The Best Dim Sum in Toronto
The dim sum experience in Toronto is a tale of two cities - the Spadina and Dundas haunts in the heart of Chinatown and the suburban dining halls sprawled north of the 401. Either way, the much loved Cantonese brunch of little dishes is best shared with big mouths and lots of gossip. Expect plenty of noise and so-so service where getting your number called after a wait for a table feels like you've won a medal.
My personal dim sum allegiances have a suburban bent. With a couple notable exceptions, the most authentic, straight up Chinese food these days is found a long way from Toronto's core. Dim sum lovers, if you haven't ventured to Markham, Scarborough or Richmond Hill on a weekend morning I urge you to make that trip to the boonies at least once.
Here's a look at some of Toronto's best dim sum.
Top photos by dapan on Flickr. Additional photos by ericadotnet, dapan, dapan, aser, Sifu Renka, Sifu Renka, Susan Hu and Amy Wong. Writing by Amy Wong.
Bright Pearl
Just north of Spadina and Dundas, Bright Pearl is THE classic downtown dim sum. Just look for the big yellow building and walk up to the second floor where if you're lucky the wait for a table won't be too long. The best time to go is for Saturday and Sunday brunch. There are discounts during the week if you like eating in a big, empty room. Equipped with a whopping 80-100 different dishes. More...
Lai Wah Heen
Lai Wah Heen may be pricey and they don't have carts, but if top quality is what you're looking for this place is tough to beat. Found inside the Metropolitan Hotel near City Hall. The exquisitely crafted dishes will make you understand what 'fantastiche' tastes like. Alongside the traditional standards, specialty dishes include abalone and shrimp mousse coiled with fine Taiwanese vermicelli and wok-seared crepe with spicy smoked salmon. More...
Szechuan Legend
A restaurant that manages to be charming and modern without being kitschy. This place is honest to goodness dim sum uniquely paired with a great selection of spicy, authentic Szechuanese dishes. The flavours of two disparate Chinese provinces unite just north of Midland and Finch! A total plaza gem, and with a weekday set price of $1.80 per dish at all times, one can leisurely eat steamed to order till' bust. Their sifu makes great siu mai, and for dessert, seriously try the sweet and salty egg yolk bun. More...
Ruby
Ruby is a large, old school (really, you will find a lot of seniors dining here) restaurant that has a large variety of a la carte dim sum, although some of the dishes are a bit on the greasier side. If your gut gets tired of sitting and waiting for the next bite to roll around there is also an area up front where you can choose your own orders of noodle soups, congee and assorted other fried treats. Ruby has a set price after the lunch rush and is one of the cheaper dim sum options in Toronto with linen tablecloths. More...
Ambassador Chinese Cuisine
Ambassador Chinese Cuisine is the diplomat of dim sum in Richmond Hill. Many foodies find their offerings on par with Lai Wah Heen but at a fraction of the cost. Don't forget to order the fillet steak rice roll. More...
Scarborough Grand Seafood Restaurant
For locals who often yum cha (go for tea), this is one of the timeless spots in Scarborough for an easy brunch with a large variety a la carte including the divine roasted quail. Grand Seafood Restaurant is way in the back of the Chinese-Filippino Dragon Centre Plaza and offers no nonsense, very affordable dim sum, with a late lunch happy hour price of $1.50 for all sizes. Another big open area restaurant, the vibe is similar to Ruby or Bright Pearl - a coliseum of clinking cutlery, bustle and close to psychedelic proportions of lively chatter. More...
Ginger and Onion
Ginger and Onion is a pleasant, relaxed dim sum option. It's part of the Market Village Plaza (right across from the Pacific Mall) so one can go shopping after a full belly for weird imported clothes, designer eyewear and counterfeit everything else. They do a succulent lotus wrapped sticky rice, and a lovely fish rice noodle roll. More...
Casa Imperial
Casa Imperial is strangely located inside the Devonsleigh Place. It's housed in a converted old mansion, hence the name I guess. An upscale joint, eating here feels like the Chinese idea of British opulence in a Victorian setting - a roomy and comfortable setting decked out with chandeliers and faux rococo gold framing the oil paintings on the walls. More...
