Best Chinese Food in North York 2026: Top 8 Spots Ranked
North York is one of the best places to eat Chinese food outside of China. From crispy shengjian bao on Yonge Street to hand-pulled Lanzhou noodles at Fairview Mall and a Peking Duck that rivals downtown's finest, the Chinese food scene here spans every regional cuisine — Shanghainese, Cantonese, Sichuan, and more. This guide covers the full spectrum beyond dim sum (see our Best Dim Sum guide) and hotpot (see our Best Hotpot guide).
Quick answer: The best Chinese food in North York right now is at Sang-Ji Fried Bao (5461 Yonge St, best shengjian bao in the GTA, $12–$20), Bingz Crispy Burger (CF Fairview Mall, viral rou jia mo, $6–$9), and J&Y Chinese Cuisine (1108 Sheppard Ave E, best Peking Duck, $15–$50+). For budget eats, Liwan Kitchen in Scarborough has congee from $8.
Top 8 Chinese Restaurants in North York
Sang-Ji Fried Bao
- Address
- 5461 Yonge St, North York (Yonge & Finch area)
- Price
- $12–$20 per person
- Style
- Shanghainese Street Food
- Proof
- Reddit: "best shengjian bao in GTA" · XiaoHongShu: 850+ likes
Sang-Ji Fried Bao is the undisputed king of Shanghainese street food in North York. Their shengjian bao — pan-fried soup buns with a crispy golden bottom and rich, soupy filling — are consistently cited on Reddit's r/FoodToronto as the best in the GTA. The move to a larger space on Yonge Street hasn't dampened the quality one bit.
What to order: Shengjian Bao (the signature — crispy, soup-filled perfection), Wonton Soup with Scallion Confit (the sleeper hit), Peanut Sauce Dry Noodles (the Reddit favourite side dish).
Bingz Crispy Burger
- Address
- CF Fairview Mall, 1800 Sheppard Ave E, North York
- Price
- $6–$9 per burger; $14–$18 combos
- Style
- Chinese Street Food (Rou Jia Mo)
- Rating
- 4.2★ Google (1,500+ reviews)
Bingz has brought the rou jia mo (Chinese burger) mainstream in North York. The TikTok hype is real — a @torontofoodie video titled "World's First Burger in North York" hit 62K views, and there are 1.2K+ XiaoHongShu posts tagged #西少爷. Their limited-edition Peking Duck Burger for Lunar New Year 2026 reignited daily lineup culture at the mall.
What to order: Signature Pork Crispy Burger (the must-try at $6–$9), Hot & Sour Glass Noodles (the pairing pick), Black Pepper Beef Burger (the spicy alternative).
J&Y Chinese Cuisine
- Address
- 1108 Sheppard Ave E, North York
- Price
- $15–$25 lunch; $50+ dinner per person
- Style
- Cantonese / Peking Fine Dining
- Rating
- 4.4★ Google (900+ reviews) · XiaoHongShu: 15K+ bookmarks
J&Y Chinese Cuisine is best-in-class for a mid-to-high-end Chinese dining experience in North York. Their Peking Duck is widely considered the best in the area — Feb 2026 Google reviews specifically praise the wok hei (breath of the wok) and duck quality. On XiaoHongShu, it's viral for "authentic luxury" with a vibe that competes with downtown spots but with easier parking.
What to order: Signature Peking Duck (reserve ahead — this sells out), Crispy Garlic Chicken (the crowd favourite), Stir-fried Egg Tofu with King Mushroom (the vegetarian star).
Omni Noodle Palace
- Address
- CF Fairview Mall, 1800 Sheppard Ave E (also Yonge/Sheppard)
- Price
- $17–$22 per bowl
- Style
- Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Noodles
- Rating
- 4.0★ Google (600+ reviews) · TikTok: 40K+ views
Omni Noodle Palace specialises in Lanzhou-style hand-pulled noodles, made fresh in front of you. TikTok videos of the noodle-pulling technique have racked up 40K+ views, and the Fairview location is a reliable lunch stop for shoppers. The broth is simmered for hours and the noodle thickness is customisable.
What to order: Traditional Lanzhou Beef Noodle Soup (the signature — specify thin or thick noodles), Lamb Skewers (the add-on everyone gets), Braised Beef Bowl (the non-soup option).
Congee Queen
- Address
- Shops at Don Mills, 895 Lawrence Ave E, North York
- Price
- $14–$22 per dish
- Style
- Cantonese
- Proof
- Reddit: "Most reliable Chinese in North York" (150+ upvotes) · #congeequeen: 15K+ posts
Congee Queen is the gold standard for consistency and value in North York's Chinese food scene. Reddit's r/askTO community consistently votes it the most reliable Chinese restaurant in North York. The menu is enormous — covering congee, BBQ meats, noodles, and full Cantonese dinner plates — and it remains the top choice for families and large groups.
What to order: Super Seafood Congee (the namesake dish), Deep Fried Squid with Spicy Salt (the table favourite), Cantonese Chow Mein (reliable and shareable).
