rose tokbokki and fried chicken. Yummy. Buttttt their A/C doesn't work. Don't go during summer time. We're so exhausted during all the dinner and have to go washing our face for more refreshing. Come by public transport is better choice.

POCHA 1989 Korean BBQ 🔥 has an assortment of delicious 😋 meals for you to try. Eat indoors or out on the patio area in Summertime 🌞. Located directly beside the Second Cup ☕️ in the Heart ❤️ of the Gay Village. I tried thevdeep fried chicken 🍗 🐔 in soya sauce & my friends had the more BBQ 🔥 Version. Both were amazing. Each meal was about $30 so.rxpectbto pay a little more than you would say at McDonald's or Burger 🍔 King 🤴 The staff is friendly & very nice. Great 👍 place.

Love the portions here — they're massive. I've dined in and taken out and both have been good experiences. I especially like their rice cakes and fried chicken. It gets pretty busy on weekends with large lineups (and can get quite noisy too). That said, it's really become a fun place to dine out in the area.

My late night food spots. Soy fried chicken is amazing. The Korean rice balls are a must (get ready to get dirty lol) New makgoeli smoothie drinks are delicious. Great chill/drink spot. They used to have line ups. Perfect time to go these days

Pocha has the best tteokbokki. Whenever I come here, I almost always order the rosé tteokbokki and their fried chicken, either the soy or garlic one. The rosé tteokbokki isn't too spicy but I have to admit, it's very creamy. There's long pieces of rice cake, sausage slices, thick glass noodles, and fish cake in it. The fried chicken is always very good. This time around I ordered the sweet soy one which has sliced almonds on top for added texture and the chicken itself is always tender and crispy on the outside. I came here during the summer this time so I was able to sit outside on their little patio. The weather was perfect too, not too hot and a bit breezy.

My late night food spots. Soy fried chicken is amazing. The Korean rice balls are a must (get ready to get dirty lol) New makgoeli smoothie drinks are delicious. Great chill/drink spot. They used to have line ups. Perfect time to go these days

I ordered the spicy seafood udon and let's just say, there's no other way I'd have my udon if there was a choice!

Amazing spot for a night out with some Korean bar food. After seeing this spot a lot online, I was pretty excited to finally visit after browsing their menu. The menu had an extensive variety to choose from such as rose tteokbokki, creamy udon, fried chicken and bulgogi fries. I decided to try out the oden soup and the fried chicken. Oden Soup: Warm and comforting soup. The fishcake was decent portions. The size is good for a small group to share. Fried Chicken: Great flavour and really crispy exterior. The chicken was pretty good quality too. Overall, I would come back again to try out the rest of their menu. The only downside is the service is a bit slow. I would suggest coming in early if you want a table as it does get busy.

More of a 3.5 star spot. Definitely recommend you go at opening - 6 pm or find a way to get reservations as they are always busy. My friend tried to call them multiple times but they wouldn't pick up the phone so fortunately she was able to arrive right at opening to get a table. Service was pretty fast and didn't take long to get to a table. I tried the spicy creamy udon which is very filling and big portioned. My other friends tried a ramen dish and soy sauce chicken. Overall, food is decent and portions are good. Just keep expectations to typical Korean bar food.

We out here at Pocha!! We got the Spicy Rosè Cream Tteobokki (Rice cake), there's sausages, ham, veggies, noodles, pork belly, & rice cake obvi. OH! & that small slice of cheese This bowl was massive for 2 people, it was only $22. & we had to bring it to go! What a steal For apps, we got the fried Shrimp , it's like a fusion of calamari & tempura prawn. Love the sauce drizzle on it, the soy sauce they gave was questionable as it was barely filled lmao but I recommend dipping it in the Rosè sauce for that extra OOMPH! Pocha opens at 6 & there was already a line before it opened, food took a while too. The tables next to us got their food way earlier even though we ordered first. Hopefully this will improve! Food 9/10 Ambiance: 9/10 Service: 7/10

Pocha 1989 is a great local Korean bar spot to spend an evening with close friends over a few bottles and soju and great late night bites! Upon entering, I saw quite a few tables with the FIsh Cake Soup in hotpot style which is a great meal to share especially to warm up from the frigid winters. The broth is light but with the right amount of seasoning to accentuate the fish cakes. The fried octopus was fried perfectly with the right amount of batter to pair with the perfectly cooked meat of the octopus! It pairs with the Yakult Soju! The service that me and my friends was quite good as the waitress was quite attentive with the amount of tables to help out with. I can't wait for my next visit!

Came with here with a friend on a Saturday night and we were seated on the patio right away. We ordered the army stew and rose teobokki, 2 beers and a bottle of soju to share. The army stew was yummy! However the rose teobokki got dry really fast and we had to ask them to reheat it for us. Service was fast and attentive - would be back!

