Best of Toronto
The Best Hakka Restaurants in Toronto
The best Hakka restaurants in Toronto may not be the best looking restaurants in the city, but what they lack in decor, they make up for in flavour. Each restaurant is basically a sparsely decorated room with a smiling fat Buddha statue in the entrance, a lucky kitty next to the cash register, and kitschy posters of mainland China decorating the walls.
But this no-frills approach to decor isn't a big deal. Because you don't go to these restaurants to look at what's hanging on the walls. You go to eat. And eat, you will. Generous, heaping portions of delicious Indian Chinese fusion will satisfy even the pickiest of palates and keep you full for days.
Before we go any further, let's figure out what hakka is exactly. The answer will change, depending on who you ask. The name lends itself to the cooking style of the Hakka people, a nomadic group originally from southeastern China. As the Hakka people moved around, so did their food.
Although there is some discrepancy as to what real Hakka food actually is, Hakka cuisine in Toronto seems to have particularly strong ties to the expat communities in Calcutta or the Carribean. The best of both cuisines merge in Toronto. Think traditional Chinese food preparation with spicy Indian flavours, and you'll get the gist.
The majority of Hakka-style restaurants congregate just northeast of the city, in Scarborough, and are often billed as Indian-Chinese.
Pack lightly on your travels. You'll end up leaving with bags of delicious leftovers. Here are the 12 best Hakka restaurants in Toronto according to me.
Federick Restaurant
Thought of as the original hakka restaurant in T.O., Federick has set the bar amongst hakka-lovers over the past 20 years. The hard-to-find place is tiny and carefully disguised amidst brick office buildings, but still always packed with a loyal clientele. Parking is a bit of a feat, but make the effort! The crab corn soup and chicken pakoras are worth it. More »
Lin Garden
Consensus online seems to say Lin Garden is one of the better, if not best, hakka-style spots out there. The tasty, colourful menu, with specialties like oh-so-doughy shrimp pakoras and Manchurian Beef fried noodles, only backs that claim. FYI, if you can't stand adult contemporary, then I recommend take-out--Celine Dion, Bryan Adams and Don Henley are on heavy rotation at this restaurant. More »
Tangerine Asian Cuisine
Fans of the constantly crowded Tangerine Asian Cuisine can breathe a sigh of relief - a new, bigger location has recently opened up on Ellesmere Road. The food is tasty and the prices are decent, considering the gigantic portion sizes. Try the chili chicken - a perfect combo of spice, with a higher then average chicken to batter ratio. More »
Danforth Dragon
With its quirky tropical decor, this Danforth spot creates the impression of an oasis for Hakka food-seekers. A couple years ago, the friendly owners revamped their menu to focus on Hakka-style dishes, like the popular Manchurian Chicken, served with coriander, chilis and a whole lot of cayenne pepper. Kick things up a notch and ask for the in-house chilli sauce. When you can't take the heat, you'll be grateful for the Kingfisher beer on the menu. More »
Kim Kim
Chinese stir fry and cooking techniques are blended impeccably with Indian spices and masalas at this cozy restaurant. Kim Kim's menu is peppered with heavily flavoured choices, from aromatic hakka noodles to tasty butterfly prawns, plus a large vegetarian selection with favourites like stuffed eggplant served in a tasty hunan sauce. More »
Chung Moi
You can't miss the red and white sign advertising Chung Moi at the corner of Eglinton and Kennedy. The family-owned restaurant is one room, and always busy, thanks to the unique dishes on offer. The Hot and Sour soup, made to order in small batches with shrimp, egg, grated carrots and cilantro, is a secret recipe from the owner's grandfather. Manchurian Friend Noodles and Chili Chicken are also delicious menu items. More »
Wok With Yu
Owners Peter and Sandra, born and raised in Karachi, speak fluent Hindi and Urdu and have a sense of humour that makes eating here a treat. A bigger spot then the others on this list, Wok With Yu's size doesn't make its food any less delicious. The authentic menu offers a yummy mix of Chinese food with a slight Indian flare, and Halal food to boot. Non-meat eating patrons will love the extensive veggie menu, including a tasty vegetable hakka chow mein and manchuriuan tofu. Plus its name is Wok With Yu. That is funny. More »
Lucky's
Do not leave Lucky's without trying the chili chicken. Blending delicious Indian spices with deep fried diced chicken, the dish is both fiery and filling--a Hakka must. Dining alone? Multiple television sets often play bright and colourful Bollywood musicals to keep you company while you eat. Bonus points for outstanding fish pakoras. More »
