Tsuchi Cafe — Restaurant in Toronto

Plant based foods have come a long way. Perhaps, one thing maybe we should try to do is... not replace the existing foods we know.

When you say Chicken Kara'age, I think of crisply and juicy little fried goodness. When you say Cheesecake, I'm thinking decadence on the tip of my tongue with smooth silky sweet goodness... oh.. sorry... break time.. I need to get me a slice right now! LOL! When you say beef curry, I'm thinking rich, deep flavours, and spices... I'm still hungry! Lord these reviews get harder to write without snacking!

So my mind is set and biased when I try new vegan/plant based places. My expectations are so high that it can't be met. There is no cloning the food with plants! OK.. I said it... now let all the plant-people send in their Vegan Friendly Comments to me! :D

I'm still not there. I have tried vegan and vegetarian foods. When I have straight up vegan food not pretending to be a ham sandwich, I really love it. I have no expectations and let the flavours fly... and they can be so amazing!

Now to the review. I heard the buzz about TsuChi Cafe and a friend wanted to try the place. Happened to be in the right place at the right time so off we went to have a taste.

TsuChi Cafe is at the far west end of Little Italy - which is rapidly becoming Grand Multicultural Restaurant Station! Lots of wood accents in this small restaurant and I like their signage inside.

Drinks, snacks, meals... all so good and tasty looking, but a little pricey. Then again, plant based is so shi-shi trendy, prices are in line. BY THE WAY... Big Reveal on the Way!

Settled on some take out food. Don't get picky with me here... I don't quite remember everything. The order was Beef Curry and Rice, Kara'age Sandwich, Hojicha Cheesecake... and I think it was TsuChi donut day so had to try it - got a miso glaze donut.

Found a place to sit and dine outside - thank the lord it was warm and sunny day. Took out the spread and tried the food. I found the Karaage dense and not quite all there. The bread was soooo good though! Carbs make me happy!

The beef curry was ok. The beef bits looked like the ground beef was dried up and no amount of simmering will bring it back. Flavours were muted and I thought the consistency of the curry was off.

The cheesecake was missing some sweetness and richness and the dollop of cream was turning into water - hmmm. WTH? AND the donut - well... it didn't even get a picture posted here. Meh.

SO WHY THE 4-STARS!?!

After discussing the food with my friend. She chuckled... and said... you know this is all Plant Based. right? BOOM... Shock... and... Awe... !!! I thought I heard it was but it slipped the leaky mind of mine! So we got all things Vegan!?! Though not a big thing for some of you... this was a Big Reveal for me! Paint on dumb-founded look here... LOL!.

Ok.. back to my point. Trying to satisfy my cave-man needs for meats, it's not going to work dressing up plants to look like it. So... after re-evaluating the shortfalls of the food, AND now knowing what they tried to create including the dollop of cream on the cheesecake, my admiration for the food upped the score.

Upped far enough to tell everyone that wants to try plant-based foods, that this place is worth giving a go. BUT still not enough for me to make it a must go place for me.

3.5 Stars - rounded up to 4 (because google can't do 0.5's...

A Gem in Toronto's Little Italy: Tsuchi Cafe

Having visited Tsuchi Cafe three times now, I can confidently say that this Japanese plant-based haven is a delightful escape in the heart of Toronto’s bustling Little Italy. Tsuchi offers a menu brimming with creativity and Japanese authenticity, sure to impress any lover of plant-based cuisine.

The cafe's atmosphere is cozy and inviting, with earth tones and natural light filling the space, creating a serene dining experience. On my initial visits, I was particularly impressed by their Kare Pan and cookies. The Kare Pan, a savory donut stuffed with a 12-spice "beef" curry, is an absolute must-try. Its crunchy exterior perfectly complements the soft, flavorful interior, making it hard to stop at just one.

Today, on my third visit, I decided to delve deeper into their menu, which boasts a variety of unique and beautifully prepared dishes that highlight the versatility of vegan cuisine. Each item is a testament to the cafe's commitment to flavor and quality, featuring ingredients that are both locally sourced and inspired by traditional Japanese cooking.

Their matcha azuki cheesecake is a standout dessert, with matcha imported from Kyoto and a delightful cocoa crust that marries well with the sweet azuki beans. The cafe's mushroom soup has also been a highlight, rich and comforting, perfect for Toronto's cooler days.

While the cafe might be small with limited seating, the ambiance and the quality of the food make it worth a visit. Tsuchi Cafe is not just a restaurant; it’s an experience that transports you straight to Japan while embracing the essence of plant-based dining.

For anyone in Toronto or visiting soon, Tsuchi Cafe is a culinary gem worth exploring. Whether you're a long-time vegan or just curious about plant-based cuisine, Tsuchi offers a menu that will enchant and satisfy...

Tsuchi is a gem serving authentic Japanese food and drinks that are all plant based! I loved the Hojicha latte with oat milk and no sweetener - had it hot and it was delicious, earthy, nutty, smooth with smoky sweet notes. It also has low caffeine compared to matcha. I had an iced Matcha latte on another day and it was just okay…I was expecting a stronger taste of the matcha because they sell a god quality one as well but it was quite mild. The green tea pistachio tart was so creamy and not too sweet but I couldn’t finish the entire thing in one sitting. Their miso soup was small but divine with vegetables and very flavourful. Would love to try their ramen next time. Or some of the other food items like the miso bread pudding. Was also pleasantly surprised to see that they carry Hitachino Nest beers which I had in Tokyo and it was one of the best beers I’ve had - but found that it was quite pricey per beer.

The vibe is cozy. It was very busy on a Sunday afternoon and got quite noisy when there was a group sitting at a table otherwise people were pretty quiet. There is a small seating area inside, but there is additional seating to enjoy outside. I was able to a get a table inside, however, they have a sign that they don’t allow laptops on the weekends so that the tables can be made available quicker which was a bit disappointing. When I came by on a Tuesday afternoon it was so quiet so I will probably come on a weekday next time since it’ll be quiet and can work a bit if needed. Either way will definitely be enjoying Tsuchi’s vibe and...