Went to R&D downtown for Winterlicious and had a good experience overall. I ordered the scallops appetizer. It looked simple but had a lot of flavor. The mie goring we ordered was also very good, though I wish it came with more protein. My friend ordered the lamb spaducci as an appetizer, which he enjoyed. His kare kare main was a smaller portion, but was tasty. It did come with naan bread, which helped but didnt fill us up. For dessert, the three of us tried the panna cotta, chocolate cake, and honey toast. My favorite was the chocolate cake, but everyone had different preferences. I'd come back on a regular day to try more of their menu. I've been wanting to visit R&D for a while, and this was a solid first experience. read more

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Been meaning to check out R&D since my uni days in Ontario back in 2022. Finally got the chance to visit Toronto again. I was sadly a bit disappointed with my experience. With prices of an upscale dining restaurant, the service didn't feel like it matched up; it was fairly mediocre. Food was a bit of a hit or miss for us too.. Shrimp toast: fun, good texture, could taste the oiliness stronger than I expected. Paired well with the emulsion. Fun guo: super tasty, quite greasy though. I typically don't order fun guo but the texture was a delight to eat. Pork & crab siu mai: this felt like it lacked identity, not really sure I saw the vision. It just felt like curry on a siu mai lol Iberico cha siu: beautiful cut, perfectly tender, good savouriness, no complaints. R&D fried rice: my biggest letdown. Maybe my expectations were set to high. For a house special, I would expect a solid crowd-pleaser. Having each bite feeling mostly like 'crunch' is not what I think of as fried rice nor a favourite for most people. My ideal fried rice focuses on the grains of rice, with substantial bite and flavour in each spoonful. The flavour was most definitely there, don't get me wrong but it was extremely hard to eat more than a bowl. The redeeming qualities were in the flavour and cute little mushroom garden concept. If they had maybe 2x the amount of rice for the ratio of toppings and crunch, I would say this is a delicious and near perfect fried rice. Not bad, but a hefty price tag for a meal that I had really high hopes for. read more

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R&D interior is open and engaging, from the wall art to the modern light fixtures - you're not bored from the second you enter. The service at least during our visit was flawless - attentive, quick and welcoming. The food was authentic and masterfully prepared - super tasty even though we were not super hungry. Dessert was a surprising highlight too. read more

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We ordered 4 dishes. It took 45 min to get the first option out And our drink order. And the last one we got to go. Food was good but Service was just too slow and MIA Eat before you go and plan on splending the night. read more

I came here recently for a celebration dinner with friends and had a great time! The food was fantastic, the service was responsive and quick, and the venue was great! In terms of some dishes I really enjoyed - the kale salad, beef carpaccio, fried chicken, crispy squid, and the foie gras sou. This last one was surprising to me bc it's an odd mix - it pairs the creamy foie gras in a sweeter, crumbly profiterole pastry cup with a bit of a jam. I really enjoyed it! The only dish I tried that I thought could really be improved was the eggplant. I found that it lacked char and the flavour of spices didn't bring out any of the sweetness in the eggplant so it tasted a bit one note. Overall though I think the flavours in the different dishes were really well balanced and very tasty. At R&D they take larger group orders in advance so we had to place our orders before we were there. I can see why they do it bc everything came out perfectly timed! It was also great to have ample seating - we were not crammed at all despite being a group of 8. I'd heard that this restaurant took a little while to get on its feet right after it opened which might explain the lower rating. I think they are fully in their stride now. I'd definitely come back! read more

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This is definitely an upscale restaurant. We got the Peking duck, which you have to reserve ahead of time. For the price we paid, I was expecting the duck to be cut well and hot when served, but it was room temperature and not cut in thin slices. They cover up the poorly cut pieces under the presentation. It also cost extra to get more bao, hoisin sauce, and cucumbers, which I would have expected to be free. Presentation for all the dishes were very artistic, but the coziness and rich flavor that comes with Asian cuisine was missing. The one thing I enjoyed was the Crispy Squid, which was basically calamari. The service was otherwise great and our waitress was very kind. If you are looking for great ambience, this restaurant will satisfy it, but if you are looking for rich Asian food, I think you could go somewhere else for half the cost. read more

