Lee Garden on Spadina / North of Dundas

[Chocaholic]

How come I don't see any posts about Lee Garden? I think this is one of the better eats at Spadina / Dundas. Always good quality.

However the wait is horrendous if you go at 7 and starving.

I have always had good food from Lee Garden. Last week I went and I had the orange honey ribs again. That was great. Also had the fish hotpot was good and also a mixed veggie dish, should have chosen the dow miu! Darn it. Next time!

My usual is the sizzling beef, steamed fish, gai lan, dow miu, the jai jai chicken. That's good too.

Any recommends on what to have at Lee Garden.

[cheeser]

I have only been to Lee Garden once, and I don't think I will go again. I have had some exceptional Chinese food and blah Chinese food before...and my opinion is that it is equivalent to food fair Chinese. If I wanted food fair standard, I would prefer to go to the Grange, and for a proper sit down Chinese meal I would wait and go elsewhere. And not all stir fries are greasy! I also found their deep fried food to be over fried in old oil. Ick!

[Chocaholic]

I went back to Lee Gardens becuz I like the orange honey garlic ribs. It's good but their portions are so small for the astronomical price they are charging. I think I will give them up. The dow miu was really good, but the portion was so small.... its crazy. $15 for a few pieces of veggies!

Oh I went back to Asian Legend too....I guess it depends on the location. Forgot which one I went to, but the food was good.

I guess every restaurant depends on the day, who is cooking etc.

Nothing can be exactly the same.

[Nemesis]

Lee Garden is still one of my favorites. Some of the dishes I like are the Grandmother Roast Duck, Steamed Fresh Whole Fish w Ginger and Green Onion, Lobster with Black Bean Sauce, Clams in Black Bean Sauce, Cantonese Lo Mein.

[sumdumgoy]

Also try the Shredded Duck Meat Soup.

[victor page]

I've gone to Lee Garden too many times to count. There are always a lot of Asians eating there, to the extent that means anything. If you say it was all non-Asians then I suspect you are talking about another place.

I don't find it over-priced for what you get- you pay more but you get real chicken for example (not skimpy grade C chicken with too much. breading). Other places serve larger portions but are you really getting more or just more breading, dried noodles, etc...?

[evansl]

Ah, memories. 15 years ago, Lee's Garden was THE place for Chinese food in Toronto according to the serious eaters. It is genuine home style Chinese cooking.

[Dimbulb]

I've always found Lee Garden seriously over-rated and over-priced for what you get.

[Chocaholic]

But my experience has always been good!

It's you get what you pay for. It's a tad pricier ... but not that much more...for good quality food.

Where else do you eat in Chinatown? Dundas/ Spadina. Need good eats there.

Asian Legend was over rated. I didn't have a good experience. Thumbs down.

[LTL]

I also enjoy Lee Garden. However, the last time I was there was at least 4 years ago, so I'm not sure if quality has changed as of late. I also enjoy E-Pan.

[LUV_TO_EAT]

There's a reason there's not a lot of Asian's eating at Lee Garden. Asians go to inexpensive places, they go to expensive places...you'll find them eating if the food is good.

Never eaten there myself, only providing my observation.

[Chocaholic]

How can you give an opinion if you have never eaten there!

I go to Kings Noodles, Swatow, and Lee Garden ... and for 3 dishes....they all came out to about around $50 at each restaurant. A little bit more at Lee Garden .. say $5!

At Lee Garden I get the house soup and the soupy chinese dessert. So for $5 more I think its a better deal. For dinner I will definitely go back to Lee Garden.

[T Long]

Lee Garden's food is better than Swatow and/or King's Noodles imo. My only complaint about Lee would be a higher price (but its worth the better food) and the insane crowds at supper. Have had good luck also at E-pan (less selection, cheaper than Lee). Lots of Asians at Lee whenever I've been there....It does attract a higher percentage of non-asians than is typical for the Spadina strip which for me is actually a good sign.

[Teep]

Swatow and Kings are "noodle houses". Their forte should be noodles, congee and rice with toppings, and it's not surprising that their "main dishes" are not up to snuff.

I think one reason why Lee Gardens attracts so many non-Asians is that it's been around for SO LONG, and it was the only one before the newer (and IMHO better) ones like E Pan and New Sky, which the less adventurous might ignore because they haven't had the same amount of time to build up a reputation.

[MindGrinder]

As with any restaurant in the area....eat at your own risk. Lately chinatown has become the tourist food equivalent of Captain John's. The real places to go arent safe and the clean places to go arent real.

[c_snapper]

understanding that most, if not all, chinese food resto on the spadina strip serve up over greased chinese food, i found lee garden to be SUPER greasy...and given the quality, it's also on the pricier side of the scale.

it was weird that the last time i went, aside from the staff, i was the only chinese person eating there.

[Chocaholic]

It's never been the case with me. There always seems to be some regular asian couples that go there too. And they don't even look at the menu and order.

I know what you mean about grease, but all stir fries and fried foods are always greasy.

I've had a steam fish there...that was not greasy. Steamed hehee.....I guess it depends on the dishes you pick.

[Dimbulb]

"Regular Asians"?

[Chocaholic]

I didn't mean regular asians as if there were un regular ones. I meant to say regular patrons that were asian! :D