China Cottage
Take a date to China Cottage--the ambience of this restaurant makes it more sophisticated and less well-worn then its Hakka counterparts. Plus, it's hard to resist such popular dishes as the spicy chili chicken and cottage special pepper chicken. You might want to avoid the fried chicken wings, though. They're doused in a delicious garlic sauce (read - bad news bears for your goodnight kiss.) More »
China Garden
Lit by lucky green jade lanterns, this second-floor hideaway is a Hakka haven in the Annex. China Garden offers cheap but generous servings of noodle bowls, rice dishes and sizzling hot plates, plus a variety of hakka-style curry dishes (a highlight - the Fung Mei Mein). Follow the red rug to the main counter to place your order, then have a seat and prepare your tastebuds. More »
Spadina Garden Restaurant
Just west of Bay on Dundas, Spadina Garden is a hot spot for workers in the area hungering for Hakka. The fully licensed restaurant is packed during lunchtime with regulars, and for just cause; its house specialties are both affordable, delicious and efficiently served. Try the hot and spicy peanut chicken or the wontons with hot peanut sauce. Allergic to peanuts? No worries. With over 200 dishes on the menu, choice abounds. More »
Spicy Dragon
At $4.75 a pop, the lunch specials at Spicy Dragon pack the joint with deal-hungry foodies. Although not much on the eyes, the sparsely decorated restaurant offers yummy Hakka, Cantonese and Szechuan style food at super cheap prices. Other than affordable lunch specials, their chicken pakoras, green beans and spicy salt & pepper shrimp have made many a loyal customer. More »
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Who knew?
The one thing I really I miss about living in Scarborough is the awesome ehtnic food.
It should also be made clear that Spadina Garden has some dishes identified as Hakka on it's extensive menu outside of those few dishes the place is mostly "mainstream" North Amercianized Chinese. Good cheap and tasty.
For Indian go to Malton or Brampton.
/end
and kudos for the term 'ethnic food' you just dated your personal stance on race relations back to the 18th century. colonialist.
Used to order from Danforth Dragon until three of us got food poisoning from there in Dec08. We called Public Health and the restaurant manager who seemed rather unconcerned.
The food was tasty but it always arrived a little too quickly to be cooked fresh...
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One restaurant that was left off of the list is Garlic Pepper. Located downtown near Wellesley Subway Station.
Great and more importantly accurate list!
P.S. Lin Garden has the best Hakka hands down, but only if you eat it in the restaurant. Take out isn't the same because the food loses its freshness and flavour. Also, the chicken fried rice tastes like the styrofoam they pack it in.
Who on earth would go to Scarborough period, let alone for some food.
Shut the hell up with not wanting to go to Scarborough. I'm tired of people that can't venture outside of the core- sometimes your anti-scarborough or GTA comments border on blatant racism. Life does exist north of Bloor. Wake up.
Because someone thinks Scarborough is some sort of useless outpost?
Think you are way off there, champ.
Not sure where that person was being racist at all....
Everyone knows life exists north of Bloor, just not enough people care about it.
meimei on January 28, 2010 at 9:40 AM
This article got me excited because I'm Hakka and wish more people enjoyed the food my family makes at home. However, I don't recognize any of the dishes mentioned (but I am not an Indian-Hakka). So, really this article features great Indian-Hakka cuisine, but not necessarily what I would consider traditional Hakka cuisine which features loads of steamed and braised dishes, preserved vegetables, etc. - and not really hot spices. Nonetheless, thanks for shedding light on the Indian-Hakka cuisine of Toronto!
If this list frustrates you, could you then please let us know where we can get traditional Hakka? Or does this not exist in the GTA?
Then I was introduced to Spicy Dragon by a fellow 1/2-Indian : P
Lovely list, makes me hungry for some dry chili-chicken!!
jonathan@blogTO
last night for the first time......
For all of those that think that Malton is an area in Northern Punjab its not.. Its located on the boarder of mississauaga and Rexdale at Airport rd. and Derry.
I loved the place... Food was great...had Chilli Chicken and lollipop chicken wings.... My buddy had the Masaala Chicken.
I would recomend it to anyone.. at lunch it is really really busy.. so be prepared for a corwd...
Do not go there. Ever.
