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    Nian Yi Kuai Zi

    4.5 (17 reviews)

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    Kateri

    This restaurant serves authentic and delicious spicy Sichuan food. Absolutely loved all the dishes. My favorite was the fried beef liver with chill, the picked fished soup and the eggplant in spicy garlic sauce. We can choose the level of spice you want ranging from little spicy to very spicy. There are also non spicy dishes like their fried rice, tomato egg and more. The service was amazing, was greeted at the door. We were unsure what to get but our server was very patient with us and recommended a lot of dishes according to what we wanted. The interior of the restaurant is really pretty and makes you feel like you're in restaurant in China. You are unable to book on the phone so you'll have to go in for a table. They will take your number and let you know when your table is ready. This restaurant is fairly busy so expect a bit of a wait. We also waited a decent amount of time to receive all our dishes. Overall, we had a really good experience and would definitely recommend coming.

    Fatty fish in chili oil
    Harshini R.

    It's so worth having to commute to Scarborough for Szechuan food, specifically this spot. The minute you walk in you can smell all the spicy aromas. If you don't like spicy food, don't go here. The server warned us about the spice levels and mentioned that this spot has spicier food than other Szechuan restaurants in the neighborhood. But we love spice and might've gone a little overboard. We got the fatty fish in chili oil and mapo tofu. I'd recommend balancing it out with a stir fry just so you can enjoy the flavors. Both dishes were amazing and I'd go back to try more. The portions are pretty big. One dish was plenty for 2 people, so if you want to try multiple things go with a group.

    Fried rice
    Shigei H.

    We visited the Richmond Hill venue before and this was our first visit to the Toronto venue, this venue is about 1/3 bigger than the Richmond Hill venue. We went late after 8pm to avoid the queue, we got seated after 20 minutes. Nearly all tables were seated with Putonghua speaking youngsters so I think the food must be authentic. It took longer time for our dishes to come. We asked for less salt and less spicy, but for Southern Chinese, the dishes still appeared quite spicy. In comparison to other Chinese noodle shops, the dishes here have less MSG and we did enjoy them. The tomato and egg soup was so so, the broth was not as refreshing and a bit salty. The fried rice was really good. The portion size is good and we always have leftovers for another meal.

    a plate of food on a table
    Melissa L.

    Came here on a Sunday afternoon with my best friend. It was already crowded and full but we were lucky that there was an empty table waiting for us. From the decor to tables and chairs, they showcased an ancient China feel with the wooden bench and tables. The menu has both Chinese and English description so everyone can understand what the dishes are. We ended up ordering a Szechuan boiled beef with chili peppers and one of their new dishes- spicy chili chicken gizzards. As I have a low tolerance to spice, the restaurant was very accommodating in adjusting the spice level (so don't forget to tell them LESS SPICY for those who can't handle spicy!) The Szechuan boiled beef was at their normal spice level, and boy did we regret not adjusting the spice level for this dish. My friend and I both got a little intimidated by the amount of chili peppers it came with. However, the flavours was super strong and aromatic. The beef slices were tender that each bite melted in our mouth. The chicken gizzards was at a LESS SPICY level, and it was PERFECT!!

    a variety of asian food
    Lily G.

    Great taste and very big portion dishes. We ordered 2 meat dishes and 1 veggie, had leftover enough for another meal. Most food on the menu is spicy. The service was friendly, debit or cash only. They don't take reservations, so be prepared to wait. We waited for half an hour on a Sunday evening dinner time. The space is stylish, but the wooden beaches are pretty hard to sit on, and walkways are pretty narrow at places, making it hard to walk through. We were seated at the table right in front of the entrance, it was pretty cold when people walk in. And the bathroom was pretty dirty....because of the above, I'm taking away a star.

    Sautéed Eggplant in spicy garlic sauce, stir fried taro + bone-in chicken, Sichuan boiling fish, and stir-fried chili clams
    Yiwen S.

    Our party of 5 had varying degrees of tolerance to spice, and the restaurant was very accommodating in adjusting the spice level of some dishes. However, this did not impact the flavour of the dishes as all were delicious! What we ordered: Sautéed Eggplant in spicy garlic sauce - 4.5/5 stir fried taro + bone-in chicken - 4/5 (only because I'm lazy and don't care for bones) Sichuan boiling fish fillet - 5/5 my fave dish Stir fried chili clams - 5/5 Stir fried cabbage - 5/5 (not pictured) Stir fried shredded potato - 5/5 (we added this dish towards then end and it did not disappoint) Although the prices may seem high, the portions are humongous! The interior is also very reminiscent of old China and some dishes were served in large bamboo trays. Note: they only accept cash or debit.

