Jun Tong Traditional Korean Bakery

Bakery: Jun Tong Traditional Korean Bakery
Address: 4992 Dundas St W, Etobicoke ON (@ Korean supermarkets)
Website: n/a
Style: Korean 
Price: $$

When thinking of Korean bakeries here, the first thing you think of fairly Westernized buns, cakes, and cookies, filled with a variety of filling ranging from whipped cream to red or green bean. If you scroll through the Korean bakeries on my tour, this will certainly be the case; and although this may be the most popular (and judging from what I see, these sort of cake shops abound in Korea itself?), it certainly isn't the most traditional. Now, I love this sort of Korean baking (perhaps too much ^^;;), so I'll admit I wasn't all that eager to try the various rice-cake baked goods from Jun Tong, a bakery that specializes exclusively in customary Korean desserts. I'm not quite sure if their actual bakery is a retail location, but you can pick up trays of "sweet" rice cakes (as well as the classic white rolls or slices) at all Korean supermarkets throughout the GTA at 2/$6 or $3.29 each.

And although these are meant to be eaten as a dessert or perhaps a snack, they can't necessarily be considered sweet. Some, with a dusting of cake crumbs and filled with red bean paste, are sweeter than others, which can include such toppings as kelp or black bean, but regardless, though containing sugar, they're a good treat for those not too fond of anything too sweet.

Bean-filled and green from kelp, these look and taste... healthy

Now, for this particular sampling, I got hold of one brother who seems to have a certain... dislike of Korean cream buns and cakes. I don't know what his problem is... really, I don't. *shakes head in alarmed wonder* But, nonetheless, he's what you would call a granola-bar kind of guy and so I was curious what he would think of the "other" Korean bakery. I picked out one of more elaborate rice cake creations: a layered variety filled with black beans, mugwort, kelp, among other healthy ingredients. It was strange, but not bad. Certainly, it tastes healthy (not sure if that's a good or bad thing XD); it does help if you're well acquainted with the taste and texture of Korean rice cakes (I assume here... I've been eating Korean for far too long ._.).

... And what did the anti-cream have to say? Two enthusiastic thumbs up. (!) He actually stole the rest of the tray, saying even he was surprised how much he liked it. So, there you go. Not all Korean bakeries are made the same, but apparently they're all good... it just depends who you ask. ;D

Rating: ***