156 cumberland: Exceptional Korean-Inspired Dining in Toronto’s Queen West

One of my absolute favourite restaurants in Toronto. The food and beverage here is consistently outstanding, and open kitchen vibe adds so much energy and authenticity. The stuffed chicken wing has been my all time favourite, it is one of those unforgettable dishes you crave again and again. The mushroom jook is another must order! comforting, deeply flavourful and so thoughtfully executed. You can feel the care in the bite. The servers and kitchen staff are always warm, attentive and genuine as well. Can’t wait for my next visit

Totally recommended! This restaurant is not hyped enough! It's the first restaurant in Toronto after many years dining out, that made me want to come back the earliest possible. Food 5/5: Amazing steak! So buttery so tender. Better than many steak house I've been to. We tried the rib eye and the wagyu, both are amazing. Appetizers are great too. I love the tuna belly and beef tatare. Octopus was so so, felt like it was missing something. If only they have traditional spicy kimchi instead of the non spicy version it would be perfect! Chef please add it to banchan! Service 5/5: Very good service. Our waitress was very attentive and helpful. They offered us dessert and 2 glass of wine for after knowing that it was our 5yr wedding anniversary. By all means, we have a 5 stars reviews because of the food and overall experience, not this lol. Ambiance 5/5: Very intimate and cozy. Perfect for date night. If you have a small group 4-6 it would be nice too. The place is a bit small, so a large group won't be great.

My friend and I celebrated our birthdays with a dinner at 156 and it was one of the best meals I've ever had. Everything was excellent, including the service. Our server, Shyama, was the perfect level of attentive and friendly. For drinks, I had the Asian Pear Spritz and my friend had the Gochu Pineapple Margarita. Both had vibrant flavors that weren't overpowering. We shared the Baby Gem salad, Beef Tartare Tarts, Chicken Wings, and the Australian Wagyu Skirt Steak ssam platter. I was impressed by the baby gem, not that I thought it would be bad in any way, but I usually don't expect a salad to blow me away. This one did! In Korean, I'd definitely give it a "맛있네!" The perilla dressing was so flavorful and the candied walnuts were a perfect textural and flavor compliment. The chicken wings are a must-have, they're stuffed with rice and the glaze is just perfect. The beef tartare tarts are also a good intro to beef tartare for anyone who hasn't had it before, as they come in little boat-shaped crispy shells that add textural difference to the meat. As far as the ssam platter, we loved it. The steak was cooked perfectly and the chimichurri and coconut ssamjang were both delicious! We also loved the banchan that came with it, especially the white kimchi. We ended the meal by splitting the Corn Pop Bingsoo, which I highly recommend! They even added two candles since it was our birthday dinner. The portion is perfect for sharing between two people. It had caramel popcorn, buttered popcorn, and marshmallows with a creamy bingsoo (shave ice) base. Overall I loved my meal here and would definitely return!

We’d been looking forward to 156 reopening, and the return did not disappoint. The new space feels like a reinvention: a distinct brand and atmosphere while still carrying the thoughtful touches that earned them recognition on the Michelin Guide. The design is elegant—warm wood tones paired with forest-green accents create a modern, refined aesthetic that still feels welcoming. The open kitchen, framed by an acrylic partition, offers just the right glimpse into the heart of the restaurant, connecting diners to the craft without dominating the room. Even the washrooms continue the clean, considered design. Speaking with our server, I learned that part of the move stemmed from limitations with their previous landlord in Yorkville, making this Queen West and Dovercourt location feel like a natural next step. It was reassuring to see much of the same staff, which signals stability and continuity. And it wasn’t just the team—regulars from Yorkville were also in the room, now traveling across the city to dine here. That kind of loyalty says a lot about what 156 has built. As for the food, every dish reflected the same balance of care and intention as the space itself. The sujebi (hand-pulled dough) was both familiar and inventive—elevated with perilla butter and a zucchini purée that gave the dish a layered, modern character. The scallop was cooked with precision and paired beautifully with the sauce and textures of the dish. The beef tartare offered contrast and depth: tender meat against crisp buckwheat, accented with gochujang paste and sesame powder. The pork jowl was deeply satisfying, but the standout was the wagyu striploin—rich, expertly cooked, and enjoyable even without embellishment. All in all, 156 has returned with confidence and refinement. It’s a strong addition to Queen West’s growing culinary scene, and I’m excited to see how they continue to evolve.

Food was beyond my expectation. Mushroom jook was rich and flavorful. Mushroom was nicely grilled and rice was rich. Spanish Mackerel was also great. The fish was well cooked and rich in taste. Bone-in short ribs were amazing. Highly recommended and definitely worth to try, kinda melting in your month. Prime tenderloin was not my favorite cuz it’s medium rare and not usually how I take my steak. All salads and most of sides were spicy. Mocktail and dessert were on the house as their alcohol license was not there yet. Overall a very nice dining experience and definitely good food.

Food was different in a delicious way. They didn’t have their alcohol license so they gave free mocktails and desserts which was a pleasant surprise. There was six of us and the only thing real complaint I have is the food portions are quite small and every one of us left hungry, maybe we’re pigs . The steak portions are small for the price I don’t think that many people care that much about the label chasing of beef grades etc, if that’s what’s contributing to the small portions and high prices. Maybe I am being picky so please weigh in if you try their meat selections. Even the jowl was small for the price but again maybe I’m comparing it to other kbbq’s and this more fine dining so it isn’t fair. Either way for six people no drink the meal was almost $450 maybe we should have ordered more or maybe that’s just the going rate for six people. The dishes are delicious(wings, pancakes, jowl, octopus, tartar). Retrospectively I would have skipped the beefs and ordered more mid and starter dishes. Kitchen is beautiful and people were friendly and hospitable. It is newly opened, moved from a different location, so I am sure they’re working somethings out. I would definitely go again when they have their liquor license as I did see Terra beer on the menu and that’s a treat. Also the sujebi was chewy the way I like and maybe one of favourite dishes. We arrived at 530pm and there was ample street parking at the time. Does $43 for 4oz of prime tenderloin sound expensive? That’s $10.75 an oz I’d change up that meat menu and get cheaper cuts because none of that meat was special to me. But the signature dishes I understand the prices because of the preparation and uniqueness.

ONEFIVESIX nailed the move to their new location. The dining room is warm and intimate, with a beautiful open kitchen that sets the tone. Food was on point across the board with creative dishes like the potato pancake and stuffed chicken wings which were packed with flavour and genuinely blew us away. The steak was cooked perfectly, and it shines when you wrap it in the lettuce with a hit of kimchi. Inventive cocktails were dialled in and balanced with great flavours and smart garnishes. Service matched the food - Sharon took great care of us and kept everything relaxed and smooth. Easy five stars and a must-try.