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Lee Garden Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Chinese Chinese [Edit]
331 Spadina AveToronto, ON M5T 2E9
Neighbourhoods: Chinatown, Kensington Market, Downtown Core
(416) 593-9524
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
36 reviews for Lee Garden Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"Don't be afraid of the line-up; it's worth it." In 3 reviews -
"...you're a seafood fan --- the deep fried cod with garlic is..." In 3 reviews -
"...right, light and fluffy, birds nest taro tasted great." In 2 reviews
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36 reviews in English
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Review from Philip L.
1/27/2012
A little expensive but worth it....kinda like an R&G Lounge in san francisco - classic, been around for years, food always well done, a place for both chinese and nonchinese folks, crowded at peak times.
We had the beef with mushroom, very good meat quality, which is not always the case with chinese restaurants. Enjoyed the hot and sour soup too.
I would not get sweet and sour anything, thats pretty westernized and they probably wont do it well. -
Review from Flouny S.
Toronto, ON
1/23/2012
Food is pretty good but it can be very pricey. This is one of the few places in chinatown where the non asian customers out number the asian customers which is most likely due to the no MSG sign!
Recommend the beef and avocado and cashew dish. It's really good but really pricey at $20 a pop. Most dishes here are $16 and up. Had the stir fry green beans with garlic for $8 it was a really small dish but it tasted good.
Service can be hit or miss, but there is one guy there who is really nice, wears glasses and has grey hair with a thin build. Don't mistake him for the other guy with glasses, and grey hair with a medium build because he is the not so nice guy. More like an impatient kind of guy. -
Review from Melanie H.
Toronto, ON
1/9/2012
This is not chinese food for chinese people, but it is good if: you've never had chinese food before, you have the munchies, you are pregnant or desperate for food on new year's day.
Some words of advice: order the lobster with the fried noodles. It seemed like everyone ordered this but us, and as i watched everyone licking their fingers with delight I really regretted it. If I was forced to go back, I would order just the lobster, and the sweet and sour chicken. The sweet and sour chicken comes with huge chunks of pineapple (good for digestion) and if you ask for a side of hot sauce (and actually get it) and dip your chunks of chicken in the hot sauce, then, no kidding, it tastes exactly like chicken wings! Hmmm! -
Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Let's just say that there's a reason why most of the people eating here aren't Asian. ;) Worse yet, the hype has turned this place into some sort of tourist trap. Everything my dining companion and I had was either overly salty or really bland. Granted, they don't use MSG but the other flavors just fall flat. The roast duck was especially overcooked and dry. The fried rice was good, but... it's just fried rice. Save your money and eat Chinese in Markham instead.
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Review from Edwin A.
8/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
All hype unfortunately.
We ordered three dishes to share that night
1. birds nest with mango and chicken
2. shanghai noodles
3. fried rice with chicken
it's a very popular restaurant, expected a lot from the hype and the zagat ratings.
unfortunately, sloppy cut prep on the meat and vegetables, taste is okay yes it's not manchu wok food court but it's not like something one would get at Ding Tai Fung in Markham either.
Fried rice was cooked right, light and fluffy, birds nest taro tasted great.
Interior nothing to write home about either.. I think it's playing on it's popularity .. cost is too high imho for the quality. -
Review from Tricia Z.
Toronto, ON
4/20/2012
The service is really great and the food is not bad too. But this is westernized Chinese food, not what I am looking for in a Chinese restaurant. Hence the 3 stars.
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Review from Jasper C.
York, ON
2/12/2012
For the high volume of business and upscale prices it charges, I wish this restaurant would add a few extra floor staff to improve its table service. The ingredients are consistently fresh and the dishes generally flawless, but the servers here are always overwhelmed whenever there's a queue forming out the door (a nightly occurrence). The food isn't so out of this world that I can overlook that aspect of a dining experience.
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Review from David L.
Mississauga, ON
10/12/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Great place for interesting and tasty Chinese food. My favorite dish is the Grandfather Smoked Chicken with honey and sesame.
Usually crowded though with a lineup at the door if you come during the dinner rush..
That's a sign that this is a good restaurant! -
Review from Hideki K.
3/25/2011
From the outside, Lee Garden is an unassuming restaurant. When you enter and see their offerings and menu, you realize it's a bit more fancy than a typical Chinatown place. They've been around since 1978. I'm not sure if that's a big deal since I'm not familiar with the history of Toronto's Chinatown.
