POCHA 1989

Pocha 1989 is a must try! My friends and I were on the hunt for some good Korean food and were recommended Pocha 1989, and I'm so glad we were! Each dish was so flavourful - we ordered the Yummy Fried Platter to start (it was good but I would skip out on it next time as it was pretty filling). For mains we went with the Deep Fried Boneless Chicken in Sweet and Spicy Sauce, Spicy Creamy Udon, and Kimchi Fried Rice. Each dish was a 10/10 but my personal favourite was the Spicy Creamy Udon. The fried chicken was perfect - just enough crunch without being too greasy. Four of us shared 3 mains, I would say the portions are pretty large and I'm glad we all shared - there was still leftover after! We when during the summer and sat on the patio which, very chill vibe to the restaurant. We also got Soju! I would go again.

Amazing Food, Great Vibes! I had the best time at POCHA 1989! Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious: 🍢 Odeng-tang (fish cake soup) was so comforting and flavorful. 🍓🍍 The strawberry and pineapple makgeolli were sweet, refreshing, and dangerously addictive. 🌶️ Spicy chicken feet paired with jumokbap (rice balls) were a perfect spicy and savory combo. 🍖 Bulgogi tteokbokki was packed with flavor, and the cream udon was rich and satisfying. The atmosphere is cozy yet lively, making it the perfect spot to grab drinks and Korean comfort food in downtown Toronto. Whether you’re out with friends or just craving something amazing, I highly recommend checking out POCHA 1989. I’ll definitely be back! 📍 Location: 542 Church St, Toronto, ON

I've been wanting to come here since it opened. They open so late that I never had the chance to come. Anyways I finally had that chance on the weekend. We ordered the bulgogi rice, chicken and rose tteokbokki. The bulgolgi rice was delicious. The dish was definitely meant for sharing. The chicken was juicy and not overly breaded. It didn't need any extra sauces. The best dish I think was the rose tteokbokki. This dish was creamy and I didn't expect it to be spicy but it was. It was spicy but so good that I had to eat it. I took it home and eating with rice was the best!! Service was fast and they were always checking to make sure everything was OK. Even filled up the water and stuff, I didn't need to ask for it. Very attentive. The chairs and tables were very clean. All the portions were huge and I was so full afterwards. 3 people 3 dishes was too much but so much to take home for yummy leftovers. The only thing was the bill that came. Didn't expect it to be so expensive. I'll definitely come back to try other dishes. This place is so good. Wish it opened earlier!

Had an absolutely delightful experience. The highlight of the meal was undoubtedly their mouthwatering soy sauce chicken dish. The fried chicken was a true masterpiece. The crispy, golden-brown exterior gave way to tender, juicy chicken that was bursting with flavor. The seasoning was perfectly balanced, offering a delightful combination of savory and slightly sweet notes. It's no exaggeration to say that this was some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. 100% recommended!! The ambiance of the restaurant was also noteworthy. It struck a perfect balance between cozy and trendy, making it an ideal spot for a casual dinner with friends or a romantic date night.

Wanted to go here for the longest time and today I finally did. The interior was really unique and honestly found it aesthetically pleasing. Service was great and the server came in checked a few times to make sure everything was good. Food came fast and all together and everything was delicious. Had the Soy Garlic Chicken, Fried Squid, and Pocha Udon and everything was huge in terms of proportions. Highlight was definitely the fried squid for me. Will definitely come back in the future if in the area!

Their chicken is the best I’ve had in Toronto. They are sooo juicy and tender, flavourful and honestly just super delicious. Tteokbokki was standard but they do have a lot more ingredients such as glass noodles. Large portions so it’s better to share as a group. Will definitely come back again!

I came on a Friday night at around 8pm and we were able to get a table for 3. Compared to Ehwa, I think they focus more on the food. We ordered the sweet and spicy fried chicken combo which cames with fries. Interestingly the topped the chicken with almonds. Food was overall really good and came in decent portions. Would recommend and come back for drinks and a meal. But if you're looking for drinks and snacks, I'd pick Ehwa any day.