Dragon Dynasty
Dragon Dynasty offers a well rounded dim sum menu. Compared to some other places, the atmosphere here is almost calm. And the service is courteous. The restaurant can be found tucked on one side of the newly renovated Chartland Mall. Order the big shrimp rice rolls and short ribs in black bean sauce. More...
Graceful Vegetarian
Any enthusiast knows that dim sum is by nature the delicate yet total celebration of meat. It can therefore be drastically limiting when accommodating vegetarians. Not here! The Graceful Vegetarian roster doesn't punish non-meat eaters and offers the best vegetarian dim sum. With mock meat substitutions, one can enjoy the flavours of, say, barbeque pork buns. An added plus, everything is also MSG-free, yay! More...
Casa Victoria
At Highway 7 and Warden, this is the sister restaurant to Casa Imperial. It's a bit farther north than her counterpart but the menu here is basically the same and it has a similar charming elegance. The difference is that on the outside, Casa Victoria is disguised like any other drab gray plaza unit facade, but stepping inside one is surprisingly confronted with intricate and elegant decor. Kind of like going to Narnia. More...
Rol San
Rol San liberally uses sesame oil in many of their fresh steamed dishes. Their ha gow shrimp dumplings arrive with a hint of sesame, and the wrapper does not fall apart before eating - a way to gauge the caliber of a sifu's craftsmanship. More...
Lai Toh Heen
The sister restaurant of Lah Wah Heeh, both places offer their own versions of delicious fix-price dim sum menus which is a great way to be introduced to exceptionally well crafted dishes using nouveau Asian cuisine ingredients and techniques. Innovative indulgences include the deep fried lobster and fresh mango roll, or shark's fin seafood consomme dumplings. Dim sum goes from 12-3pm. More...
Grand Chinese Cuisine
If you happen to be by the airport and are hankering for some fine dining dim sum, then Grand Chinese is the place. What better way to see someone off than with a round of fancy chicken shitake dumplings? Or if you want to pretend you're going on holiday, just drive to the airport and treat yourself to lunch as a compromise. Located inside the Doubletree by the Hilton. More...
Comments (67)
I used to be very loyal to Ruby but since a friend recommended Szechuan Legend, I haven't been back. The Legend has my nod...everything there is so delicious and the service and quite good too!
Disappointed that you would highlight a restaurant and the shark fin offering (eg. Lai Toh Heen). Time to rent "Sharkwater". Disgraceful.
Scarborough Grand would not be on my list. The food is terrible!
I don't remember the exact name, but my favourite place is beside Mix2, at Denison and Kennedy in Markham. It's clean, the dimsum is always hot and the decor is great. I think it's called Gar Far Hong.
The best dim sum is in Mississauga. TREMENDOUS. Perfect for when you have that chicken feet craving at 4 am.
This best of blog is a joke. Why is Ding Tai Fung not on this list? Bright Pearl is 10 years past its due date.
I agree Bright Pearl is overpriced and the dim sum does not compare to Rol San's amazing dim sum. Rol San's has a long line up but trust me its worth the wait.
My chinese grandmother always has this saying just stop and watch, if you see there are more Chinese people going into the restaurant you know its good.
I have to wonder how the rankings in this list was determined and whether the reviewer has any experience as a food critic or maybe his/her palate is questionable - Bright Pearl in the #1 spot and ranked higher than Lai Wah Heen? Give me a break! Every time I go there I am always disappointed. Now, with their recent health inspection problems they should not be in the top 10.
I agree that the best Dim Sum is in the 905 area. Ding Tai Fung in Markham is my personal favourite, as well as Spring Villa, the Ambassador and Casa Imperial.
I always hit up King's Noodle Restaurant on Spadina, just north of Dundas, which is always uber busy and packed during peak hours. Supposed I should give Rol San a try. Bright Pearl I didn't like so much, though the trolleys are cool.
Pearl Harbourfront tastes decent, and has a great view of the harbour and islands. A bit expensive, but a nice place to take someone from out of town.
I got the $#!+s from King's Noodle Restaurant on Spadina. Rol San, and many others, give me a bad MSG reaction; Pearl Harbourfront and Dynasty do not: costs more but you get what you pay for.