I decided to go to Lee Garden, on Monday, for my first dinner on this current T.O business trip after reading positive Yelp reviews. I would agree with the general consensus that the food is authentic and decent, but also agree that it is pricey. I didn't see many Chinese customers, which leads me to believe that there are other restaurants that are just as good as Lee Garden, or better, that are more affordable in the area. Lee Garden seemed gentrified, which makes sense from what I've been reading on Yelp (that the prices here have gone up a lot).
Their menus are available online, in pdf form, at:
http://www.leegardenre...
I ordered Dish #44: Sauteed Shirmp with Chili Pepper & Eggplant ($16). The portion was large, so it was enough to serve as lunch for the next day. The shrimps were good. However, I was disappointed that the dish was not spicy at all, which was the reason for me ordering it.
Adding in steamed white rice cost another $2. I realize it's standard, in Toronto, for rice to be tacked on as an additional cost. I'm just used to rice and tea usually being free, in most other places.
I'm not sure if Lee Garden is supposed to be a Catonese restaurant since I did see Sichuan dishes listed on the menu.
I am willing to give Lee Garden another try to see if I like the place or not. The next time I go, I would like to order the Grandmother's Roast Duck and Chicken.Listed in: Best of T.O
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Review from Martin W.
2/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went out with some friends last night who were craving some Chinese food. Being the only Chinese person in the group they asked where we should go. I wondered where non-Chinese people would want to have Chinese food and immediately thought of Lee Garden.
It didn't disappoint. The wait time was short and the food came out quickly. We ordered a lot but every dish was so tasty, hot, and flavourful that the food disappeared very quickly. I was surprised at the prices though. They seem to have gone up quite a lot since coming here last a few years ago. -
Review from Cynthia H.
6/6/2011 2 photos
This place was highly recommended by a family member.
For those of you not from the area (like me), here's a list of what we ordered:
-Soft Shell Crab Appetizer - Fried & crispy, very well done.
-Shredded Duck & Mushroom Soup - Good but felt like it wasn't salty enough...and I'm not a huge fan of ginger.
-Stir-fried vegetables in Taro Birds Nest - Vegetables done well but I've had better versions of this...
-Cantonese-style Beef Noodles - I felt like it was overly greasy and the noodles they used were too thin and didn't put enough beef
-Lobster with Green Scallions- Meaty but not enough sauce.
-Fried Bananas - Bananas were a bit mushy and the breading outside was a little excessive but overall, decent.
I think I'm really picky about my Chinese food so I'd have to say this place was good but not fantastic. -
Review from Thomas H.
4/29/2011
The food here is tasty. It's definitely a dependable option in china town.
However, it's a bit pricey - bordering on the $$$ range.
I don't think it's "worth the wait". If there's a line, then you're better off with the other solid options in china town.... House of Gourmet and many more.
If you have this much to spend, try Dynasty (in yorkville) which is more of a gourmet experience. -
Review from Cindy C.
Toronto, ON
2/6/2011
I agree with Paul L. - I don't know what the hype is about.
To be fair, I didn't order the dishes, so the styles may have been different (canton vs. mandarin dishes). So, I may need to give it another go - then re-rate.
My review is pretty much exactly the same as Paul L's hahah reading his parallel to mine is quite funny. Had the LOBSTER- it was meh. RIBS were delicious over a bed of veggies. We had DEEP FRIED FISH - couldn't tell it was fish until we finished the tofu. The SWEET & SOUR PORK was generic - nothing too spiffy. We had the FRESH STEAMED OYSTERS which actually were quite tastey, fresh and huuuggeee. This was my fav dish.
Overall, nothing to grovel over. All the places on Spadina are on par with each other. I would go there again upon different must have dishes - please recommend!!! Everything tasted very generic and generic... Service was ok. VERY busy, even with reservations. -
Review from Peter L.
Toronto, ON
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Arguably the best Chinese food in Toronto. Don't believe me? Walk by and observe the front window covered in Zagat, Now Toronto and other "recommended" stickers, copious newspaper write-ups and praise from celebrities.
The menu is expansive and if you are able to read Chinese, the seasonal specials on the wall do well to compliment the menu's offerings and then some. The price is higher than other Chinese places in the city, but once you taste the food you will understand why. This restaurant sees frequent business and often times you will find it packed with a line-up out the door, even on Sunday evenings. Reservations are recommended but not completely necessary. The service is professional and the liquor menu diverse, offering most domestic and import brands, including Asian favorites like Tsingtao.
