This Michelin-recommended spot might have ruined Korean BBQ forever

Korean BBQ is one of my favourite meals in the city. It's where I take newcomers for a crash course in Toronto's food scene, home to the largest population of Koreans in Canada, and it earned a spot on our ultimate Toronto foodie bucket list. But if you're after something with a little more polish and a little less soju-fuelled chaos, Takja BBQ House takes the experience to another level.

Since opening on College Street in 2024, the restaurant has quickly racked up accolades, including a recommendation from the Michelin Guide. The dining room is split between a welcoming front space and a more intimate room beyond a screen, with every table set with wine glasses that quietly urge you to explore Takja BBQ's incredible wine list.

Every table is fitted with a propane grill, but don't expect to cook your own dinner. The staff expertly grills each cut, snipping the meat with scissors before serving everything from A5 wagyu ribeye and short rib galbi to Ibérico pluma — much of it showcased in a striking glass meat locker at the back of the restaurant.

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But first, the appetizers. Start your meal with a seafood platter that goes beyond crustaceans on ice. Shrimp is glazed with chilli sauce, skewered and rolled in puffed rice; oysters are swimming in a chivey mignonette and sea grapes; and scallops are complemented with a creamy sesame dressing.

Opt for the "Hansang," and the team will quite literally fill your table with dishes like Seafood Pancake with Caviar, Mushroom Stone Pot Rice and seasonal vegetables.

That's not to say you won't leave thoroughly satisfied by the meat. Every barbecue order, from striploin and coppa to hanger steak, arrives with scallion salad, lettuce ssam, pickles and an array of condiments for building the perfect bite.

Starting July 13, the Michelin Guide-recommended Korean BBQ destination will be open seven days a week, making Mondays the newest night to experience its elevated take on Korean barbecue.

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Bordeaux and Korean BBQ isn't a pairing you come across every day, but maybe it should be. Takja BBQ has some serious sommelier chops, and the team is more than happy to recommend the perfect bottle for whatever's on your grill.

The cocktails knock my socks off, too. Though it's hard to pick a favourite between old fashioned and highball riffs, the Omija Margarita — Seoul's answer to a spicy margarita, made with mezcal, Korean tea and spicy gochugaru — is a colourful contender for best sip of the evening.

Takja doesn't reinvent Korean BBQ, but it does do it incredibly well. The premium ingredients, polished service and one of the city's best wine programs make it the kind of place you'll book when you're celebrating or impressing out-of-town friends. Starting July 13, it'll be open seven days a week, so there's one more reason to go.

takja.ca