I haven't been back to this place for at least 4 years. I had very fond memories of their tea collection and milk tea. I was around the area and decided to drop by for some dinner. I asked the owner what they would recommend and their most popular dish. My dinner was the beef + pineapple+ satay with peanuts with their black tea noodles. It typically comes with a milk tea but because it was dinner time, I didn't want anything caffeinated. The owner went through their non caffeinated options and he whipped up a rose Jasmin honey tea - which was amazing. The noodle soup was extremely flavorful with a good portion of beef, pineapple and a mix of veggies. He uses very good ingredients and the meal was hardy & healthy. The tea hit the spot. This spot is very popular with the university kids. Definitely drop by if your looking for an exceptional meal & awesome service! read more

Crimson Teas - The menu - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Very tasty, very student and customer friendly. I have to say their milk tea is one of the best in Toronto! Mine is in the top right corner and I could not wait they dish up to drink half cup of it! It's an addicting flavor and perfect for "Asian palates" because it's not as sweet. Every flavor is just right on the spot! read more

Crimson Teas - Satay beef stirred dish - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I came here on a Wednesday evening while waiting to meet a friend in Chinatown. I ordered the Hong Kong milk tea and it was really light yet rich in flavour and satisfying. It was refreshing and hit the spot. The lady was really nice and we talked about churches in the area because I came here based on a recommendation from many church friends. They have Sunday church service here - I'm not sure if it is open to the public but it is worth it to check out! At least you know the drinks will be good :) read more

Crimson Teas - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I've dropped by here for snacks, teas, and meals a few times now. Personal favourite is their milk tea - it's super simple and so worth the price. It's simple and it's a classic especially since they use evaporated milk. Their food choices can be a hit or miss. I've found their full meals of rice or noodles to be wonderful. Even as takeout, their rice meals come in relatively large portions and are well balanced meals. The one thing I would avoid on their menu is their dimsum platter which was a definite disappointment. It tasted like the frozen packets of dimsum, lots of salt and pepper added masking any other taste. Their service is amazing though and the owner is incredibly nice and helpful with explaining the menu and walking through different options. While there is free wifi, there aren't too many outlets for working for extended periods of time. read more

Crimson Teas - rice with mushrooms and cabbage - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Not what I was expecting, but a pleasant surprise. I was just looking for a cafe while I waited for my friends. The menu is really simple, with only a few options for food and tea. I quickly realized this was a good thing, as the owners have clearly mastered these recipes. When I asked for a recommendation for tea, the man at the counter actually read my palm. He also let me taste each of the five different pu-erh teas before I chose one. His recommendation (the black pu-erh tea) was spot-on. read more

Crimson Teas - Pu-erh black tea. - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Crimson Teas has become one of my all-time favourite establishments in Toronto. This is entirely due to its owner - Philip. Philip is one of the most knowledgeable, generous, and friendly people I've ever met. I'm by no means a discerning tea aficionado. I like it and I appreciate its health benefits, but I've rarely craved it. Don't know where to begin when it comes to tea? No problem - Philip does all the work for you, and brings you an experience you're unlikely to find anywhere else in the city, especially at this price. His passion and knowledge of tea is unparalleled and infectious. Just hearing him talk about Pu'er tea is enough to at least pique your curiosity. At that point, he'll probably ask you to open your palm, feel your pulse, and recommend a specific option he thinks you'll like best. To show you he's no joke, he'll probably then let you try all the varieties for free, and let you decide which you like best. Chances are he'll have correctly recommended your favourite. And the teas are amazing. Philip is very health focused, and this is reflected in everything on his menu. He'll add a natural sweetener if you ask, but unlike all the bubble tea shops on Spadina that add an ungodly amount of sugar, sweet is by no means the standard here. Instead, you get the deeply natural and earthy taste of very high quality tea. Then there's the food. Crimson Teas is hands down my favourite lunch place in the city. Adopting a similar approach to his cuisine as he does his tea, Philip only serves the best and most nutritious meals he can imagine. Don't let that scare you though - this healthy consideration exponentially improves the taste instead of mellowing the flavour. For example, he only serves top quality black rice and green tea infused noodles, so that even the starches pack nutritional benefits. The portions here are very generous and the flavours are deliciously complex, but you never leave feeling gross or too full. I usually get the Tofu & Mushroom option with no rice or noodles (I come here often enough that I have to watch my carb intake). The dish is comprised of slices of premium tofu, a combination of shiitake and button mushroom, roasted sweet potato, steamed Chinese broccoli and tomato, and caramelized onions. Everything but the tomato and Chinese broccoli are marinated in a delicious, very subtly sweet soy based sauce that's robust in flavour but not on grease or oil. Really a stellar dish. All in all, this is a must-try spot. It easily beats out the competition just by virtue of the fact that Philip not only deeply cares about what he serves, but who he serves. Philip wants you to be happy and healthy, and does his best by offering drinks and foods you'll want to come back for. Often. The decor is reflective of Philip's spirit - open, communal, tasteful, and thoughtful. A long wooden table runs along the interior and matches the wood aesthetic that the restaurant is built on. Very calming and natural. The only thing I'd note is that if you're in a big rush, maybe stick to a drink. The food does take time to make as everything is super fresh - I like to come here with my laptop and work for a few hours around lunch. If you do have time though, ask him about his life's journey. It's worth it. read more

