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Congee Queen
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 12 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner, Brunch
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
20 reviews for Congee Queen
20 reviews in English
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Review from Lisa W.
Toronto, ON
5/1/2012
I go here all the time for dinner with my family. They recently renovated to expand the location and it looks amazing. One of the best chinese restaurants I've been to in terms of decor and food.
I usually get the Eel Fried Rice and the Crab Salad...can't remember if those are the exact dish names.
Dynasty Cuisine at Commerce Gate is pretty good too. I found a deal on http://HungryBuy.com for a full meal. Check it out. -
Review from Leslyn T.
Markham, ON
3/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love this place. I have been thrilled with the atmosphere, the food and the service each time I've eaten here.
The restaurant itself is very pretty and clean. You can see into their kitchen which communicates to their customers that they have nothing to hide. The food always came quickly and no matter how busy the place was, the quality of their service and their food had never been compromised. There's only one thing I wouldn't recommend and that's their bubble tea. In all honesty, it tasted like crap BUT the manager had no issue taking the drinks back at no charge which was the redeeming factor.
In writing this review, I would kill for some congee right about now.
Go. Enjoy yourself. You won't regret your dining experience here. -
Review from Vivian C.
9/5/2011 8 photos
Located in a strip mall on Highway 7, we almost passed it by, but I had my eyes peeled.
Smartly lined on either side with mirrors, it isn't a large restaurant, but we were able to be seated immediately.
Everything we had was terrific. The turnip cake cubes looked to be spicy, but looks can be deceiving, and they were nice and crispy. The congee was pleasantly smooth. Yep, we cleaned every plate.
Soya Sauce Chow Mein $6.75
Deep Fried Chicken Wing with Honey Garlic $8.50
Chili Turnip Patties $5.95
Dough Fritter Rice Noodle Roll $3.25
BBQ Duck, half $10.50
Stir Fried Pea Pod Stems with Garlic $12.99
Lai Wan Style Congee Large $8.75 -
Review from David D.
Markham, ON
10/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Congee Queen has grown to be a successful and popular franchise over the year and has expanded to this location in Markham. They offer dishes from the usual congee, noodles, soup, rice, but also with a Thai / Viet flare into the menu. There are many, many items to choose from, which always brings me back to try something new.
I have been here numerous times and it'll probably be a top choice for a random night outing with friends. Food has been consistently good, though it has been on the pricey side for the specials they offer. Limited lunch special options as well.
You can also purchase fresh BBQ/roasted pork, soya chicken, duck etc, from the restaurant. Though on the pricier side, I find it delicious. Not too fat and not too lean.
Usual orders:
Fried Chili Turnip Patties - Tasty turnip cubes with a kick to it. Tasty and great for sharing. Goes great with an order of congee.
Seafood Super Bowl Congee - Comes with salmon, crab meat, scallop, squid, shrimp, and sliced fish. Many people dislike the bland taste of congee, but the congee here is savoury smooth and full of ingredients.
Seafood Chow Mein - Always a fan favourite. The seafood and sauce coats over a crispy bottom layer chow mein. It tastes great when the chow mein is half crispy and half coated with sauce.
House Seafood & Mixed Vegetable Fried Taiwanese Vermicelli - Has shrimp, mini scallop, egg and vegetables. Light and easy on the oil. Comes in a generous portion.
Great for group outings as the dishes come in generous portions for sharing. Atmosphere is lively, but not too rowdy.
Note: It can get quite busy on weekends and holidays, so be sure to make reservations. -
Review from Yvonne Y.
8/22/2011
Wait for a table for 2 on a Friday night around 8pm was about 15 min. Very prompt service once you order.
- Roast pork over rice. The pork was quite lean and hence a bit tough. Comes with a bit of lettuce which is good.
- Shrimp won ton noodle soup. Excellent noodle and the shrimp won ton was very fresh. They're bigger than the normal won ton you'd get in hk.
- Salt & pepper squid. Very disappointing. Too much breading and they don't season the breading. You have to eat the hot peppers with it to get any flavors. -
Review from Baby P.
Toronto, ON
8/22/2011 3 photos
This is my new favourite place in Markham. You can tell the owner(s) put a lot of thought into the restaurant. Here's why:
Decor - simple yet classy, with mirrors on both sides making the interior appear bigger.