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Overall: A // 5 stars I first visited R&D in 2023 and despite the excellent experience, it seemed to have never made it out of my large backlog of notes I've taken. Nevertheless, when I was visiting Toronto again in 2025, I was eager to make a return to try the rest of their menu. For 2023, I tried the Summerlicious menu, which was a menu of experimental dishes for the Toronto eats event, and was quite impressed by the innovative flavor profiles of every dish, especially the ones that are more Cantonese. During my second visit, their regular menu looked so great, that I couldn't tell you a single dish I didn't want to try!! The great thing about R&D is that you can't go wrong ordering as every item on the menu is tasty. During my first visit, I was able to met Eric, the owner of the restaurant and winner of Masterchef Canada S1; it was a pleasure to talk to him, watch him cook, and he was very kind checking in during the meal every few minutes to make sure everything was to expectations. During my second visit, unfortunately he was not there, but the staff was equally friendly and conversational, which contributes well into making every R&D dining experience that much better. Highly recommend. [PART I - 2023 Visit] (Lamb Skewers: A) - Impressively tender lamb with an abundance of spices and a waft-able fragrance that truly opens the appetite. Perfect appetizer. (Pork Fried Rice: A) - This looks like a humble dish, but is actually super impressive, highlighting the two popular Cantonese pork methods, cha siu and siu yuk, with the melts-in-your-mouth barbeque pork and pork chicharron. I hope this dish returns some day because it is very well crafted. (French Toast: C) - Ma Lai Go and Salted Egg Lava are two components that sound like they would work great together. I think the traditional cake is more fluffy and aerated, so the density here is a bit strange; similarly, usually a less runny custard could pair better. The hazelnut crumble adds a good crunch, and the berries are critical to add some much needed acidity. (Passionfruit Mojito: A+) - One of the highlight mocktails I've had, with the traditional forward notes of mojito taking an extra tropical detour with the passionfruit which also adds a beautiful color. [PART II - 2025 Visit] (Foie Gras Sou: A) - An intriguing appetizer that is a savory take on a cream puff with foie gras serving as the cream, and sour cherry adding as an acidic contrast. (Curry Siu Mai: B) - A pricier elevated take on the traditional siu mai, but I like the fusion of Thai flavors coming through with the mild spice and the coconut from the curry. I did find the siu mai to be a bit on the denser side, which could perhaps benefit from more fat. (Long Beans: A) - These beans are addictively tasting and impressively combines several distinct Canto flavors that work so well with each other, super impressed! There's the fat coming from the lap cheung, some earthiness from the black bean, and fresh tenderness from the bean. (R&D G&T: B) - Was very surprised to find kaffir-infused gin on the menu as I independently came up with kaffir-infused rum a few months back; love the cocktail, very refreshing and easy on the palette; the notes of calamansi are evident and coming through, though the honey may just be slightly overpowering, and the presentation mundane. (Peking Duck: A) - This duck is very peculiar as it is quite different than the ones I've had before. Notably, it uses western cooking techniques of serving it pink and fat rendered, allows the meat to be super tender and not require that traditionally large layer of fat. Additionally, the duck is aged for 24 hours, which helps build that flavor in the duck; however, this does seem to make the duck skin less crispy, which is my only critique of this dish. (Wok Lobster: A) - Show stopping presentation that truly explains the story behind the handle. If I had to guess, this appears to be an elevated take on the Cheese Lobster Yee Mein dish that is popular among the Canto regions, reimagined through feta, vermicelli, rice cracker, and wild greens which does a great job reducing the heaviness of the dish. Although I am not a fan of cheese, I think the dish worked well mostly, with most importantly the tender lobster -- however, the vermicelli was lumped together, so that remains a perplexing choice to me. (Sticky Toffee Pudding: A) - The asian spin on the toffee sauce using palm sugar is quite smart; the pairing of apple, cinnamon ice cream, and a date cake all work within the same fall flavor palette so beautifully, this is a must try dessert. The gold dust is an extra touch of elegance. Food: +1 Presentation: +1 Price: E Atmosphere: E Service: +1 Menu: +2 Overall: Insta/Beli/Yelp/TikTok: @amei_eats read more

