OJA Korean Style Cuisine — Restaurant in Toronto

*Food was solid, customer service absolutely reprehensible and the owner has no business being in customer service. How do you disrespect a paying customer to their face over a service fee for tapping and then disposable, wooden chopsticks? Outlandish.

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Let me preface this by stating that I dine out nightly and routinely frequent highly-rated restaurants with my girlfriend. Not once have I ever felt the need to express my displeasure to the owner like this.

My girlfriend and I order the Bulgogi Bibimbap and Spicy Tofu Stew. We pay $40.62. We get the food, and after finishing it my girlfriend is thirsty so I proceed to go up to the counter to buy her a bottle of water. I have my Apple Pay ready when I hear the owner say, frustratingly: “Another payment? There are SERVICE FEES. All these service fees.” I respond with, “Okay sir, I can pay cash.” I give him $2.25 and go back to our table with the water. Rude, sure. Maybe he’s having a bad day; I’ve worked in customer service for 16 years, so I get it.

At this point, I am still hungry and eyeing the kimbap. So I bring our dishes and cutlery to the disposal area and order the kimbap. The owner, in a smug manner, asks: “So now you need new chopsticks?” I could not believe what I was hearing. I thought he was joking at first - he was not.

I get called to the counter to get my kimbap. I sit down, and my girlfriend sees me begrudgingly eating my food and asks what is wrong. I explain to her; at which point, the owner comes near to wipe down tables. I confront him, asking why it was such a big deal to get new chopsticks, why he gave me attitude, and why he felt the need to comment over a .50 cent service fee when we spent $55 in his restaurant. He says a lot of his patrons takeout, so they are not affected by service fees, usually. Great. How is this relevant? The patron eating alone behind us, upon hearing my complaint to the owner, left half his meal and walked out. I would too.

I told the owner I loved his food, but his comments made over inconsequential matters (i.e. service fees and disposable chopsticks) turned my five-star review into a one-star, and ensured that I never dine there again. I sincerely hope the owner looks at himself in the mirror and treats this as a...

I read a fairly decent amount of reviews before heading to this place for lunch so I was pretty much sold and was excited to try it for the first time. But I was in for some nonsense. I ordered beef japchae:

Rude and unwelcoming customer service. An older, male worker behind the cashier didn't even acknowledge me as I was standing right in front of him for a good minute because he was too busy on his phone. And only did poorly acknowledge me AFTER handing a customer who was waiting her food.

I asked to purchase 'hot sauce' with my meal, being very hesitant, he says "this meal isn't eaten with hot sauce". Like, what business is it of yours what I eat the meal I'm paying for with or without???

Taste wise, the meal was okay, portion wise, NO!!!!

Time and money poorly spent. This place isn't 4.9 out of 5 on any day, do not believe the hype.

I am not...

I was waiting for the place to open up so I could try it since it's in my neighborhood.

The people were super nice, kind and careful. It has a mom-n-pop run restaurant vibe. Kim's convenience meets an affordable restaurant vibes.

I got the Shrimp Kimbap which came with jhap-jae, both of which were really great! My friend got the Korean Fried Chicken Rice Bowl which was even better. They also offered us a small bowl of soup for dine-in which was a great addition! They have amazing offerings for desserts which I can't want to go back for.

Over all I loved the experience, it has a quick but relaxing meal during a hectic work-day vibe and it helps that it's right on the periphery of the Financial District. We need more places which have a human touch...