Nestled in the heart of the city, Pocha 1989 offers a tantalizing journey into the world of Korean cuisine. From the moment you step in, the vibrant atmosphere and the aroma of sizzling dishes set the stage for a unique dining experience. For those who enjoy a side of tunes with their kimchi, Pocha 1989 keeps the energy up with a playlist that complements the lively atmosphere. The music is part of the overall sensory experience, adding to the vibrant and upbeat vibe of the restaurant. One drawback to the popularity of Pocha 1989 is the long line-ups. Be prepared for a wait, especially during peak hours. Food is ok, nothing super special but just right for a night out with friends. Garlic Fried chicken and creamy noodles is a must try.

I don't live in Canada, but I make sure I go here whenever I am in Canada to eat chicken feet! It is my go to. However, if you are not into the bony things, they also have other options like Chicken in Soy sauce and nice noodle dishes. It is always packed, so I recommend going early. They open at 6pm so go ASAP they open. Food can be pricy, but the service is great and the food taste amazing!

Came here on a Sunday evening as a group of 5 for a small get together. This place has plenty of seating for small groups under 6. Ambience was adorable. Lighting all along the walls with lights wrapped around indoor palm trees. Dimmed, comfy social lighting. Food was great! With generous portion sizes, flavourful dishes and crispy food, just what we were looking for. -The creamy rice cakes were mixed with mussels, shrimp, hot peppers. - Tried both the crispy boneless soy chicken and the crispy boneless sweet and spicy chicken. Personally I like spicy, so I prefer the sweet and spicy chicken. Both chickens were great just a matter of opinion in spice level. - My favourite dish was the bulgogi fries, as It was topped with ample amounts of cheese, flavoured bulgogi, crispy French fries, and packed with flavour. Sauce on the bottom of hot pan too! Mmmmm would definitely order this again! Drinks - soju of course! Parking - behind the building there's an underground parking garage. Or Green P parking in area Service - why it lost a 5/5. Just because the waiter could definitely be more attentive while at work. Not a fan of constantly attempting to flag down a waiter to get their attention... they should round their tables. But hopefully this can improve.

A great spot with a chill vibe to hang out with friends! This spot has a variety of Korean comfort food and drinks. Ordered a combo and the service was excellent, should definitely try for the experience.

I had to order to-go and in a hurry. The server appeared to understand but I ended up waiting 30+ minutes for udon I I couldn't even eat due to the rush, and the servers appeared to purposefully ignore me. -1/5

A cute hole-in-the-wall place :) Stopped in quick on a night out to try their battered soy wings, they were super flavourful, the almonds on top had a great crunch, and adding the side chillies made it perfectly spicy- plus it was a huge portion, me and my bf barely finished! Thanks!!

Overrated spot. Not sure why people line up for it. I guess people go for the decorations? They have a lobby but you're not allowed to wait there. The wait staff will rudely ask you to leave even if it's a super cold day. Might as well go to another spot instead of waiting out in the cold or having to grab a drink elsewhere. Food itself is average. They try to mix things up to make it more modern but it's nothing special. Not worth it for the wait and combine that with the service, I will definitely not be back.

Decent Korean fried chicken and probably one of the better ones I've had in Toronto. Big portions for the bulgogi and fried chicken. Fried chicken could've been spicier (it was more sweet than spicy). Service was friendly, despite the server being new. When we asked if the two dishes was sufficient, the server was honest and said it should be enough, rather than upselling another item on the menu. Not a big deal but I wish the side plates were actual plates and not paper plates.

Got a great fun vibe! Food is delicious. The multiple times we come it has not disappoint. Nice place to hangout with friends and grab a drink or two. Definitely under staffed!

My husband and I stopped in for dinner around 6:45 pm on a Thursday. It was fairly busy, but the food looked delicious. I ordered the double fried soy chicken, and while it took nearly 45 minutes to arrive, it was tasty, however not quite what I was expecting; it was really just a massive plate of fried chicken with nothing else, so it was difficult to eat much. It would have been nice for the wait staff to explain this at the time of order, but I also accept this as my fault. The biggest issues were (1) my husband's food never arrived, and after waiting an hour we asked the waiter to have his order canceled. They had not even started cooking it yet. A wait staff had come out and told us after about 25 minutes after ordering that his food would take another 10, but that 10 turned into another 30 by which time we canceled. 2) There were patrons seated well after us who placed orders and then received them in a reasonable amount of time. (3) we asked to be seated outside at one of 3+ open tables and were told they were taken; however they remained open for nearly a half hour, and when patrons were seated there I did not get the sense they had been reserved. I may be wrong. In all, we did not feel as though we were welcomed here and figured we might not represent the young Korean demographic that this establishment wanted to show that they attract (we are not Korean but love experiencing all types of cuisine), and it seemed to show in the service we received and the table we were allowed to choose. We were fortunate to have many great dining experiences while in Toronto, and this stood out as the singular bad experience. We would not return and would not recommend.

