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    Mean Bao

    3.5 (11 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    the inside of a restaurant
    Gabriel S.

    The baos (buns) are Taiwanese style, though pulled pork & jerk chicken are fusion flavours. The dumplings are all steamed. They get 3.5 stars. Pork belly bao was pretty good, with a lot of hoisin sauce & peanuts. I was told it was the traditional choice; I thought that would've been braised in soy sauce, but OK. It was not spicy at all though I ordered medium. It had varied toppings which harmonised well together. Pork & shrimp dumplings were decent. The skin was a touch thick. Unfortunately, the English of the staff here isn't great - when I asked questions about the menu items communication broke down, so I had to use Mandarin.

    Cold Noodle Salad with Braised Beef
    Yoland E.

    Perhaps the baos here are worth trying, because their bowls certainly aren't. I had the cold noodle salad with added braised beef, and it was quite plain. Also, the beef was very low quality.

    Three Treasures Bowl
    Ryan C.

    Was happy to see Mean Bao open near my office. Decided to try the Three Treasures bowl with braised beef, pork belly, and egg. Overall the bowl was not bad, but nothing outstanding either. Portion was decent and meat had good flavouring. Lots of veggies to make it healthy. However, the bowl was only luke warm when I was expecting a hot meal. I found it a bit pricy, but might be a better deal than 2 baos alone. Service was nice and quick.

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    Swatow Restaurant

    Swatow Restaurant

    3.8
    (505 reviews)
    1.6 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)
    1.6 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)
    1.7 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)
    0.6 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)
    1.2 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

    Mean Bao - chinese - Updated August 2026

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