Service - Extremely friendly wait staff with clean black uniforms.
Menus - The menu blew me away. Seeing the enticing photos as I leaf through the menu made me want to order EVERYTHING that was photographed. The material that the menus were printed was very nice to the touch as well.
Design - Love their logo of the queen eating congee, the place mats, the presentation of the dishes (every dish comes with a plate to hold the dish, a very nice touch).
It's too bad we only dropped by for a quick bite and only got two dishes - the six grain congree and shrimp flour roll.
Six Grain Congee - Very subtle flavour with the grains adding texture to the otherwise bland taste of congee.
Shrimp Flour Roll - possibly the best I've had. The flour was soft and what distinguished this for me is that the shrimp was marinated. Again, the attention to detail sets this place apart. The sweetened soya sauce completed this perfect dish.
I would like to return and try the other dishes from the wide array of menu items. I much prefer this place over Congee Wong. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Congee Queen has a limited lunch special menu for Monday - Friday... So limited that there are only 4 items on it...starting from $6.25 which includes a mushroom soup and 1 veggie spring roll..
I would say don't bother to order off this limited menu... value is not there... taste not there... feels like they have them precooked and left them under the heated lamp...
LB3 Fried Thick Noodle in Shanghai Style ($7.25)
-Soup is so salty.. and salty is the only taste..sliced button mushroom, a few peas and egg... that have non flavour but saltiness
- Shanghai noodle... so oily.. so salty... so cold.. so bad tasting!
- the size is smallish... and it is better off you order from the main menu
6 Whole Grain and Mushroom Congee ($6.99)
- Luckily this congee saved my lunch... even it is meatless but has a lot of flavour...
- all these whole grains inside the congee gives it a nice and crunchy feel
- I love mushrooms so I really enjoyed the assorted fungus!Listed in: Cantonese Food in GTA!, Lunch Specials in Markham!, Sharing is NOT an Option!, What to do when you in…, Congee in GTA!
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/11/2010
A review won't be complete if I do not come here for dinner to try out their dinner dishes..
We order… Read more »
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Review from Craftlover K.
Markham, ON
6/27/2011
I love this place, their food and services are good!!
The food come fast once you ordered them. And because there is always long line up for tables, you must come earlier for dinner (like around 6pm) ; otherwise you will need to wait for at least 10-20 mins until you sit down and eat.
The only thing that I don't really like is the music inside the restaurant is sometimes too loud, and when the restaurant is full, it's quite noisy with people's chatting.
The food: I highly recommended their BBQ pork, and duck, it's really yummy!
Their fried noodles and specialities are all very good , a must try!! :)
Better go before lunch hour (before noon) or before 6:30pm to get a table, or it will be very crowded for line up and extremely noisy inside !! -
Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
12/15/2010
Ah memories of Macau. The first time I ever had Congee. An acquired taste for sure but I like it. Markham has a couple options for Congee, but this is definitely one of the more popular options. They have a full dinner menu, and takeout menu as well.
I have had dinner offerings and breakfast here (Congee)
For dinner, I really enjoyed the Sweet and Sour and Spicy Salt Garoupa. Both lightly fried and not oily. Vegetarians take note The Fukien Style Soft Bean Curd was a little glutenous for my liking, and came doused in chicken, seafood and green peas. The Chow Mein is my SOs favorite, and more reasonably priced than downtown Toronto http://www.yelp.ca/biz.... They will, however, make things without chicken if you ask, no problem.
The Congee is very good. Prepared with a fish based stock, and not chicken - for all of the pescatarians out there (self included) On last visit I enjoyed the Mixed Mushroom and Bean Curd sprinkled with white pepper. It could have used some spring onions on top, and next time I will be asking for some for sure. I sampled my SOs Shrimp Congee which had some brightness thanks to fresh herbs. My serving of Congee which I could not even finish was $4.50.
You can order Congee in Family Style bowls for $12 or so, and split between several diners.
There also is a "healthy" Congee made of a myriad of healthy whole grains (Brown Rice, Hulled Barley, French Red Rice, Rye Berries, Purple Barley, Japanese Rice) and fungus which I cannot wait to try next time.
