- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Phoenix Restaurant
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 8 am - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
19 reviews for Phoenix Restaurant
19 reviews in English
-
Review from Mel C.
10/19/2011
I really enjoy eating at Phoenix Restaurants. I've been to the one on McCowan and Raymerville but I think the Woodbine and Steeles one is nicer and cleaner.
I do find the price a bit steeper than other Chinese restaurants but it's not ridiculously priced. If you order one of the combos, you can get a free drink (tea, coffee) with your meal.
I've tried their curry dishes and I really enjoyed them. I had fried noodles which was good too. I don't think I came cross many dishes that I didn't enjoy here. As well, the menu selection is huge so you're bound to find something you'll like
They also have awesome dessert here so make sure you check them out! -
Review from Gary S.
2/1/2012
Phoenix really changed the game for cha chang tangs/HK Cafes in Toronto as previously these type cafes were kinda a dive spot but with Phoenix, they have a modern feel. The interior is all modern, the washroom aren't disgusting and the food is actually pretty decent and not oily like most.
When it first opened their used to be line ups all the time but since other places have taken on the Phoenix style, line ups aren't as crazy anymore.
I go here if I don't want something too rich in taste ie, fatty, oily but the portions aren't as big as other HK cafes and the prices are more expensive. Unfortunately their 230pm afternoon specials aren't the greatest as well. So I haven't really been back in a while since discovering other HK cafes or for the price I'm ok paying a little extra for dim sum.
Parking is pretty decent and I'd recommend trying to get a booth as the tables along the side you'll be sharing with strangers.Listed in: HK style cafes
-
Review from Jen C.
10/13/2011 8 Check-ins Here
Phoenix is a great place for solid, HK cafe style food. There are days when the dishes are really good, and others when it's just okay. Known for their Hainanese Chicken, they do one of the better renditions of it in the city - but it is subject to the up and downs of quality that all of Phoenix's food suffers. And the rice isn't yellow enough!
Their HK tea is good, as is their coffee/green-tea shake that reminds me of a kit kat in liquid form. Desserts here are also fun - they have a puff pastry with black sesame ice cream which is rather decent. And the super-tall brick toast is classic.
While you won't be crossing the city to try this place, this Asian diner is my go-to for an HK food fix. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Phoenix Restaurant might be a little boring for some. For me I find it is A-OK as there will never be any surprises and I always get good services and decent food.
Menu has not changed and the selections are the same as the other 2 locations. I can tell you even the fish soup noodles I ordered tasted identical to the other locations.
Boring......but reliable.... That make Phoenix a good choice for me when I don't feel like being adventurous and just want a quick bite! -
Review from David L.
Mississauga, ON
Came here to try the chicken rice this time.
Not bad and very generous with the meat.
My usual order here is the curry ox tongue. It is very well done here.
I also like the prawn salad.
It gets crowded during lunch so be prepared to share a table! -
Review from Precilla C.
Scarborough, ON
I love Phoenix! It's one of those pricier Chinese diners, but I think the price is reflected in the higher quality of the food. The service is quick and the food comes out quickly enough.
I have several favourites here that I always order: Singaporean Chicken Rice (the chicken is so tender!), Malaysian curry (the sauce is to die for!), pork chop bun, fish fillet bun, and various baked rice (like the baked bacon gravy pork chop rice). I'm not a fan of their Hong Kong style spaghetti, however.
They have pretty interesting desserts too. I like their fruity take on the panna cotta, but it always sells out. I've also tried their ice cream crepes, ice cream toast, and ice cream napoleon. They're all pretty good.Listed in: Brunch Extravaganza, Gems in suburb, Comfort Food
-
Review from Tony F.
1/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been on a quest for Singaporean Chicken Rice (aka Hoinam aka Hainan Chicken).
Phoenix has been in my sight lines for a while now, but haven't had much time lately. But over the holidays I happened to be in the neighourhood running some errands, and decided to pull in going solo.
It was an ominous start as a lady who was behind me decided to barge by me while I was approaching the hostess desk at the last second to leave her name. I was equally pissed that the hostess saw this move and decided to do nothing. They had a table for this lady and her party of 2 and I had to wait. It was the Christmas holidays, I decided to let it pass and not make a scene.