I come here 4 times and more later 🤣 also recommended for family and friends to come. I get what I want from this place, from the food, drink, music, atmosphere, staff so everything is really cool and chill. As other reviews mentioned big portion, sometimes you need a container to go 😂 and I tried 4 flavours of soju in total 😎👍🏻😜😬

Came with here with a friend on a Saturday night and we were seated on the patio right away. We ordered the army stew and rose teobokki, 2 beers and a bottle of soju to share. The army stew was yummy! However the rose teobokki got dry really fast and we had to ask them to reheat it for us. Service was fast and attentive - would be back!

Amazing spot for a night out with some Korean bar food. After seeing this spot a lot online, I was pretty excited to finally visit after browsing their menu. The menu had an extensive variety to choose from such as rose tteokbokki, creamy udon, fried chicken and bulgogi fries. I decided to try out the oden soup and the fried chicken. Oden Soup: Warm and comforting soup. The fishcake was decent portions. The size is good for a small group to share. Fried Chicken: Great flavour and really crispy exterior. The chicken was pretty good quality too. Overall, I would come back again to try out the rest of their menu. The only downside is the service is a bit slow. I would suggest coming in early if you want a table as it does get busy.

Nestled in the heart of the city, Pocha 1989 offers a tantalizing journey into the world of Korean cuisine. From the moment you step in, the vibrant atmosphere and the aroma of sizzling dishes set the stage for a unique dining experience. For those who enjoy a side of tunes with their kimchi, Pocha 1989 keeps the energy up with a playlist that complements the lively atmosphere. The music is part of the overall sensory experience, adding to the vibrant and upbeat vibe of the restaurant. One drawback to the popularity of Pocha 1989 is the long line-ups. Be prepared for a wait, especially during peak hours. Food is ok, nothing super special but just right for a night out with friends. Garlic Fried chicken and creamy noodles is a must try.

More of a 3.5 star spot. Definitely recommend you go at opening - 6 pm or find a way to get reservations as they are always busy. My friend tried to call them multiple times but they wouldn't pick up the phone so fortunately she was able to arrive right at opening to get a table. Service was pretty fast and didn't take long to get to a table. I tried the spicy creamy udon which is very filling and big portioned. My other friends tried a ramen dish and soy sauce chicken. Overall, food is decent and portions are good. Just keep expectations to typical Korean bar food.

We out here at Pocha!! We got the Spicy Rosè Cream Tteobokki (Rice cake), there's sausages, ham, veggies, noodles, pork belly, & rice cake obvi. OH! & that small slice of cheese This bowl was massive for 2 people, it was only $22. & we had to bring it to go! What a steal For apps, we got the fried Shrimp , it's like a fusion of calamari & tempura prawn. Love the sauce drizzle on it, the soy sauce they gave was questionable as it was barely filled lmao but I recommend dipping it in the Rosè sauce for that extra OOMPH! Pocha opens at 6 & there was already a line before it opened, food took a while too. The tables next to us got their food way earlier even though we ordered first. Hopefully this will improve! Food 9/10 Ambiance: 9/10 Service: 7/10

I don't live in Canada, but I make sure I go here whenever I am in Canada to eat chicken feet! It is my go to. However, if you are not into the bony things, they also have other options like Chicken in Soy sauce and nice noodle dishes. It is always packed, so I recommend going early. They open at 6pm so go ASAP they open. Food can be pricy, but the service is great and the food taste amazing!

Pocha 1989 is a great local Korean bar spot to spend an evening with close friends over a few bottles and soju and great late night bites! Upon entering, I saw quite a few tables with the FIsh Cake Soup in hotpot style which is a great meal to share especially to warm up from the frigid winters. The broth is light but with the right amount of seasoning to accentuate the fish cakes. The fried octopus was fried perfectly with the right amount of batter to pair with the perfectly cooked meat of the octopus! It pairs with the Yakult Soju! The service that me and my friends was quite good as the waitress was quite attentive with the amount of tables to help out with. I can't wait for my next visit!

A great spot with a chill vibe to hang out with friends! This spot has a variety of Korean comfort food and drinks. Ordered a combo and the service was excellent, should definitely try for the experience.

