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Toronto Dim Sum and Other Chinese Cuisine


itch22

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of the style of food that Asian Legend serves, xiao long bao / siu long bao is probably the most standard.  They're probably called something like steamed pork dumplings on the menu. 

<snip>

other stuff there that you won't find elsewhere: there's some kind of "beef in onion pancake" that's not bad.  Also a "glutinous rice roll" (it's not a normal rice noodle roll) that has a dough fritter inside.

<snip>

I'm guessing at all the English names here, so hopefully you can find the items on the menu...

Being the food nerd that I am, I do have a copy of Asian Legend's (takeout) menu (I'd recommend eating in the restaurant though). Although I frequent their Chinatown/Downtown location more, I have to admit that the North York location appears to have a couple more dishes (and in general, the food tastes better).

Look for the Northern Chinese Dim Sum portion of the menu and you'll see the "soup filled meat dumplings" which is what Endy' was referring to. I also find that the "steamed crab pork dumplings" are good if you want to spluge (only because it doesn't taste much diff from the standard soup filled meat dumpling). Endy' was also referring to the "Onion Pancake Roll Filled with sliced Beef" and the "Glutinous Rice Rolls". These are excellent suggestions, and if I were to order the glutinous rice rolls I would ensure it's the savory one with the shredded dried pork. These are, in essence, logs of sticky rice wrapped around a deep fried Chinese dough stick (something you might normally find that is served with congee), crispy shredded dried pork and some preserved radish. Super yummy, and excellent when made fresh. The restaurant will also cut them into portions for you, wrapped in plastic, for easy handling. If you were to get this, I would also suggest getting a bowl of "hot soy bean milk (sweetened or salty)," although my preference is for the sweetened version (as the savory one is unappetizing to me...). I'd also recommend ordering the "Chinese Silver Bun (Steamed or Deep fried)," which are nostalgic and fun to eat (strands of fluffy dough hidden beneath a thin layer of dough) that's usually served with sweetened condensed milk. Mmmmm! If you've never tried it, "Shredded Radish Pan Cake" is really nice too. Think of a pan fried flakey pastry surrounding a tasty shredded daikon radish center.

Other items I would suggest include the "Deep Fried Tofu," that's just so piping hot and crisp, with a spicy garlicky soy dressing and the "Wonton in Hot Chili Peanut Sauce."

For noodles/substantial entree items, try the "Noodles with Braised Chunk Beef" (although I find it's not as good anymore) or "Dan Dan Spicy Noodles."

For dessert :laugh: , make sure you give yourself time to order the "Red Bean Pancakes" AND/OR the impressive "Mashed Red Bean Paste with Egg" (think giant fluffy clouds of meringue batter enveloping an oozy center of red bean paste, deep fried and covered with granulated sugar).

As you can see, it's always best to go as a group. That way you can order more dishes and try them all. Happy eating! :raz:

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Sam Woo - If someone where to ask me what the 'best' dim sum place in Toronto is, I would say here.

which one? I know of 2 in Scarborough but I'm assuming you're referring to something downtown...?

a bowl of "hot soy bean milk (sweetened or salty)," although my preference is for the sweetened version (as the savory one is unappetizing to me...).

for the life of me I will *never* understand people who like soybean "milk". Especially when warmed. :raz:

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Hakka:is the cooking style of the Hakka, and originally came from southeastern China (Guangdong and Fujian).

Wiki Link: Hakka

Chiuchow cuisine, Teochew cuisine or Chaozhou cuisine (Chinese: 潮州菜; pinyin: Cháozhōu cài) originates from Chiuchow (now called 'Chaozhou'), a city of China in Guangdong Province, not far from Canton. Hence the cooking style is very similar to Cantonese cuisine. However, Chiuchow cuisine does have some unique dishes that are not in Cantonese cuisine. ("Chiuchow" is a Cantonese pronunciation in common usage due to Teochew influence in Cantonese culture and cuisine.)

Wiki Link: Chiuchow

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Yes, anywhere in the GTA area. I'm interested in exploring the diversity of Chinese cuisine. Not just typical types.

So far, I've eaten at Ding Tai Fund and Ambassador for Dim Sum. I'm interested in trying other types of Chinese especially kinds that I haven't had before. I've also tried Islamic Chinese food in LA before.

