Stir fry and more at Genghis Khan

Memories of many meals and gatherings at Mongolian Grill at Makati Cinema got hubby and me excited for this excursion to Genghis Khan at mid-town Toronto.

We arrived just as the restaurant opened and were surprised at the big spread. Seating capacity looked to be over 200! We realized later on that the place does get packed.

It was the girls’ first experience with Mongolian grill so I guided them along in choosing their meat, veggies, noodles and sauce. Chicken, pork, beef and lamb were available. These were sliced thinly and frozen in rolls. There was also squid, shrimp, clams and kani (imitation crab). They had the usual mix of veggies, and for carbs, there were egg noodles, rice noodles and udon. The sauces were pretty varied, too! Apart from the usual Mongolian and Teriyaki, there was Satay, Kung Pao, Korean and Curry. You can also mix your own sauce. The girls were delighted with this newfound independence of being able to choose what they can put in their bowls. I had to manage the quantities they put in, though, as I knew well enough what they can consume.

We then waited as the chefs got the grill heated. It was a large circular grill where the chefs cook the items from each bowl. They use some water and giant chopsticks to cook. Once done, the food is transferred over to a different bowl. 

Apart from this all-you-can-eat stir fry, there is also a buffet of salads, appetizers and other dishes already cooked. There were steamed dumplings (siomai), pork buns (siopao), kung pao fish, chicken wings, almond-crusted fish, and many more.

But the highlight of the meal for the girls was the dessert section. They had the usual pastries and ice cream with toppings. They also had a chocolate fountain with marshmallows and strawberries for dipping. But what got the girls really excited was the snow-cone. After you get your shaved ice, you have all sorts of syrup to choose from—strawberry, raspberry, lime…yum, yum, and yum! These snow cones were a sure hit with my girls! It was a hit with me as well, after I got over my brain freeze.

We were pretty stuffed at the end of this meal. At about $15 (weekend and holiday lunch), it was good value. Kids get 40% off, too. DD#1 is already looking forward to our next trip here and has declared it her new favourite restaurant!