Senla — Restaurant in Toronto

I walked past this place one day and noticed it was new. I remembered the previous restaurant that used to be here, so I thought I’d give this one a try. It seems they’ve kept some of the interior decor from the former venue, though I never actually went there myself. It works for me regardless. The space has a bit of a greenhouse vibe, which makes sense cos I think the last restaurant was vegan. There are quite a few fake plants around as well, but thankfully it doesn’t feel tacky. The west-facing windows let in a lot of natural light, diffused through the shades which is a nice vibe.

To start, we had the Charred Satay Squid. The texture was interesting—almost like squid balls. The squid itself was basically cut into pieces and served over romaine lettuce. The lettuce didn’t add much and seemed to be for presentation than anything else.

For my main, I ordered the Pan-Fried Duck Breast with jasmine rice. The duck was cooked nicely, and I especially enjoyed the pieces closer to the centre, which were slightly rarer and quite tender. That said, the overall flavour was fairly mild—some might even call it plain. The menu mentioned fermented bean curd, but I didn’t really notice that element coming through in the dish. It was served with this salad on the side which was pretty wilted - maybe they pre toss these salads in the dressing or do it way too far in advance, etc. but it was not fun to eat.

The staff were friendly and handled the basics well—taking our order and bringing out the food—but they didn’t check in during the meal, which might be a drawback for some.

One thing I appreciated was the QR code on the receipt, which allowed us to pay at the table using Apple Pay. It was quick, easy, and meant no waiting around for the card machine.

All in all, the ambience is pleasant, and while the food was decent, it wasn’t especially memorable. I wouldn’t say there’s anything that would draw me back specifically for the dishes, but it’s a comfortable spot for a...

Great Experience at Senla - Delicious Food & Amazing Hospitality

I had a really great experience at Senla! We came in with a big group of 20 people, and the owner Annie was super friendly and accommodating. What stood out right away was that we didn’t need to pre-order or stick to a prix fixe menu, which made everything so much easier. Despite the size of our group, all the food came out on time and exactly as ordered, very impressive!

I got to try all the appetizers, and each one was unique and packed with flavor. The shaking steak was a favourite tender, flavorful, and perfect for sharing, this is meant to be a main but was easily able to share (however came with rice which was used as extra rice for mains).

For my main, I had the coconut curry with shrimp, and it was honestly so good. The curry was rich and full of flavor, and the shrimp were big and crispy, they definitely didn’t skimp. A few people ordered the coconut curry with duck, which took a bit longer to come out, but it was worth the wait. Others had the pho and said it was really traditional and comforting.

Portion sizes were normal, not too big or small, and the prices were very reasonable for the area. They don’t serve dessert, but I was full by the end anyway, so I didn’t mind.

All in all, a great spot with tasty food and genuinely warm service. I’d...

I visited Senla, a Vietnamese restaurant near my hotel in Toronto, for supper with my sister who had recommended it. From the moment we walked in, I really liked the atmosphere—the decor is modern, warm, and inviting, giving the place a relaxed but stylish vibe. The menu covers all the classic Vietnamese dishes you’d expect, with plenty of comforting choices for both first-timers and regulars of this cuisine.

The service was polite and friendly, though not particularly attentive. Once our meals were served, we didn’t see our server again until we flagged someone down for the bill, which made it feel a bit like we’d been forgotten. That said, the food itself was delicious—fresh ingredients, well-balanced flavours, and nicely presented.

The only real downside was portion size. While everything tasted great, I was still hungry after finishing my dish, so I’d definitely recommend ordering an appetizer or sharing a few plates if you’re dining with someone else. Overall, Senla offers a lovely setting and great food, even if the service could be a...