Came here on a Sunday evening as a group of 5 for a small get together. This place has plenty of seating for small groups under 6. Ambience was adorable. Lighting all along the walls with lights wrapped around indoor palm trees. Dimmed, comfy social lighting. Food was great! With generous portion sizes, flavourful dishes and crispy food, just what we were looking for. -The creamy rice cakes were mixed with mussels, shrimp, hot peppers. - Tried both the crispy boneless soy chicken and the crispy boneless sweet and spicy chicken. Personally I like spicy, so I prefer the sweet and spicy chicken. Both chickens were great just a matter of opinion in spice level. - My favourite dish was the bulgogi fries, as It was topped with ample amounts of cheese, flavoured bulgogi, crispy French fries, and packed with flavour. Sauce on the bottom of hot pan too! Mmmmm would definitely order this again! Drinks - soju of course! Parking - behind the building there's an underground parking garage. Or Green P parking in area Service - why it lost a 5/5. Just because the waiter could definitely be more attentive while at work. Not a fan of constantly attempting to flag down a waiter to get their attention... they should round their tables. But hopefully this can improve.

I had to order to-go and in a hurry. The server appeared to understand but I ended up waiting 30+ minutes for udon I I couldn't even eat due to the rush, and the servers appeared to purposefully ignore me. -1/5

A cute hole-in-the-wall place :) Stopped in quick on a night out to try their battered soy wings, they were super flavourful, the almonds on top had a great crunch, and adding the side chillies made it perfectly spicy- plus it was a huge portion, me and my bf barely finished! Thanks!!

Overrated spot. Not sure why people line up for it. I guess people go for the decorations? They have a lobby but you're not allowed to wait there. The wait staff will rudely ask you to leave even if it's a super cold day. Might as well go to another spot instead of waiting out in the cold or having to grab a drink elsewhere. Food itself is average. They try to mix things up to make it more modern but it's nothing special. Not worth it for the wait and combine that with the service, I will definitely not be back.

Got a great fun vibe! Food is delicious. The multiple times we come it has not disappoint. Nice place to hangout with friends and grab a drink or two. Definitely under staffed!

Decent Korean fried chicken and probably one of the better ones I've had in Toronto. Big portions for the bulgogi and fried chicken. Fried chicken could've been spicier (it was more sweet than spicy). Service was friendly, despite the server being new. When we asked if the two dishes was sufficient, the server was honest and said it should be enough, rather than upselling another item on the menu. Not a big deal but I wish the side plates were actual plates and not paper plates.

My husband and I stopped in for dinner around 6:45 pm on a Thursday. It was fairly busy, but the food looked delicious. I ordered the double fried soy chicken, and while it took nearly 45 minutes to arrive, it was tasty, however not quite what I was expecting; it was really just a massive plate of fried chicken with nothing else, so it was difficult to eat much. It would have been nice for the wait staff to explain this at the time of order, but I also accept this as my fault. The biggest issues were (1) my husband's food never arrived, and after waiting an hour we asked the waiter to have his order canceled. They had not even started cooking it yet. A wait staff had come out and told us after about 25 minutes after ordering that his food would take another 10, but that 10 turned into another 30 by which time we canceled. 2) There were patrons seated well after us who placed orders and then received them in a reasonable amount of time. (3) we asked to be seated outside at one of 3+ open tables and were told they were taken; however they remained open for nearly a half hour, and when patrons were seated there I did not get the sense they had been reserved. I may be wrong. In all, we did not feel as though we were welcomed here and figured we might not represent the young Korean demographic that this establishment wanted to show that they attract (we are not Korean but love experiencing all types of cuisine), and it seemed to show in the service we received and the table we were allowed to choose. We were fortunate to have many great dining experiences while in Toronto, and this stood out as the singular bad experience. We would not return and would not recommend.