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R&D has been on my radar for a while, and it did not disappoint! We basically got everything on the glutten-free menu. All dishes were superb, including 1) Vietnamese beef carpaccio 2) salmon sashimi 3) Grandpa's Fun Guo 4) Brussels sprouts 5) R&D fried rice. 6) Guava Panna Cotta. I'm still dreaming abut the panna cotta. That by itself is worth the visit to this restaurant. Chef Alvin Leung, you do not disappoint! read more

This place has its name on the Michelin Recommendations Guide 2024 and the food was quite interesting! We tried their Michelin awarded dish R&D fried rice which came with mushroom and corn and the flavours were not something I had tasted before. The lobster vermicelli was quite good too and the Char Siu was just perfectly done! The crispy calamari was also another highlight of our night along with their truffle dimsum which was yet another delicious delight! We were also served with panna cotta towards the end of our meal coz we were celebrating a birthday which made the service extra special! read more

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Michelin review. In case you didn't know this restaurant is on the Bib Gourmand list known for its good quality, good value cooking Food: Everything was delicious. Duck was juicy. We had it for Chinese new year. We need to order extra steamed buns to finish the whole duck. Note that you need to order the duck in advance. Service: Was quick. Very little waiting. Server was friendly. The menu was super simple with just a few items, loved the simplicity. Ambiance: Very nice interior, couldn't tell it was Chinese cuisine. Inside the restaurant there is also Daan Go Cake lab. We came during winterlicious, was surprisingly not packed. I'd definitely come back, they have my fav items on the menu, I need to try it! read more

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I'm not sure what the low reviews here are about, but this is a restaurant that I always enjoy. For a duck that advertised as the best in the city, it certainly is in contention. It's tender, succulent, and full of flavor. The fried rice is also a must get every single time, I love the flavour and texture. I've tried a lot of the menu, and nothing has been bad, everything ranging from good to great. I wasn't quite call this place a must visit, but I would happily recommend it to anyone. read more

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The restaurant itself is quite novel with its artwork and interior design. As for the staff, they were knowledgeable about the price offerings. As for the taste of the items themselves - no complaints. The atmosphere was a bit louder than expected, but aside from that, this place is great. Expect to spend a pretty dime here unless you get the Peking duck and split it amongst several people! read more

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Tried most dim sum items and Vietnamese carpaccio. The main problem is, most items feel like fusing for the sake of fusion. Kalbi kimchi bao: too salty. Kalbi is supposed to be a bit sweet, which would have worked better with the kimchi. Spinach dip spring rolls: (forget to take a photo, but it looks like an average spring roll anyway) essentially a deep fried spanakopita. The cheese made it tasted really dense. Because of that would benefit from a dipping sauce that usually comes with spring rolls. Truffle fun guo: not bad. Curry siu mai: also too salty. Foie gras sou: also didn't work well together. Vietnamese carpaccio: the only dish where the fusion makes sense. The crispy onion/shallot worked well with the beef slices, and the sauce as well. Overall it feels like dim sum is not their strong suit. Probably should have tried a duck dish instead. read more

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My party went to R&D initially to try the peking duck but we also got the shrimp toast, R&D fried rice, and crispy squid. The peking duck was my favorite amongst everything that I tried due to the flavourful duck with a simple pairing of hoisin sauce and cucumber and leeks. The fried rice was interesting with the crunchy texture and I enjoyed the spices in the squid dish. The shrimp toast was the least favorite for the table. All of the dishes were salty and oily, so I personally was unable to eat as much of it. That was unfortunate because this was quite an expensive meal. Another thing to note is that if you sit at the tables closer to the kitchen, you will smell like cooking/oil. This was a decent experience overall due to the welcoming staff and unique but sophisticated plating, but it isn't somewhere I'd rush to go back to. read more

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Came here for the best duck in the city, and it might be! The plate was more than enough for the two of us, but we also ordered their brussel sprouts and a couple drinks: the tea time mai time and Buddha's secret passion. Both drinks were good, but Buddha's secret passion went down eassyyyy. Good quality was very good, brussel sprouts nice and tender and covered in a delicious slightly sweet chilli glaze. Duck was cooked perfectly, lots of meat to get through. The baos were also so soft. We were rationing our cucumbers and onions a bit, but I don't think we had to do that. Definitely a bit different than the typical Peking duck flavour, but still so delicious. Highly recommend! We split the milk toast dessert, it was about what you expect, a little on the sweeter side. Matcha ice cream was good. Everybody was so kind and attentive, our server was so great, he helped us plan the rest of our evening. The restaurant itself is a little darker, not too loud, which I really appreciated. Overall, great spot for a special occasion, could not recommend it more. We split the bill, I paid $128 after tax and tip read more