Lai Wah Heen is proof that you can solve any problem if you throw enough money at it: big deal. Also, make these lists separated between places I can get to without taking a car, and the others I won't go to. Thanks.
I'm surprised Perfect isn't here, too - it's been popular in Scarborough for years. The lines are still quite long, but by personal experience it's still worth it.
Ding Tai Fung should definitely make the list. Hwy 7 a bit east of Woodbine Rd, in a big plaza. So amazing.
But as long as we're talking suburban dim sum, Mississauga shouldn't be ignored either. Emerald (Eglinton/Hurontario) and another one near Dundas and Dixie (Sun Sun, maybe? I just go to the one in the corner of the little plaza through the Chinatown Gate) have my allegiance.
I agree, Ding Tai Fung should have made the list. I would also include Grand on Dixon Rd and Empire Court on Highway 7. I don't think any of the old Chinatown restaurants deserve to be on the list.
&$%@! How early do you have to get up to drive to the 905 for dim sum? Oh, sorry... some people live there.
"shark's fin seafood consomme..."
Way to promote an utterly vile dish, dumbasses...right up there with "best nabe spots for fresh panda eyes".
Shark fin soup is made by cutting the fins off live sharks and dropping the helpless fish back into the ocean to die. Even if Lai Toh Heen's consomme was only called 'shark fin', and didn't actually contain any shark, the fact that they feature it on their menu only perpetuates mainstream acceptance of this horrendous dish.
Look...I love dim sum, and I'm sure LTH does a damn fine job of it. Too, I'd love to count myself among those that pass on only the best word-of-mouth about their food. But until I hear that LTH has stricken all shark fin from their menu, I'm telling everyone and anyone to steer CLEAR of the place.
To John, the rankings were determined by public vote and have nothing to do with me: my job was to write something highlighting each one and doesn't necessarily reflect my top 15. Clear?
ok ok and about the shark fin thing, it's a fancy traditional ingredient that no one eats regularily. I've had it twice in my life. Non free-range organic meat on the other hand, is something I sadly do eat regularly. Obviously I find shark fin fishing absolutely abhorring, but for the sake of your morality you better be a strict bloodless vegan! Or at least hope you've never had lobster.
xxxxxx
Ding Tai Fung. I see a lot of you commenters recommending it. I stopped going there a while back because the food became really low grade compared to when it first opened. I don't know what happened, maybe the chefs in the window room changed but the food tastes different and not as good as before. I went there a LOT, and the same dishes I ordered just tasted worse. Just my opinion.
Hi Amy,
Thanks for the reply, much appreciated. It's funny you mention lobster because that's the example I was going to use to contrast abhorent food practices. Boiling lobsters alive, while inhumane and none too cool, kills them almost instantly. "Finning" sharks prevents their ability to swim, so they just sink to the ocean floor and eventually bleed to death. A reputable place like Lai Toh Heen shouldn't want any part of that.
But AC is right, you should watch SHARKWATER, it's an amazing and beautiful (if often repellent) documentary on the current state of the shark population. Even if you don't care about the whole shark finning issue, it definitely changes your POV on sharks. As a child of "JAWS"(brrrr...shudder!), I was blown away to find they are gorgeous creatures that are actually quite harmless. Anyway, enough said...I think we were debating awesome places to score dim sum, which I'm glad to see there are a lot of people wanting to join in because who doesn't love dim sum??
Great comment on the panda eyes Mick, because it's awesome to perpetuate further stereotyping.
It's unfortunate that Rol San doesn't offer many vegetarian choices.
The Bright Pearl is a good option on weekdays if you wanted dim sum without the noise.
I liked Ambassador, when I went the attendant was new on the job. It was very fun.
This is suppose to be a thread about dim sum. Please do not use this thread to advance your fascist propaganda.
I have to say I'm rather surprised to read who is sorta speaking out about their fav. spot..Good Dim sum is hard to find, and good places you never really want to tell people you know... I have a few favourites, but I will bite my tongue because everyone has an opinion. Honestly, I thought Rol San was crap, dim sum or not. I stay off Spadina for dim sum, I find it to be a much poorer quality.
Bright Pearl: nothing special
Lah Wah Heen/Lah Toh Heen: special occasions great, but otherwise way over priced and completely different category of chinese dim sum.