15 minutes later seeing another table of 2 go through, I stepped up and said I'd been here for a while now. And wouldn't you know it, they "found" me a spot right away.
Saw the menu, but I came for the Chicken Rice.
After some more crappy service, I finally got it served. It was underwhelming to say the least. The texture just isn't as silky smooth and slick like great Chicken Rice should be. The ginger sauce was fairly bland, and this was just plain rice. I expect Chicken rice rice, to have been made with the broth the chicken is made from and explode with flavour.
This was like going on a date that a friend had been hyping. "She may not be the hottest thing, but very cute with a good personality", however when you meet her you realize she's way older and about 20 pounds heavier than you expected. And her personality? Just rude.Listed in: Ridonckulousness! (Oh no you…
-
Review from Darren S.
Markham, ON
5/8/2011
Phoenix definitely provides great value for your dollar. I've come here many times and am very rarely disappointed with what I order. The service is usually prompt and friendly enough, they have never gotten my order wrong, and the food comes out quite quickly.
Food variety-wise, this place is chock-full of Cantonese style dishes, along with other favourites (their Hainanese Chicken Rice is promoted very heavily, but more on that later), and some very very nice Western-style dishes as well.
Food taste is very good, the dishes are never bland and you can tell that the food quality itself is relatively good. Value for price-wise though, this place cannot be beat. Two of us ate a soup-based noodle, fish and chips (crazily cheap at 5.99), a pineapple bun, and a huge ice cream for dessert, all for $25 before tips.
SPECIAL REVIEW: Their Hainanese Chicken Rice is indeed very tasty, and is the best one I've had in Canada. The soup is unfortunately very bland and disappointing, but the chicken itself is very very good. The rice itself is tasty, but comes a far cry from those I've had in Singapore. I would give this chicken rice 3.5 out of 5: excellent by Canadian standards, but only "alright" by Southeast Asian standards.
Would I recommend this place? Absolutely. But again, the best feature is the insanely good value for money you get here. If this restaurant ever raised its prices though, the star rating would drop. Otherwise, what are you waiting for? Go there now! :DListed in: DKLo's Cheap Eats
-
Review from Steph L.
12/3/2010
It's everything you'd expect from a Hong Kong style cafe.
It's a cheap and quick meal (lunch specials all under $10 bucks).
The food is alright and the portions are generous.
The service is not amazing... as expected.
I met some friends for lunch, there's always a lunch special menu, so we didn't bother looking at the regular items.
We ordered:
*Baked chicken in red curry sauce.
*Two sauces pork chop on rice
*Some form of fried rice with salty fish and assorted seafood
The sauces weren't particularly tasty or spicy.
I'm always a bit disappointed if a HK style place doesn't have black pepper sauce or Portuguese sauce available for baked items.
The HK style tea is really good though. Worth +0.5 a star good.
I'm not sure if I'd come back here with so many other options nearby. -
Review from Jonathan W.
Calgary, AB
4/13/2009
Been trying to find a Hong Kong Style Cafe place since leaving Calgary. Would have thought it would be easy in Toronto but not until I came across Phoenix.
Classic HK Cafe fare, tremendous large menu. Noodle soups, curries, rices, noodles, sandwiches, combos etc.
Had the Malaysian curry beef, excellent. Chicken with ginger rice, excellent. Baked spaghetti wit beef and tomatoes, excellent.
As per cafe, dishes come with a hot coffee or tea during certain times and they have specials on weekends. Definitely a good stop for a lunch meal. Limited seating so this place is packed often at peak hours. -
Review from Maria C.
Markham, ON
6/2/2011
Over rated. Over priced.
I came for the hainanese chicken rice and it was so fatty and the service was lacking. I know it is a hk diner, but hey, if I have to pay more for my meal, I expect better food and / or service.
Lunch combos do not come with soup and a drink like many other hk diners do.
Firefly at first Markham is better in that sense all around.
Food, service, value. -
Review from Yum E.
6/19/2010 1 photo
Yelpers posted that Hanian Chicken was the house specialty here. Yelpers sure didn't disappoint!
Hainan Chicken
- Chicken was flavorful, tender and juicy
- Soup was rather bland
- Garlic Rice was tasty too!
Tip: Chicken can be requested boneless upon request!