I'm not a person of principle but whenever I want good Chinese food, Lee Garden is the first place I turn and I have yet to find much better elsewhere. -
Review from paul l.
10/13/2010
I don't know what all the fuss is aboot... sorry about... =P...
This place isn't THAT remarkable. It's pretty good. We ordered the lobster and the ribs. The lobster wasn't phenomenal, but the ribs were pretty tasty. I know a lot of people will hate on me for saying this... but my favorite chinese place in north america is the house of nanking in san francisco. yes. i know that cockroach infested tourist trap gets a bad rap. but it's fantastic. this place is just okay.... -
Review from Mochi M.
3/15/2011
One of the best Chinese restaurants in Toronto. I've tried a whole bunch of them but Lee Garden is the best.
Yes, they've gotten pricey over the years to be more 'upscale', but I can assure you that 10 years ago when I started going there, it was NOT that expensive and the food was just as good.
I still think it's one of the best in Toronto, even though the prices are higher now. The other restaurants serve Chinese food, but it isn't as good, and isn't as fast or as hot as it should be. -
Review from Ch W.
2/24/2012
The best hong kong style Cantonese food in Chinatown. Recently increased their pricing, we find it too pricey for the kind of food served.
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Review from Tammy Y.
2/13/2010
I avoided this place for almost a year because the lineups were way. Too. Ridiculous. Even with "reservations", expect to wait, especially on a weekend. However, I recently found myself there (in the too-ridiculous lineup) again for a special occasion and wondering if the line spilling into the seating area/washroom stairwell was a possible fire hazard. But who cares? Everyone loves Lee Garden!
True, it is one of the few chinese restos on the Spadina strip where 85% of the patrons are in fact not Chinese, but Lee Garden is the exception not because their meals are Canadian-fied, but because it is just so darn good and really does appeal to all taste buds. Favourite specialty dishes here are: striploin (?) sitr-fried with black-peppered avocado slices, a tofu-as-omelette block filled with vegetables, and bird's nest with vegetables. All delicious - and all good.
Service here is top-notch indeed, which might explain the number of returning customers greeted warmly by members of the wait staff. We requested the bird's nest dish without meat (to accommodate our veggie friend) with our server, and when another server brought out the dish without the amend, our original server spotted the mishap from across the restaurant and hurried over and quickly swiped the dish away to replace with our proper order. Damn, he's good!
If I had the patience, I'd likely be here more often. However, the overwhelming crowds are well-deserved for this little establishment. Long live Lee Garden! -
Review from Annie S.
5/20/2009
I liked this restaurant because the service is fast and the food tasted good. The honey bbq ribs were really yummy and I would recommend that. We also ordered some veggie dish and a seafood dish (forget the names). They were both good but it was too much food for just 2 people. The servings are quite large so don't get more than 1 dish/person.
I would recommend this restaurant if you're in Chinatown! -
Review from Gaurav S.
Toronto, ON
2/24/2009
IMAGINE! A Chinese restaurant. IN CHINA TOWN. That serves good quality meats! (*Jaw drops to the floor, yet again)
I'm always baffled by - and absolutely inclined to order - the "Pan Fried Filet Mignon w/ Black Pepper, Avocado and Cashew Nuts" when I'm at Lee Garden. It's a standard sized dish for $12.00, which is a few bucks pricier than most Spadina Ave food spots, but finds itself at the lower end of this joints price list.
None of the options on the menu disappoint. I think it's also important to note that Lee Garden is one of the few restaurants on Spadina that I frequent BEFORE I get wasted, as opposed to New Ho King which is strictly for post-bar meals.
Definitely more expensive than its China Town competitors, Lee Garden represents a step up from the standard. -
Review from Bradley J.
Mississauga, ON
6/21/2011
I'm surprised by all the great reviews.
Went to Lee Garden because the other 3 restaurants i usually go to were way to busy (half hour waits)
Place was packed so it seemed like a decent restaurant to try. We ordered the chicken corn soup, Shrimp Fried rice, shanghai noodles and the general chicken.
absolutely terrible. soup was okay. the rice and the chicken were completely stale and the noodles were inedible.
Portion sizes were tiny and each dish cost about twice as much as all the other restaurants on spadina.
RECAP
Small Portions, Bad Taste, Twice as expensive.
Place was busy so maybe it was just our group that had a bad experience. -
Review from Jeremy B.