Ambassador: Not bad, a bit long of a wait, but I sure do like the Budha Steamed buns for a desert. Yum!
I just wish they would bring Congee Wong to downtown. I hate going uptown just to get stuff I can't get
downtown. And does no one go to Old Chinatown anymore?
Dynasty is the best - the bacon-wrapped shrimp dish identified in the review is AMAZING. It is also the cleanest Dim Sum place I've ever been to and, doesn't give me an MSG headache after (which RolSan - while less expensive- does).
Yay Dynasty!
I'm surprised that there's nothing on your list from Chinatown East on Gerrard. There are a couple of decent Dim Sum places over there -- Pearl Court and Grand.
Here's a breakdown of which places have cart service:
1. bright pearl: cart
2. LTH: no cart
3. szechuan: no cart
4. ruby: cart
5. ambassador: no cart
6. scarborough grand: cart
7. ginger and onion: cart
8. imperial: no cart
9. dragon dynasty: cart
10. graceful vegetarian: no cart
11. casa victoria: no cart
12. rol san: no cart
13. LWH: no cart
14. grand chinese cuisine: no cart
15. dynasty: no cart
Gary/Amy: We may need two 'best of' lists: one for downtown and another for the greater GTA.
Tim: Thanks for the handy list.
S/Josuha: Given the response so far, it seems like us folks downtown are really missing out on some great dim sum north of the 401...who's up for organizing a 905 dim sum crawl??
Sam Look Gao (literally 3-6-9) has awesome Shanghai syu loong bao, and it's always been better than Ding Tai Fung's. I think @ Hwy 7 and Kennedy. Anything above Bloor St is a fuzzy haze to me :( But it's true, the best Chinese food is in the 905 and is totally worth the DVP drive. Just avoid rush times. I've never had anything downtown worth comparing.
TO foodies weigh in on Chinatown restaurants: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/350886
"Finning" sharks prevents their ability to swim, so they just sink to the ocean floor and eventually bleed to death. A reputable place like Lai Toh Heen shouldn't want any part of that.
Give me a break.. you should see how the kill cow for your burgers
North Americans always use their own standards to judge how the rest of the world operates but hiding how they kill animals for food here
not sure if you guys are aware..
Ding Tai Fung is not considered as a Dim Sum restaurant
As for cart and no-cart.. those with carts are usually considered as average to lower end.. ordering from a check list is for higher end restaurants as the food is more fresh
Lai Wah Heen is great, just need to find a sugar daddy to go with
For the record (jack on), I'm not as disgusted about how they kill sharks vs cows but more that the fact that in many many places sharks are now endangered due to the popularity of shark fins (not even for the taste as they have NO taste) more for the "luxury" status of them and their mouth-feel. As sharks are the top of the food chain, the effect on the environment is expected to be irreversible (http://www.sharkwater.com/synopsis.htm).
As for DavidC, replying to Mick, not sure how that is fascist propaganda? Brings to mind the proverb, "Keep your mouth shut and let others think you are stupid, rather then open your mouth and give evidence of the same."
Amy, comparing sharkfinning and the effect on the environment pales in comparison to lobsters. You don't need to be a bloodless vegan to figure that out and your comment about it being a "fancy ingredient that no one eats regularly" is just stupid. Highlighting as a dish to try is even stupider.
Instead of your backhanded apology, how about just editing out your comments in the review about the shark fin dumpling. Pretty easy. Thanks.
I dont understand how this list was put together, and although Lah Wah Heen and its sister restaurant is very good, it's not authentic dim suml but a fusion hybrid of classic dim sum, with a western twist. Grand CHinese is very good and should be put a the top.
Why wasn't Paradise (at Leslie and Finch) considered? They have MUCH better quality food than ANYTHING you can find in China Town.
Amy, could you provide more detail on the voting process? Who is "public"? Is it all readers, or only contributors? Also, what is the selection criteria?
We post these polls every few months or so. We just had one last week. Did you vote? There was a nomination period followed by a voting period. The dim sum poll took place earlier in the year.
If you don't check the site regularly, the best way to find out about them is to subscribe to the blogTO Facebook group:
Tim, please clarify:
Are these Best Of Toronto lists all determined by a public vote. If so, I think it needs to be clearer. I read voter-determined "best of" lists differently than I would if they were determined editorially, by BlogTO staff.