I wish there were some Hakka places downtown -- sounds like Spadina Garden doesn't really fit the bill.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakka_cuisine
In places such as India, and other places of Indian diaspora overseas, Hakka Cuisine is erroneously known as something that bears little to no resemblance to actual traditional Hakka dishes. This variation of "Hakka Cuisine" is in reality, mostly Indian Chinese cuisine, falsely known as Hakka since many Chinese restaurant owners in India were of Hakka origin. Typical dishes include Chilli Chicken and Manchurian Chow Mein (which in turn has no resemblance to real Manchurian cuisine), and these restaurants also serve traditional Indian dishes such as Pakora. Being immensely popular in these regions, this style of cuisine is often falsely credited of being representative of Hakka Cuisine in general and authentic style of Hakka Cuisine is rarely known in these areas.
Malton is mostly Sikh's....
Also you can walk through the worst areas in the GTA and night and not get hurt..
Your just a Twat!
One point about some of the Hakka-Indian places in Scarborough (and Tangerine in Markham): because they are in large Muslim areas, no do not serve any pork products (they'd lose a lot of customers). That's why I would add China Garden in Malton - good pork dishes as well as the regular stuff.
For the downtown snobs crying about these "far away" restaurants, please note that some of us here are actually married with children. Why the hell would we live downtown??
I am so sorry i live in the burbs...
If only i could have swung the extra 1.9 million and get a home downtown for my family I wouldn't have live in Brampton (where BTW some of the best indian in the GTA is...) why is that you Downtown snobs may ask???? BECAUSE 20% of the populations mother tongue is PUNJABI!
Downtown is good for work (not so much the commute), shopping and eating. Wouldn't want to live there with a family, though. Houses are too small unless you're loaded.
There are other great places in Malton that put most of the places on this list to shame as well. China Palace, near Rexdale Blvd and the 427 is very good as well.
I am excited to try a couple of spots mentioned that I haven't been to before though.
Since there is a veracious apatite for asian food in toronto, they give you just that. They are now owning Thai, and Japanese food restaurants ...its probably the same.
I've been to chinese restaurants that had "chili chicken", and it was just something they concocted and threw together, that I could of done at home.
It's nice to know that Hakka food is gaining a lot of popularity! It's great, colourful, tasty food.
PS. I agree that Yueh Tung should be on this list!
Last week, I tried out a new Indian Hakka restaurant in Mississauga called Chilli Chicken House and it's own by authentic Hakkas from India. The food was amazingly good. My friends and I ordered crab corn soup, bombay fish, hakka (chicken and shrimp)chow mein, manchurian chicken and pineapple blossom for drinks.
I've been to all... and for a long time.... but the best is Chung Moi...
Try the following
App:
Hot and Sour Soup
Optional: Pakora's
Main:
Masala Fried Rice
Optional: Singapore Noodles
Chili Chicken gravy
Optional: Manchurian Chicken, Ginger Beef
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Just around the corner is Yueh Teung at Dundas and Elizabeth.
Best Hakka I've ever had. If you can get past the service and the decor, order the Manchurian Chicken dry, and you won't be disappointed!
Right around the corner is Yueh Teung at Dundas and Elizabeth.
If you can get past the brisk service and the decor, try the Manchurian Chicken dry--you won't be disappointed!
1. Guru's Brampton (Queen & The Gore Rd) by far the best. They use Basmati rice for white/fried rice, not that clumpy sticky rice. Chilli Garlic Paneer is best you will ever taste in GTA.
2. Royal Seafood Scarborough (Middlefield & finch)
3. Hakka Magic Missisauga (Mavis & Britannia). Try their Bombay Chicken :)
4. Hot Wok (Kennedy & Progress). Haven't been there recently but it was good. You will forget Federick's pakoras after you have theirs.
5. Federick's only because it was one of the first and the originators in Toronto...ooops sorry.. GTA, you downtown snobs.
Downtown has f@ck all, its just filled with gastro burger bars, burritos and chinese restaurants which all taste the same. Aren't you guys tired of taking the same sh!t everyday?
1163 Ellesmere Road Scarborough, ON M1P 2X6
(416) 755-4655
this is a Hakka place and should be on the list....
The list is helpful, just started going to Lucky and enjoy it.
regards
http://hakkayummyyummy.com/index.html
8550 Torbram Rd
Brampton ON L6T 5C8
1. China Cottage
2. Luckies
3. Kim Kim
4. Tangerine
Theresa is a good host, but she has to warm up to you!