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Lai Wah Heen
Category: Restaurants Chinese Dim Sum Dim Sum [Edit]
108 Chestnut StToronto, ON M5G 1R3
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(416) 977-9899
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
36 reviews for Lai Wah Heen
Review Highlights
"The first dish, Deep-fried taro root paste dumpling filled..."
(in 2 reviews)
"The Jasmine tea was really fragrant."
(in 3 reviews)
"Wonderful hot & sour soup, steamed and baked pork buns."
(in 2 reviews)
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36 reviews in English
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Review from Brian C.
1/29/2012
So lots of times, I don't find dim sum that appealing. But Lai Wah Heen may have changed my mind. The dim sum is very nicely done, the service was amazing, and all in all, I had a great experience.
There are many items on the menu that are more innovative, but the classics are also offered here.
The barbecue pork puff pastry is divine! The flavors are perfect, with a nice gingery, sweet, savory note and the pork is tender, which often is not the case. The sticky rice wrapper in lotus leaf also had the perfect texture, and the earthy aroma and taste of the lotus was just right.
I did try some of the other more non-traditional dim sum, but I like the classics. The dim sum here is expensive though, especially since dim sum can be found at much lower costs, so it's not a place to go to all the time. -
Review from Ray L.
1/17/2012
First, the good news. This restaurant has excellent dim sum fare topped off with attentive service. The bad news? It cost me $60 for a table of two for dim sum!
Bottom line is that this place offers really well made dim sum, but because of the price, this is really a special occasion type of joint. But on to the food, which was fantastic (along with presentation) The restaurant strays from the traditional type of dim sum plates and offers a variety of fusionesque fare. Australian lamb and foi gras can be found on the menu.
Their barbeque pork in puff pastry is amazing! I would highly recommend that along with the sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf. The latter is more along what the plate should traditionally taste like, but it's really well done. The texture of the rice is just perfect and the lotus flavor is heavily infused into the rice.
For dessert, I had the egg tarts along with buns filled with preserved duck egg sesame. These were fine, not spectacular, so in that sense I was a bit disappointed (especially given the price). -
Review from David E.
11/15/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Not that good.
First of all, this was a very difficult restaurant to find. I had to call the place from outside the Metropolitan Hotel, to be told that they were located inside the hotel. Then, we went in, only to be told that the restaurant is upstairs and down a long (and wrong-way-looking) hallway. But finally, we got there. The service was passable, and the food was mediocre. Very expensive for what we got. We should have stuck with other restaurants down Queen Street. -
Review from Charlotte W.
North York, ON
Updated - 10/10/2011 9 Check-ins Here
My parents and I came here for dim sum today as we had not been since our vacation to Greece. As much as I love olive oil and Dorade from the Aegean, nothing beats dim sum at LWH.
Because we love our soups, we ordered Hot and Sour and Spinach with beef and egg along with two orders of Har Gow, Chicken dumpling, BBQ buns and congee with pickled vegetables. LWH also has a relatively new dim sun menu entitled Hong Kong Classic dishes which are a take on some street food variety (but classed-up for LWH's patrons). The only unfortunate event was when one of the waiters informed us that the Wonton Noodles were out.
FYI! Come to dim sum early to avoid certain dishes being finished. We came here for 1:30 and by the time we actually ordered everything, the kitchen was probably close to closing. The Wonton noodles along with the Congee are some of the dishes that go first. 12pm would be your best seating bet, but also the busiest so of course, reservations are a must. (Sometimes, you may have to leave a message for your reservation, but never fear, the restaurant always gets back to you either by giving you a call or by email).
All in all, a great treat to coming back from vacation. I am still not over completely from being back, but coming to LWH which is all about great food, friendly service (almost like seeing family) and familiarity certainly makes it easier.Listed in: 30 Day Yelp Challenge -…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/10/2011
Oh LWH! My family has been going to this restaurant since it first opened at the Metropolitan hotel… Read more »
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Review from Craig R.