That feeling when you go to a restaurant a foodie or friend recommends and it ends up being AMAZING! I never knew there was a hidden spot for Korean bar food in the heart of the Church/Wellesley neighbourhood and I'm so glad we gave it a try What initially drew me in was the fish cake soup, I remembered standing on the streets of Korea and being served this in a paper cup as a lil snack and couldn't wait to give this a try. This soup was very light and slightly spicy from the peppers and the fish cakes themselves were soft and slightly chewy. The spicy rice cake with cheese was really delicious with a creamy sauce, pieces of hot dog, fish cakes and assorted veggies as well. I do however wish we got more than a piece of a slice of cheese (paid extra) I found the spicy braised chicken to be decent and generously topped with cheese but was a bit light on the chicken and heavy on the rice cakes and other fillings. I would rather have this dish from a specialty restaurant like Ssangkye who I personally think makes it the best. We also had the soy sauce fried chicken, the sauce had a nice flavor but could have been crispier. Our friends sitting next to us got the same thing, and theirs was served in a different type of bowl and ended up more crispy than ours which was sad, but will definitely make note of that for next time. The spicy creamy udon was definitely one of my favorite items as the udon noodles were perfectly chewy yet soft and the sauce was just a hint spicy but super creamy and flavorful. I like how they tossed in some sausage, and cabbage, egg and even some fish roe The service however was terrible which is surprising but regardless we will definitely be returning to try more of their menu paired with some soju next time!

The food was so great that it drowns out everything else that was horrible about it (we were waiting for a table for an additional 10-15 minutes, even though it was available but just not cleaned up). But as mentioned earlier, the food was amazing.

I love this place! This is my go-to Korean pup in Toronto. My favorite dish is the creamy spicy udon. It is so so good and if you pair this with the rice balls, they are to die for! The kimchi stew is really good too. The restaurant is really pretty themed after greenery (palm trees and lots of plants). I miss dining in here and can't wait to come back.

Perfect late night food. So satisfying. We got fries and the street udon. It took a while for the food to come but they apologized and gave us complimentary Korean fried chicken! Everything was so good, street udon was my favorite. Big fan.

Pocha 1989 has amazing food and drinks. I recommend the Sweet and Spicy boneless Chicken. It's super crunchy exterior with tender juicy chicken on the inside covered in a Gochujang style sauce topped almonds and scallions. Service was excellent and very attentive. Highly recommend.

Horrible service. When we arrived, the indoor seats were full, so we waited at the seats outside and ordered food. It was cold and windy outside but the waitress refused to let us in when there were available seats indoor (plus we line up for indoor but she said if we order food outdoors you can't change you seats) We have to ask for hot water and the heater outside was broken. I don't know why she don't let us in. My name was literally on the first line of the lineup sheet. I catch cold after this dinner. Will never come here again.

Queuing at evening. It's windy and very cold outside. We had been blowing outside for an hour and a half and the waiter wouldn't let us in to wait

We found this place randomly while searching for Korean places late on a Saturday night which was not just Korean bbq. Walking in, it was nice ambiance. They had seats outside with heaters for warmth! The inside was pretty cool and the decor felt really nice with a very rainforest vibe. We were promptly attended to and seated. I was craving bibimbap but sadly they didn't have that. Ordered kimchi rice which was a 10/10. The Crispy Boneless Soy Chicken was pretty good and the portion was hugeee. Never saw that bug boneless chickens served. Lol. Very flavorful and the breading was a lot but crunchy. 8/10. The cheese fries with spicy pork was okay. The pork lacked the flavor was I seeking and seemed pretty bland for my palate. 6/10. I'd say its a great hangout spot in the town and to bring friends like me who is visiting the city and want a cozy spot to eat after a long day of city exploration!

If you want good friend chicken, please go somewhere else. Food is very overrated, chicken was soggy, lacked flavour, stale, with mostly batter. There's much better and cheaper Korean friend chicken places in downtown Toronto. Don't waste your money here.

I have bad experiences with my friend when I came here last Friday night. My friend recommend to me this restaurant because they got delicious chicken. We are driving from Mississauga and be here at 12:25 am and we saw they opened until 2:30 am so we decided to get in, but unfortunately, the server said the kitchen will be closed at 12:30 am. How come? Why do they put the store hours like that?????

We were really looking forward to eat there. I understand waiting time was long however the staff was unpleasant and asked us to go out and we cannot wait there. Their behavior however with east Asian ppl and pocs were very different and we simply walked out. This is something I couldnt accept. will never set my foot there again.

Amazing! The food and atmosphere are amazing. By far my favourite Korean restaurant to date. I want to go back again and again. We had the spicy creamy udon, rose tteokbokki, and kimchi jjigae. My favourite dish at this place and also one of the best dishes I've ever had would be the spicy creamy udon. The only downside was that the food took awhile to come out but they are forgiven because the food was delicious!