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Just wow! The BF and I had wanted to come here for a while and finally got a chance to drop by on a weekday. When we entered, we were the only one there. We were greeted with a warm welcome and was walked through the entire menu! We were also offered a sample to try their milk tea and ying yang. Both DELICIOUS. The milk tea is not the typical type you get from BBT places; this is legit HK style milk tea and it's is only $2.50!! What?! For such a huge size I still can't believe it. In the end my BF got the Red Pu-erh tea while I got the Milk tea with honey ginger ($5). I fell completely in love with my drink. I'm a big fan of ginger teas and milk teas separately and this drink was literally the best combination I've ever had!! My BF also got a BBQ pork tea rice which was quite filling, I stole a bite and it was pretty yummy! I got the sesame balls (tong yuen) in milk tea! SO yummy!! The place had a sort of hipster feel with a beautiful long communal table in the middle. The seats were cute little tree stumps. There are also a few extra tables around. During my stay there, I watched the host make each of our teas and other customers' teas with such care! I really appreciate seeing someone care so much about serving the best tea :) Overall, I will definitely come back again!! read more

Crimson Teas - Sesame balls (tong yuen) in milk tea - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I didn't know that this place had just moved into their new location until I got here; apparently the day I dropped by was their first day open! FYI, the milk tea here is only $2.50! That's such a good deal compared to some places, and you get a big mug of it! Plus, if you consider yourself a tea connoisseur, the tea here is actually really strong and flavourful, instead of being watered down. It came unsweetened though, so if you want sugar, you'll probably have to ask. They also have food if you get hungry! I had a really good first impression of this place. It looks really nice inside and their giant front windows let in a lot of light. It's a great place to study/work while being in an open space. The seating forces you to sit near or with others, which I like because it gives it a more friendly atmosphere. The chairs are actual blocks of wood and pretty comfortable. The workers here are all really nice! It was raining the day I came in, and one of the workers (Marian) was constantly mopping and sweeping the floors to keep it clean. When I came in, she smiled and welcomed me. I've never met workers this genuinely nice and who cared so much about their customers. The owner (I think), Phillip, came over to talk and introduce himself. It was a nice gesture! I left feeling pretty great. I think I may have found my new favourite place to come and study! 10/10 would recommend this place. read more

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Have been there a few times. Very nice and efficient services. They also offer 20% off discount for students. Most importantly, the owner is definitely a master of teas! read more

Crimson Teas - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Just fyi: crimson teas open Monday thru Friday at 11 am, not 10 am! The food and tea are reasonably priced. I got a large tea for about $5. While the owner is very kind and generous with his clients (especially large amounts of students), he gets a little overwhelmed as he is often working solo and the food comes out slow. Very cute spot to do some work or catch up with a friend. read more

My husband brought me to this place and told me he loved how the milk tea was flavourful yet light. As a milk tea fanatic, I was so excited to check it out. This place is amazing because of its owner. The man is so down to earth and genuinely wants to give you the best experience he can. He gave me a thorough run through of the different types of teas, and gave me a taste test for all of them. He even guessed which one was my favourite. He is also a huge advocate for the extensive health benefits Chinese tea brings to the body. I got a pu-erh milk tea - 16 Oz in a beer mug for only $4! It was a tasty and educational experience. Please do check it out! Absolutely worth it. read more