11/5/2009
Went to this restaurant in Chinatown on a friend from Toronto's recommendation and we were not disappointed. Since our group of 4 were in Toronto on a business trip, we got to order a large array of dishes and expense the bill. Yessss...I love good Chinese food. One of my coworkers spoke fluent Cantonese, so we let him order and this is what we got: duck meat soup, spring rolls, white rice, lobster w/ ginger and onion, tofu with vegetables (mushrooms, etc) in garlic sauce - this was my favorite dish that we had, the sauce was incredible, sizzling beef, crispy chicken, a fried pork dish. We finished off the meal with the sweet bean soup they give everyone and then we also added the dessert, which was bananas, fried and then caramelized with a sweet syrup, kind of like a Chinese version of bananas foster.
Wow, I'm not sure if I've ever eaten more in one sitting in my life. We were all ridiculously stuffed afterwards, but it was worth it because the food was so good....wasn't that expensive either. For all the food we ordered (probably enough for 6 or 8 people), I think the bill only came to around $120 CAD. Service was attentive and friendly as well. I would definitely like to return to Lee Garden on another trip to Chinatown in Toronto. -
Review from Melissa J.
Toronto, ON
11/10/2008
Lee Garden is probably one of the least intimidating restaurants on Spadina -- It's got an english name, easy-to-understand menu, a clean atmosphere, and a line-up out the door. This means that tourists will flock to it, and so will locals, and that's not a bad thing unless you're really hungry and not in the mood to wait.
This place is actually really good, with reasonable prices, and cute decor inside. I've had a lot of veggie dishes from here that have made me happy, as well as delicious noodles that aren't overdone with grease. Haven't tried any seafood dishes, but I can say that the standard beef and chicken dishes are all done well.
If you walk past Lee Garden, and there isn't a lineup, definitely give it a chance. Otherwise, there are other places -- you are in Chinatown after all. -
Review from Erin H.
Toronto, ON
9/3/2008
This is not your typical Chinese Food Restaurant, save for the fact that it is located on Spadina and has an entirely Asian staff.
Unlike many Chinese food restaurants, most things on the menu are not deep fried and served up on your plate in the form of a ball. Rather, the food is all very fresh looking and the dishes are unique. Some of their specialties include, the whole steamed pickerel, the Beef tenderloin with Avocado, and the crispy shrimp.
Unfortunately many people know abut Lee Garden and as a result the prices lie on the high end of normal for Chinese Food so if you're bringing with yourself a big appetite, you're going to have to bring a pocketbook to match. -
Review from Alex K.
Toronto, ON
6/4/2011
good food, if a bit pricey for what it is. We had amazing general tao chicken and a beef dish with nuts and avocado that I would happily kill for. Mixed veggies were fine if a bit greasy and we had about a gallon of white rice forced on us that we ate exactly zero kernels from. A big meal with beers aplenty came to about $60 which was more than I'd anticipated spending on Spadina but which I think I would happily do again.
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Review from Wil L.
Mississauga, ON
11/30/2010
This is "the" place to eat and experience quality Chinese food in Chinatown. This restaurant has been a fixture on Spadina ave for years and the food is amazing and consistent. I grew up in Chinatown & I have always look forward to a meal here. Well worth lining up for.
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Review from Leslie-Anne W.
Toronto, ON
11/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
I really like Lee Garden. I was with 7 people and we waited about 20 minutes for a table - pretty reasonable for a Saturday night, I'd say. We ordered a lot of dishes, but my hands-down favourite dish of all time at a chinese food restaurant ever is the beef tenderloin, avocado and cashew dish from here. Delicious. Next time I will be greedy and order one for myself. We ordered a lot of food and the bill was roughly $18 a person, which I thought was pretty much amazing.
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Review from Aurora L.
Toronto, ON
2/29/2012
My family and I decided to finally try out Lee Garden Restaurant after years and years of seeing busy line-ups spilling out onto the sidewalk. The experience was...okay. The prices are about 20-25% higher than typical Chinese restaurant prices...we know that because we are used to dining at the other two Chinese restaurants just a little North of this restaurant. We ordered our usual dishes for comparison's sake. The double lobster with ginger and green onion was quite tasty...very meaty and enticing display. The sweet and sour pork was quite tasty. The Cantonese chow mein was a bit bland for my taste. The satay beef on a sizzling platter fizzled too quickly...just not hot enough for our liking. Also, we are used to order rice in a large bowl as we are a family of 6. However, they insisted that they don't have large rice bowls available and only small individual bowls...a bit of a cash grab if you ask me. The service was alright...one of the managers (I suppose) was a bit impatient in his demeanour but the other staff members were quite friendly. Very spacious restaurant and I'm quite surprised that with its more generous dining space, it's always full...and quickly in the evening too! In terms of experience, it was acceptable but nothing outstanding. For a comparable meal and since I'm always looking for better value, I think I'll stick with the other two Chinese restaurants right up the block...