St John's, NL
12/7/2011
Best Chinese food in North America!
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Review from Jiao S.
10/9/2011 8 photos
This place is great just not my type.
I am so not the person people should ask dim sum advice from. Although I am from China, but the cooking style between north and south can be very different.
My first dim sum experience was when I was almost 12, or 13 yrs old during my 1st visit to Guangzhou and Hong Kong. I even refused to eat egg tarts cause I thought the custard was actually lemon . ( 8 yrs later I made the same mistake the other way around when I first came to Canada, bought lemon tarts and think they are egg tarts).
Anyways, although I always told the best dim sum place should be you order on the menu and the kitchen prepared right away accordingly, I still miss those places have those displayed on the tray or cars you can choose from.
Also, I prefer food being cooked in a transitional way and using common ingredients, which are not very expensive.Knowing this, you might understand why Lai Wah Heen only a 3 star for me.
The dim sum is very good, The presentation is even more impressive.
But I just don't appreciate the lobster meat in pan fried dumplings or the won ton with chili oil but wrapped with wanyu. To me I can be perfectly satisfied with a port cabbage dumplings and nth wrap my won ton will be great appreciated. And believe it or not even emu meat and foie gras are on the dim sum menu.
However, have to say that it is great that Berkshire pork is used in dim sum, totally bring up the flavor.
Chef in charge of Dim Sum used to work in Luk Yu, one of the most famous dim sum place in Hong Kong and also my favorite. So that this place is definitely worth trying.
Very warm serve and nice dining environment. -
Review from Anabel L.
Toronto, ON
8/31/2011
The fact that Lai Wah Heen sits inside the Metropolitan Hotel clearly tells you it's not your average dim sum. The restaurant itself presents like your usual haute Chinese restaurant - clean, simple and beige.
My experience was pure culinary pleasure at a cost of about $45. That's a price tag I will swallow for a great friend. So, in honour of Aerie's birthday, we gathered to indulge in two orders of Chef Chan's Innovative Dim Sum Prix Fixe and two of the Classic Dim Sum Prix Fixe ($30). After trying both I would recommend the Innovative menu because if you're already going big, go with the biggest.
My favourites of the day were the steamed dumplings of Waygu beef, truffle and lobster escalopes, pan-seared cake of red wild rice, sticky rice, shrimp, pork and pickled vegetables, and of course, dessert - a yolkless egg tart and a mochi of red bean paste. The last two were enough to put me over the edge of happiness.
The service was what I would expect from any Chinese restaurant, and while there were no carts, there were glorified dim sum caddies who brought the freshly made dishes out so that a waiter could courier them to your table.
It was delicious in all its ostentatious glory.
You get what you pay for: classic dim sum amplified in flavour, quality, and of course, cost. -
Review from Jason S.
Toronto, ON
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Excellent service in a very nice setting. But the actual dim sum is a bit weak in its delivery. Presentation is excellent, the Berkshire pork dumplings come shaped like a little pig, but they just don't follow through with taste. A nice place to try but I can't say I'd rush back.
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Review from Barry W.
Toronto, ON
11/11/2011
Had regular evening menu, not dim sum. Disappointed at how it has deteriorated from former great days. Flavorless, bland food, small portions; negligent service. Will not return
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Review from bun b.
7/6/2011
This is a very pricey place, but it's really worth a try!!
Service is good, not the best I've seen, but definitely good!!
The food is good and they've put thoughts into how it's presented.
The sirloin roll steam roll, lobster dumpling, and double baked milk are definitely special. Since it's quite expensive, I tried to order dishes that are unique to this place. I'm glad my bf is up to it as well. We did order the traditional shrimp dumpling too, coz we just couldn't resist not to order our favorite. All the food are great!!!
They validate parking at a discount price. We didn't know, but we did get parking somewhere else that's cheap, so it's ok. -
Review from Sheila B.
