Food
China is a very large and diverse country with very different styles of food. Although the all of the cuisine of China is often grouped in the same category, it is in fact very diverse and varied. Although Chinese food is very diverse, Cantonese style food and a few dishes from the majority of the other styles of Chinese food are primarily featured in North American Chinese cuisine. The Chinese food which is very popular in North America is very different from the Chinese food from mainland China.
There are several different styles of Chinese food restaurants which are available in Toronto. In the various Chinatowns across the GTA there are many Chinese bakeries which sell baked goods of Chinese origin and other Western pastries such as cakes. Some examples of these Chinese baked goods are egg tarts which is a pastry filled with egg custard and baked or Cha Sui Baau which is a bun which can be baked or seamed which is filled with barbeque pork.
There are also many restaurants which serve Chinese “fast food” dishes such as congee, which is savory Asian rice porridge, noodles or fried rice. This type of Chinese food is commonly eaten as take out and is popular because of its good value for the price. Chinese fast food restaurants are also often open from lunch time until early in the morning.
Dim Sum refers to food which is served in small portions, this will allow for the diner to try a variety of dishes. Some popular examples of Dim Sum dishes include Har Gow which is a steamed dumpling with shrimp, shiumai which are steamed dumplings with pork and sometimes shrimp, sticky rice which is rice wrapped in lotus leaf, and rice noodle roles which are rice noodles steamed, rolled and usually filled with meat or vegetables. Although many restaurants offer all day dim sum, dim sum was traditionally served from the morning to the late afternoon which means that it is often eaten in the same way as brunch.
There are some restaurants, primarily in Markham where they serve Northern Chinese style dishes. Northern Chinese style is primarily based on wheat products such as noodles or steamed buns and steamed dumplings rather than rice because the climate in the North of China makes it impossible to grow rice. Some popular dishes offered at these restaurants include steamed soup dumplings with pork, sautéed green vegetables and braised beef and noodle soup.
Although there are many other types of Chinese food, this guide will primarily focus restaurants with relatively low prices and the types of foods mentioned previously.
There are several different styles of Chinese food restaurants which are available in Toronto. In the various Chinatowns across the GTA there are many Chinese bakeries which sell baked goods of Chinese origin and other Western pastries such as cakes. Some examples of these Chinese baked goods are egg tarts which is a pastry filled with egg custard and baked or Cha Sui Baau which is a bun which can be baked or seamed which is filled with barbeque pork.
There are also many restaurants which serve Chinese “fast food” dishes such as congee, which is savory Asian rice porridge, noodles or fried rice. This type of Chinese food is commonly eaten as take out and is popular because of its good value for the price. Chinese fast food restaurants are also often open from lunch time until early in the morning.
Dim Sum refers to food which is served in small portions, this will allow for the diner to try a variety of dishes. Some popular examples of Dim Sum dishes include Har Gow which is a steamed dumpling with shrimp, shiumai which are steamed dumplings with pork and sometimes shrimp, sticky rice which is rice wrapped in lotus leaf, and rice noodle roles which are rice noodles steamed, rolled and usually filled with meat or vegetables. Although many restaurants offer all day dim sum, dim sum was traditionally served from the morning to the late afternoon which means that it is often eaten in the same way as brunch.
There are some restaurants, primarily in Markham where they serve Northern Chinese style dishes. Northern Chinese style is primarily based on wheat products such as noodles or steamed buns and steamed dumplings rather than rice because the climate in the North of China makes it impossible to grow rice. Some popular dishes offered at these restaurants include steamed soup dumplings with pork, sautéed green vegetables and braised beef and noodle soup.
Although there are many other types of Chinese food, this guide will primarily focus restaurants with relatively low prices and the types of foods mentioned previously.
Chinatown
History
The first Chinese settlers came to Toronto during the late 1800s. Many of these settlers were men and came into Toronto after finishing working on the Canadian Pacific Railway. Despite the Chinese Immigration Act which imposed a head tax on all new Chinese immigrants in order to limit the number of Chinese immigrants, Chinatown, which at the time was around the current city hall continued to flourish. By 1910 there were over one thousand Chinese people living in Toronto. After World War II and the defeat of Nazism, many of the racist sentiments and laws seemed very hypocritical and many of those feelings decreased and laws were slowly eliminated. The elimination of all racial limitations on immigration regulations sparked a large influx of Chinese immigrants. With a combination of a growing population and the plans to build a new City Hall in the middle of Chinatown, the population transitioned to living and working in the area of the current Chinatown Spadina and Dundas. Chinese food in Toronto has been different from Chinese food from China and from other places such as the US. it is similar to Chinese food in the US because the tastes of the North American people have really shaped what food is served in these north American restaurants. It is also somewhat similar to the food in China because there is a continuous flow of immigrants and families of immigrants to Toronto, and they often crave the traditional foods of China.
