Friday, 10 October 2008

• Yan Woo Soya Bean Specialty Foods Review

  Yan Woo Soya Bean Specialty Foods
  Market Village, Unit H6
  4390 Steeles Avenue East
  905.470.0883
  http://www.marketvillage.net/yanwoo.html

  For some of the tastiest Soya Bean Milk and Soft Tofu Fa ("puddies"?) in Toronto, Yan Woo (Yun Wor in Cantonese) Soya Bean at Market Village is the place to be.

  Unassuming and no-frills, it's been around for as long as I can remember at Market Village, their soy milk in churning plastic displays at the front.  While the signs are overwhelmingly in chinese, don't let that be a deterrent as the back side of their menu is completely in english.
  

  We opt for the Special Combo A ($4.25), giving us selection of a noodle dish, a main tofu dish, and a soy bean drink.

  The Fried Noodle with Fried Bean Curd Ball & Bean Sprout ($2.25 a la carte) is simple and tasty.  Egg noodles tossed with soy sauce, green onions, bean sprouts, fried tofu balls, and sprinkled with sesame, nary a complaint.  Not at all greasy-tasting, nor over seasoned, the tofu balls are light and fresh, and the sesame add just the right pops of flavour.
  

  The Fried Bean Curd with Minced Fish ($2.00 a la carte) is a departure from what you get at dimsum, which is usually battered on the outside and deep-fried.  Rather, Yan Woo's version is unbattered and pan-fried, to a surprising crispiness.  The minced fish on this occasion was a bit fishy (for lack of a better description), but has been better on previous occasions.  The tofu itself also lacked the soy bean aroma and flavour, but they did a phenomenal job crisping the outside.
  

  The Soy Milk  ($1.00 a la carte), warm or cold, is always a winner.  Sweet but not overwhelmingly so, it's smooth yet full of flavour; i've had some "fresh" soy milk with a grainy texture, and some that taste of sugar and little else.  This struck a good balance -- best of all, you can buy a jug or two to go.  They also have a variety of "flavoured" soy milk, but I'm very happy with soy milk the way nature intended it to be.

  The Soya Bean Puddies / Tofu Fa ($2.45 per Bowl), again warm or cold, is great here.  Full of soy flavour, and fully cooked through to give it a silky yet firm texture, so that it doesn't water out.  They serve the Tofu Fa with sweetener mixed in, but it's just the right amount, just enought that you won't have leftover syrup at the bottom of your bowl.  They serve some variations with other flavours and ingredients, but again, plain is best for me (until I try one of the others and get absolutely hooked).
  

  Yan Woo / Yun Wor for Tofu Fa and Soy Milk is a solid choice any day of the week!
  

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