Tip: Street parking can be tricky. I'd recommend shelling out for parking or taking public transit.
I saw this listing for Chinatown. I had to write a review. I've spent a lot of time in this neighbourhood growing up, so I feel the need to write about it.
The Chinatown in question is the one at Spadina and Dundas. It's probably the oldest Chinatown in Toronto. As a kid, my mom and I would take the 501 streetcar along Queen Street East and West, and would transfer onto the Spadina 77 bus.
The 77 bus no longer exists. Streetcars have taken over. However, I relived my bus memories when streetcars weren't running last November. I recall taking the bus between Chinatown where my car was parked and Rogers Centre for the Taylor Swift concert.
There is a song called the Spadina Bus. It's now in my head as I write this review.
Back in the day, stores weren't open on Sundays. However, Chinatown was an exception. We came here to get groceries, grab a bite to eat, visit a bakery, and then head home.
My mom was good having us pay for a single fare. We shopped long enough to catch the 505 streetcar that got us to Broadview station. We'd then travel to Main Street station and take the Main 64 bus southbound to get home.
It felt like a drag carrying bags of groceries onto various TTC vehicles. I kind of miss the simplicity. Less felt like enough.
When my dad got a car, we visited this Chinatown often for groceries. Our dentist was also in the area. I do not have fond memories with that dentist. He has since retired.
For a couple of years, I took Cantonese classes on Saturdays at Ryerson Public School, which was a block west of Spadina. Afterwards, I'd hang out at Dragon City.
I remember getting a silver ring in the lobby. I wore it proudly all through high school. I still have it. It still looks great!
I got my first pineapple drink in the food court downstairs when it was cool. These days, it's creepy.
Dragon City has Juicy Dumpling these days, which I love. Soup dumplings. Pan-fried dumplings. Chilli wontons. Green onion pancakes. The food is cheap and delicious.
There used to be a store that had cool items, from air fresheners, to pencil cases, on Spadina, across from Dragon City. I was in the marching band at my high school and played clarinet. We were marching in the Santa Claus parade. I needed gloves with the tips cut off, so that I could continue playing music and covering the holes with my fingers. This store had cutoff gloves. I was thrilled! They kept my hands warm as I played and marched in the parade in November.
I like coming down to this Chinatown and parking my car at a garage. Rosewood Asian Cuisine has excellent dim sum and is open late. I often park in the parking garage next to this eatery. When I have time. I have some dim sum at Rosewood.
I have brought friends there who have raved about the food. I recently met up with two friends here. We all lived in Winnipeg and worked at the same company. Two of us live in the greater Toronto area. Our other friend lives in Vancouver. He was in town, so we met up here for lunch. They loved the selection and enjoyed catching up.
I love the food and the hours. I'm salivating.
I suppose that I do have my usual stores that I visit. I like Kung Fu Tea on Spadina, on the west side, just south of Dundas. There are a few stores south of this bubble tea joint where you can get souvenirs at cheap prices.
This Chinatown is close to Kensington Market. You can make a day of it by hanging out at both eclectic and cool Toronto neighbourhoods.
I'm due to return. I want good dim sum and cheap food from Juicy Dumpling!
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