A guide to Toronto’s Chinatown neighbourhood

by YP Contributor

Toronto’s main Chinatown, which runs down Spadina and along Dundas Street West, was originally a Jewish district until the influx of immigrants in the 1960s. Today, Toronto’s Chinatown is a bustling economic hub, full of beauty and adventure. [Image credit: iStock.com/Toa55]

There is no shortage of delicious bistros, restaurants or bakeries in Chinatown. Not-to-miss gems include:

• Mother’s Dumplings, a cozy spot with some of the best dumplings in the city.
• Rol San Restaurant, a dim sum utopia with no frills and plenty of charm.
• For the tastiest buns and spicy “Dan Dan” noodles, visit Chinese Traditional Bun.
• King Noodle, famous for their beef frank and wonton noodle soup.
• If you have a sweet tooth, try a hazelnut crush from Cutiepie Cupcakes & Co.
• If you want to make your own meals, grab fresh produce and goods at the bustling Lucky Moose Food Mart, located on Dundas, in the center of Chinatown.
• For ramen that has the stamp of approval from famed Canadian chef Susur Lee, visit Ajisen Ramen.
• The above mom-and-pop shops are always good options, but if you’re looking for a more hip, possibly date-worthy vibe, check out trendy Chinatown restaurants and bars like People’s Eatery and Jackpot (the latter is the most recent project from Patois’ Craig Wong).

There are two large malls in Chinatown, Dragon City Mall and Chinatown Centre, where you can buy everything from bras to egg pancakes. For those eager to nab the best deals on cosmetics, Beautyholic is the stop. B & J Trading Company is packed to the rafters with paper products, stationery, and home goods. If you’re a gamer on the hunt for the best board games or miniatures, try Meeplemart. If you’re looking for incense and goods on the cheap, see Chinatown Dollarmart.

If you are looking to check out the nightlife around Chinatown, some heavy hitters include:

• The Silver Dollar Room, a cozy venue to watch local roots, rock and blues music.
• Grossman’s Tavern is a gritty bar where you can hear live blues with locals.
• If you are into a more mellow fun, bring your friends to Castle Board Game Cafe for a night of dice rolling and tea drinking.
• If you’re looking to sing, Dragon City Karaoke & Bar has private rooms for rent, and they serve alcoholic drinks for those who need a little liquid courage.
• For big banging parties, Comfort Zone hosts wild DJs into the wee hours of the morning.

Centrally located, Chinatown is a stone’s throw from many Toronto landmarks. The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) exhibits arts from across the globe, including work from acclaimed Chinese artist, Zhang Huang. In the summertime, the Chinatown Festival visits the strip, a street festival offering food and festivities. Chinese New Year celebrations, held in February, are abundant and – often, you can catch traditional lion and dragon dances.

Toronto’s Chinatown is a shopping hub, a cultural center, and a great place to party with friends. Whether you are interested in art, fashion or gaming, Chinatown is bursting with opportunities for fun.