Restaurants GuideAmerican

Back Alley Woodfire BBQ and Grill

Reviewed by Toronto Life
  • 188 Augusta Ave. (at Dundas St. W.) View on map »
  • 416-979-5557
Editorial Review

The smoky aroma of wood-fire cooking wafts through Kensington Market, drawing local barbecue aficionados to this family-run grill house. Large garage doors left open during summer months allow for breezy, open-air dining on traditional barbecue fare with Chinese, Middle Eastern and European influences. Aromatic Thai flavours shine in grilled chicken satays with peanut sauce, while Mandarin pot stickers bring eight pork- and veggie-filled dumplings fired in a cast iron pan—crisp on the bottom, succulent and juicy inside. The wood oven lends depth to sweet Mongolian beef ribs, thinly sliced and chewier than the Korean variety. Pork ribs, meanwhile, are meaty and big on flavour, although they’re a little on the tough side.

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