I wouldn't be surprised if a publicly voted poll picked Bright Pearl as Toronto's "best dim sum." Most Torontonians know of it. But if this was decided by BlogTO staff, I would expect a better informed list.
I agree with DavidC, Bright Pearl is well beyond its prime.
We conduct these polls on a regular basis and allow readers to vote. From an editorial standpoint, we influence the lists by narrowing the nominees and therefore don't include places in the nominee list that we think totally suck.
Some of us don't read BlogTO regularly and could use a note about how this is determined. It may be beneficial to include that info in every Best Of post. It would save everyone time and perhaps save you some frustration.
Thanks for the clarification, Tim. It would also be nice if you included in the Best Of post the total number of votes and the percentage share for each finalist.
I think Cha Liu http://www.chaliu.com/ should be on the list. It's great food, great services and consistent quality.
To AC. Insulting me does not change the fact that this thread is being used inappropriately to advance a political cause. If I wanted to learn more about the negative consequences of shark finning, I think I can conduct my own research. However, it is due to intolerant, self righteous, narcissistic, partisan writers such as yourself that spoils what is a nice food blog (the emphasis is on FOOD, not POLITICS) get it? If you want to be heard, you should use other forums to discuss the subject matter. But then perhaps you don't have the talent or courage to do so.
There you go again AC. Must you insult people like this? Does it make you feel better about your pathetic self?
Will the editors of this review please make sure readers stick to the subject???? The subject is DIM SUM, NOT SHARK FINNING. I would like to hear more feedback on good places to eat dim sum - the last time I checked, shark fin is not a part of any dim sum menu in any of the places that I've eaten in.
Rice has not taste.. people eat it.. so don't me that taste or no taste as a reason.. north americans set standards and impose them on the rest of world, forcing other people to follow there statndards.. what if Shark Fins could cure cancer, AIDS? would that make people feel differently? what if your mom would die if she didnt have shark fins everyday? Huh?
agreed totally what DavidC wrote.. as if we treated the Salmon or lobster really well.. if you want to stop animal killing, AC, i suggest you go stop seals hunting first..this is the biggest disgrace as a Canadians when you see baby seals being clubbed to death and bleeding all over the ice
RE: Wrong Forum.
I find the tone of your comments right from the very beginning of this comment thread aggressive. Insults do not make for very good communication. Also, last time I checked the article was about Dim Sum and the best places to get it in the city ... not ethical morals reflected in the dishes that establishments choose to serve.
If you want to pick a fight there are plenty of other places on the internet where you can do that.
Hey guys - please keep the discussion on topic. The point about the shark fins, meat etc. has been made.
Hmmm, you hijacked a blog on dim sum from unsuspecting readers in order to push your political views on to unsuspecting readers so that you can guilt them into agreeing with. Sounds fascist to me dude.
to further illustrate Jack's point about Ding Tai Fung...
The restaurant's origins lies in Taiwan, their claim to fame are xiao long bao, which originates near Shanghai. Yes they do come in bamboo baskets like dim sum, but it's NOT dim sum. Dim sum is a Cantonese cuisine (ie. Southern China).
I guess this is by vote, but seriously, saying that Bright Pearl is the best dim sum restaurant in Toronto is like saying that Swatow is the best chinese restaurant in the city.
I just don't understand....
The Din Tai Fung in the GTA has nothing to do with the Din Tai Fung in Taiwan. Taiwan's Din Tai Fung does not have a branch in Toronto/GTA
anyone can provide info on where to find the best chinese medicine hall in Toronto area. shops that sell chinese herbs like ginseng or what not.
I think Golden Court in the same plaza as Ambassador should make the list. Yes, it's very difficult to get a table, but once you sit down the service is pretty good. The food is cheap and very tasty!
Dragon Centre Plaza is a chinese mall that used to be quite bustling. It has slowly been overtaken by more philipinos. Location does not equate to a good or bad restaurant. Scarborough Grand Seafood Restaurant retains its loyal longstanding chinese customers and has been around for years and is still run by the same owners and employees. It is slowly being discovered by the caucasian community.
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