Bonus Star - On last visit, a server came around with full tea pots checking and replacing each tables. We were never without hot tea. Nice touch. Nice Decor, excellent service.Listed in: Associasian Eats, Markham Asian Eats.
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Review from Alex C.
9/22/2010
Went here at 10 at night. This place replaces the other two Congee wong in terms of food, taste, and decor.
Interior: A LOT nicer than Congee Wong. Somewhat Classy for a chinese place HAH
Food: Ordered a whole bunch. Yeung Chow Fried Rice was legit. Veggies (Ong choi/dow miu) are great. Desert (dun dan) is tastey.
Service: Fast and snappy.
Overall: Great. -
Review from D L.
Markham, ON
10/12/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Love the classic wonton noodles. But my wife said it was too salty.
HK BBQ duck & roast pork are so so.
Prices & services are good. -
Review from M T.
11/7/2010 2 photos
A review on takeout. This was our first place to eat in our Canadian tour. The mister's aunt told us to eat there. At two on a Saturday afternoon, there was a wait to be seated. The mister had no patience and wanted to do take out. The mister saw a hamburger joint next door and was debating to go there. But his uncle refused and did the ordering for us. He ordered 2 dishes, stir fried chili turnips and beef chow fun.
This is where the place loses stars. The takeout order takes more than 20 mins! We saw people sitting down and getting their food during that time frame as we were waiting. The uncle complained that eating in was quicker than taking out. Go figure. He had to track down any waiter to check up on this order. I waited in the back of the restaurant and observed the surroundings. The restaurant has an energetic vibe and a modern ambiance. People are willing to wait for a table here and the prices are very reasonable.
We took the food back and it was very good. Beef chow fun is definitely Hong Kong style, which the mister loves. The turnips with chilis was very delish! This unique dish is tasty and flavorful, and with the chili spice, not spicy at all. I haven't stumbled upon any dishes back home that is similar to that. These two dishes were delish but next time I will wait for the food in Congee Queen. -
Review from Tony Y.
10/25/2011
Not sure if it's because it's Tuesday, but the Congee I had along w/ the BBQ plate (3 kinds) were only ok. My Char Sui on the BBQ plate was cut improperly, leaving the meat tough and fatty. As anyone who has cooked seriously, you know beef and pork are cut differently according to their "grain flow". They really messed my up big time, considering it's very basic knowledge. In addition, I felt a scratchy throat feeling after my meal, can also be due to uncleanliness around the BBQ area, who knows. Congee was ok, nothing great. Fish inside the congee was a little fishy, not a lot but the fish texture is not very smooth/tender like the way I normally prefer. All in all, one can expect a quick meal out of this place but don't expect too much.
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Review from Kobe L.
North York, ON
2/11/2011
Menu is identical to the one on Steeles and the 404. Though I prefer the ambiance of the Steeles location better, bigger and less cramped. So far, still the best c congee and noodle place!
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Review from Tanya N.
3/20/2011
I've been here a few times and will definitely come here in the future. This place is my default restaurant for a number of things. Food is always good and I've never had a bad experience here.
Some of my regular dishes (everything is to be shared):
Seafood Super Bowl Congee - filled with salmon, crab meat, squid, scallop, shrimp and a white fish (not sure which exact fish).
Shredded Pork & preserved egg congee - okay, this might not be for everyone since the black preserved egg may be an acquired taste for some.
Cantonese Chow Mein - love the crispiness of the mein. I only wish they have more veggies on this dish.
Fried Chili Turnip Patties - great app. It's not hot at all so if you're looking for a lot of spice there's chili oil on the table or you can just ask for hot sauce.
Spice and Pepper Salt Squid - the name doesn't do this justice. Fried squid with bits of hot peppers and regular peppers. It's delicious.
Pan Fried Three Kinds of Stuffed - I got this with a friend for kicks because this is probably the most descriptive name ever. . What's this "three kinds of stuffed"? It's basically tofu, peppers and eggplant stuffed with fish paste with a black bean sauce. Pretty delicious. I don't get this often but it is pretty good.
Dough Fritter Rice Noodle Roll - another great app, the dough fritters are freshly fried wrapped in the rice noodle. Sauces on the side for dipping.