    Sichuan Boiled Beef Tongue with Sichuan Peppercorn
    Karl L.

    As soon as I stepped into Nian Yi Kuai Zi, I was transported back to the olden days in China, thanks to the rustic wooden benches, poles, and tables. The red lanterns cast a warm, inviting glow, contributing to the restaurant's bustling interior. After a short wait, I was seated for a promising dining experience ahead. The language barrier was noticeable, and I had a hard time communicating. However, I could tell that the servers were all eager to provide excellent service, and they delivered for the most part. Please note that most dishes are very spicy. For new visitors, I suggest starting with a low or medium spice level. Dining Highlights: Sichuan Boiled Beef Tongue with Sichuan Peppercorn: I was scared by the amount of chilli oil and peppercorns in this dish, but it turned out to be a flavour-packed surprise. Tender slices of beef tongue and fresh bean sprouts were bathed in the spicy oil. Using the slotted spoon to skim off the excess oil, I savoured the tender beef and sprouts combining with heat to create a great flavour. I managed the heat with some white rice and the soup that we ordered. Loofah Omelette Soup: Everyone seemed to order this, looking like a fire extinguisher for the restaurant's other spicy items. It was on the saltier side and I wasn't sure if I enjoyed it a lot, but I came back to it in between bites to cool off my mouth. Mapo Tofu: A classic Sichuan dish, this dish was as aromatic as it was flavourful. We opted out of the specialty duck blood, as I thought it would still be a thrilling dish without it. The strong smell of ground pepper and sesame oil was unmistakable, and the tofu carried the savoury and deep flavours of Doubanjiang well. It was another excuse to dig into some more white rice. I thought about how to rate this restaurant, and I settled on a high score for its authentic and vibrant flavours. It will not cater to everyone, especially those unfamiliar or sensitive to heat. This place used the same plastic bowls for all dishes ordered, which meant mapo tofu's serving seemed small, while the soup looked like a bucketful. Also, the men's room could be cleaner. Overall, I had a very authentic time. I'll certainly return to explore more of their menu. However, I advise prospective visitors to do some research before visiting.

    Chicken

    气氛不错,味道好,价格可以,量大,服务更没得说。我喜欢漂亮的Cora,很耐心,很周到,能提供中肯建议。我觉得是所有中餐馆里最有服务意识的一家。我先生吃得最满意的一次,无论是环境,味道,还是服务。还有,强烈推荐鸡肉,忘记具体见什么名字了,辣的那种。 下次还会再去。

    Chicken in chili oil is a must try!

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    Swatow Restaurant

    Swatow Restaurant

    3.8
    (505 reviews)
    18.9 km
    $$

    But it's been a long time since I ate at Swatow and wanted to come here with my siblings for lunch…read moreon my birthday! And the food was delicious as always. I've been coming here for decades and I had many fond memories when I lived in the area. The place is a medium size restaurant and looked exactly the same. The service as fast as usual. Usually there's a long line to get in but we got a table for four right away on a Sunday after 1pm. Then after we ordered our server offered us a larger table which we really appreciated. And glad we did because all the dishes were huge! We ordered to share: -Ginger Scallion Lobster -Shrimps in lobster sauce on rice -Cantonese Chow Mein -Fried squid -Spring rolls Everything tasted great and fresh but I wish the ginger scallion lobster tasted better. It wasn't the same as the one I had at another restaurant on Baldwin St. that closed many years ago. But it was still so nice to return to this iconic Chinatown restaurant.

    Use to be the spot, decided to come here for lunch with my mom…read more Food was great, there was no interaction other than the waitress standing by their designated spot gossiping. Ordered my regular Stir Fried Beef rice noodle (lots of Wok Hei) and Fried bean curd with vegetables. Food came out great and tasted great. The only thing I did not like was when my mom barely finish they brought out the bill to rush us out. It wasn't that busy since it was after the lunch rush hour. The thing is when the bill came they overcharged us by a buck and we just decided to leave it be along with tipping them greatly. There was absolutely no interaction or even a thanks for stopping by and come back for more. This was my fave spot to eat whenever I'm craving for Chinese food, guess I will have to find something else. It's also cash only since they have an atm by the washroom entrance.

