I ordered delivery from here and I can't get over how the chicken does not taste like chicken at all. It doesn't have the right texture or taste like chicken
Apu Chowdhury
Food and portions are good. I can say, best Cantonese food you can have in Swatow. But it's not cheap. Foods are really costly. On top of it, they only accept cash but will add tax on your order. This is really not a good approach. Another point is that you might have to wait in a cue ( in a very tiny space and if it is in winter, then you need to wait in cold outside) if you are planning to eat after 6.
David Edmonds
Great place to eat just make sure you bring cash. Amazing food with many options to buy.
Ravi Sivaraman
Went here to try one dish - lo mein - and, it didn't disappoint! This soft/dry noodle dish was flavorful and filling. Noodles tossed with vegetables and beef.
Sean Gamble
My first and favorite classic Swatow dish is beef with black bean sauce and bak choy served on steamed rice. I go often and enjoy.
Yu Zheng
Food is good. Payment is cash only and there is no sign about it until you finish your meal.
Davey Boy
Best chinese food in the city. Recommended dishes: -beef chow mein with black bean sauce -chicken wings -shrimp with lobster sauce on rice -beef brisket & wonton soup with egg noodles
Betty Liu
Like this place a lot as this place has long history. Food is great and price is affordable
Patrick Lam
A Nostalgic Return to Swatow Restaurant on Spadina
After more than 30 years since my high school days, I finally stepped back into Swatow Restaurant on Spadina Avenue. Time has certainly changed the landscape of Toronto’s Chinatown—once bustling and vibrant in the 80s, now quieter and more subdued—but this humble eatery has stood the test of time.
Walking in, I was immediately struck by the familiar, comforting sounds of warm Cantonese chatter. There’s no pretense here—no trendy decor or Instagram-worthy plating like the newer uptown Chinese restaurants. Instead, you get what you came for: genuine, no-nonsense Dai Pai Dong style food that still carries the same bold, satisfying flavours I remembered.
The menu hasn’t lost its soul. From classic stir-fries to their signature Teochew-influenced dishes, everything tasted like it was made with care, by people who know their craft. The service was friendly in that authentic, unpolished way that makes you feel right at home. It's not just a meal—it’s a piece of old Toronto kept alive.
If you're ever in the city and craving a dose of nostalgia, or just want real Cantonese comfort food without the flash, Swatow Restaurant remains a worthy stop. Some things are worth preserving—and this place is one of them.
My wife and I got a parking spot almost in front of the restaurant, and we decided to give it a try. We ordered a hot and sour soup, shrimp with eggplant and a seafood combination on a sizzling platter. Every dish was delicious, and the service was excellent. We didn't wait for our food to be served very long.
Michael Archer
25 years coming here. Wonton soup, no noodles and an order of fried noodle with beef and black bean sauce. 5/5
Jeff Lui
Traditional Chinese noodle food shop. There is other wok cooked food options. However my go to is always the spicy pork sauce lo-mein.
Andre Dasilva
The food was good—except for the shrimp, which was a bit soggy. Everything else was decent though! The real plot twist came when it was time to pay... Apparently, they only accept cash. A heads-up about this would’ve been nice, especially when the bill is somewhere between $100-200. I mean, not many of us are strolling around with that much cash in our pockets like we're in a mob movie. If you're planning to go, bring cash, or risk going on a “find an ATM” scavenger hunt after your meal!
Sameer Sharma
The waiter was so rude. No idea why he had so much attitude.
I ordered delivery from here and I can't get over how the chicken does not taste like chicken at all. It doesn't have the right texture or taste like chicken
Food and portions are good. I can say, best Cantonese food you can have in Swatow. But it's not cheap. Foods are really costly. On top of it, they only accept cash but will add tax on your order. This is really not a good approach.
Another point is that you might have to wait in a cue ( in a very tiny space and if it is in winter, then you need to wait in cold outside) if you are planning to eat after 6.
Great place to eat just make sure you bring cash. Amazing food with many options to buy.
Went here to try one dish - lo mein - and, it didn't disappoint! This soft/dry noodle dish was flavorful and filling. Noodles tossed with vegetables and beef.
My first and favorite classic Swatow dish is beef with black bean sauce and bak choy served on steamed rice. I go often and enjoy.
Food is good.
Payment is cash only and there is no sign about it until you finish your meal.
Best chinese food in the city.
Recommended dishes:
-beef chow mein with black bean sauce
-chicken wings
-shrimp with lobster sauce on rice
-beef brisket & wonton soup with egg noodles
Like this place a lot as this place has long history. Food is great and price is affordable
A Nostalgic Return to Swatow Restaurant on Spadina
After more than 30 years since my high school days, I finally stepped back into Swatow Restaurant on Spadina Avenue. Time has certainly changed the landscape of Toronto’s Chinatown—once bustling and vibrant in the 80s, now quieter and more subdued—but this humble eatery has stood the test of time.
Walking in, I was immediately struck by the familiar, comforting sounds of warm Cantonese chatter. There’s no pretense here—no trendy decor or Instagram-worthy plating like the newer uptown Chinese restaurants. Instead, you get what you came for: genuine, no-nonsense Dai Pai Dong style food that still carries the same bold, satisfying flavours I remembered.
The menu hasn’t lost its soul. From classic stir-fries to their signature Teochew-influenced dishes, everything tasted like it was made with care, by people who know their craft. The service was friendly in that authentic, unpolished way that makes you feel right at home. It's not just a meal—it’s a piece of old Toronto kept alive.
If you're ever in the city and craving a dose of nostalgia, or just want real Cantonese comfort food without the flash, Swatow Restaurant remains a worthy stop. Some things are worth preserving—and this place is one of them.
Perfect
Restaurantji Recommends
My wife and I got a parking spot almost in front of the restaurant, and we decided to give it a try. We ordered a hot and sour soup, shrimp with eggplant and a seafood combination on a sizzling platter. Every dish was delicious, and the service was excellent.
We didn't wait for our food to be served very long.
25 years coming here. Wonton soup, no noodles and an order of fried noodle with beef and black bean sauce. 5/5
Traditional Chinese noodle food shop. There is other wok cooked food options. However my go to is always the spicy pork sauce lo-mein.
The food was good—except for the shrimp, which was a bit soggy. Everything else was decent though! The real plot twist came when it was time to pay... Apparently, they only accept cash. A heads-up about this would’ve been nice, especially when the bill is somewhere between $100-200. I mean, not many of us are strolling around with that much cash in our pockets like we're in a mob movie. If you're planning to go, bring cash, or risk going on a “find an ATM” scavenger hunt after your meal!
The waiter was so rude. No idea why he had so much attitude.
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