Toronto, ON
4/2/2011
i give it a 2 and half
Had dim sum today here for a change from the cheaper options on Spadina. The white table service is a refreshing change from the regular chinese out of the box decor. Bathrooms very clean, check, restaurant very clean, check, view very nice, check. Servers still have that untrained attidude you get at chinese restaurants (4 people checked out bill fold to see if we were done, brought us all forks/knives didn't ask and water for three although one was asked for). Parking is free in the hotel as long as you bring ticket to be verified. Then you go to concierge of hotel for them to scan.
Each dish step by step:
Pork with Mushrooms in a Sweet Pastry: tasted like the british pasties that you get, I liked it. Husband didn't. Kinda a chinese meat pie. 3 for $3.50 each maybe not worth the price but overhead is high here.
Seafood Springroll with a peanut schewan peanut dip: Although tasty it was on the greasy side not much seafood taste the deep fried overpowered the filling. Dip was very good. They were $3.50 per order and served individual to each diner.
Lobster in noodle with butter and cilantro in steamer, one comes in each steamer shaped as a lobster, although interesting not that great would pass on this one. $6.00 each
Spareribs in garlic with noodle, was good but not that different from Rol San Piquat. $6.00
Sui Mai with scallops was on par with all dim sum that is a reasonable restaurant $6.00 for 4
Chinese greens with oyster sauce $8.00 for an order that was very small and seemed out of season. I don't get it this stuff, it is so cheap to buy in chinatown but always a king''s ransom at any chinese restaurant..take a pass
steamed tofu with shrimp and scallions, the shrimp was very good and fresh the tofu was too small the size of a quarter and they only gave you two in the steamer $6.00
Har chung fun and sticky rice in lotus leaf...both exceptionally good but pricey $8.00 each (2 sticky rice, 3 shrimp roll)
Jasmine tea $2.00 each is very good, one beer tsing tao $7.50
Three people $90.97 plus $15 tip. free parking.
Although pricey the quality is above many dim sum places in the downtown core. It is fresh but not outstanding in creativity. Will try again and stick to the regular fair we usually order. Maybe a 3 times a year kinda of place. -
Review from Richie S.
1/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went here again during the holidays. I've said it before: I can't really tell a large difference between dim sum places.
Lai Wah Heen has a wonderfully clean interior like something you'd see in a 5-star restaurant, with very attentive staff.
Presentation of food was very good and they had a few more specialties that you won't find at most establishments (foie gras, duck, etc.) but I couldn't taste enough of a difference to return any time soon. Case(s) in point: Lobster dumpling was cooked to perfection but the dumpling wrap was a little chewy, wagyu beef dumpling (waygu on their menu) came in a tasty oil, but I believe the beef on top was had little flavour and appeared to be poached too long.
Price is substantially more than the rest (any where from $3-5 per piece), but again their ingredients are bit better quality.
Our dessert also took the better part of 1/2 an hour to come, as we watched it being given to another table. Oh well. -
Review from Christine D.
3/31/2011
Came here for dim sum and ordered the $45 a head set menu. Yes, it's $45 a person, I know. Get over it. It's a creative menu with extra touches you don't get in any standard Chinese dim sum selection. Wagyu beef, chunks of lobster, truffles, etc.
Shredded Peking Duck and enoki mushrooms in a thick soup flavored with finely shredded conpoy.
Steamed lobster dumpling stuffed with shrimp mousse & finely diced vegetable flavored with garlic.
Steamed scallop, shredded dried conpoy & white fungus in dumpling.
Steamed dumplings of Waygu beef accompanied with thinly sliced Waygu beef, in chili oil.
Deep-fried roll of mixed vegetable & assorted mushrooms.
Deep-fried taro root paste dumpling filled with shredded chicken.
Truffle & lobster escalopes on crispy egg noodles flavored with truffle scented oil.
Chinese dessert - this was a dan tat and a steamed red bean stuffed rice skin ball type of item.