R&D Restaurant - Milk toast dessert with matcha ice cream - Asian Fusion Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Rebel and Demon absolutely delivered. We pre-ordered the Peking duck and it was the best I've ever had. Perfectly crisp skin, juicy meat, and it went incredibly well with the bao they bring out to go with it. Easily the highlight of the night. The fried rice deserves its own shoutout. Don't sleep on it. It's rich, flavorful, and way better than you'd expect for a side dish. The Iberico pork was soft, flavorful, and cooked just right. We also tried the truffle dumplings which were delicate and packed with great flavor. Service was smooth, the atmosphere was fun, and everyone at the table had a great time. Definitely worth it, especially if you're planning to go with a group. read more

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We tried a variety of food and unfortunately everything fell short. It was very flavorless. The ambiance was lacking, it looked like it was in disarray. The service was wonderful though. read more

We preordered the Peking duck and it was really good, skin was perfectly crispy with succulent meat. Baos were fluffy and fresh. I wish they didn't cut the cucumber crosswise and instead cut them into strips. I found them too thin and it would be nice to have a crunch as a contrast. Decent portion as well! We also ordered the brussel sprouts per the recommendation by our server and they didn't disappoint! Great flavour, sweet and savoury! The Raspberry Calpico Panna Cotta. It was yogurt based which is why it might have been labeled "Calpico" but I didn't really find it reminiscent of Calpico. It was still enjoyable but wouldn't order again. The raspberry sorbet was nice, though. Service was superb! Our drinks were also quite tasty. I had a Panton Peach which had great cardamom and peach flavour. read more

R&D Restaurant - Peking duck (left), brussel sprouts (right) - Asian Fusion Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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You need to order the peking duck 24hrs in advance. Wish we knew this beforehand. The restaurant itself is not fancy at all, simple wooden chairs and some graffiti/artwork on the wall. The servers was friendly and quick. The food was very good, but if you don't like spicy there is not much on the menu for you (maybe the fried rice?). We ordered the beef bao buns (divine), truffle chicken dumplings, lamb skewer and eggplant (tasted like mapo tofu but with eggplant instead of tofu) for appetizers. For entrees we picked the lamb noodles, fried chicken and lobster vermicelli. The lamb noodles were tasty (similar to cumin lamb) and the fried chicken was enjoyable just quite spicy (szechuan peppercorn tingle that lasted awhile). The lobster noodles were a bit disappointing as nowhere in the description did it say it comes smoked and I did not enjoy that flavor. The do give you a decent amount of lobster though. The ube and black sesame were not as creamy as we wanted or as strong in their respective flavors. We had a nice meal and provided you are okay with spicy, I would recommend it. read more

Food 4.5/5 Service 4/5 Ambiance 4/5 Check out my Tiktok #SpiritedLaway for food content Most important thing is dont forget to reserve the peking duck, they need 48 hours notice! and its SUPER WORTH IT. We sat right beside the kitchen which allow us to see how everything is made and got a chance to talk to the chef which is personally think was AMAZING! Restaurant idea is adding a fancy touch on normal Chinese food Peking Duck is more thick than the regular one, but TASTE SOO JUICY AND GOOD! Highly recommend the fried rice too, deliciousssss Definitely give it a try, it is super worth it! I would say the chef table is even better experience 5/5! read more

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Excellent food would highly recommend. Brittany was great in recommending a few dishes for us to try. read more

