The Experience
The website reads “Authentic Szechuan Hot Pot and Japanese + Korean BBQ infused Hot Pot & Grill Lovers Paradise”. Can’t really argue with that. Mix2Grill & Hot Pot was packed on a Thursday, which feels like the general consensus shared amongst those of us in the room.

Be aware that if you are heading out with a group of friends and you show up during peak hours without a reservation, you’re probably going to have to wait. We arrived at 6:30pm, and by 7:30pm the place was mobbed, which, on a Thursday, says that the place is probably always in high demand and it’s only open until 11pm. If there is a wait, there’s tons of space on the stairs leading into the host station, which is great for a cold Toronto winter.

The clientele is mostly young, tables of hungry university students with a few hungry after work folks looking for beer and grilled meat in a steam filled space that could only be described as bustling. To say it’s busy is an understatement. From the tables to the staff, everyone is in action. Servers had their hands full making sure orders were hitting the table. Plates were clacking, people talked and, of course, there was the delicious sound of sizzling meat and laughter. It would be concerning if it was a quiet room.

There are no aprons to grab if you’re worried about splattering yourself. And you probably will, because even though the booths are pretty large, with 2 hot pots and a grill, it gets crowded fast. There is no panchan, the assortment of side dishes and condiments that are traditionally a part of a Korean BBQ, but there are 3 All-You-Can-Eat options: Hot Pot ($36.99), Korean BBQ ($36.99) or both for $40.99.

The best part, the variety makes a typically communal way of dining be anything you want it to be. Not just vegetarians and picky eater, but it’s Halal-certified, so it makes it an incredibly hospitable dining option for a casual night out. Each AYCE option has a solid selection of appetizers, (the chicken wings and pop corn chicken were on repeat order all night). Then the main menu is pretty extensive, each person gets to pick their own soup base and then meats and veggies to cook. It was the Tom Yum and Tomato broth that was a hit at our table, and we couldn’t get enough of the AAA-rated Angus beef, and sirloin. My personal favourite was the shrimp paste, the corn on the cob, the mushrooms and the grilled canned pineapple. There is also chicken, lamb, vegetables, fish and seafood… and dessert. The brown sugar jelly was perfect.

On top of the variety, and quality, Mix2 really owns its spot on the pretty extensive list of Toronto AYCE. Culturally, outside Toronto, AYCE is almost a dirty word: big on volume, light on prestige, judged by food snobs, and treated as an economical guilty pleasure. But, in Toronto, AYCE is a whole genre that encompasses everything from sushi to Brazilian rodizio, and everything in between. Toronto love AYCE, and we keep supporting them through recessions, condo booms, and even that period when we were going mental for that “shared plate” trend. It’s how we eat, hungry with friends who want to try the whole menu and not regret it from meal to wallet!