Owl Of Minerva
First Markham Place
3229 Highway 7, Markham
905-477-7275
Lunch for two with tax, tip and soda: $24

A few years ago, friends kept telling me about a place with a yellow sign called “Owl” on Yonge Street, near Finch Avenue, that serves a delicious pork bone soup. It took me months before I realized I’ve driven by it at least a million times. Yes, the sign is yellow, and there’s an owl on it; but how does one conclude an owl wearing a graduation hat is a Korean restaurant? This “Owl” is the Owl of Minerva.

It’s a love/hate relationship. Love the food, hate the parking on Yonge. The second store they opened in Scarborough is too far from where I live. So I was excited to hear about the opening of their third location at First Markham Place (FMP). In the meantime, I was afraid the food may go downhill with the quick expansion of stores. To ensure their quality, I went to try out FMP’s Owl.

I tried to take a peek inside before I walked in but my view was blocked by the huge yellow poster of a Korean lady (I assume she’s the creator of the famous soup) which is also posted at the original store. Inside, I was glad to find a bigger and brighter space compared to the Yonge location. The place isn’t “fancy”; it feels like a food court that has one vendor. Overlooking the bar are hardworking Koreans cleaning dishes; above them, pictures of their most popular dishes.

The servers are very focused on their tasks so it is hard to get their attention. After we finally got someone to take our order, the food was quickly rolled out in their signature cart. We ordered their famous pork bone soup (Kamjatang $6.99), hot stone rice (Dolsot Bibimbap $7.99) and short beef ribs (L.A. Kalbi $8.99). The soup and kalbi both came with rice served in classic silver bowls along with complimentary Korean tea and kimchi (preserved vegetables) that came with our order.

Filled with flavour, the Kamjatang has four meaty bones along with one generous chunk of potato. Full or not, I recommend the potato because it is soaked with the tasty soup and spices; even non-potato lovers such as myself enjoyed it! The soup has options of “mild” or “spicy” since not everyone eats spicy like Koreans do.

Dolust Bibimbap is rice with shredded vegetables and minced beef topped with a cooked egg served inside a hot stone bowl. Bean sprouts, carrots, mushrooms and other vegetables give the dish a refreshing crunchy texture. The spiciness can be adjusted by mixing the sauce in yourself; I recommend using a little, even for those who can’t take spice, because it makes the otherwise bland rice more flavourful.

L.A. Kalbi is grilled short beef ribs marinated in Korean sauce (a sweet soy sauce). The level of sweetness is not overwhelming; it is the perfect meat dish for rice eating. The sizzling plate keeps the food warm as diners take time to indulge in the juicy and tender meat.

Overall, the place is not somewhere to go if the goal is to impress, but it definitely satisfies in terms of hunger. FMP’s location is great for lunch and dinner; with its affordable prices, it is the “cafeteria” for many office workers nearby. However, when I get my occasional midnight urges for yummy Korean food, I’ll still drive to the Yonge location since it is open 24 hours! With its reasonable prices, large portions and convenient hours, the three Owls will keep anyone’s tummy and wallet full around the clock!

Other Owl of Minerva locations:

Owl Of Minerva
(Original Store - open 24/7)
5324 Yonge Street, North York
416-221-7275

Owl Of Minvera
5661 Steeles Avenue East, Scarborough
416-321-3739