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Be prepared to make a reservation ahead of time if you plan to come during the long weekends, or weekends in general. R&D has been one of the restaurants I wanted to visit when I first heard of them, and it was definitely not a disappointing night. When you come in, the hostess will help settle you in (there is no coat check). R&D is pretty spacious inside, and features an open concept kitchen where you'll see the chefs in action - including the owner Eric (I wish I got a chance to ask for a photo!) They have a variety of Asian fusion dishes to choose from, including their own variation of dim sum! One of their most popular dishes is the R&D Fried Rice, and yes, it was very tasty! I loved the crunch it has which I believe were called Singapore crunch, and had the "wok hay" taste I enjoy. Another popular dish is their own variation of the peanut pecking duck called The Best Duck in The City, and it has to be preordered at least 24 hrs - so be sure to include it in your reservation!! The skin was crispy, and I love how they smoke the duck meat. It comes with buns instead of the thin traditional wrap. For two people, the portion was a lot, and we had to do take out. I was really full, but overall satisfied with the dishes. The only reason it wasn't 5 stars for me is the service. I felt our server wasn't as welcoming if I had to describe it, and it felt he was kind of rushing us. I'll definitely be back to try their other dishes in the future! IG: Ayeween read more

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This is my second time at R&D and I have to say it's always a delight. The servers are extremely nice, and the food is innovative and delicious. This time we tried the Peking duck - titled "Best Duck in the City" and this is quite the claim. It's not exactly traditional, so Peking Duck purists beware. The meat tastes a little like it has been smoked, and pieces are sliced with a focus on getting the meat rather than just crispy skin. Use of the baos instead of the traditional pancakes is a nice substitute. Overall I thought it was very tasty but I do think $120 is a little steep for what it is. I enjoy my traditional variant down the street at House of Gourmet almost as much and it's half the price. This is definitely an elevated an experience compared to your typical Chinatown affair though so I would recommend coming for a special occasion. The broccolini was cooked to perfection and paired nicely with the peanut dressing. The French onion spring roll was quite an interesting fusion and was pleasantly cheesy. Overall I always enjoy the food I get at R&D and they've become one of my favourite places to dine at in Toronto. read more

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I had the opportunity to take my wife to r&d for Valentine's Day. And what a treat it was ! Absolutely amazing ! The food was just out of this world ! Eric Ng the owner , has taken this experience to next level , showing his passion for the culinary world. Everything on his menu was delicious , I would order the truffle dumplings again and again and again Price : little up there however definitely worth every penny. read more

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Came here mainly for the Peking duck and continued to enjoy many other dishes leading up to it. Started with fried chicken, hainan chicken and shrimp toast. Hainan chicken was standard but definitely treading on the expensive side. Fried chicken was great as well, once again on the expensive side. Shrimp toast was unique and definitely recommend. Peking duck was different in the sense that it didn't provide your usual crepe but instead was given baos. The baos added a mild sweetness that compliments the duck. Overall great for a gathering for Asian fusion. Service was great and the ambiance definitely felt more on the upscale side. For the price, there are many asian restaurants very close by for a fraction of the price if you are willing to sacrifice service and ambiance. read more

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5 stars because we met Chef Eric Chong! Visited R&D to try their winterlicious menu. We were seated in the bar/lounge area. Everything was delicious and elevated, in a modern and relaxed environment. Only regret is not trying everything else on the menu! We chose to try the lamb skewers and bao for apps and the two rice dishes for our mains. The lamb skewers were so juicy and garnished beautifully. The bao had calamari on the inside, and the fried texture worked well with the steamed outer bun. Our favourite was the fried chicken, it had a little bit of heat and tang. Duck fried rice was also delicious and I can see why it's a fan favourite. Sadly all the desserts had dairy so I had the sorbet alternative. Would have liked to try the tea-ramisu! The $120 peking duck is on my list of things to try at R&D, so I may be returning! read more

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We read through the mixed reviews and are SO happy we ignored them. The staff was incredibly friendly and patient as we evaluated the menu. No, it is not authentic Asian cuisine, but it was delicious. I recommend getting multiple smalls plates and maybe one large plate to share. We enjoyed the Bao buns, rice cakes, and fried rice. SO good. read more

R&D Restaurant - Rice Cakes - Asian Fusion Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Came here first a lare night birthday celebration, and we were lucky enough to score the last pecking duck without reservations. Our server and all assisting staff were extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. The food was super fresh and really offered some bew and interesting flavours to our pallets. The rice was my personal favourite, along with the fried chicken. The pecking duck (star of the show) was great! Much more flavourful and interesting than at some other upscale locations on King W. The ambiance of the restaurant is pleasant and not intimidating like other michelin/michelin recognized restaurants. Overall, had a great time and would certainly recommend R&D to all. read more