Obviously you don't go to a fancy dancy Chinese restaurant and order the same-old same-old as all dim sum places when you can have something besides that. There is a tea menu as well but you can order more standard teas as well for less. I ordered Tiguanyin (not part of the tea menu), it was alright but definitely not a tiguanyin I would buy by itself. We enjoyed every item on our tasting menu and actually left quite full. They speak Chinese and English perfectly fine, and it's easy to converse in both together. Easily the best Chinese food we had in Toronto, this being our first time there and unable to get out to the burbs where I hear there is more dim sum to be had. And a MUCH better way to spend $100 than stupid Bier Markt, so there! -
Review from Hilary S.
12/24/2010
I came here for dinner so I thought I'd review since most of them seem to do with their dim sum.
The place was EMPTY when we arrived except for another table of four. The waiter was therefore really attentive, service was fast, and food arrived quickly.
Aaaaaaaas for the food, there were definitely some interesting touches. Some of the dishes were similar to what you'd get in other places (the shimp bao hot pot) while others I hadn't had before (there was this zucchini one that was lightly garlicked and it was kind of spectacular). They definitely pay attention to detail so this place is not somewhere you should go if you haven't eaten for weeks and just want a big meal.
I agree with Kat T--the menu is kind of difficult. As Kat T did, we left it up to the master chief in charge, my mom! HAHA.
And there seems to be a language problem (as with pretty much every chinese restaurant, but I was surprised one that was this "classy" also had it)--the waiters probably all speak Cantonese, but the Mandarin and English is spotty and it depends on which one you get. The waiter that served us dessert was different from the one who had taken our normal orders, and he pretty much only spoke Cantonese functionally.Listed in: Asian Food
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Review from John Y.
Toronto, ON
Our group of 4 arrived at 1800 for dinner, restaurant was about 1/4 full so waiter staff was very attentive.
Upscale Chinese restaurant located within walking distance from City Hall on 2nd floor of Metropolitan Hotel with nice decor and tablecloth table settings. If you're looking for a restaurant to relax and have a nice quiet dinner whether romantic or with your family, then this would be a good recommendation.
Ordered 4-5 dishes family style, veggies cooked perfectly, other dishes as well not being overly salted as you may find in less expensive restaurants.
Let's get this straight, this is a true Chinese restaurant with Cantonese style cooking, not the normal fast food type restaurants serving overly seasoned "Western style" Chinese food with a heavy dose of MSG seasoning. If this is the type of Chinese food you are accustom to, then this is not a place you will like. If however, you understand what true Chinese/Cantonese food is all about, then you'll appreciate the effort of the kitchen in representing this specific cooking style.
Loaded some photos of the dishes ordered, a gem of a restaurant in downtown Toronto. -
Review from ivy L.
11/2/2010
Although the decor and service is nice, the food itself is just OK. The chefs specialties are probably what makes this place unique from other dim sum places. I ordered the wagyu beef and lobster dumpling from the specialty section. The beef was good but the lobster was not. The lobster came out looking like it was taxidermy'ed into a hard chewy orange gelatin. Def not worth $6/piece!
From the standard items, the beef stuffed fried eggplants were good. The inside of the crystal shrimp was ok, but the dumpling skin got really tough after a couple minutes of sitting on the plate. Maybe this is due to the fact that everything is coming out from the kitchen instead of the traditional hot carts that keep your food warm and steamed.
I got a bunch of other stuff too but nothing notable to mention.
Honestly, the only item I really liked was the black sesame balls. These are the traditional deep fried sesame balls but with a hot gooey black sesame filling.
Oh and whatever you do, don't get the vegetarian mock duck. It's nasty! -
Review from Monique L.
7/29/2010
So many hater reviews I had to say something.
It's understandable that most people think this is an overprice place for dim sum but this is an UPSCALE restaurant, not some place in chinatown. It's like going to a nice french restaurant and expecting to pay bistro/cafe prices. Most chinese restaurants are loud, sometimes dirty, and the food can be very spotty if you don't know where to go. This place is very clean, the food is good and the atmosphere is great for a NICE meal.