    Photos
    Busy takeout going on this wintertime Friday evening at Swatow.
    Busy takeout going on this wintertime Friday evening at Swatow.
    Beef Stir Fry Rice Noodle
    Beef Stir Fry Rice Noodle
    Fried Clams w/ Black Bean Sauce

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    Fried Clams w/ Black Bean Sauce
    Juicy Dumpling

    Juicy Dumpling

    4.2
    (724 reviews)
    19.1 km
    $

    This was SO GOOD. I understand why it was so busy inside because these soup dumplings were amazing…read more We got them within 5 ish minutes of waiting, and they were so warm and juicy, and they gave us some soy sauce and hot sauce to add onto them, which just made them so much better in flavor. I devoured them in like 10 seconds. The ambiance is super casual like literally just 3 tables and the rest is standing space.

    we were picking up medication at the nearby pharmacy and decided to stop by at Juicy Dumpling since…read moreI haven't had Chinese dumplings and bun's in so long! It was so packed but my brother was able to save a table while I did the ordering. This was a very casual and self service type of restaurant in which you can order at the front desk or at their kiosk. They had a limited time "promotion" going on in which you can order a maximum of 2 orders of their xiaolongbao or steamed mini soup dumplings for $2.99 with a minimum spend of $10. But honestly, I've seen this promotion since last year so I'm thinking it's actually a permanent offer. We ordered two orders of their pan fried pork buns, 1 order of their pan fried chicken dumplings, and 2 order of their promotional steamed mini soup dumplings. I thought everything tasted pretty good. The pan fried buns and dumplings were very crispy and quite juicy. My only nitpick is that I wished they put some kind of veggies or chives in their filling. It was just meat and felt too 1 dimensional for me. The steamed mini soup dumplings was actually really good though which is such a surprise at this price point. The outer layer was very thin and the filling was packed with soup. It was very delicious and hearty. Are these the best Chinese dumplings and bun's I've ever had ? No, but they were great especially for the price point. I would definitely come back again next time I am craving Chinese dumplings and buns. Also they take Amex which is always a plus in my book.

    Photos
    Counter
    Counter
    Cross-section of my pan-fried chicken dumpling
    Cross-section of my pan-fried chicken dumpling
    Pan-fried chicken dumpling

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    Pan-fried chicken dumpling
    Chopfire

    Chopfire

    5.0
    (5 reviews)
    18.8 km

    I've been craving Szechuan-style whole grilled fish for the longest time, so I was really happy…read morewhen I stumbled across this spot while walking on Spadina. The posters outside caught my eye, and I decided to come back with a group of three friends to try it out. We came a bit late around 8 PM, and most of the fish were already sold out except the original. We ended up ordering the Signature Spicy Grilled BBQ Fish ($40), a whole fish served bubbling hot with three toppings (potatoes, spam, and lotus root). You can choose between catfish and turbot, we chose the turbot fish. It looked extremely spicy, but the spice level was actually perfect. It was a bit on the oily side, but pairing it with rice balanced it out nicely. The fish was very tender and buttery, everything tasted amazing! We also ordered the Stir-Fried Egg with Tomato. The eggs were soft, the tomato sauce was rich. Not to mention the portion size was huge, we even had leftovers after eating until we were full. The restaurant itself was spacious, clean, and had plenty of seating. I think they were doing some sort of promotion so they gave us a $25 off coupon, though it expired pretty quickly so we didn't get to use it. I'd definitely come back for that grilled fish.

