I always love visiting Chinatown in Toronto for amazing and authentic Asian restaurants.
Kensington Market was where I lived as a baby, and my family often visited Chinatown to eat dim sum and explore Chinatown Centre and Dragon City.
Although most people think of the Dundas & Spadina neighbourhood downtown when they hear “Chinatown”, there are actually 6 different Chinatowns across the Greater Toronto Area!
There’s also more than just Chinese food in Chinatown – you’ll find other types of Asian restaurants such as Korean and fusion cuisines.
Remember to also carry cash on-hand, because a lot of restaurants in Chinatown are cash or debit card-only.
And if you’re in the mood for a little dessert afterwards, grab some bubble tea in Chinatown!
Here are some of the best restaurants in Toronto’s Chinatown neighbourhood in downtown!
You can also do a guided tour to explore Chinatown or Kensington Market, and you might enjoy these options:
- Kensington Market & Chinatown walking tour: learn about the history behind these two vibrant neighbourhoods.
- Kensington Market food tour: sample bites and learn more about this diverse neighbourhood.
Be sure to also follow me on Instagram and TikTok – I share a lot more content on those platforms that don’t make it to the blog!
More Toronto restaurants
Looking for more of the best Toronto restaurants to visit? You might enjoy these posts:
- Grabbing takeout? Order from the best Chinese takeout spots in Toronto.
- Craving specific dishes? Visit Toronto’s best spots for dim sum, ramen, pho, hot pot, sushi, or poke bowls.
- Searching for more great Asian restaurants? Visit Toronto’s best Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino, Indian, or Afghan restaurants.
- In the mood for a sweet treat? Stop by one of the best bubble tea spots or ice cream spots in Toronto.
Best restaurants in Chinatown Toronto
Banh Mi Nguyen Huong
Nguyen Huong is your spot to get authentic banh mi in Toronto, and it’s also one of the best cheap food spots in the city.
If you don’t already know what banh mi is, it’s basically a Vietnamese sub sandwich, and it’s truly heavenly.
It’s typically filled with meat, pickled veggies, pâté, and a butter/mayo spread, and it’s served on a French baguette.
I’ve been coming to Nguyen Huong for as long as I can remember, and my grandma even used to make rice cakes for their store!
Be sure to also grab a cup of che ba mau (Vietnamese three-layer dessert) if you’ve got a sweet tooth.
The shop is quite small and there isn’t any seating inside, but it’s well worth the visit for under $5 banh mi!
If you’ve heard of the other popular Toronto chain, Banh Mi Boys, you’ll be excited to hear that it’s owned by the sons of Nguyen Huong’s owners!
LOCATION: 322 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON
Juicy Dumpling
This famous Chinatown spot is known for their juicy Shanghai-style dumplings, and it’s one of the best restaurants in Toronto to grab dumplings!
Their 6-piece Steamed Mini Soup Dumpling is just $3.99, so it’s one of the most affordable spots to eat in Toronto!
You have to order food at the counter, but there is minimal dining inside to enjoy your dumplings.
They also have a location in Midtown Toronto, right by Yonge & Eglinton.
LOCATION: 280 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON
Hong Kong Bistro Cafe
Enjoy Hong Kong-style western eats at this cha chaan teng in Chinatown.
They’ve got an extensive menu filled with Cantonese eats and Hong Kong café-style food, with baked rice and spaghetti dishes, curry dishes, and more.
And of course, you can’t hit up a Hong Kong café without grabbing HK Style Milk Tea!
Red Bean Sherbert with Ice Cream is also a great option if you’ve got a sweet tooth.
You can find them on the second floor above another restaurant in Chinatown!
LOCATION: 472 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON
Rol San Restaurant
I’ve been going to Rol San since I was a baby, and it’s one of my favourite dim sum restaurants in Toronto.
Their chicken feet and squid tentacles are so dang delicious, and so is everything else on their menu.
Come with some friends so you can order a bunch of different dishes to try!
This bustling dim sum restaurant is located right in the heart of Chinatown, and they serve all-day dim sum ’til late.
They open everyday from 10 AM to midnight, but they close at 3 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.
They actually very recently moved down the street from the location they were at for almost 30 years, and the new spot is a lot more modern!
LOCATION: 388 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON
Swatow Restaurant
Traditional Cantonese cuisine is what you’ll find at this long-standing Chinatown restaurant.
This family-owned restaurant has been in the neighbourhood for over 40 years, serving up authentic Cantonese favourites like chow mein and fried rice.
Also take note that they only accept cash!
LOCATION: 309 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON
Pho Hung
Although I’m part Vietnamese, I never actually had authentic pho until I was in high school.
When I first discovered pho, I had an obsession with it, and I tried a lot of different pho restaurants in and around Toronto.
Pho Hung is by far one of my all-time favourite pho restaurants in Toronto!
I always order a rare beef and beef ball pho with an avocado shake.
Don’t knock the avocado shake until you try it – it’s absolutely delicious!
LOCATION: 350 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON
Pho Xe Lua
Pho Xe Lua is another great pho restaurant in Chinatown, and they’ve got a few locations across the GTA.
I actually went to their Richmond Hill location a lot when they opened up across from my high school.
We called it “Train” because their logo has a train in it (lol), but I think my mom also told me their name in Vietnamese actually means train!
I also always got their rare beef and beef ball pho here, and they have plenty of other delicious Vietnamese dishes like Nem Nuong (Vietnamese meatballs) and Minced Shrimp on Sugarcane.
LOCATION: 254 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON
The Owl of Minerva
Owl is one of the best restaurants in Toronto for authentic and home-style Korean food.
They’re a local chain with restaurants across the GTA, and they even have frozen foods available at Asian grocery stores!