Crimson Teas - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This is a gem! Came here randomly with my partner and we both loved the place. The owner was very friendly, gave us samples and told us his story. He truly believes that tea can help with your health, and being from a Chinese background I absolutely agree. The tea was pretty good too, but the owners hospitality and story really make this place something special. Would recommend dropping by and trying the tea. read more

super cute place, super friendly, good food, amazing experience. love the noodles and the tea :)

The owner is very passionate about his tea! Milk Tea sample tastes very good. Students get 18% discount! read more

Crimson Teas - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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As others have said, the owner is very kind and knowledgable about tea. This is one of the rare places in Toronto, at least in chinatown where you can get authentic hong kong tea. What you need to know when you come here... The milk tea bubble tea you order everywhere is primarily made with coffee mate sweetener. Using a sieve to filter the tea is how it is traditionally done in Hong Kong. Don't expect to grab and go quickly. Things take time here because they are made with care and quality ingredients. Things may be a bit more pricier compared to other tea places around town but you're paying for quality. The milk tea here isn't as sweet as the other places that use the artificial sweetner, so feel free to add sugar to your liking. Ask for a sample of the milk tea and the owner will oblige. They also have green tea noodles. Nearly everything is made in house here which is why it's so popular. read more

Was visiting Toronto when I stopped by this Tea restaurant. The owner is very passionate of his work; he opened this tea shop in hope that his tea, imported from Asia, would help improve people with kidney problems. He also went out of his way to make me feel very welcome in his restaurant. In regards to the tea, I ordered the milk tea and it's a little different from what I'm used to, but in a good way. It tastes authentic compared to what I usually get in the US. I also ordered the BBQ Pork & Vegetable and it straight up tastes like home cooking. Maybe my parents cook the same way but it made me feel like something my mom used to pack for lunch. The restaurant itself has a good blend of modern and natural decor, with tasteful artworks hung on the wall. It was also very clean. Overall I would definitely recommend people to check this place out. read more

I had the tomato egg rice dish. The rice has a tea flavor and the mushrooms are a bit salty. The decor is artistic, and I like its chairs. The owner of this place, who I guess is also the cashier and the chef, is not friendly, and it did take a long time for the food to be served. Although the dish reminded me of homemade food, I probably won't go there again.. WiFi is available. There is discount for students. Price is not expensive. read more

Crimson Teas - menu - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The food was amazing and super filling. They're doing a soft reopening right now and they offer a bowl of noodles along with a cup of milk tea (hot or cold) for $10. The bowl of noodles was huge, way larger than I expected, especially for the price, and the broth had amazing flavours. The owner was really kind and friendly, as well as really passionate about tea. I will definitely be coming back here! read more

Great tea hosted by a very knowledgeable and passionate host. Come here for pints of pu-erh and interesting coffee-tea blends! read more

Crimson Teas - Setting up the samples! - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This place a student-oriented, homey restaurant with big portions and even better tea. Menus are designed to contain all the food groups and three different types of vegetables to make sure students eat well. Noodles are /the/ thing to get, and the broth is homemade and super flavourful. I had the BBQ pork noodles, and the pork is definitely made in house. It's also one of my favourite places for Hong Kong milk tea, though there are other types of tea available for purchase. The owner took the time to explain everything on the menu, and was very welcoming. The place is super clean and the tables are oriented family-style and encourage laptop use and studying. Samples of Hong Kong-style milk tea, the restaurant's signature, were handed out prior to purchase. Service here is beyond friendly and the food is great. Eating here felt like coming home. I will definitely be back. read more

Came in on a Sunday early evening wanting to try this place since it was on College street but haven't gotten a chance to until now. They close at 7 pm on Sundays fyi. I loved the wooden communal tables and chairs made of square wooden tree blocks of various colours and height. When you walk in you get a smell of herbs and tea. We ordered the Yin Yang (milk tea + coffee) and the honey milk tea with ginger. Both drinks were light and delicious and not sweet which I like, some of you would probably want to add some sugar if you like things sweet. The owner made sure to double check our order to make sure they dont make a mistake which I appreciate rather than get the wrong dish altogether. I was surprised to see that he also cooks the dishes as well. I like that they have a small menu 3 rice dishes and 4 noodle dishes and all made with some sort of tea. My bf ordered the homemade bbq pork with veggies and multigrain tea rice and I got the homemade bbq pork with veggies and green tea noodles. The dishes came out after about 10 minutes to prepare and drinks came out right away. The bbq pork was very good and balanced out together with the rice and veggies. The tomato sauce with the green tea noodles was light tasting yet very rich in flavour. I felt very healthy and light eating the noodle dish and I tasted the tea in the noodles. We also ordered the black sesame balls in milk tea to end our meal even though I was very full, and that was great as well not too sweet the tea balanced out the sweetness from the sesame balls. Service was pleasant and quick, drink and food was great as well as the price and portion size. I definetely would recommend this place both my bf and I really enjoyed it here. read more