I grew up in Toronto and have been here probably 25 times over the years and have always had great service. Granted my family are regulars in the chinese restaurant scene and therefore know everyone but I don't think that's the only reason.
The dim sum is pretty good but I also had my wedding at the Metropolitan Hotel and Lai Wah Heen catered the event. All 150 of my guests were VERY VERY happy with the dinner and we had a GREAT time! The food was awesome and menu options were great for those who might want to spend less or those who don't mind splurging on their events.
All that said, I was so happy to have our reception catered by Lai Wah Heen and would recommend dinner here to anyone. -
Review from Van D.
8/21/2011
Went here for dim sum on a saturday afternoon. Its in the Metropolitan hotel and takes a little effort to find. Service was pretty good, considering most Asian restaurants are not know for their service. They had a wide variety and had lots of twists on traditional dim sum dishes. Very creative presentations for some of the dishes. It was on the pricey side though for dim sum. Nice place to treat yourself or take family.
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Review from K.S. c.
Toronto, ON
8/23/2011
Excellent set menu Dimsum. Pricy but worth every bite.
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Review from Randy F.
3/9/2009 4 photos
Located in the Metro Hotel, Lai Wah Heen is a gorgeous restaurant and dim sum location. We decided to have dim sum for Sunday brunch and were happy to be seated without much of a wait.
All ordering is done from a paper menu that includes English and Chinese translations. Selection is good and prices are moderately high.
Service is polite but otherwise unspectacular and the decor is perhaps the most notable thing about Lai Wah Heen. It really is a beautiful place in the Metro Hotel and great to take out of town guests or visitors.
As for the food, it's solid but not noteworthy. Most items are done well and they do try to add some variations to befit the high class location. For example, XO sauce is included standard on all tables, the shiu mai is topped with a scallop, and the egg custard consists of egg whites only.
In the end though, while I appreciated these touches and the nice atmosphere, I thought the food was only ok. I'm guessing there are better dim sum choices in Toronto, but if not, Lai Wah Heen is a safe bet.
Lai Wah Heen takes American Express. -
Review from Briana M.
2/4/2009
The best part of this meal was the fact that I didn't have to pay. And the fact that I was living across the street at the time. My friend's father was visiting from Hong Kong and took a group of us out for a fancy pants dinner at this restaurant. I had peeked into the dining room during a fire evacuation (the hotel kindly took us in for a few hours...February in Toronto is NOT FUN) but never thought I'd have a chance to dine there.
That said, we enjoyed several dim sum appetizers, and delighted in Peking Duck prepared in 3 ways. The most memorable was in the classic Chinese pancakes. The waitstaff prepared everything for us, cutting the duck before our eyes and arranging the juicy meat and crispy skin in the rice crepes with some scallion and cucumber for good measure. The cucumber was a wonderful match for the duck.
If my memory serves me correctly, the second preparation of the duck was sauteed with vegetables and glass noodles, which was then wrapped in lettuce leaves as you would with bulgogi. It was yummy, but kind of like a duck spring roll and I was definitely over spring rolls at that point (While I was living in Toronto the closest restaurant that everyone could agree upon was a Thai chain called "Spring Rolls").
I had a very lovely dining experience here...I am guessing that the previous reviewers did not order the Peking duck and did not enjoy a free meal. I find that I enjoy an meal less when it seems to be overpriced. So...get someone to pay for you! -
Review from En L.
8/1/2010 1 photo
Very fragrant jasmine tea. Food was pretty good. The lobster "har gow" was shaped into a lobster. Pretty cute. presentation was excellent. It is one of the better and cleanest dim sum place in downtown Toronto.
I only give it a 3 star because i had better/tastier dim sum elsewhere. -
Review from Pinky and the B.