Main Chinatown (Downtown Toronto)
The main Chinatown radiates from the intersection of Spadina and Dundas in downtown Toronto. Chinatown has always been a place to buy medicinal herbs, or traditional Chinese ingredients and fruits and vegetables. Although the businesses in Chinatown are primarily Chinese, there are also many others. During the summer as well as throughout the year the area is busy with local area residents, bargain hunting shoppers and tourists. The best way to get there by TTC is to take the Spadina streetcar south from Spadina station or to take the Dundas streetcar from West from St. Patrick station.
Nicole's Restaurant Picks
Kim Moon Bakery
(the website is currently under construction)
Kim Moon Bakery is located on Dundas St. It serves Chinese style baked goods as well as traditional dim sum. It serves many buns with a variety of fillings such as barbeque pork, chicken, curry beef or hotdogs. They also sell dessert items, such as egg tarts which are pastries filled with egg custard, and coconut buns. Traditional Chinese pastries are sold as well as bubble tea. I occasionally order Dim Sum from this restaurant but I usually get Cha Sui Baau, a baked bun with barbeque pork and egg tarts. I recommend this restaurant because the food for take-out as well as eat in, is good and very well priced.
Pastries and buns are around $1.00 each and dim sum plates are between $2.50 and $4.00
Kim Moon Bakery
438 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON
M5T 1G7
(416) 977 1933
Kim Moon Bakery is located on Dundas St. It serves Chinese style baked goods as well as traditional dim sum. It serves many buns with a variety of fillings such as barbeque pork, chicken, curry beef or hotdogs. They also sell dessert items, such as egg tarts which are pastries filled with egg custard, and coconut buns. Traditional Chinese pastries are sold as well as bubble tea. I occasionally order Dim Sum from this restaurant but I usually get Cha Sui Baau, a baked bun with barbeque pork and egg tarts. I recommend this restaurant because the food for take-out as well as eat in, is good and very well priced.
Pastries and buns are around $1.00 each and dim sum plates are between $2.50 and $4.00
Kim Moon Bakery
438 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON
M5T 1G7
(416) 977 1933
New Ho King
New Ho King is one of my favorite restaurants for take-out Chinese food. Extremely popular among UofT students, this restaurant is considered one of Toronto’s favorite fast food Chinese restaurants. The portions are large, the prices are low and the food is very good. The menu is also extremely diverse with a huge selection of vegetarian dishes, seafood, poultry, pork, beef, and noodles. This restaurant has been so popular that it has recently moved to a bigger location which is still consistently full.
Mains are about $9.00-$14.00
New Ho King
416 Spadina Ave.
Toronto, ON
M5T 2G7
(416) 595 1881
Congee Star
Located in North York this restaurant is the only one not located within the downtown Chinatown, this restaurant serves fast-food style Chinese food. This restaurant serves much of the same food as New Ho King but with a few additional dishes. Some of these additional dishes include a huge variety of congee with many types of meats, and other foods and one of my personal favorites, fried turnip patties Singapore style. If you are in the area I definitely recommend this restaurant for eat in or take-out and delivery because the food is very good and inexpensive.
Mains are about $7.00-$12.00
Congee Star
900 Don Mills Road, Unit 12
North York, ON
M3C 1V6
(416) 385 8822
Noble Seafood Restaurant
This restaurant is one of my favorite dim sum restaurants. It serves Dim Sum all-day and also serves other Chinese dishes similar to the food at New Ho King. Some of my personal favorite dishes to order at this restaurant are Har Gow which is steamed dumplings with shrimp, shiu mai which is steamed dumplings with pork, sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf, deep fried octopus tentacles, steamed rice roll with shrimp, fried tofu stuffed with shrimp, and steamed curry cuttlefish. I recommend this restaurant for dim sum because it is very good and not too expensive; it is exactly quite cheap during the week, early and before 11am on weekends.
Small Dim Sum plates about $2.00-$4.00 each
Noble Seafood Restaurant
530 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON
M5T 2E7
(416) 597 0888
Small Dim Sum plates about $2.00-$4.00 each
Noble Seafood Restaurant
530 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON
M5T 2E7
(416) 597 0888
Mother's Dumplings
This restaurant is great for dumplings, noodles and buns. It serves northern style Chinese food and is also very popular among university students for its good value and excellent food. As the name states, this restaurant is famous for its dumplings. They serve boiled, steamed and panfried dumplings, steamed buns, and noodles.
Dumplings are around $7 for 10 and around $8-$10 for other mains
Mother’s Dumplings
421 Spadina Ave.
Toronto, ON
M5T 2A8
(416) 217 2008