I love their kamjatang (pork bone soup) and kalbi.
LOCATION: 280 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON
Four Four South Village
Enjoy authentic Taiwanese eats at this cozy spot on Dundas, including everything from Taipei beef noodles to braised meat dishes.
You can’t go wrong with the Braised Beef Noodle Soup, which is made using locally-sourced angus beef and Canadian wheat flour for the noodles.
Their bento boxes are also a great deal, and they have plenty of different options!
They’ve also got some slushies and other drinks for you to enjoy with your meal.
You can find them by Dundas & Beverley, and you can also visit their two other locations at Yonge & Wellesley and in Scarborough.
LOCATION: 405 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON
Chine Legendary Hot Pot & Noodles
This hot pot restaurant in Chinatown offers all-you-can-eat hot pot.
You can choose from 4 different spice levels for their Legendary Spicy Broth, or go for non-spicy broths like their Creamy Corn & Sweet Potato Broth or Golden Pumpkin Broth!
They also have a DIY sauce station where you can make your own sauce.
They even have weekday lunch combos that are quite fairly-priced.
Take note that they also only accept cash and debit!
LOCATION: 327 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON
Kung Fu Beef Chinese BBQ
You’ve probably had Korean BBQ before, but have you had Chinese BBQ?
Enjoy all-you-can-eat Chinese BBQ at Kung Fu Beef in Chinatown, with a variety of cuts of meat and marinated meat to choose from.
You also get to order everything on an iPad, which is nice!
They also have really cute and modern decor inside the restaurant!
LOCATION: 460 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON
Chat Bar
Chat Bar is an izakaya-style Chinese spot known for their chuan’r (AKA Chinese skewers).
It’s the perfect spot to grab savoury skewers and beer, and they’re even open late (until 2 AM every night).
They have all kinds of delicious meat and veggie skewer options (try their lamb skewers), plus other Chinese comfort food options.
If you’re a seafood lover, you’ll definitely want to try their Charcoal Grilled Scallop.
They’re topped with a delicious garlicky sauce, which you can slurp alongside the noodles!
You can also find their other locations in Markham, Scarborough, and North York.
LOCATION: 307 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON
New Sky Restaurant
This casual Chinatown spot serves up dim sum and Cantonese eats like Clams with Black Bean Sauce and BBQ Duck, as well as Chinese-Peruvian fusion eats.
Fun fact (but also not so fun because it was a sad situation): 100,000 Chinese labourers migrated to Peru back in the 1800s, so there are roots there!
If you’re looking for the westernized stuff, they’ve also got General Tao’s Chicken and Sweet & Sour Chicken Balls.
They’ve even got plenty of Chinese seafood options like lobster (go for the classic ginger & green onion) and Vancouver crab.
LOCATION: 353 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON
Bitter Melon
This elegant Asian fusion restaurant in Chinatown is the perfect spot to visit if you’re looking for somewhere more upscale.
They serve up contemporary and unique shareables, with dishes like their Beef Pot Stickers, Foie Gras on Toast, and Sea Bream Crudo.
You’ll also find an extensive drink menu with Asian-inspired signature cocktails, as well as Chinese and Japanese liquors!
LOCATION: 431 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON
R&D
If you’re a MasterChef Canada fan (watch it on Crave Canada), you’ll definitely want to pay a visit to R&D.
It’s co-owned by Eric Chong, the season one winner, and Alvin Leung, one of the judges and one of the few self-trained Michelin Star chefs in the world!
R&D actually received Bib Gourmand designation on the 2022 Toronto Michelin Guide, which is pretty awesome!
They serve up Chinese food with a Canadian flare, with fun dishes like their French Onion Spring Roll, Charred Broccolini Gomae, and Shrimp Toast.
You’ll also find a variety of unique signature cocktails, like their Emotional Damage (lol), Forbidden Old Fashioned, and Lychee Martini!
LOCATION: 241 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON
Best restaurants in Chinatown Toronto:
- Banh Mi Nguyen Huong
- Juicy Dumpling
- Hong Kong Bistro Cafe
- Rol San Restaurant
- Swatow Restaurant
- Pho Hung
- Pho Xe Lua
- The Famous Owl of Minerva
- Four Four South Village
- Chine Legendary Hot Pot & Noodles
- Kung Fu Beef Chinese BBQ
- Chat Bar
- New Sky Restaurant
- Bitter Melon
- R&D
Of course there are plenty more great restaurants in the Chinatown neighbourhood in Toronto, but these are just some of my favourites.
You can also do a guided tour to explore Chinatown or Kensington Market, and you might enjoy these options:
- Kensington Market & Chinatown walking tour: learn about the history behind these two vibrant neighbourhoods.
- Kensington Market food tour: sample bites and learn more about this diverse neighbourhood.
You’ll also find plenty more amazing Asian food up in Richmond Hill, Markham, and Scarborough!
Have you visited any of these spots in Toronto’s Chinatown? Where are some other great restaurants to eat at in the Chinatown neighbourhood of Toronto? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram!
More Toronto restaurants
Looking for more of the best Toronto restaurants to visit? You might enjoy these posts:
- Grabbing takeout? Order from the best Chinese takeout spots in Toronto.
- Craving specific dishes? Visit Toronto’s best spots for dim sum, ramen, pho, hot pot, sushi, or poke bowls.
- Searching for more great Asian restaurants? Visit Toronto’s best Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino, Indian, or Afghan restaurants.
- In the mood for a sweet treat? Stop by one of the best bubble tea spots or ice cream spots in Toronto.
Be sure to keep up with me on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest if you aren’t already!
Feel free to subscribe to my weekly newsletter to get my blog posts delivered straight to your inbox.
Like this post? Pin it for later!
