Green Mango closed??

[magic]

I heard that Green Mango, on the west side on Yonge at Bloor, closed down. Does anyone have info on this?? Is it condo development related?? I can’t imagine why it would close down, they were always very busy. I liked this place and would be sad to see it go. I’ll really miss their street style pad thai and fried rice. So good. I’m aware a takeout location across the street is still up and running but I’m curious about why the sit-down location closed.

[bimjim]

When I first came to Tranna in 1996 I used to go to Green Mango on Hayden Street (the Yonge & Bloor location) and take home as many as eight or nine of their Ginger Chicken dishes to re-portion and freeze for "special" meals for my family the week ahead. That specific dish was seriously habit-forming.

As time went on, the recipe and taste degenerated - I guess with changing chefs - and then ceased being addictive altogether.

I've been to the Thai restaurant opposite (west side) and it's not only NOT a Green Mango, it's nowhere near as good as GM was.

Now I'm looking for a ginger chicken recipe for myself and catering for a Club meeting - I know it's basically a red curry chicken, but WHAT was the "magic" ingredient? The lime juice? Sugar? And what did they use to give the sauce that red speckle? I have tried chili flakes, but it's not the same.

I NEED THAT RECIPE!!! :^))

Recipes or links, anyone? PLEASE!!!

Thanks, Jim

-----
Green Mango
2180 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6S1N3, CA

[cupcakez]

I went to na siam twice in the last couple weeks. There are spicy noodles, although Im not sure if they are the same as they used to be. I got the combination of spicy noodles with 2 sides for 8.95
The peanut chicken, golden chicken curry, and tofu and eggplant were wonderful. The sweet and sour tofu and the pork stirfry were awful. It comes with a typical springroll and side salad.

The food is by no means fantastic, but it gives you 2 meals worth of food for $9, and hits the spot in the chili weather. I wont go back often, but for the price beats a lot of the other available options.

[NovoCuisine]

The old westside Green Mango takeout brings back memories.. that place was my first experience with "ethnic" food and I've never looked back.

I'd imagine it was too expensive running the two restaurants in that area; a pricey location, with so many alternatives in the same vein. I will always associate GM with takeout/fast food sitdown, and keeping the larger space for just that seems like a good idea to me.

[magic]

Had you not eaten at the sit down location?? Having never been to the takeout location I can't comment on it, I just know from others’ reports that it was nothing special to crappy. Certainly not on par with the sit down location.

I'm sure whatever business decision motivated the effective closure of the sit down menu was sound and necessary to the owners. I'm just sad to think that it'll be our loss.

[tjunmin]

I miss the old sit down restaurant on the west side. It was one of my favorite locations for lunch in downtown. The fast food/take out menu in place now is much inferior compared to the old menu. I've been there twice after the change, and will not be going back. So sad.

[magic]

Cripes. Well, thanks for the confirmation of what was feared. Appreciated. Not even going to bother checking it out.

Sad sad sad.

[currycue]

Yeah, that sucks. Made it out to another location of theirs at Runnymede subway station and ran into a waitress that used to work at the sit down location. The menu was the same as the old Green Mango but the food didn't have as much flavour as did the old west side restaurant. Too bad, I'd even consider going that far for their peanut or cashew chicken. Even their shrimp crackers were stale and different. I guess I'll have to re-disover Golden Thai or something.

[magic]

Is that the location in/near Bloor West Village?? I forgot about that location. Never been...

[pescatarian]

do you mean Royal York? There is one at Royal York. I haven't been there in years, but it used to be pretty decent.

[Pincus]

There's definitely one just east of Runnymede station, not sure about Royal York.

[tjunmin]

I've been to both locations, on Bloor West Village and Kingsway Village, after the sit down location on Yonge St closed.

We had a very poor experience at the Kingsway Village location. The "Red Snapper and Curry Shrimp" was so much inferior compared to the one that used to be prepared at the Yonge location. To add insult to injury, I ordered guava juice, and it was served frozen; they left the juice in the freezer, and it froze, the water had turned into ice shavings; they had the courage to pour it in a glass and serve it like that. Not returning there.

The Bloor West Village location was much better. The "Two Sister Cakes" appetizer was tasteless and too oily, but the main dishes were OK and the service was friendly. I find their menu not as extensive as the old location on Yonge - much less seafood dishes - but it was good enough for us to consider returning in the future.

[magic]

Your Kingsway experience sounds terrible. I'll stay away.

How would you compare the Bloor West Village location's food quality to the Yonge's old sit down version? As good??

[magic]

Any recent reports on the Bloor West Village location of Green Mango?

I'd like to see how it is....

[merlot143]

I've been, and the food is quite tasty. No drop in quality at all.

[magic]

That is great to hear. I don't think they have the 'street style' pad thai on their menu, like the Yonge+Bloor location had way back when; before they changed concepts. Which is too bad. I could really go for that dish. But thanks, good to know it's still tasty!

[Yum2MyTum]

BWV is oh so far! Man I used to love the Green Mango at Yonge and Dundas. Sukhothai at Parliament + Dundas is my go-to now.

[magic]

Hmm, thanks for the rec. Might be a good option for me.

[Yum2MyTum]

Seriously magic. Give it a shot. I haven't been to any other Thai place since (of my own choosing). Check out this thread for thorough reviews.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/542731

[magic]

Thanks, at some point in the near to not-too-distant future I will for sure check it out. Thanks again!

[tj2007]

They still have street-style pad thai on the menu. Was there are few weeks ago and saw it.

