Soos Toronto first opened its doors in October 2013, taking over the space that was previously Paramour Bistro. Today, the popular Ossington restaurant is considered one of the best Malaysian restaurants in Toronto.
I’ve had the opportunity to eat my way through Malaysia (Langkawi, Cameron Highlands, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Sipadan). Since there aren’t many Malaysian restaurants in Toronto I was excited when I first heard about Soos. The trendy Ossington restaurant is famous for serving up authentic Malaysian dishes with a twist.
Soos Toronto Design
The trendy Ossington restaurant was designed by Sasha Josipovicz of Studio Pyramid. His concept for the space was “contemporary colonial,” drawing influences from South East Asia. Step inside Soos Toronto and you’ll notice nods to the Dutch and Portuguese, as Malaysia has been occupied by many European countries throughout history.
Soos Toronto is organized into three distinct spaces. Upon arrival guests are greeted by the main dining room. Glowing lanterns dance overhead and appear like floating sea urchins swimming below the ceiling. The friendly bar is flanked by vintage colonial window shutters, which really open up the space. Be sure to spot two cute orangutans, indigenous to Malaysian Borneo. The final nook acts as a private dining area, seating 12 at bright red chairs around a communal table. The owners call it The Malacca Room, an homage to the Portuguese colony. Its walls here are adorned in blue and white tiling and punctuated with framed batik puppets.
Soos Toronto Drinks
If you’re looking for a quick sip and nibble hop up at the bar. Johnny Kountourogiannis manages the beverage program at Soos Toronto, offering a slew of South East Asian inspired libations. If you’re dining with a group it’s best to order one of the restaurant’s signature Teapot Shots. Craft beer fans will find Beau’s on tap alongside a choir of other hoppy bottles. Oenophiles will find happiness mulling over 30 wines.
Soos Toronto Cocktails
- Nagasari: tanqueray gin, muddled dragon eyes, kaffir lime leaf, sparkling wine
- Soo York Sour: crown royal, ginger syrup, lemon, egg white, red wine float
- Chai, Spice & Everything Nice: boulard calvados pays d’auge, campari, black walnut bitters, orange peel
- Pineapple Pen: gobernador pisco, yellow chartreuse, cili padi, pineapple, lime
- Love Oolong Time: havana club anejo, aperol, oolong tea, cucumber, lemon
Soos Toronto Teapot Shots
- Tea Rex: jasmine tea infused vodka, chambord, ceylon tea syrup, coconut liqueur rinse
- Gingerita: el jimador tequila, ginger infused vodka, angostura, lemon, salt
- Get High Like Planes: makers mark bourbon, amaro nonino, orange liqueur, grapefruit bitters, yuzu
Soos Toronto Menu
Soos Toronto is a family run restaurant through and through. Matriarch Tricia Soo plays chef, and son Zack (a George Brown culinary grad) works alongside her in the kitchen. All of the pastes and sauces are made from scratch, using the highest quality ingredients. Meat and eggs are sourced from local Ontario farmers and are hormone and antibiotic free.
Zenn is the father of the family, taking care of the day to day operations of the restaurant while daughter Lauren runs the front of house. Servers are friendly and happy to educate diners about Malaysian dishes they may not be familiar with. The culinary concept of this Ossington restaurant is a celebration of small plates. Be sure to order a few dishes at the table to share with your friends.
Soos Toronto’s Malaysian Culinary Concept
Lauren describes Soos Toronto’s culinary concept, “We know fusion has a bad reputation, but Malaysian dishes can actually be considered the “original fusion food.” As many countries have occupied Malaysia, we get a lot of different cultural influences, which are greatly reflected in the cuisine.”
She adds, “The most prominent would be Chinese, Indonesian, and Indian, with Dutch, Portuguese, and British influences as well. We use ingredients that are widely available in South East Asian cooking such as lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, chilis, dried shrimp, coconut, and galangal. The blend of flavours in, and preparation of, Malaysian dishes are unique and stand apart from our neighbouring countries, like Thailand and Vietnam.”
So how is Soos different from other Malaysian restaurants in Toronto? Lauren explains, “Our concept is modern interpretations of Malaysian street food or re-imagining Malaysian street food. As there is a dearth of Malaysian restaurants in Toronto, many people are unfamiliar with the food and culture.
She adds, “Our aim is to introduce Malaysian flavours in a fun and approachable way to our diners, so that they can try it, hopefully love it, and want to sample more Malaysian dishes in the future.”
Looking to enjoy an exotic flavour trip? Check out one of our fave restaurants on Ossington and familiarize yourself with their Malaysian dishes with a twist!
Soos Toronto Small Plates
- Sambal Edamame: steamed soybeans, sambal belacan, maldon sea salt
- Keropok: house made prawn crackers, soos peanut sauce
- Roti: spiced yellow lentil dhal, curry leaf
- Cucur Sayur: spiced cauliflower fritter, corn, chive, beansprout, fresh red pepper sauce
- Sarawak Pepper Prawns: sango salsa
- Soft Shell Crab: steamed bao, singapore chili sauce
- Pulled Chicken Kapitan Tacos: chicken kapitan, house made “tacos,” napa carrot slaw, kaffir lime, tzatziki
- Red Chili Wings: shallots, fennel seed, peanut, sweet chili
- Pork Belly Pancakes: nyonya sticky soy braised pork belly, crispy taro root, scallion
Soos Toronto Large Plates
- Mushroom Braise: nyonya five spice braised japanese shiitake, woodear, king mushroom, sesame tossed udon, ginger scallion, salsa verde
- Char Kway Teow: tiger prawn, chives, sambal, beansprout, egg drop, charred rice fettucine
- Laksa: chicken, prawn, tofu ball, galangal, mee, vermicelli, curry broth, daun kesum
- Murtabak: stuffed roti, mamak curry dip, garlic sauce
- Rendang Beef Short Ribs: rendang curry braise, jasmine rice, roti
Soos Toronto Sweets
- Pisang Goreng: fried banana, bang bang’s daily ice cream, candied nut crumble
- Sago Sago: tapioca pearl pudding, gula melaka, pandan, coconut milk
Soos Toronto Hours of Operation
Monday and Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday and Thursday: 5pm to 10ish
Friday and Saturday: 5pm to 11ish
Sunday: 5pm to 9ish
Soos Toronto Reservations
94 Ossington Avenue, Toronto, 416-901-7667