1/20/2011 1 photo
I was slightly disappointed because it has such a great reputation! It was good but not great! A few of the other Toronto area Chinese restaurants were better. Zagat rated it high. I expected better. I had also read it was the best Dimsum in North America. Also Fodor's said something similar. In my opinion it was mostly show. I might be willing to give it another try if going again because I am having a hard time believing it is the same place I have read rave reviews about. It wasn't bad, the room was clean and service was formal. But it seems it was more about show than good tasting food.
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Review from Alex T.
6/25/2011 4 photos
Good - Excellent service and Food. Wonderful hot & sour soup, steamed and baked pork buns. wife had the emu (loved it). elegant space and decorations.
Bad - $7.50 for a bottled beer. a little pricey for what you get.
we were there for lunch. -
Review from Kat T.
12/7/2010
Party of ten.
One particularly picky eater, with both real and imagined food "allergies"*.
One native Chinese.
One strict vegetarian.
So, off we go to the only place in this great city of our that fit the bill (food allergy sufferer's request)???
I had heard good things, but right from the start, the Ambiance is like a grandmother's apartment a la 1990 with black lacquer and flowers.
We were not there for dim sum, but for a late dinner. Most of us looked at the pages and pages of menu and didn't know what to get.
So, the majority of us left it up to the Chinese native- let's experiment.
Vegetarian started getting nervous around this time (e.g. if she eats steamed veggies and tofu, should she really be asked to split the bill for the people eating crab?)
The plates started coming and I think we all were able to taste a bit of everything that fit our particular restrictions.
Veggie Ma-Pa Tofu was spicy, but I added even more spicy sauce.
Whole crab cooked with egg coating was my favorite, but I could have used a lot more water through the meal as this was essentially salted crab.
A few other duck, veggie, seafood dishes kept coming and 9 of us were like- where is the rice??? Our food is getting cold and we weren't able to eat it without the rice.
Someone spoke up and finally we get the rice and start passing the dishes. Well, apparently at a fine-dining chinese restaurant, rice is not something you actually eat WITH the food, but AFTER the food. So, although the staff will accommodate western attitudes, this is a big faux pas!
After 3 bottles of wine between the table, and a few people who didn't imbibe, we go to split the bill and argh- it's one of those bad bill splits. Ten credit cards, at $50 each. A few folks went home and ate cereal to fill up. I'll pass the next time this place comes up. I fail to see the difference between $8.99 Tofu and veggies served with AYCE rice and $19 tofu and veggies followed by a small bowl of rice.
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* Allergies to food are a real and potentially life-threatening problem. However many people have intolerances that they call allergies (e.g., vomiting or diarrhea with antibiotics is a side effect and may be irritating, but should not be classified as an allergy.) This particular person has 'allergies' to sushi that isn't yellowtail or top of the line tuna.
I have my doubts about many other of his preferences. -
Review from Ktimene G.
2/6/2009
The dim sum of my DREAMS! The snow crab and lobster dumping came-- SUPRISE (!)-- shaped as a trembling pink rice crab, down to the chewy pink claws!! Every steaming portion was perfect-- the yellow crystal packets were savory and...well..I just keep using the word perfect. Worth every penny (more like fiver) per dish.
I was tempted to knock a star for pretentious service. I mean, it's wobbling rice in little bamboo baskets-- skip the 'tude!
On the other hand, this place wasn't as cacaphonous as some more authentic dim sum places, and my clothes didn't smell like dried shrimp afterwards. And the place is clearly family owned-- I could tell by the sky-high cheekbones and dashing way all the men sashayed the aisles in their suits. -
Review from Wil L.
Mississauga, ON
11/30/2010
I have been wowed by their Dim Sum many years ago and realIy enjoyed the food while attending a wedding banquet 5-6yrs ago. Had dinner there last weekend and was in shock at how poor the quality of the food was, the service was as you would expect from a regular Chinese restaurant and the washrooms were what you would expect from a typical Chinese restaurant. The restaurant was also very noisy and I did not feel I was in an upscale restaurant. It has lost it's wow factor from all spectrums and is way way overpriced.