    This is a new Chinese restaurant featuring Hunan and Szechuan cuisine. The spicy dishes emphasize…read morespiciness, not numbness. A few of their dishes come out on a sizzling plate with flames underneath. They are still in soft-opening mode with several specials. You can see the menus via a QR code. The Hunan cuisine is listed as "Hunan Noodles" and the Szechuan cuisine is listed as "Chopfire Menu". The Szechuan dishes are listed with 1 to 3 chilies representing the spiciness. If you can't handle spicy, then avoid eating the chili pieces and you might "survive". The restaurant decided to minimize their food offerings so that they can focus on refining their dishes in terms of quality and taste, including from customer feedback. We ordered the following: 1. Signature Spicy Grilled BBQ Fish ($39.95). 2. Home Stir Fried Beef ($21.95). 3. Bullfrog with Baby Ginger ($19.95). 4. Stir-Fried Cauliflower with Preserved Pork ($15.95). 5. Drunk Oolong (charcoal roasted oolong tea base) x 2 ($5.95 x 2). 6. Lemon Taro Balls ($7.95). We also saw the following: 7. Stir-Fried Sliced Pork with Green Pepper Noodle Soup ($9.99). First 10 customers each day, only pays $1.00. 8. Ink Painting Cocktail ($5.95). The Signature Spicy Grilled BBQ Fish came out on a huge sizzling platter. The BBQ Fish, a Turbot Fish, was very fresh and flaky, easily coming off the bone. There is no head attached like at typical Chinese restaurants but it would not have fit in the platter. The platter had a delicious sauce (soupy consistency and not sweet), luncheon meat slices, lotus root slices, and two other vegetables, along with chili pieces. The entire dish tasted great together with the various flavours. The menu listed it as 2-chili spicy but I could handle it by avoiding the chili pieces. The Home Stir Fried Beef is tender. It is listed as 3-chili but I could handle it by avoiding the chili pieces. The Bullfrog with Baby Ginger has the bullfrog cut up in little pieces; no you don't see a whole frog! The meat was actually good but most pieces have bones in it, so it takes time to eat it carefully. There was ginger slices in it but it, but we thought the slices were quite large! The Stir-Fried Cauliflower with Preserved Pork was very delicious! It came in a sizzling plate. The Cauliflower was flavourful and was not crunchy and not too soft. I've never had preserved pork slices before; it was quite good, not as salty as Chinese preserved vegetables. The Drunk Oolong has comes in a small bowl a with gin and ice. On the side, they include pieces of the charcoal roasted oolong tea leaves so you can smell it; quite a good smell indeed. You can also order it without the gin, which is what I ordered for mine (since I don't drink alcohol). It was such a nice drink! The Lemon Taro Balls dessert was pretty. In the centre was a slice of lemon. The customer service was good. There is plenty of indoor table and counter seating, including a small private room at the back. There is also an outdoor patio during warmer weather. There is pop music playing in the background. There is no free WiFi. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible, but there is no door-open button. There are two gender-neutral washrooms downstairs, so they are not wheelchair accessible. There is paid neighbourhood street parking. Review 2025-026

    Photos
    Beautiful modern interior design is a treat for your eyes.
    Beautiful modern interior design is a treat for your eyes.
    Stir-Fried Cauliflower with Preserved Pork ($15.95)
    Stir-Fried Cauliflower with Preserved Pork ($15.95)
    Bullfrog with Baby Ginger ($19.95)

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    Bullfrog with Baby Ginger ($19.95)
    Mott 32

    Mott 32

    4.2
    (25 reviews)
    18.9 km

    Mott 32 absolutely feels like one of those places where the entire experience matters just as much…read moreas the food. From the moment we walked in, the space already set the tone.. dark, dramatic, elegant, and beautifully designed without feeling overly stiff. It has that upscale energy that makes dinner feel like an occasion before you've even ordered anything. Food-wise, there was a lot to love. The signature apple wood roasted Peking duck was definitely a highlight, especially with the tableside carving, which made the whole experience feel even more polished and memorable. The skin had that beautiful lacquered finish, and the duck was rich, flavorful, and very satisfying. We also ordered a few larger dishes for the table, and I really appreciated how everything still felt refined without losing that comforting, indulgent side of Chinese dining. Some dishes leaned rich and luxurious, others were lighter and more aromatic, so the meal never felt repetitive. Service was another standout. Attentive without hovering, smooth without being too formal.. exactly the kind of service you hope for in a restaurant like this. Overall, Mott 32 is absolutely the kind of place I'd come back to for a special dinner, celebration, or just one of those nights when you want the meal to feel a little more elevated than usual.