R&D Restaurant - Pecking duck - Asian Fusion Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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A Toronto gem!! Delicious food and great service! My husband and I have now eaten here several times and have likely tried most of the items on the menu. Everything from cocktails, appetizers, mains and desserts did not disappoint. Well thought out dishes and a lot of flavour. A true modern take on Chinese cuisine. Some of our favourites: grandpas fun guo, kalbi beef bao, r&d fried rice, hainan chicken and of course the duck! We will continue to keep coming back for our favourites and also excited to see what they come up with next! read more

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I came to R&D partially because it was on the Michelin Guide, but also I've been a fan of Masterchef and Chef Eric Chong. The restaurant itself looks more casual than I thought it would be, but I find that more comfortable anyways. We also had a bit of trouble finding the location, like others. However, the servers were quite friendly and even helped us choose some dishes by giving us some recommendations. As a huge fan of duck, of course I had to order the Best Duck in the City. Make sure you reserve in advance noting that you want the duck or else they might not have it available. If you are expecting a Peking Duck kind of dish, you will be disappointed. It is more of a smoky duck breast type of dish, which is wonderfully meaty. It also comes with a side of soft, pillowy baos, and your typical duck fixings. The baos are kind of filling which makes it hard to finish this huge platter of duck. I wish the also offered the traditional pancakes as well. However, it was still enjoyable. We had the R&D rice as well, which had an amazing crunchy texture due to the mushrooms. Make sure to give it a good mix or it'll be all crunch! We also got a salmon dish (I forget the name since it was a while ago!) and the famous CSB. This is a MUST. Best char siu baos that you will ever have, the outside is so crispy and the pork inside is flavourful. To finish, we had the sticky toffee pudding. The ice cream has alcohol in it, which was a bit strong for my taste but pairs well with the pudding. However, if you enjoy a little kick, you would definitely love it! I'm glad that I tried R&D, it was a great experience. We even saw Chef Eric Chong for a bit, but didn't get a chance to take a picture. I'd definitely recommend if you are looking to try some Asian dishes with a little twist to them! read more

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Delicious! We're from out of town and this was the most amazing meal. Cocktails were great... we got the Buddha's Secret Passion, Shibuya Street, and Toasted Ichigo. For food, the spring rolls and Bao buns were amazing! Also got broccolini, fried chicken, and brussel sprouts. Lots of food for two people! read more

R&D Restaurant - Toasted Ichigo - Asian Fusion Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The dim sum was delicious, but our wagyu was crap. It was under-seasoned, if it was seasoned at all. The finish on the steak (it was sous-vide prior) was terrible, it was hardly seared at all. The mashed potatoes that's came with were just ok. Having dined at more than a few Michelin-rated places, I'm not sure why this has a Bib Gourmand from Michelin. Service was great though, wait staff were very attentive. read more

Come here for the experience but do expect to taste more contemporary Asian fusion flavors rather than traditional food. Some hits, some misses, and some that were nothing special for the price point. Reserve in advance. The bao with kimchi and kalbi was good and the bun was nice and soft, but nothing special. The Hokkaido siu mai is a skip for me as I thought the sauce (chili, maggi, gochujang) overpowered the thinly sliced scallop in this dish. I enjoyed the beer tartare with the rice chip. The sambal and coconut flavors are an interesting take. The fried rice had nice plating but tastes more like a mushroom rice dish. The char siu was untraditional but tasty. Ambiance and decor is more modern and dim. The service fell short of our expectations. We did not like our seating and asked to switch to another table, but the server told us it was reserved. This was understandable, however that table remained empty for the entirety of our dining experience, so that was a bit disappointing. read more

R&D Restaurant - Top left: Kalbi Beef Bao Top right: Hokkaido Scallop Siu Mai Bottom left: R&D Fried Rice Bottom right: Iberico Char Siu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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R&D serves modern fusion Asian dishes that I think are a bit overpriced for the quality, taste, and amount that you get. Despite having a reservation, we still had to wait for a table. Once seated, we realized that the seats / stools weren't very comfortable. The small dishes were tapas-style and great for sharing, so you get to try a bit of everything. From the large dishes section of the menu, the R&D Fried Rice was decent - flavourful with a nice crunch and mix of textures. Some of the other dishes were quite saucy and a bit spicy. The Shrimp Toast was hard like an over-done mini Melba toast (the ones you get from a package in the grocery store), with minimal amount of shrimp on top. Overall, it was good to try once. read more

