Eat: Kwan Dim Sum

I haven’t had dim sum in quite a while, it got to the point where I would every once in awhile express my need for dim sum, but I wanted to wait when our friend, Ben was back from whatever work-related trip he was on.

Our friend Lisa suggested Kwan Dim Sum, a recommendation from her friend. Kwan is located in the neighbourhood of Yonge and St. Clair, not a typical area for an Asian restaurant. We took note how funny they had a banner outside saying they are “the best dim sum restaurant on Yonge & St. Clair“, we are pretty sure they are the only dim sum restaurant in the area.

Seeing how they are in a relatively rich neighbourhood, I expected the service to be better than restaurants in Chinatown. After all, Chinese restaurants aren’t really known for good service; you go for the food, not for the service. We made reservations for 11:00am and arrived to find a staff at the front shouting into the phone, taking what seems to be a take-out order. He ignored us and other people behind us just arriving to their reservation or getting a table. Logic would tell you that if there’s a crowd, another staff could perhaps attend to the crowd but nope, not at Kwan. In fact, we sat at a table right at the entrance in the dining area and periodically, there would be people waiting at the front with no staff in sight.

Food-wise, prices are slightly on the premium end compared to what you will find in Chinatown and uptown. Dim sum dishes range from small at $3, medium ($4) large ($5), x-large ($6) to SP at $8. I assume SP is special dishes, like a large plate of noodles to chef’s specialties. Tea is $2/person, which is pricey. Food came to the table steaming hot and orders weren’t messed up. However, shrimp dumpling (har gow) and pork dumpling (siu mai) which are one of the quintessential dim sum dishes were basic, I felt it there should be something extra instead of something you can get at a dim sum place in Chinatown.

Pan-fried turnip pudding with preserved meat (medium)

Shrimp toast with mango aioli (small). This was a little interesting, It was a piece of bread with shrimp and deep fried.

Crispy spring roll with shrimp, pork and vegetable wrapped in steamed rice flour noodle (large)

Enoki mushroom and cloud ear fungus wrapped in steamed rice flour noodle (large)

Steamed shrimp dumplings with bamboo shoots (har gow) and steamed mince pork dumplings mixed with shrimp and black mushroom (siu mai). Both are large.

Steamed chicken feet with abalone sauce (medium)

Steamed assorted vegetable wrapped in bean curd (medium)

Steamed glutinous rice with chicken and shiitake mushroom wrapped in lotus leaf (large).

Steamed Shanghai style pork dumplings (medium, soup dumplings). Very sad looking. Kwan does not give you soup spoons, so this was hard to eat the soup dumpling way.

Deep-fried sweet porcupine shaped buns (large). It had a custard filling.

Another hit to the service was a lack of attentiveness in the staff; it’s like we’re in Chinatown, but paying premium. Not expected at all in this neighbourhood. It also took awhile to get attention for additional order and the bill. On a few plus side, the staff was efficient in clearing empty dishes from the table.

I wanted to like Kwan, it had potential to be likeable. I wouldn’t come back here; it is ok to good dim sum but with Chinese-style service at a premium price. I rather not pay that kind of premium.

Kwan Dim Sum
1496 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON
M4T 1Z6