    Finally back for dim sum…read more First off, they need to fix their reservation system. Don't accept 1:45pm reservations if the dining room closes at 2pm. Also, when we call to check if dim sum is being served, it makes sense to inform us of the dining room closure instead of having us come in anyway. We settled for eating in the lounge which ended up being good because bartender, Aiki?, was excellent as our server. Really great. Ordered the following: King prawn Har gow: standard. Not worth the premium Mott charges. Miso black cod dumpling: not good. Wouldn't order again Shredded Peking Duck Spring Roll, Sliced Vegetable : Excellent. We loved this! Nice and crunchy. Delicious duck inside. Good vinegar dipping sauce. Good volume Hot & Sour Iberico Pork Shanghainese Soup Dumplings: Fantastic and unique. The dumplings don't really need dipping sauce since inside there is a hot and sour soup along with pork. These are unique and delicious. Fried Wagyu beef taro croquette : pretty good but really tasted like a Jamaican patty Cold noodle with shredded duck : very generous with meat. Honestly a lot more than any other restaurant that serves this. To be fair no one charges this much either so it should. Flavour could be stronger but certainly decent. Fresh Mango, Coconut, Glutinous Rice Roll: nice fresh dessert. Our favourite. Frozen xiao long bao with chocolate and nut: Tastes like a mochi. Not bad. Dragonball Zen - fun name. Delicious drink. Jasmine Dragon Ball Infused Tanqueray Gin / Peach Liquor Lime / Rose Water / Mint / Seltzer Over $200 for this meal before tip. It's premium an debatable if with it. Will be back but just occasionally.

    Photos
    Dining area level 3
    Dining area level 3
    Crispy duck skin
    Crispy duck skin
    Frog legs

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    Frog legs
    Mogouyan Hand-Pulled Noodles

    Mogouyan Hand-Pulled Noodles

    4.5
    (159 reviews)
    18.2 km
    $$

    I got the Braised Beef Noodles with classic noodles. Great food! I am traveling in Toronto for work…read moreand stopped by when I started craving home cooked beef soup. I am taiwanese and I have to say this was delicious. There is someone actually making noodles in the back. Service was quick and very nice and upbeat. My server was Kelly and she was great- I ate in and took what I didnt finish to-go and she even separated my noodles from the broth! The mango green tea was also fantastic. Thank you!

    Toronto Review 4/Many: I went to this excellent Lanzhou spot with another person as one of my…read moreearlier meals. Our server, Sophia, was bubbly and friendly, giving suggestions and helping with the ordering process for the other person who wasn't as sure what they wanted. We eventually went with two appetizers and two entrees, which was more than enough food, and honestly, we could have only ordered one appetizer. The better of the two appetizers was the CAD 8.95 Hand Shredded Pepper Chicken/手撕椒麻雞/Shou Si Ji. The dish consists of cold chicken in a flavorful sauce, topped with some greens. The chicken was tender, with a mild, pleasant spice and a bit of numbingness from the Sichuan peppercorns, along with some fragrance, presumably from sesame oil. It reminded me a bit of salivating chicken you find in some Szechuan spots, but it was more aromatic and a bit less spicy. The other appetizer was the Steamed Edamame/岩鹽毛豆 with Himalayan pink salt for CAD 5.95. The other person chose between this and the vegetable dumplings, as he avoids pork, and it was, of course, lighter than the other appetizer. The decent portion of edamame was topped with some pickled carrots as a garnish. My main dish was the Braised Beef Noodles/紅燒牛肉面/Hong Shao Niu Rou Mian. The dish included several options, including size, noodle style, and spice level. I chose the large for CAD $20.95, medium spice, and for the noodle style, I chose flat/宽面, as it was closest to the prism style I like at Lanzhou spots in the States. Along with these, I also added a tea egg for an extra CAD 2.95. Outside the add-on, the dish also had a couple of large slices of radish. Compared to some spots in NYC, I slightly preferred the QQ/bouncy texture of the noodles at a spot near me. However, the broth was better here with a balanced amount of mala, though I would likely order spicy next time, as I tend to add chili oil to the relatively lighter Lanzhou broths. The beef was also much better, being tender with a mild chew regardless of whether it was tendon or other cuts. The tea egg was flavorful and worth the add-on, especially when the inside was dipped further into the broth. I can see why others order this. The other person went with the Signature Stir-fried Noodles/招牌炒面/Chao Tatiaozi. There was an option of protein, and he went with Chicken for $17.95 and added the same egg. I tried a bit, and there was a pleasant pepperiness with a bit of numbing flavor, but less than my dish. The noodles had a good bounciness and overall had a slightly better chewiness than mine. This was lighter overall, but also tasty. This spot has apparently come to the US already at the Mall of America, and I would love it if there were a location closer to me. Good place.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Braised beef noodle soup with flat noodles
    Braised beef noodle soup with flat noodles
    Interior

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    Interior

    Nian Yi Kuai Zi - chinese - Updated August 2026

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