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Review from Lynn W.
10/11/2011
Authentic and delicious! Go early and prepare to wait in line, it's worth it!
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Review from Rich T.
Toronto, ON
2/23/2010
I've been a patron of Lee Garden for many years and it's rarely disappointed me so when I had a relative in town who was well versed in Chinese food, I took her there. My suggestion if you decide that this is your spot for dinner on weekends --- GO EARLY! If you get there after 6pm, expect to wait in line for 20-30 minutes minimum. As for the food, everything is good. It's standard Cantonese fare with all the staple dishes. Specials are usually posted around the walls and are often worth trying. The place is clean, service is efficient and friendly and the food always comes out piping hot. If you're a seafood fan --- the deep fried cod with garlic is unbelieveable. +ives: mostly everything; -ives: lines if you miss the cut off. Enjoy.
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Review from Tina N.
Toronto, ON
10/20/2009 1 Check-in Here
This restaurant is always busy at dinner hours. People actually wait in line for an hour to eat here which is how you know they sell good food!! This is probably the only Chinese Restaurant I eat downtown because they sell the best and freshest seafood in all of Toronto, and I love SEAFOOD!! The staff and servers are very friendly and tend to socialize with all the customers at every chance they get. Service is quick and the food always looks good and ready to eat when they come out. I love their Lobsters! Definitely try this restaurant!
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Review from Jenny R.
11/8/2008
What Lee Garden lacks in msg, they make up for with salt. Perhaps the restaurant has particular dishes it's proud of but the mixed seafood with vegetables at $20 is a measly portion of overcooked scallops, a few shrimp and three pieces of squid. As for grandmother's roast duck, she must have started cooking it as a babe because every ounce of fat was rendered and left in the pan. What was left? A block of salt in the shape of half a duck. I grimaced through most of my meal and paid an eyepopping $60. Non bueno.
Award placards, long lines, and packed house are a ruse in my opinion for, at best, mediocre chinese food. -
Review from Eddie C.
Toronto, ON
6/18/2011
this is one of the better chinese restaurants in chinatown and im chinese, its authentic, good food selection, decently priced -1 for the open kitchen which makes your clothes smell all the time
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Review from Alex T.
6/25/2011 1 photo
We found this place, when I asked a biker coming out of Ran Sol if they had good food. He said they found Ran Sol, when Lee Garden had a huge line they didn't want to wait in. The line both times we went were short. We had a ten minute wait. First time we had Hot Sour soup (very good), Duck soup (amazing deep rich flavor), beef on hot plate (little over cooked and not too interesting), and the garlic green beans (very good). The second time we had Lobster 2lb $28 ( fine, but messy. wouldn't get again), chicken breaded & fried (told it would be spicy, sent back to kitchen for more heat. they brought me a new plate. better with more heat). Beans (love them). Duck soup 2nd time wasn't as rich, needed to be cooked down a bit more, or something. still good, but not as good as first time.
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Review from M T.
Toronto, ON
12/31/2009
The best.
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Review from Liz P.
Toronto, ON
5/16/2009
Love this resto. Amazing Chinese food, and I'm picky about my Chinese food (as a person made an honorary Chinese person thanks to growing up in Vancouver and having lots of Chinese friends). Never had a bad meal there; everything is fresh and tasty; and it's pure entertainment watching all the dishes go by, fresh from the kitchen. Do order the General Tso's chicken (#21 on the menu) with mango salad. Amazing. The hot and sour soup is the only thing I wasn't crazy about on the menu. And if you have a silly, unfounded fear of tofu, this is THE resto to get over that. My favourite waiter is Bill - he greets you, remembers you, and if you're a friendly regular, will offer pork broth before your meal and sweat bean soup for dessert on the house. Don't be afraid of the line-up; it's worth it. Push your way to the front to get a number, and push your way back to the end of the line to wait your turn. Check it out.