Everything is reasonably priced too as many of the dishes are under $10.
Cheap and delicious. Just how I like it. -
Review from Victor A.
Markham, ON
2/2/2011
The new Congee Queen presents Chinese congee/noodle cuisine a new modern twist. There's traditional dishes like the standard congee offerings but also offers new dishes with a bit of fusion with western and pan-asian cuisine.
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Review from Zoran B.
Markham, ON
11/20/2010 51 Check-ins Here
I've been here twice this week, and both times the place was crowded! Once the food arrived, I understood why - everything ordered seemed to have more flavor than in other Chinese restaurants in the neighborhood, from my favorite congee with shredded pork and preserved eggs, to deep fried octopus tentacles and fried turnip with green onion and veggies. Only hot and sour soup seemed a little thinner than I'm used to, and could have been a bit hotter.
On weekends be prepared to wait for the table after 11 a.m. As a matter of fact, the lineup was there even on weekdays around 7 p.m. If you can choose, try not to sit at the front row close to the entrance. The door is being opened constantly, and although real winter hasn't yet arrived, I've seen people dining in their winter coats. The restaurant will have to do something about the cold sweeping in from the entrance. Maybe a heated area between the two sets of doors would help. -
Review from Dynafrom W.
Toronto, ON
2/24/2011
Been to this place probably 10 times now. It's convenient, and good. The congee is superb, as is the fried noodles. Oh yeah, no chicken balls on the menu.
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Review from Edgar F.
1/1/2011 4 photos
Can mere words describe my experience, Hardly, but I will try. Having sampled the various BBQ, Dim Sum, Dumpling and Noodle houses of Toronto, we find ourselves in the Markham area on our way to the Pacific Mall. While other congee restaurants were good, they were similar to others in the New York and Philadelphia Chinatowns. Experience has it that restaurants outside of a Chinese community are usually not very good, but this very well change my whole perception. We ordered a half duck, multigrain and beef congees, a fried fritter, salt and pepper squid, and pork chops. This variety of soups and entrees usually is my barometer of how well the various tastes and textures will be presented.
The congee was truly a delicious mix of perfect flavor and texture. The flavour was consistent and sweet without being overly salty. The fried dough was perfect in its usual role, dipped in the congee and munched on between delectable spoonfuls of the soup. The beef in the congee was tender and flavorful, while the multigrain truly tasted very healthy. When the squid was brought out, all we could do was stare at the mound of the large lightly fried pieces of squid. Usually at other places these pieces are relatively small, this was a truly pleasant surprise. Equally amazing were the pork chops which smelled heavenly and taste equally the same. The highlight of our meal was the duck. I have tasted duck from New York to Hong Kong in many forms from roasted to Peking. My number one choice is at King Tin in San Francisco, which is my benchmark for each time I try a new place for roasted duck. I have always found that good duck, the right mix of crispy skin, juicy meat, succulent flavor, spices and au jus, makes the perfect combination. I believe I have found a duck worthy of being second. The duck was warm, had crispy skin, meaty, and juicy covered by au jus, flanked by plates of dipping sauce and a scoop of soy beans just like those found in Hong Kong. Its fragrance was reminiscent of the spices, used to coat the inside of the duck while roasting, of that found in the Kin Tin duck. (Please see my review on Kin Tin in San Francisco) It was truly an amazing find. In addition to the food, the ambiance and décor was atypical of a Chinese restaurant. The service, though, was below par, which I attribute to its busy nature and the rush to get food out in order to get more people in the door and at the tables. Even with this service, we will be going back for meals and eating our way through the menu. An exceptional find. -
Review from Alan C.
4/25/2011
I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. Let's start off with the decor. The place looks quite modern - some Japanese flair to the ceilings and walls. Food is just okay - comparable to Keung's Delight. One thing that really puts me off is when the waitresses throw all finished dishes into a pan, making lots of noise in the dining area. Come on! I'm trying to eat here and all I hear is cling cling cling during every minute of my stay at your restaurant. Granted, I've experienced this noise at lower end/lower priced restaurants, but for a place that charges double what I normally pay for food ($12.95 for a Tofu casserole dish and $15.95 for fried fish with vegetables) I expect some calm in the restaurant!