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This is the most unique tea shop I have visited! I love the decor and the service is simply amazing. I recommend the milk tea! I've already picked the next tea I want to try :) Will be back~ read more

Crimson Teas - Cafes Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Came for the tea, stayed for the curry. I'm a big tea fanatic, so seeing a spot that had its own menu was great; too often there's just generic "tea/herbal tea" on the menu, and you don't get anything unique. Crimson was a great departure in the sense that the tea is good and it's served by knowledgable people. Eventually, though, I decided to try their food, and whoa boy is their BBQ pork and yellow curry chicken ever good. Pickled beets, bok choi and mushrooms with multi-grain tea rice. Never thought to make rice with tea itself, but now I have to try it. Feels like home cooking; very filling and flavorful. read more

No bubble tea here! This shop is different from others in the area. They serve a varietea (ha!) of pu erh, black tea, and otherwise. The owner is very passionate about the impact of his work and very health cautious about the food. He let me sample through the pu erhs and I had a sesame ball desert in milk tea. The teas were great. I would definitely recommend talking to the owner and hearing about how the shop opened. It is quite a story read more

Found this spot during a 5 hour layover in Toronto and I'm so glad I did! You can tell the owner is dedicated to his food and his tea. He took the time to explain the different types of teas and the health benefits from them, as well as recommending which one is better for each of us. I also ordered the BBQ Pork noodle soup & it was so good!! Everything is made fresh, so do expect to wait a bit for your food. read more

What I love about the food here is not just that Philip, the cook and owner, uses fresh ingredients (not processed meats), but it's also carefully prepared. It's delicious! Not surprised this place gets great reviews. Try also their healthy Chinese teas and delicious milk tea, one of the best in Toronto! read more

You can just tell when someone opens a small business and cares deeply about quality and the customer experience. The owner of this place is one of those people. Decor is beautiful, the food is lovely, and the tea is brewed in the traditional gong fu method in clay pots, what more is there to say? read more

I dropped by Crimson, on my visit to Toronto. The owner was very nice gave me a sample of the tea, I happily picked the one I liked. I stayed there for 2 hours and used the washroom 3 times. When leaving asked for a glass of water, the owner was irrate, saying "its too much" and told me not to come here anymore, telling me it s my last time. However, there was another server who gave me water, and while leaving he ran to me outside shouting "Never come back, saying I used to the washroom too much", I had never faced this in all my life anywhere in the world. I expect a solid apology from the owner for thos harassment of a paying visiting customer. It is utterly disgusting. read more

This is a great place for tea lovers. The owner is very helpful and passionate about his work. The milk tea here is wonderful, strong thick tea with smooth condensed milk, and not overly sweet. They also have a variety of teas you can get without milk, which is what I love most about this place. There are tons of bubble tea places in Toronto, but a good place with real tea is hard to find. It's a great place to hang out with friends or study/work by yourself. read more

Crimson is the BEST hidden gem in plain sight. The owner Philip is great, the decor is solid, and the offerings of both healthy drinks and food is so legit. Must try. read more

This is one of my favourite tea cafes. The owner is extremely kind and hospitable. He's also very knowledgeable about different kinds of tea, namely pu-erh. In your first visit, he will give you a mini tea consultation and walk you through different kinds of tea to sample, as well as check your pulse and tongue to see what kind of problems you may have and what kind of tea may be best suited to your needs. Everyone here seems to be very happy. I often come here to study and always order their milk tea with ginger honey. To the comment that said the owner was rude because he asked the commenter to leave if they weren't ordering anything, this isn't a library. The commenter said herself that she got carried away with her project discussion and forgot to order. It isn't the owner's fault since other customers who ordered something may want to use the tables. The owner has to run a business. And no I'm not affiliated with the owner or Crimson Teas in any way, I'm just trying to be fair. The customer is not always right. read more

a lovely surprise. Walking down Spadina we didn't expect to find such a great restaurant. Will be returning regularly. Also great place for a working lunch. read more

Love the reason why the owner created this shop. He left his secure job in order to promote tea (particularly pu erh) as a way to lower the risk of certain diseases (google pu erh tea benefits). This has now become my go to place to meet up with friends. read more

Excellent service. High quality and exclusive tea. The owner is awesome and the green tea noodles are bomb!