I have a bit high expectation at R&D, however it is average at most. The peking duck is more like a smoke duck breast. I am typical Chinese, and expect something similar to typical Chinese restaurant. Then it comes out more like fusion style. The shrimp toast is not as good as Mimi. The dessert is the best of the night, highly recommend the toffee cake with ice cream. read more

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I really cannot say enough about the experience I had here with my family. As a longtime MasterChef lover, my mom has had this restaurant on her bucket list so we decided to take her here for her 60th birthday. My husband and I arrived first and was stoked to see chef Eric Chong in the kitchen. I told the server how excited my mom would be to see him and he told me he'd ask him to stop by our table at some point! Amazing service right off the bat. As my family arrived, my mom was able to take some quick pictures with Eric who was so kind and polite! We ordered and food started arriving fairly quickly. We ordered the duck, popcorn shrimp, long beans, Brussels sprouts, fried rice, fried chicken, CSB and everything was really delicious! The standouts were the duck and the Brussels sprouts but really everything was worth ordering. Portion sizes are pretty generous for the price. It's obviously not a cheap eats kind of place but your money is well spent here. They don't skimp on ingredients and flavours. Everything felt familiar yet unique. We loved the chefs take on classic Chinese/Asian dishes. Everything was beautiful and piping hot. No complaints at all! Service was wonderful. They saw the note that it was my moms birthday and just treated her so well. Everyone was genuine and attentive throughout the night, constantly refilling drinks and taking away empty dishes. The staff were even so kind as to bring my mom a scoop of mango ice cream (made by DaanGo) with a little sparkler for her birthday. Such a nice touch that made her feel so special! Lastly, chef Eric Chong did come by our table to my moms absolute delight. He was so lovely and kind, answering all of my moms questions about the show and his experiences. It couldn't have been a more perfect night for all of us, but especially for my mom. Thank you SO much to the staff and chefs at R&D who made this a night we will all never forget! I will forever be grateful to the kind people at this restaurant who went above and beyond to make it a great experience!! read more

My family and I are visiting from LA and booked this restaurant as it was highly praised on OpenTable and appeared on the Michelin guide. We ordered a variety of dishes to try, and, unfortunately, R&D fell short of our expectations. We ordered the Shrimp Toast, Vietnamese Beef Carpaccio, Yu Xiang Eggplant, Salmon Sashimi, and Lamb Chow Mein. We also got the Shibuya Street and Panton Peach cocktails. Shrimp Toast was quite good, a solid 4.5/5. Shrimp is bouncy, and pairs well with the warm crispy toast, fresh lemon zest, and finely chopped scallions. The mayo also brings in a nice creamy element to the dish. Vietnamese Beef Carpaccio was also enjoyable, as it was tender with well-balanced flavors and textures. However, be aware that the portion size is quite small. 4/5 Salmon Sashimi was nicely plated, but I think its portion size was a bit lacking. Enjoyable but not very memorable. 3/5 Yu Xiang Eggplant was not for me. Texture wise and flavor wise, I was underwhelmed. There really wasn't a depth of flavors, and one of my party members remarked that there was a strange "vegetable-y/green" aftertaste. Almost as though it tasted undercooked? 1/5 Lamb Chow Mein was the most disappointing part of the meal for me. There's an imbalance of flavors, as all I could taste was cumin. I love Xinjiang lamb, and I love lamb skewers, but the taste of cumin was so overwhelming. Also for anybody unprepared/unaware, there is also a numbing element to this dish. So if you're not a fan of mala or numbing spice, this is likely not a dish you'd enjoy. The tagliatelle pasta used was well-cooked though, and I thought it had the perfect texture. However, that wasn't enough to save the dish for me. 1/5 Cocktails were our favorite part of the meal. Boozy enough, nicely presented, pretty good. The service was also decent, and I appreciate the server's consideration for our party in general. I think the culinary experience overall was more so a 2.5/5, but I'll give the whole spot a 3/5 because I liked the drinks and was okay with the service and ambiance (casual, somewhat edgy with graffiti-laden walls). Overall, R&D is definitely not the worst dining experience I've had, but I felt like it was overhyped. I had read that it was one of Toronto's best restaurants, and I'm not sure if it lives up to that reputation. It was not the elevated Asian fusion cuisine that I had looked forward to, but I would still encourage others to give R&D a shot and form their own opinions. We all have different tastes, and maybe I didn't order the right dishes (although I believe all dishes should be able to hold their own in a top restaurant). read more

