Dim Sum in Toronto

Pearl Harbourfront Restaurant

207 Queens Quay W, Toronto, Ontario
(416) 203-1233

Dim Sum at Pearl Harbourfront restaurant was pretty good on Sunday. One of the few places left in the city that still has ladies pushing carts around delivering steamed dumplings, and deep fried treats. These days, most Chinese restaurants in Toronto make you order on a form. While this ensures that the food is 'fresh' and hot, it has stolen two fond childhood memories... firstly, hoping to get a table close to the kitchen so that our family could snag the food when it came out. Secondly, having my parents implore me to find and chase the push cart lady, who always seemed to be at the other end of the restaurant to procure the ever valuable siu mei.

Located in the beautiful Queen Quay, with a great view of the Toronto Harbour, this is where I usually go with my parents (who don't like crowds). There always seems to be an abundant and vibrant non-Chinese (white) crowd - which doesn't mean the food is not up to snuff - its just more expensive than what you would pay for in Chinatown. Talking about expensive, the parking isn't cheap here either - $6 across the road. Specialties that I enjoyed especially were the sticky rice stuffed with dried peanuts and sugar, and the over sized beef balls.

Jade Village Chinese Cuisine
900 Don Mills Road, North York
(416) 385-1333

Located in suburban Toronto, this is one of my favorite places to dim sum. I always managed to make it here when I came back to Toronto... In addition to easy to find parking, they take reservations, the food is always hot and fresh, and has not shrunk in size over time. What is a little annoying are the waitresses who seem to be constantly trying to sell you 'specialties of the house' at your table. When I go for dim sum, I'm not looking to order the anything exotic, just the staples... yummy!!!! Mostly a Chinese crowd, it can get pretty noisy... crying babies are often drowned out.

Other Place to Dim Sum....

The fancy Lai Wah Heen is centrally located downtown in the Metropolitan Hotel... This place has a really nice and clean atmosphere with good service (which is absent in alot of Chinese restaurants). However, this comes at a very steep price. Expensive price doesn't translate into better food, and this is certainly the case here. If you want to see the Adrienne Clarkson types - this is probably the place is for you. If you like good dim sum (and value your wallet), I usually pass on this place unless someone else is buying...

Rol San Restaurant is in the heart of Chinatown on Spadina Avenue, and is what I consider down and dirty dim sum. The place isn’t the cleanest, but there is a buzz abound (its very loud), decent & hot food, generous portions, really bad service, and the lowest price. You can also where whatever you want, and are advised to arrive early (before 11 am) to avoid line ups, and are not encouraged to sit and chat.

Avoid Bright Pearl which is across the street from Rol San. While it has been around a long time (it shows) and has the much vaunted push carts – the food is not remarkable and very greasy. Most importantly, it is said to be built above a cemetery. Bad luck!!!!