crispy Szechuan beef?

[bogie]

Hi:

I was wondering if anybody knows of a Szechuan restaurant in the GTA that serves this dish? I know that most Szechuan beef dishes are simple stir frys with strips of beef and veggies. This is more like a crispy ginger beef, coated with cornstarch, wok-fried and sauced with a spicy/sweet concoction. I enjoyed this dish regularly in Edmonton when I lived there, I'm not sure if it's some local version or if you can find it here too.

[bandbme]

Oddly enough SzechuanSzechuan at First Canadian Place serves this dish - and it is very good. Go for the take out version with rice combo(about $11 - Feb 2013) but can easily feed 2 normal appetites...and their version of Ginger Beef is better! Even Calgarians that I know who (naturally) HATE EVERYTHING about TO think it's pretty good! LOL

http://www.szechuanszechuan.com/

[Chester Eleganté]

Not really odd...their version has long been a staple dish down in the Path.

[jayzen25]

Hot Wok in Scarborough, progress/kennedy has Crispy beef and it is excellent

[Moimoi]

I was inspired to comment on this posting based on my own quest for crispy Szechuan shrimp, so I posted a separate query but haven't had one reply. How embarrassing. So, in keeping in line with the crispy Szechuan theme here, does anyone know where I can find this in a "shrimp" format???

[stephen]

At 2140 Yonge Street, C'est Bon does a really good Crispy Ginger Beef. Too good in fact.

-----
C'est Bon
2685 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4N2H8, CA

C'est Bon Chinese Restaurant
2140 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4S2A8, CA

[Moimoi]

I live near C'est Bon and have been a fan for years, so thanks for the info - I'll try it next time. A bit off topic, but just wondering if you ever find the food inconsistent there... I've been told that there's a master chef, and I swear I can tell when he's not cooking... have noted significant differences in sauces, etc., from time to time... Have you??? Also terrific Shanghai Noodles, General Tso chicken (I know... a very pedestrian dish) and braised tofu, by the way...

-----
C'est Bon
2685 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4N2H8, CA

[stephen]

Haven't had any dramatic inconsistencies so far, but have been happily surprised when I try something new on the menu, even though I mostly default to the Crispy Ginger Beef. Thanks for the recos!
Pan fried dumplings, Moo Shu, and Broccoli with garlic are good choices as well.

[petek]

Is the location south of Eglinton better than the one further north,near Lawrence?

[stephen]

I've only been to the northern location one once, but it was the same good food. The service at the southern location can be spotty, but that's what I find to be the norm in Toronto.

[Moimoi]

Spadina Garden, 116 Dundas Street West is where Greg Couillard personally recommended I go to try the crispy ginger beef - a personal favourite of his. I haven't been there in a while, but I can still taste it. Yum! Not sure however if this addresses your Szechuan beef question, but I'm hankering for Szechuan crispy shrimp and just about to start a new post. Oh... I do remember once going to Rol San on Spadina and having a crispy Szechuan beef dish - another one that I can still taste - very good! p.s. I used to work downtown and also have fond memories of Szechuan Szechuan - great chow for the biz district! Would love to hear if you ever satisfied your desire.

-----
Rol San
323 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5T2E9, CA

Spadina Garden
116 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON , CA

[bogie]

Hi, Moimoi! I did satisfy my crispy beef craving at Szechuan Szechuan's location in the Financial District. It's quite good, perhaps not compared to what you can get up north, but we commute from Hamilton so we don't find ourselves in the northern environs of Toronto very often.

[TOchowgal]

Faleys (indian chinese) has the best crispy fried beef. I am not a fan of their other dishes but they make the best IMHO. It is called crispy beef on their menu.

Closest Intersection: Rexdale & Islington

http://www.faleyrestaurant.com/menu.html

[bogie]

Thanks for the input, folks! I think Im going to start at Szechuan Szechuan at FCP and work outwards.

[pakmode]

Most Hakka places have it, it's usually known as shredded beef.

[c_snapper]

had the crispy szechaun beef at Chung King in Markham, behind Market Village.

Was there for the peking duck and had the beef while we waited...it was pretty delicious...it's not as battered as ginger beef is but it's pretty close.

[LUV_TO_EAT]

Had the same two dishes at Chung KIng. Both were very good.

[Otonabee]

Szechuan Szechuan in First Canadian Place serves it. Horrifically addictive really...

[taterbrandy]

Yenching Palace in Bayview Village has featured Szechuan Crispy Beef for many years.

[millygirl]

Danforth Dragon at Donlands and Danforth has a really good one also. That, and a bowl of steamed rice always makes me happy.

-----
Danforth Dragon
861 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J, CA

[sillybuns79]

They do a delectable crispy beef at Riz on Bayview.

[justinisthebest]

I know of two places, one at steeles and bayview at a chinese restaurant called Helena's. it is on the menu as the crispy shredded beef. food at helena's is excellent. dining room leaves much to be desired so i only do take out/delivery.

also check out the crispy beef at big mouth kee in richmond hill, leslie & hwy 7 area

[juno]

Crispy shredded beef is one of the most requested dishes at Szechuan Gourmet, an insanely popular resto on Steeles Ave. W., in a strip plaza a block or so west of Bathurst St. It's a smallish place, with little space between tables, and - especially on weekends - something of a brawl. But it's clean and extraordinarily well-run, so the wait for tables isn't too horrendous. More orderly during the week. I don't go too often, but when I do I always call for the crispy shredded beef. Very, very tasty, and moderate prices. It's the kind of dish that tastes best immediately out of the kitchen, rather than take out.

-----
Szechuan Gourmet Restaurant
1033 Steeles Ave W, Toronto, ON M2R2S9, CA

[sumashi]

Helena's is the first place I thought of when I read the topic... It's been years since I've been there, but our family always ordered their crispy shredded beef. I remember it being really good.

[TorontoJo]

Ooh, thanks for the this recommendation! They even deliver to my house, which is a rare, rare find. Looking forward to trying the crispy beef. That's one dish that I've been missing ever since Chung King on Spadina closed.

Is there anything else you'd recommend from Helena?

[TorontoJo]

I just wanted to thank you guys for the Helena's recommendation! I ordered the dry spicy shredded beef and it was EXACTLY what I've been looking for ever since Chung King closed down. The only issue was that it was searingly hot with a massive amount of dried red chiles in it. :) I love spicy, but this was a bit much (though lots of rice helped the matter). Next time I'll ask them to use half the amount of chiles. The delivery was remarkably quick, too.

Web site for Helena's:

http://www.chinesefoodtoronto.ca/

Next up, I'll have to try Szechuan Gourmet, though I don't end up in that next of the woods much.

-----
Szechuan Gourmet Restaurant
1033 Steeles Ave W, Toronto, ON M2R2S9, CA