Came here to celebrate my friend's birthday. We were a group of 9, so we had to preorder our dishes. The service was great, our server was quite attentive. Of course, we had to get their Peking duck. We also wanted to try as many dishes as possible so we got their shrimp toast, fried chicken, shiu mai, popcorn shrimp, Hanin chicken and rice, R&D fried rice and Brussels sprouts. Let's start with the goods. $120 for Peking duck is not cheap. So my expectations were high. And I'm happy to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although it is not cut the traditional way, the meat was super tender and the skin was crispy. I would have preferred the traditional wraps over the baos that was given because the seasoning of this duck is on the "light" side. With a bao that thick, it masked a lot of the flavour of the duck. Regardless, it was still very tasty. And if I have to come back, I would get it again. 4.5/5 The Hainin chicken rice dishes was also super tasty. The chicken was very tender. And there's no bones which I really enjoyed. Very traditional Hainin chicken rice flavour with the ginger and scallions dipping sauce. 4/5 The shrimp toast was super crispy on the outside, with a good amount of shrimp paste on the inside. Love the scallions on top too. Great flavours. 4/5 Now on to the more subpar dishes The fried chicken was alright... nothing to rave about but also super spicy. Some parts were just all fried batter and no chicken... 3/5 The sauce for the Brussels sprouts were too sweet and overly charred which left a very bitter taste in my mouth. 2/5 Overall, the food is not bad. I think it's slightly over average... but because of the price tag, I wouldn't recommend coming here other than for their duck. read more

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R&D stands for Rebel and Demon, the nicknames of the two owners, Eric Chong and Alvin Leung. The two met when Eric was a contestant and Alvin was a judge on MasterChef Canada. The space is modern and the food is Asian with a dim sum section of the menu. The dim sum section includes, shrimp toast, but also French onion spring rolls. The rest of the menu includes small dishes like shrimp toast or foie gras sou as well as large ones like wagyu beef or their R&D fried rice. One of their most famous dishes "Best Duck in the City" must be ordered 24 hours in advance and is best for a large party. It is big enough to fill up two people leaving no room left for their other excellent dishes, like the beef bao or the brussels sprouts. Although Asian restaurants are not normally known for their dessert, don't miss the sticky toffee pudding with Calvados cinnamon ice cream. The duck (tied with the wagyu) is the most expensive item on the menu at $120 cad, but you don't need to spend that much. A full dinner for four, including the duck, was just $300 usd with tip. The service was a little awkward at times, and the duck doesn't stay warm on the wooden board, but for the most part we really enjoyed our visit. read more

R&D Restaurant - Brussels Sprouts - Asian Fusion Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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R&D was my pick for Christmas dinner this year after hearing about it from friends and being a long time masterchef fan. We made a reservation on their site and indicated that we wanted the Peking duck (which requires notice in advance if you want it, not available to order for walk ins). The restaurant has a little Daan Go section in the front which is perfect for getting desserts to go after dinner. We were seated immediately upon arriving and I loved the vibe of the place. It felt very intimate yet modern at the same time. Our server Ray was wonderful and made the night a wonderful experience. For appetizers, we got the scallop siu mai and the char siu bao. The siu mai was okay and I didn't particularly enjoy the gochujang in it. It was also quite pricey at 4 dollars a piece. The char siu bao tho was amazing!!! It had a crispy top and the filling was sweet and delicious. After filling our bellies up with that, our peking duck came out. Instead of the thin wraps that you usually get with peking duck, the dish came with baos to wrap the duck. The whole dish itself was more than filling for two people and the duck itself was super tender. Definitely a worth it experience. Overall, the service was great and the duck was delicious. PS. It was also cool seeing Eric Chong cook in the kitchen read more

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