Best Hot And Sour Soup 2013

[plasticanimal]

There's already a hot'n'sour thread but it fizzled out in 08. Time to update.

My personal favourite is the seafood hot and sour from The Friendly Thai (223 Roncesvalles).

What's yours?

[BIGeater100]

Hands down, Swatow has the most amazing hot and sour soup

[warlock]

Its still Chung Moi on Kennedy and Eglinton for me....

[juno]

It has been a few years since I was there last, but I recall Chung Moi's version being a first-rate balancing act between hot and sour. But because it's such a bother for me to drive there, I pretty much stick to the easier-to-get-to Congee Queen. If I lived in the far east end of Toronto, though, Chung Moi would be my choice as well. Crummy parking lot, if I remember.

[warlock]

Juno,agreed...its way too east for downtowners and west enders....but if you are in the area,the hot and sour soup definitely soothes you on a cold wintery day....

[Googs]

Does Chung Moi deliver? Do they have a website? (Stop laughin', it's possible.) Is their food overall really good or is it one of the many Hakka's that have built their reputation on large portions and small prices?

[slradcli]

Chung King at Pacific Mall (formerly College and Spadina). Nothing else compares for me: it's spicy and sour and the perfect amount of tofu and bamboo shoots. I swear that stuff cures colds.

[juno]

As the OP has noted somewhat, there've been a number of threads investigating this eternal subject. Which may explain why there've been so few responses to this ever-popular debate: where to get a good hot and sour. The hot and sour cognoscenti may have a sense of deja vu about this same-old same-old age-old query. Still, the OP deserves more up-to-date answers. My own favourite - now that Thai Plate is out of action, having decamped for Orillia with its marvellous hot and sour recipe - is dispensed at Congee Queen, on Lawrence Ave. E., across the street from The Shops at Don Mills, where all ingredients are nicely balanced. A so-called "small" bowl of the stuff ($6.75) will feed three or four. But then, there are lots of good hot and sours around. Even the mid-level chain of Asian Legends puts out a respectable version. A more interesting question would be: who makes a lousy hot and sour. In my mind, any joint that can't put out a good hot and sour, which isn't all that hard to do, will probably louse up everything else on the menu as well. I'd be interested to know about such places so I can stay away from them.

[neighborguy]

A really good point from juno about how easy it should be for a restaurant to do a passable hot and sour. There are some very strong flavours at play and the trick would seem to be how to balance them. Same thing goes for the textures and getting a good combo of meat, bamboo and tofu and whatever else that can be added to create a mouth-feel.

I've had the H&S at both Peter's Chung King on Colleg and at Congee Queen and to me they both meet a good standard.

[estufarian]

My tastes are 'often' similar to Juno - but not sure I agree here (but will certainly try Congee Queen).
I find Asian Legends saturated with MSG - so that's totally off-limits for me.

In my mind, I separate out the 'pepper' versions from the 'chili' versions - usually preferring chili (except where fresh peppercorns are used - typically in the Thai version).
I also avoid the corn starch thickened versions which have a texture I have difficulty with.
And currently I'm without a 'go to' version - so any help is appreciated.

And I was under the impression that the Pacific Mall 'Chung King' had absolutely no connection to the Spadina/College version - can anyone add any info to help decide this?

[Sadistick]

The REAL Chung King!?

If so, I must see if their crispy shredded beef is the same of old.

My fav H&S would by LWH's old seafood variation, and Thai Princess has a very good thai version.

[plasticanimal]

Where is LWH?

[elvisahmed]

LWH as in Lai Wah Heen is on chestnut street in the metropolitan hotel.

[slradcli]

The Chung King at Pacific Mall is indeed the REAL Chung King. I was skeptical at first but after I saw the same menu with the same typos and I tasted the food, I knew it was the same place. Same spring rolls, same nose-clearing hot and sour soup, "Spices Chicken" and all the old favourites are still there. Worth the drive to Markham.

[estufarian]

Thank you. Seems worth a drive.
However, the menu (even the numbered specials) has been duplicated many times. Even the various Chung Kings in the Spadina vicinity were an exact copy of Paul's Deep Sea Shantung (on Dundas). You used to be able to go into dozens of 'Szechuan' places in Toronto, order 'Special #27' and get the same dish in each place!

[jmeggs]

I have to say that the hot and sour soup at Peking Express on Parliament is insanely good. You wouldn't think it would be, but then it is!

[plug]

In general or is it specific to Thai hot and sour soup? as other cuisines have their own versions....

[plasticanimal]

If it's hot, and sour, and soup, it's fine by me!

[plug]

I personally like the hot and sour soup at "A LA KITCHEN" in markham

http://www.alakitchenmarkham.com/ALA_...