Fishman Lobster House
- Address
- 4020 Finch Ave E, Scarborough
- Price
- $60–$150+ per person (market price)
- Style
- Cantonese Seafood
- Proof
- Instagram: 100K+ "Lobster Mountain" tags · TikTok: @tastetoronto feature
Fishman Lobster House is the premier Chinese seafood destination near North York. Their Instagram-famous "Lobster Mountain" tower — a dramatic pile of whole lobsters — has over 100K tags and is a TikTok staple. This is a splurge spot for celebrations, and the Hong Kong-style preparations are as authentic as it gets in the GTA.
What to order: Giant Lobster Tower (the showstopper — bring a group), Hong Kong Style Fried Crab (the connoisseur's choice), Fried Rice with Lobster Roe (the luxurious closer).
Perfect Chinese Restaurant
- Address
- 4386 Sheppard Ave E, Scarborough
- Price
- $10–$18 per dish
- Style
- Cantonese — 24 Hours
- Proof
- Reddit: "Go-to 24-hour spot" · XiaoHongShu: popular for late-night supper culture
Perfect Chinese is the answer to "where can I eat Chinese food at 2 AM near North York?" Open 24 hours, it's a Scarborough institution for late-night diners, shift workers, and anyone craving authentic Cantonese comfort food after hours. Reddit's r/Scarborough community rates it as the go-to spot, and it's popular on XiaoHongShu for the 宵夜 (late-night supper) culture.
What to order: Late-Night Dim Sum (Har Gow and Siu Mai available all night), Honey Garlic Ribs (the comfort pick), Shrimp Fried Rice (the classic late-night order).
Liwan Kitchen
- Address
- 3601 Victoria Park Ave, Scarborough
- Price
- $8–$15 per dish
- Style
- Cantonese Breakfast & Congee
- Proof
- Reddit "Hidden Gem" threads · verified for value and authenticity
Liwan Kitchen is the budget champion on this list. No flashy social media presence — just authentic Cantonese breakfast at prices that haven't inflated like everywhere else. Reddit "hidden gem" threads consistently recommend it for the kind of morning routine you'd find in a Guangzhou tea house: congee, cheung fun, and fresh youtiao.
What to order: Preserved Egg and Pork Congee (the classic — silky and comforting), Rice Noodle Rolls (Cheung Fun) (choose shrimp or BBQ pork), Fried Dough Sticks (Youtiao) (for dipping in congee).
Looking for dim sum or hotpot? We have dedicated deep-dive guides: Best Dim Sum in North York (8 spots ranked) and Best Hotpot in North York (7 spots ranked with AYCE deals).
What's Trending in Chinese Food Right Now
The latest buzz from TikTok, XiaoHongShu, and Reddit as of February 2026.
Bingz Peking Duck Burger
The limited-edition Peking Duck Burger at Bingz (CF Fairview) launched for Lunar New Year 2026 and reignited daily lineups. With 4.2 stars and 1,500+ reviews, the hype is verified.
Molly Tea at CF Fairview
Shenzhen-born Molly Tea opened its first Canadian location at Fairview Mall. The jasmine-focused menu is trending heavily on XiaoHongShu for aesthetic "lifestyle" photos — 12K+ likes on opening posts.
Lucky Lin's Reopens in Scarborough
The beloved West Indian Chinese institution is back after landlord issues forced a closure. Reddit's 450+ upvote thread called it an "emotional response" from 30-year fans. New location near Kingston/Sheppard.
Modu Three Brothers — Free Refill Noodles
Located inside Skycity Shopping Centre in Scarborough, the "unlimited noodle refills" hook went viral on TikTok (45K+ views). But Google reviews flag 45+ minute waits — arrive early or skip the weekend rush.
The Line 4 “Taste of the Orient” Crawl
Follow the TTC Line 4 Sheppard subway for a Chinese food crawl that hits three major hubs in one afternoon. Transit-accessible even in winter.
Sang-Ji Fried Bao — 12:00 PM
5461 Yonge St (Sheppard-Yonge Station) · Start with an order of shengjian bao and wonton soup. Quick, flavourful, and the perfect launchpad. $12–$15 per person.
Bingz + Omni Noodle Palace — 1:30 PM
CF Fairview Mall (Don Mills Station, 10 mins by subway) · Split a Signature Pork Burger at Bingz and share a bowl of hand-pulled noodles at Omni. Hit T&T Supermarket for take-home snacks. $15–$20 per person.
J&Y Chinese Cuisine — 3:30 PM
1108 Sheppard Ave E (Bayview or Bessarion Station) · The grand finale. Order the famous Peking Duck (reserve ahead!) or try their Crispy Garlic Chicken. $25–$40 per person.
Budget Guide: Best Chinese Food Under $20
| Spot | Best Deal | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bingz Crispy Burger | Signature Pork Burger | $6–$9 |
| Liwan Kitchen | Congee + Youtiao combo | $8–$12 |
| Perfect Chinese | Late-Night Fried Rice | $10–$15 |
| Sang-Ji Fried Bao | Shengjian Bao (6 pcs) + side | $12–$15 |
| Congee Queen | Lunch Special | $14–$18 |
| Omni Noodle Palace | Beef Noodle Soup | $17–$22 |