Lai Wah Heen
108 Chestnut St, Toronto, ON M5G 1R3, Canada
Phone: (416) 260-8988
Website: https://laiwahheen.com/
Lai Wah Heen in Toronto is a 4.2-star Chinese restaurant with 615 Google reviews, known for Scallop & Prawn Dumplings (Koi Dumplings) and Candied Foie Gras.
Why we love it
- Cantonese cuisine with fine dining influence
- Elegant ambiance, attentive service, artistic presentation
- Fine dining with a focus on detail
- Cantonese cuisine with fine dining influence
- Located nearby
- Elegant ambiance, attentive service, artistic presentation
- Fine dining with a focus on detail
What to Order
Scallop & Prawn Dumplings (Koi Dumplings)
These visually stunning dumplings are shaped like koi fish, filled with a delicate mixture of shrimp and scallops, and are almost too beautiful to eat.
"The koi dumplings were so lifelike that we almost didn't want to eat them! The dumplings were fresh, fragrant, and rich!"
Shelley Leung
Candied Foie Gras
Presented dramatically with dry ice, this foie gras dish is surprisingly light and flavorful, with a rich aroma that melts in your mouth.
"The candied foie gras was beautifully presented to us. I normally find foie gras can taste too salty or heavy, but it was pleasantly light and flavorful."
Cam
Crispy Shrimp Cheung Fun
A standout dish featuring plump, crispy shrimp encased in perfectly cooked cheung fun, served with a savory seafood umami soy sauce.
"The crispy shrimp cheung fan was one of my favourites of all the items we ate. The shrimp filling was crispy and generous, the cheung fan was perfectly cooked, and the soy sauce had a really nice seafood umami flavour."
Cam
Lychee Shrimp Ball
An artful creation that looks like a lychee, this deep-fried shrimp ball has a crunchy exterior and a delightful shrimp filling, often with a cheese pull.
"The lychee shrimp ball was $17 for three pieces and had the most eye catching presentation with dry ice. Crunchy puffed rice exterior, shrimp filling, and cheese pull in the center, and it worked well."
Anthey C
Beef Cheung Fun
This cheung fun is perfectly balanced, complementing morel mushrooms with soft, rich meat and a subtle crunch from water chestnuts.
"The beef Cheung fun was the best Cheung fun I have had probably ever. It was perfectly balanced and wonderfully compliments the morel mushroom. The morel gives it a woody flavour over the soft and rich meat and subtle crunch of the water chestnut."
Susan Hollander
Crab Roe Xiao Long Bao
These thin-skinned dumplings are generously filled, juicy, and release a perfect flow of soup, with the crab roe adding a subtle, complementary flavor.
"We took a bite of a dumpling and the soup flowed perfectly. The Xiao Long Bao was fresh, juicy, thin-skinned, and generously filled. After finishing the Xiao Long Bao, we sipped the fresh crab broth spoonful by spoonful, feeling completely blissful!"
Shelley Leung
Siu Mai with Uni
A luxurious twist on a classic, these siu mai are topped with uni, adding a rich, buttery depth to the dumplings.
"The Siu Mai with Uni was a luxurious twist on a classic with the uni adding a rich buttery depth to the dumplings."
Eli Blogz
Inside Scoop
- The restaurant is hidden on the second floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton, with no street-level signage.
- You'll be offered a complimentary chilled chrysanthemum tea and often fresh fruit to start and end your meal.
- Be aware that tea is served by the pot; if dining solo or as a pair, consider sharing one.
- The ambiance is elegant and moody with low lighting, making it suitable for special occasions or romantic dinners.
- While the food is highly praised for presentation and taste, be prepared for a higher price point.