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Review from beverly c.
10/13/2010
Bathrooms are a very important part of restaurants. Since I always have to pee, I always have to and make it a point to visit the restroom. Restrooms tell a lot about a restaurant. For example, at Lai Wah Heen, located in the Metropolitan Hotel, the main restroom door opens into a little carpeted area. It's nice and clean. But, open the door to the women's room and you will see a familiar sight, typical painted metal doors with turnstile locks. The walls are wallpaper and the sink marble. Still, you get the sense something isn't right. Is it upscale or not? With this experience, I was able to predict what Lai Wah Heen was all about. It's a basic chinese restaurant with only slight modifications to elevate its culinary status. For example, the Shiu Mai was regular Shiu Mai with a slice of scallop on top. To be honest, I prefer the "average" chinese restaurant 's Shiu Mai. Heen's was too clean, no grease, no texture- so clean that it was lacking flavor. The wonton soup with noodles was no better than the ones I get at any normal restaurant. The duck purse was OK. My friends really enjoyed the Wagyu Beef in Chili Oil. I really enjoyed the Papaya Walnut Crepe. FAB! (So fab I am going to try and recreate it.) The ribs weren't extraordinary but I enjoyed the vermicelli drowned in its sauce. The Jasmine tea was really fragrant. Really, I don't even remember what we ordered (and we ordered a lot if you look at what we paid.) I guess that's how unmemorable it was...
So really, sometimes, a dirty ol' mom and pop shop or "dirty" chinese restaurant is what delivers and hits the spot. For three people, we paid $120 so I would not return. -
Review from ness y.
Toronto, ON
8/21/2010
this review has nothing to do with the price, because for years i got to (and continue to) wave my "kid status" at family gatherings - uhh... let the awwn-tees and unk-kos fight over the bill.
in fact, i just recently learned that it was the Lai Wah Heen that so many rave about. i only knew it as the place close to grampa's. when he was alive, we'd go here for dim sum and dinner pretty often. but now that he's dead, we never go there. the wider-family takes turns in Markham and Mississauga for meals.
the point is that Lai Wah Heen's quality of food and service, as well as central location make it *the* downtown Toronto choice for chinese food in a more formal setting. but if not for the convenience factor, it may not be worth your while when similar quality is to be had in the near-905. -
Review from Michael U.
11/14/2009 13 photos
See Blog for full review, highlights below:
Greeted promptly by a friendly young Chinese woman we were asked if we had reservations and when we responded to the negative we were told this was "not a problem at all" and swept away to a table in the main dining room - a beautiful two top near the stairs and adjacent to the large bay windows with an excellent view of the street and the room. Browsing the immediate dining area as we were presented with our menus, water, and a pot of green tea I was impressed by the mixed population - older, younger, Chinese, Canadian, businessmen and families were all represented in large numbers and the room had a "buzz" without being loud.
Kicking things off, from Chef Chan's "Innovative" menu, a steamed dumpling of smoked sturgeon, shrimp and minced butter squash and a steamed crystal purse filled with five spicy shredded duckling & heart of garlic. If the measure of a chef's skill in dim sum is gauged by the creativity, flavor, and thinness of his noodles then I've no doubt we were in the presence of a master - the translucent noodles alone were works of art with my friend's lobster featuring the crustacean's characteristic shape and the sturgeon presented as a small fish while the purse did appear to be a tied-off bag. More impressive than the appearance, however, were the textures and flavors of the dumplings with the mildness of the sturgeon perfectly complimented by the sweetness of the squash and the spicy anise/clove/ginger bite of the five spice duck proving an adequate foil to the pungent and sweet heart of garlic. While certainly not "cheap," the quality of the ingredients was apparent and I'd gladly re-order each dish again.
