PaiGu

Sushi Inn is a true gem in Toronto. Although its competitor, Yamato, is only steps away, it still manages to have a daily line-up outside its doors by 5pm without fail. After a painful half-hour wait of watching dish after dish of colourful sushi boats sail past us, we were finally seated. The wait was entirely worth it though. This was the best sushi I have tasted in Toronto. Colourful, masterfully sliced sashimi and sushi arrived, patterned beautifully on every plate. I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t discovered this place sooner. Everything we ordered tasted quite fresh, but the real impressive feat was the beauty of the food. True to traditional Japanese beliefs, the sushi found here was not merely some seafood rapped in a roll of rice and seaweed. No, each plate was a blank canvas, and each piece of food was a stroke of colour. The craftsmanship of the boys behind the sushi bar really showed in everything that arrived. Service can be slow at times. Prices are very reasonable, especially considering it is located in Yorkville.

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120 Cumberland St.
Toronto, ON
(416) 923-9992

Iron Chef Japanese Steakhouse in Mississauga is a newly opened Japanese teppanyaki restaurant. The teppanyaki is set separate from the rest restaurant, so unlike many teppanyaki restaurants, it can be a quiet dining experience if you’re there just for the sushi. With a sensual but uniquely modern interior design, it is an ideal location for both dates or group outings. The low lighting makes it difficult to read the menu, however. The sushi a la carte selection is fairly extensive, with very reasonable prices. The sushi dinner ($13.95), and the sashimi dinner ($14.95) are both very satisfactory. The tempura shrimp in the tempura rolls (Deluxe Maki Dinner B – $13.95) are not very crunchy, and the california rolls are plain at best. Moreover, the ingredients of their maki rolls are very simple (avocado, cucumber, crab), which may not be attractive to those of us who like untraditional ingredients such as pickled radish, mayo, or lettuce in our maki rolls. The dinner combos include miso soup, salad, and ice cream, although the miso soup and salad were not anything memorable, to say the least. However, the servers are very attentive, speak Chinese and English, and the food arrived surprisingly quickly. Considering the lack of Japanese/Asian restaurants in east Mississauga, I would go again.

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4920 Tomken Rd. Unit 5
Mississauga, ON
(905) 212-9998

Located in the heart of Chinatown, Asian Legend is one of the more sophisticated-looking Chinese restaurants in the area after its renovation. With a large and varying menu of typical Chinese dishes, one wonders where to begin. General Tao’s chicken is generally a safe choice that will please everyone, along with some dim sum appetizer selections. The cooking is nothing to boast about, but then again, most Chinese dishes in North America suffer the same fate. Decent service and decent pricing makes for a pleasant meal. But like all Chinese restaurants in the area, it is always bustling and often noisy. Recommended for larger groups rather than intimate dates.

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Downtown Location
418 Dundas St. W.
Toronto, ON
(416) 977-3909

The Commerce Gate branch in Thornhill is a much better dining experience than the downtown location in every way. Although situated a little out of the way for some, the trip is definitely worth it for those willing to drive north of the city. After two trips to the restaurant on very different nights, I have discovered that the cooking here is infinitely better than what I remember of the downtown location. From the sizzling beef on hot plate to the tantalizing tofu and vegetable stir-fry, I can’t remember the last time I had such a satisfying Chinese meal in Canada. The luxurious flavours of northern Chinese cooking oozes out of every dish, and I am reminded of my trip to Beijing with every bite. The Northern Dim Sum are a delicious surprise, particularly the perfectly steamed dumplings with juicy pork and soup that requires some expertise to eat without leaking the soup everywhere. The Cantonese Chow Mein is also particularly savoury on a bed of golden, crisp fried noodles. The ambiance and the clean washrooms also make this a great location to bring your date, friends, and family! Just be wary: on most evenings, there is a small line-up, so get there early or make a reservation. For larger gatherings, there are bigger rooms in the back, but I prefer the small tables next to the floor to ceiling glass walls in the front room. I must say, dividing the restaurant up into a beautiful front room with bigger rooms in the back was an excellent architectural choice. I, for one, am definitely going back for another taste! Perhaps this time I will go for dim sum, which I heard is excellent.

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Commerce Gate Location
505 Hwy 7 E. #77-79
Thornhill, ON
(905)763-8211