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  • 4 weeks later...
I also tried to go to the new Congee Queen (Steeles/404) last week but they're not open yet.  Last night's location said middle of Oct for the new one.

they're open! I went for lunch today. They said they opened 10 days ago.

walk in...hey, they have a barbecue counter (does the other Congee Queen have one?). Stuff looks pretty fresh, but $5.95 for a takeout box of BBQ pork on rice?? (That said, I'll probably try it at some point, it makes a good quick lunch.)

open the menu. It's a bound volume, thick shiny paper. Selections on the right and food porn (seriously!) on the left. I'm reminded of Asian Legend's menu. Actually, the decor reminds me of them too...not as dark, but same clean gleaming open layout. It's slightly bigger than the other Congee Queen.

food was good, nothing special (had the fish pieces and pig blood congee, an "oil stick", and some Singapore-style fried turnip cake (don't remember the English name)). On the basis of only 1 meal each, I liked the other Congee Queen better, but at least the new place is in range for lunch. I think the co-worker group will be hitting it up for lunch on Friday...more thoughts then.

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I have to say, I've gone to Ambassador twice, and have been a little dissapointed. Nothing I can put my finger on, just food that didn't make me excited.

I thought all of their dumplings I've ordered have been weak. I think I'm going to have to pick a new dim sum place to try next.

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jenc -- yup, that's the one. It was pretty good, but a little on the greasy side (especially when I tried to eat the leftovers later at the office).

they also had a wine list in the bound menu, but it was covered up with a taped sheet of paper. Guess they don't have their licence yet.

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Ahahah, yeah, the wine menu always makes me laugh. It's so odd to see an actual wine list at a Chinese fast food place.

The fried turnip cake is greasy, but... so yummy! Better warm though. also good to eat if you ever have your wisdom teeth out. Soft, yet still tasty.

foodpr0n.com 11/01/17: A map of macarons in Toronto // For free or for a fee - bring your bottle! corkagetoronto.com

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  • 2 weeks later...

^ I love you guys.

Here I am somewhere between Markham and Scarborough craving Dim Sum and this thread is front and centre.

From the forum postings I assume places I might score well with are:

Sam Woo in Scarborough

Asian Legend in North York

A bunch of places by Leslie and Finch?

oooh and some good congee to be had too mmm.

"There are two things every chef needs in the kitchen: fish sauce and duck fat" - Tony Minichiello

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^ I love you guys. 

Here I am somewhere between Markham and Scarborough craving Dim Sum and this thread is front and centre.

From the forum postings I assume places I might score well with are:

Sam Woo in Scarborough

Asian Legend in North York

A bunch of places by Leslie and Finch?

oooh and some good congee to be had too mmm.

Asian Legend and Sam Woo both have several locations. Leslie and Finch has an Asian Legend, (fairly new), as well as a Congee Wong.

However, the Congee Queen at Don Mills has better turnip cake, and, a wine menu(!). Dim Sum is chiu chow style at AL and there's another two places in the same block of Congee Wong for Chiu Chow and desserts.

HMN. Must go back to dessert place sometime and review...

foodpr0n.com 11/01/17: A map of macarons in Toronto // For free or for a fee - bring your bottle! corkagetoronto.com

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Needed a quick, simple lunch after the AGO, so we hiked a few blocks over to Swatow. I got pointed here by some posts here on eG, (and some PMs - thanks Sadistick!) and it had charmed me by being open at 2am, crucial during a couple of previous visits...

I'm embarrassed to say that we dived in and started eating the soup before I remembered to snap a picture, but this is pretty much what it looked like, there was just more of it...

gallery_23992_3056_48226.jpg

That's the Swatow special soup, with thin egg noodles, braised beef, various mysterious balls, a shrimp dumpling, greens, and most importantly, a really fantastic, rich broth. I'd be perfectly happy to just eat a bowl of this for lunch.

I know there are way more interesting things on the menu, but Chicken in Black Bean sauce on rice sounded exactly perfect for the moment, and indeed it was.

gallery_23992_3056_38817.jpg

No revelation, just very tasty...

I'm always happy to know about places like this: vaguely divey, inexpensive, but solid restaurants, especially if they're open late.

"Philadelphia’s premier soup dumpling blogger" - Foobooz

philadining.com

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328 Spadina Avenue

I was going to say the photo looks like Spadina. I went to this little place on the east side of Huron street (first block before Spadina) just north of Dundas that had outstanding dumplings and noodles that were getting close to rivalling Legendary Noodle on Main street in Vancouver for those who know.

There were two places in this small little building complex on Huron, however, the one we went to was the place further north on Huron. I recall my wife and I noting how interesting it was that a competitor should set up next store. The name was "Mother's Dumplings". Great and cheap.

officially left egullet....

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Joanna Kates just reviewed (very favourably) the King Noodle restaurant in Saturdays' Globe and Mail (Dec.2). It is located on the west side of Spadina about a block down from the Dumpling House.

I can safely say that it is one of my favourites, but so is Goldstone.

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Joanna Kates just reviewed (very favourably) the King Noodle restaurant in Saturdays' Globe and Mail (Dec.2). It is located on the west side of Spadina about a block down from the Dumpling House.

I can safely say that it is one of my favourites, but so is Goldstone.

Love Goldstone!

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