...the chicken was a little on the salty side...maybe bring a bottle of water to drink afterwards? :) -
Review from Archimedes T.
Toronto, ON
6/24/2010
Ok just tried their Hainan Chicken here since someone told me about it.
Personally, I was quite disappointed, the chicken was excessively salty. I could barely eat it. I ordered their chicken oil rice as well which was meh, I should have just ordered the plain rice instead.
I also got their baked beef spaghetti with 50c extra for cheese. It was so so, but I don't think worth the price. I may as well just get it from Metrosquare Cafe which is closer.
Service was meh, no free wifi. It is also out of the way from most things except for the Holiday Inn (in which I would recommend people to just go to Metrosquare Cafe instead). -
Review from Reynold X.
4/15/2010
This place has very good Hong Kong style milk tea, Hainanese Chicken (with rice), noodle soup, and Panna Cotta (they call it French style but it's really Hong Kong style).
You can have a very nice meal for $10. -
Review from Elvin W.
Markham, ON
9/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
Suggested by friends. Extremely disappointing. We will not return .#haiku review. (this place isn't even worth a full review)
-
Review from Francisca W.
8/23/2009 4 photos
great hk style food. best hoinan chicken rice--rice is flavorful, chicken is tasty and tender; love the sour spicy sauce too, although the minced ginger seemed a bit on the salty side. perfect hk style milk tea + coffee blend. and my table neighbor's malaysian curry looked wonderful as well.
from breakfast to tea sets to dinner to a la carte, there are sooooo many items on the menu, one can basically eat there 3 meals a day for a whole month without having to repeat a dish, seriously. they all sounded good on the menu, but not everything comes out the way you had expected it to. like, my bf (a newbie to hk style food) ordered a prawn salad w/tobiko & seaweed, thinking that should be quite japanese, but i forgot to tell him that's hk style salad that's made w/lots of cooked potatoes and mayo. the first couple bites were ok, until you realize the prawns were sliced in halves sideways and couldn't help but wonder why they're being so cheap. his pork chops in sweet corn sauce was ok, but not out of the world. he was surprised about the big portion, though, seeing two full slices of pork on the plate (and now he complains about not having enough rice).
it was a good meal, after all. but lines can accumulate during peak hours. we waited about 15 minutes, arriving at about 1pm on a weekday. but the line comes and goes. there was no wait shortly after we sat down, and then there was a few people waiting again as we were leaving. so try your luck as you go.Listed in: Canada: Hidden (or not so…
-
Review from Nate R.
6/24/2010
Staff didnt check on us, food was So-so.
Squid/Fish Balls were a tasty appetizer.
We weren't given the option for dessert. Server walked up, told us register was closing so they were billing us now. (This was as we were finishing our dinner, and wasn't 10PM yet) They did this to everyone there at the time, but it would've been nice to have at least been asked if we wanted anything else. We had hot tea and hot food in a warm restaurant, and would've gladly sprung for something cold.
I had the Malaysian Ox-Tongue Curry, my wife had the Malaysian Chicken Curry. Both were decent. -
Review from Winston W.
7/14/2009
My cousin had told me to check this joint out when I came up to visit from Boston. The place might have the best Hainan Chicken Rice I've had in the longest time. The rice itself tasted amazing on its own and the dish came with a nice serving of broth soup to wash everything down. My little brother ordered a lunch special and it came with toast with condensed milk syrup poured on top which brought me back to my days living in HK. I would move to Toronto just for this place.
-
Review from Gloria Z.
8/26/2009
I heard from others that the service here is pretty bad but my first visit there seemed to prove otherwise. While the service wasn't great, it didn't seem any worse than your typical Chinese restaurant. I ordered the fish tofu noodle soup ($5.95), supposedly of a shark's fin pork bone based broth. I was hesitant at first since I generally don't like anything made with pork. It turned out ok because the broth tasted (and smelled) only mildly of pork, but the shark's fin taste was not there either. The noodles were rather good (chewy texture, not too soggy). I also shared an order of the HK-style egg sandwich with a friend. It was pretty good - fluffy crustless white bread and fluffy scrambled egg. I was told that it's a little expensive as far as HK style tea cafe restaurants go but it still seems reasonable (for someone from Orange County, California, at least). Would definitely come back again if I have the chance.