I've been here a total of 4 or 5 times in the last 4 years. My initial experiences years ago were very positive, and the owner serves delicious food and tea - that's why I keep coming back. The last two times I came to Crimson Tea, it was during opening hours at around 11:00 to 11:30 am. Both times, the owner was NOT set up yet, but we were willing to wait. Both times, we waited for about 1.5 hours before the food was served to us. I would advise anyone planning to visit during the morning to call beforehand just to make sure it is ready to serve. Today, despite me and my friend being the first customer to enter the store, and having waited a good hour before the owner was ready to serve, he did not have the manner to let us know he was ready to take orders and so new customers walking in got served first. That's fine - maybe we should've paid more attention. The part that was very disrespectful was that when I was making my order for the rice dish, he questioned me in a very rude and condescending tone, "what?! you just want to eat rice????" "What exactly do you want to eat???? pffttt" -walks away- To be very honestly, I had no idea what he even meant because the menu projected on the screen said the [..] Rice in big letters which I read off. I can understand if he is impatient given the set up delays but poor customer service, especially after your customer has waited for you for 1 hour is unacceptable. Since he walked away from my order and showed such disrespect, I decided he was not worth my business and I left the store. Not only was he disorganized, disrespectful, and rude, he is also unreceptive to feedback. My friend stayed and had to wait 25 minutes before getting his food and after eating, on his way out, he spoke to the owner about speaking in a nicer tone. The owner told my boyfriend that "it cannot be helped. What was I supposed to do? I'm not here to babysit her. I totally understand if you want to accompany her elsewhere". Given the numerous positive reviews, perhaps we caught him on an extremely bad day. Maybe his mood was influenced by factors beyond our awareness. But this case serves as one example of VERY VERY poor customer service in every way possible. Learn to be nicer to your customers, especially ones who are loyal and who wait for you on your bad day because otherwise you lose all of them. read more

This is definitely my favourite place of all time to have tea, coffee or a bite to eat. The ambiance is amazing, the owner is a stellar human being and the customers are a nice loyal bunch as well! read more

The milk tea is the best in town if you are looking for a healthy option! Less than 3 dollar for a really big cup of milk tea and no taste of any artificial stuffs added! Highly recommend! read more

I didn't intend to visit but looking in could not help noticing the gallery like decor. So glad i went in. Amazing Chinese art on walls. And the long dining table looks like life edge art. And those amazing wooden block stools are worth the visit. Wish i could buy one to bring home. It was past 6pm and even though the owner let me sample the milk tea, i could only have few sips due to caffeine sensitivity. I'd like to return to sample more teas but on a day when i wont have problems with getting up next day for work. I did order the mixed mushroom tofu stir fry to go and was very pleased with the quality of the ingredients and the flavours of the meal. The owner chatted with me. He is extremely passionate about his teas and their healing and therapeutic properties. Overall a very very pleasant, happy and uplifting visit to a very lovely tea and food estsblishment. read more

It's a hole in the wall and it's looks rustic. This adds to the charm and decor of this very traditional tea spot. The tea selection is limited and well-executed, and the proprietor bears each individual's preferences and personalities in mind as he crafts each tea/dish. read more

Terrible service. I came here to meet a colleague to discuss a big project and have some tea. I got carried away by our initial work discussion and not even ten minutes in, the owner basically asked me to leave because I hadn't ordered anything yet! I was going to the tea shop with the intention of buying something to drink while getting work done, (obviously). And even if I wasn't, the way he acted was so unprofessional. Initially, he got all angry and murmured under his voice from a distance, but I shook off the idea that he's actually talking at me. Then he approached me at my table and basically demanded that I stop using his "customer facilities" (A chair?) "Lady, you can go to a library next time. Don't come here." He was so rude and didn't even listen to me explain myself. It was humiliating! While my colleague promptly got up to buy something, I didn't want to buy anything after that, mainly because I didn't want to support this kind of behaviour. So, I said I was leaving anyway, packed up my stuff and left. I will never come back again although I used to love this place and recommended it to all my friends. I'm spreading the word about the terrible way the owner handles his "customers". If you're a business trying to sustain yourself, I get it. I'm not a freeloader. But there's always a way to do everything without losing your professional voice. read more