The Best Vietnamese Restaurants in Chinatown, Toronto, Ontario

Chinatown is an ethnic enclave located in downtown Toronto and centred on the intersection of Spadina and Dundas. Chinatown extends outwards in all directions from this central point, forming one of the largest Chinatown areas in North America. Chinatown took shape in the early 1900s after Chinese immigrants who helped build the Canadian Pacific Railway across Canada chose to settle near Union Station. Today, this neighbourhood is home to authentic Chinese cuisine as well as the Dragon City mall and Chinatown Centre.
Toronto has six Chinatowns and although Dundas West and Spadina forms the largest such community, it faces competition from the growing suburban Chinatown enclaves which regularly draw new investment, migrants and tourists away from Downtown Chinatown. Other communities of Chinese migrants can be found in Scarborough-Agincourt, and the towns of Markham and Richmond Hill where you're only ever minutes away from delicious congee or a bubble tea. Changes in population have affected downtown Chinatown in the last decade or two, with the local economy dependent on seniors who live there while younger, more Canadianized Chinese opt for live in the suburbs or condo living elsewhere downtown. Demographics have changed as the wealthy Hong-Kong Chinese frequently choose to settle in Richmond Hill or Markham and more and more Vietnamese and Thai immigrants bring greater culinary and cultural diversity to Spadina and Dundas West.
Some may experience a mild form of culture shock when visiting this neighbourhood for the first time, although for most of the residents, this neighbourhood serves as a reminder of their homeland and of the resilience of their culture when introduced to new places. You'll notice immediately that virtually all of the signage for shops is done in Chinese and the street signs in Chinatown are bilingual as well. Some restaurants, whole roasted ducks and chickens are displayed to indicate their freshness and the unmistakable aroma of fresh fish fills the air.
Chinatown restaurants specialize in street-style food and an open-air market feel. While you can always duck into a restaurant for a comfortable seat and a dim-sum meal for either brunch or lunch, there's no shortage of pork dumplings available from roadside vendors to whet your appetite as you peruse the shops, market stalls and other offerings in this unique setting. You'll find limited patio space in this neighbourhood - storeowners would rather exhibit their wares on the street than provide seating - so you'll have to stroll around with your bubble tea or beef buns from the local pastry shop. The variety of Asian cuisine in this neighbourhood is perpetually on the rise and you'll have no trouble tracking down a delicious Vietnamese noodle soup, Thai red curry or Japanese grill or sushi house. Chinese tea house "One Hour" is worth a visit just for its unique beanbag seating and mix of light snacks and traditional Chinese teas.
Vendors in this neighbourhood are often well connected to Chinese exporters and compete heavily on price. Chinatown is a great place to come for an authentic Chinese meal and a bit of shopping for essentials. You'll find delicious authentic meals and the best deals on clothing, souvenirs, desserts and other essentials in this thriving neighbourhood.