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The Best Late Night Chinese Food in Toronto
- Posted by Jerrold
- Filed in Best of Toronto
- April 28, 2008
Remember back in the day, when the infamous panda-laden Mr.Pongs truck would cruise the club district after drunken revelers were unleashed on the city at 2am? Given the right circumstances (read: hunger, convenience, a pocket full of bar change, and seriously alcomahol-blurred judgment), eating a giant egg roll off the mobile Chinese food truck satisfied. Nostalgia aside though, it paled in comparison to the experience of a short trip up to one of the many late night Chinese restaurants on Spadina - a Toronto tradition that continues today.
Late night Chinese food on Spadina isn't your normal weekend dining experience - in so many respects. Forget about ambience, a comfortable chair, and a slow-moving yet attentive server. If you're lucky, you won't have to wait in line only to then be seated at a large, round, communal table with drunken strangers quipping slurred phrases like "I think I ate here once but I can't be sure because I was so wasted." And if you're lucky, the lineup you've just managed to navigate won't end up cramping your space after you've been seated.
But minor annoyances aside, which definitely impart charm and legitimacy to the experience, nothing beats a great chow down at one of Toronto's better late night Chinese food joints. They're a great option for a fast, cheap, and delicious meal (and some are known to serve "cold tea" after hours). General Tao's Chicken at 4am in Kensington's Chinatown is something every Torontonian should experience.
blogTO readers nominated and voted on their favourites, and once again Swatow is a champion.
Lead photos left to right by Tim and Tanja.
Swatow
Open until 3am, Swatow is a long-time favourite, is often jeered as being over-rated, and offers tasty food and fast service. Their sizzling beef, giant Chow Mein noodles, wide selection of soups and rice dishes, and generous portions lure in university students and police officers on night patrol, amongst others. More...
New Ho King
Open until 4am most nights and until 5am on Friday and Saturday nights, New Ho King fans enjoy the restaurant's classic Cantonese and Szechaun style. It's great bang for your buck, and that being so, tends to get really busy. They do take reservations, but don't call them from the club and expect to get one for 2am. More...
Rol San
Rol San is rather well-known for its relatively poor service and its great food. Many consider it the place to go for Dim Sum but their crispy beef is also awesome. Cramped, dark spaces and mouthwatering dishes await you if you can deal with their two, separate, chaotic lineups. More...
Happy Seven
Also open until 5am, Happy Seven is another institution on the Spadina strip that offers quick, cheap, Chinese eats. I think I ate here once but I can't be sure because I was so wasted (jokes). More...
Gold Stone Noodle
Open until just 2am most nights (you know what they say about beauty sleep) but until 4am on Friday and Saturday nights, noodles and barbecue are their forte. Also worth trying is their dumpling soup. More...
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my daughters worst work experience was working at mr pong's what a dump!