156 Cumberland

Follow @bredgyeats for more food! Look for casual Korean restaurants for comfort, but come here for a discovery of thoughtfully assembled flavours, harmonizing Korean with modern techniques. The trio of starters are the perfect sharing portions, or if you aren't satisfied with just one bite cause it's so good. The stuffed peppers were the favourite, encrusted in crispy breadcrumbs and stuffed with juicy ground beef and glass noodle filling, served with three different mayos. The experience continued to heighten with the Sujebi and Mushroom Jook. The sujebi are like oval-shaped pasta, with a pleasant al dente texture and plenty of surface area for the perilla seed butter to cling onto. It's garnished with a delicious melody of tender duck confit, maitake conserva, sweet corn, and crispy sage, and finished with tangy lemon zest. It's a complete bite that makes you want to lick the plate. I never used to be a big fan of congee/jook, but I'd be easily converted if you embellish it with such tasty ingredients. With a texture similar to risotto, each bite is bursting with mushroom umami, which is complimented by the subtle earthiness of the barley and a salty tanginess from the grating of parmesan on top. In the centre of it all is a gooey poached egg that adds a rich, creamy undertone to each bite. The microchives aren't just for garnish either, because they provide a subtle crisp along with a bit of freshness. I was smart enough tonight to order both desserts, as the banana milk tiramisu was simply irresistible, and the hojicha ice cream was even better. The quintessential tiramisu features two moist layers of lady, sandwiched with banana milk-infused mascarpone cream and topped with a heavy dusting of espresso powder. The ice cream though, is a must try. The silky smooth ice cream is infused with a fragrant roasted rice flavour and a comforting milkiness, contrasting with a lightly sweet and citrusy yuzu syrup. The sesame caramel brings a complex, butterscotch-like aroma to each bite, which amplifies the roasted flavours even more along with the roasted barley. It's garnished with a delicate and thin crisp on top for a little fun with textures. The service was attentive. We got the Stuffed Peppers, Chicken Wings, Beef Tartare, Mushroom Jook, Sujebi, Roasted Brown Rice Ice Cream, Banana Milk Tiramisu

Came for a friends birthday with a group of 8. We shared the dishes family style, and everything was so tasty and unique! My favourite was the tuna tar tar and lettuce wrap short ribs.

Had a great experience at 156 Cumberland! Every dish we ordered was creative and flavorful—like eating Korean food but with a unique twist. It’s clear why this place has made the Toronto Michelin List three years in a row; they’ve definitely earned their recognition. It’s also a great spot for date night, with a cozy atmosphere and affordable prices, especially for a Michelin Guide restaurant in Yorkville. Highly recommend checking it out if you’re looking for something a little different!

Visited 156 Cumberland to celebrate my birthday and had a great time. The service was amazing from beginning to end. They wished me a happy birthday upon arrival and our server was very attentive throughout. Though most of the dishes were great, some of the apps were very pricey and not exactly worth the price point. The chicken wings especially only came with 2 wings for the price of $16 and they were stuffed with a nut crumble so not much meat was left. However, most of the mid-sized dishes were good-portioned and tasted great. We loved the mushroom jook, which is considered one of their signature items. The pork belly was also amazing. We ordered one of their steak platters with skirt steak as our main dish. The steak was unfortunately very chewy. We didn’t get a choice of how the steak would be cooked but seemed like it was done medium well. Would probably go with the wagyu steak instead next time. Otherwise, everything else tasted great. There was also a new dessert, the popcorn bingsu, which was surprisingly good. They brought it out with a candle for me, which really completed the experience. The ambience of the restaurant is also the perfect balance between intimate and lively. Perfect for a special occasion or a date night. They seated us upstairs by the stairs, which gave us a nice overview of the restaurant. Would recommend to try for the Korean fine dining experience!

Excellent dishes - never tasted a better steak in Toronto than here. Their sujebi pasta and potato pancakes were mind blowing. The only thing is they’re small so they’re very strict with seating time and only allow for 1.5-2 hours which they will keep reminding you about. Other than that I had a great birthday dinner.