That feeling when you go to a restaurant a foodie or friend recommends and it ends up being AMAZING! I never knew there was a hidden spot for Korean bar food in the heart of the Church/Wellesley neighbourhood and I'm so glad we gave it a try What initially drew me in was the fish cake soup, I remembered standing on the streets of Korea and being served this in a paper cup as a lil snack and couldn't wait to give this a try. This soup was very light and slightly spicy from the peppers and the fish cakes themselves were soft and slightly chewy. The spicy rice cake with cheese was really delicious with a creamy sauce, pieces of hot dog, fish cakes and assorted veggies as well. I do however wish we got more than a piece of a slice of cheese (paid extra) I found the spicy braised chicken to be decent and generously topped with cheese but was a bit light on the chicken and heavy on the rice cakes and other fillings. I would rather have this dish from a specialty restaurant like Ssangkye who I personally think makes it the best. We also had the soy sauce fried chicken, the sauce had a nice flavor but could have been crispier. Our friends sitting next to us got the same thing, and theirs was served in a different type of bowl and ended up more crispy than ours which was sad, but will definitely make note of that for next time. The spicy creamy udon was definitely one of my favorite items as the udon noodles were perfectly chewy yet soft and the sauce was just a hint spicy but super creamy and flavorful. I like how they tossed in some sausage, and cabbage, egg and even some fish roe The service however was terrible which is surprising but regardless we will definitely be returning to try more of their menu paired with some soju next time!

The food was so great that it drowns out everything else that was horrible about it (we were waiting for a table for an additional 10-15 minutes, even though it was available but just not cleaned up). But as mentioned earlier, the food was amazing.

I love this place! This is my go-to Korean pup in Toronto. My favorite dish is the creamy spicy udon. It is so so good and if you pair this with the rice balls, they are to die for! The kimchi stew is really good too. The restaurant is really pretty themed after greenery (palm trees and lots of plants). I miss dining in here and can't wait to come back.

Horrible service. When we arrived, the indoor seats were full, so we waited at the seats outside and ordered food. It was cold and windy outside but the waitress refused to let us in when there were available seats indoor (plus we line up for indoor but she said if we order food outdoors you can't change you seats) We have to ask for hot water and the heater outside was broken. I don't know why she don't let us in. My name was literally on the first line of the lineup sheet. I catch cold after this dinner. Will never come here again.

Perfect late night food. So satisfying. We got fries and the street udon. It took a while for the food to come but they apologized and gave us complimentary Korean fried chicken! Everything was so good, street udon was my favorite. Big fan.

Pocha 1989 has amazing food and drinks. I recommend the Sweet and Spicy boneless Chicken. It's super crunchy exterior with tender juicy chicken on the inside covered in a Gochujang style sauce topped almonds and scallions. Service was excellent and very attentive. Highly recommend.

Queuing at evening. It's windy and very cold outside. We had been blowing outside for an hour and a half and the waiter wouldn't let us in to wait

We found this place randomly while searching for Korean places late on a Saturday night which was not just Korean bbq. Walking in, it was nice ambiance. They had seats outside with heaters for warmth! The inside was pretty cool and the decor felt really nice with a very rainforest vibe. We were promptly attended to and seated. I was craving bibimbap but sadly they didn't have that. Ordered kimchi rice which was a 10/10. The Crispy Boneless Soy Chicken was pretty good and the portion was hugeee. Never saw that bug boneless chickens served. Lol. Very flavorful and the breading was a lot but crunchy. 8/10. The cheese fries with spicy pork was okay. The pork lacked the flavor was I seeking and seemed pretty bland for my palate. 6/10. I'd say its a great hangout spot in the town and to bring friends like me who is visiting the city and want a cozy spot to eat after a long day of city exploration!

If you want good friend chicken, please go somewhere else. Food is very overrated, chicken was soggy, lacked flavour, stale, with mostly batter. There's much better and cheaper Korean friend chicken places in downtown Toronto. Don't waste your money here.

I have bad experiences with my friend when I came here last Friday night. My friend recommend to me this restaurant because they got delicious chicken. We are driving from Mississauga and be here at 12:25 am and we saw they opened until 2:30 am so we decided to get in, but unfortunately, the server said the kitchen will be closed at 12:30 am. How come? Why do they put the store hours like that?????

We were really looking forward to eat there. I understand waiting time was long however the staff was unpleasant and asked us to go out and we cannot wait there. Their behavior however with east Asian ppl and pocs were very different and we simply walked out. This is something I couldnt accept. will never set my foot there again.

Amazing! The food and atmosphere are amazing. By far my favourite Korean restaurant to date. I want to go back again and again. We had the spicy creamy udon, rose tteokbokki, and kimchi jjigae. My favourite dish at this place and also one of the best dishes I've ever had would be the spicy creamy udon. The only downside was that the food took awhile to come out but they are forgiven because the food was delicious!