[Dean Tudor]

The Green Mango at Runnymede TTC subway stop now also has PHO (large neon sign) plus other Vietnam dishes...Asiatic fusion food?

[pancake]

I like the kingsway location. Decent thai at a decent price. Never had an awful experience and i've been going for years.

[magic]

Do you mean the Kingsway (Royal York) location? I called the Bloor West Village location and they said they didn't have the street style pad thai but that the Kingsway location does. Their online menu confirms what the woman told me over the phone -- no street style pad thai. The Kingsway one does though apparently. But since it's nowhere near where I live it better be damn good and at least as good as the old Yonge/Bloor location for me to make that trek...

[szw]

You know you could always just go and ask if they can make it. Reading this old thread end to end is pretty funny, it seems to me like you should just go and try it at least once.

[magic]

It's been a journey :) I probably will.

[currycue]

Sukhothai is my wife and my new spot now too. The Green Mango sit down at Bloor / Yonge had some awesome dishes: Cashew chicken and peanut chicken were my favourite. The one at the take out just isn't the same. Went to the Bloor west location around the time Bloor and Yonge closed and it just wasn't the same either on top of being quite far.

Long live Sukhothai!

[magic]

So sad what they've done to my Mango. Sukhothai it is.

[pancake]

Yes, the kingsway location. Its a minute walk from Royal York Subway station. I've never been to the recently closed location so I cannot make the comparison.

[teppy1954]

It appears that the replacement Green Mango cafeteria location on Yonge at Bloor is now gone, replaced by another Thai take-out with similar dishes but missing the GM quality and most importantly NO MORE SPICY NOODLES which were one of a kind....damn!!!!!

-----
Green Mango
2180 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6S1N3, CA

[magic]

I never even went to the cafeteria incarnation of Green Mango. I was so heartsick when they abruptly changed formats. What a damn shame.

Thanks for the update.

[currycue]

Totally agreed! I loved their old, classier restaurant. Alas, they've lost me to Sukhothai ever since. Went into Na Siam (the new place) last week and was pretty underwhelmed.

-----
Sukhothai
274 Parliament St, Toronto, ON M5A, CA

[magic]

Yeah I never understood why they completely changed the 'format ' so to speak of the old Green Mango to a cafeteria style. The previous incarnation seemed successful enough (it was always packed at least) and the food was delicious.

As I said before, what a damn shame.

[OnDaGo]

It was the East side one that closed down the "take out" one.. Do not think it is related to the condo but more likely that they had two Green Mango restaurants directly across the stree from each other.. The one on the west side is still open...

[magic]

Hmm, I heard on solid authority it was the West side, sit down location, that closed. Which would be a pity. I guess I could always call and find out. So very lazy.

[Marimba]

The west side closed for renovations...and the east side continued...then the east side closed when the west side re-opened...Marimba!

[magic]

Ahhh. Phew. Glad the West side has reopened then! Thanks for the info. Appreciated!

[currycue]

Have any of you been since the west side re-opened? I heard that it was going to be a larger version of the take out counter on the east side. Very disappointing if that's true. The quality of the dishes at the more formal location on the west side were far superior to the lunch counter.

[Teep]

Yes the West side is now the take-out counter, not a sit-down restaurant anymore.

[wontonfm]

exactly, it's like how it was back in the day when they only had the west side location BUT they seem to be keeping the look and feel of the sitdown restaurant. not bad.

WON
http://whatsonmyplate.wordpress.com

[OnDaGo]

They still have all the seats... you can sit down...

[magic]

Yes, I just heard this as well.

Very upsetting. I loved the sit down location. Never even bothered with the takeout location as I'd heard nothing but dubious things (although I recently heard it picked up in quality before its closing). I don't understand why they'd change the West side location -- effectively closing it.

Upsetting. Its food will really be missed.

[OnDaGo]

What are you talking about? they have just as many seats as they always had and the decore is the same. How can you say they have "effectively closed" it? The only difference is that they now have a hot table for quick takeout...

[magic]

Well, the way I understand things is the restaurant menu is kaput -- that the takeout station IS the restaurant. If that is the case then obviously this is the death of the old restaurant.

Unless the old restaurant is still there with its menu and food quality intact.....but with an added takeout counter....

But that's not the impression I've been given. Unless someone wishes to clarify and/or correct me.

[bill_best]

I don't recall what that west side Green Mango was like before, but now it seems just like the east side version only now they have 4 times the seating capacity.

Unfortunately the pumpkin soup isn't on the menu any more. Then again, it seemed to be hit and miss lately with the cook.

I had my usual spicy noodles/glass noodles with lemongrass chicken/ginger chicken and it was great to be able to sit down and eat it.

[magic]

This is what I mean. If the new version of the sit down Green Mango is essentially a bigger version of the take-out location’s menu, then this new version means the death of the sit down Green Mango. If this is the case, and all points seem to be pointing to yes, then I am a sad, sad individual. I’ll have to go there and see what’s up.

[Pincus]

Yeah, the take-out location's food was adequate if you were in a hurry, but I get the impression the sit down menu was better food because it wasn't sitting around in a steam table for who knows how long. If so, I empathize with the loss.

[magic]

Yup. Listen, like any restaurant not every dish was a winner. The sit down location certainly wasn't flawless. But overall their food was terrific and fresh and well-made. Their street style pad thai was magnificently ketchupless and their fried rice had a real depth of flavour I haven't yet come across in any other fried rice. And they stir fried a mean tofu. Not to mention their jackfruit shakes.....wow.

I supsect sadly that is all history now, since no one has flat out said the old menu still exists.