The next round of dishes were again served in threes, yet somewhat more interesting than the pork dishes. The first dish, Deep-fried taro root paste dumpling filled with sweet plum & minced duckling was an absolutely astonishing dish that my companion summed up as "light, but really dense." Featuring a crispy and airy taro root shell absolutely stuffed with an amalgam of chopped plums and minced duck I have to say that this may have been my favorite flavor pairing of the afternoon and it honestly could've served as a dessert or a savory - an absolute must order. The second option, Filet of bass & thousand years egg in rice roll served with sweet soy sauce. Having never tasted the unique egg-preserving technique prior to this I have to say I didn't know what to expect, but what I received was superb. Mildly salty and somewhat sour the egg proved a balance to the smooth and meaty bass while the sweetened soy brought out the flavors of both the egg and the fish without masking any of their more subtle notes.
More or less stuffed at this point we opted for only one small dessert - traditional Chinese Egg Custards. Served as four small 1/2oz tarts the custards were barely set with the buttery pasty and only a thin skin of custard preventing the creamy vanilla egg compote from being a liquid - absolutely delicious and flawlessly executed - a great end to a wonderful meal.
Making our way to the exit after paying the somewhat impressive bill (I mean, Dim Sum isn't supposed to be "haute cuisine" normally) we took a look at some of the party menus and both agreed that Lai Wah Heen would be an awesome place to return with a larger group in order to sample some of the noodle and rice dishes (normally intended for parties of 4-6 according to the menu) as well as the myriad soups and entrees. Thoroughly satiated and happy we made our way out the doors where our hostess bid us farewell. While I can't say I'm a dim sum expert by any stretch, I can say I've been to some great restaurants and would rank Lai Wah Heen's presentations, flavors, and service favorably amongst many of them.Listed in: Most memorable meals.
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Review from erica j.
10/4/2009
While this is quite expensive for Dim Sum it was DELICIOUS. Verrry authentic and very fresh. The Lai Wah Heen fried noodles are amazing with big pieces of fresh seafood. We ate the crystal shrimp dumplings, the chicken dumplings, bbq pork buns and the steamed spare rib with black beans. All were very satisfying. I wish all dim sum was this way. THe other food looked amazing but we only had 2 people so we couldn't handle anymore!
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Review from Jonathan W.
Calgary, AB
10/3/2008
Dim sum is great but you are much better off going elsewhere. The food is well prepared but you can get similar if not better dim sum for about half the price at the North end of Toronto. The service is pretentious and not welcoming if you're not a well dressed tourist it seems. Overall, if you're comfortable paying twice as much for adequate dim sum, go ahead.
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Review from rob d.
Toronto, ON
9/23/2009
As far as Chinese restaurants go...this is an extremely nice restaurant...and the food excellent...the Metropolitan Hotel itself (in which the restaurant is) is somewhat depressing.
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Review from Christina S.
3/13/2010
I admit, we weren't necessarily in the mood for Chinese, but given the option to stay in our hotel instead of venturing out into the tsunami-like weather conditions, we went for this place... I would have been much happier if we'd decided to order pizza. The service was very spotty and the food was over-priced and unsatisfying. I shan't return.
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Review from Jennifer C.
3/9/2010
Ok yes it's over priced for dim sum. Yes some of the food is just well presented regular dim sum. And yes it seems hard to get into without a reservation. The whole staff is very professional and friendly, but yes the place is a little too high brow. Not exactly what I'm used to when I just want to dig in and stuff my face with yummy dim sum, but I can see what they are trying to do and appreciate it. The presentation is beautiful with quality ingredients and preparation. The food is very detail oriented and is an interesting take on classics. I would definitely go again, but when my wallet is a bit heftier! If you want to go, make a reservation!
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Review from Jamie P.
9/11/2008
The same owner as Lai Toh Heen, very similar food. This is a little more convenient to the hotels and other things, however the service was AWFUL and I would not go back. Make a trip to Mt. Pleasent location it is only a 10 min or so cab ride from most areas and is worth it.
