Where Toronto’s Chowhound King, who’s been to over 100 Michelin-starred restaurants, eats in Markham and Richmond Hill

Hong Kong–born Charles Yu is not a chef or restaurateur, but the man known to message board regulars as the King of Chowhound is a walking encyclopedia of the GTA’s Chinese food scene. In the ’90s, Yu was stationed in Paris while working for Hibernia oil. His boss was a big fan of the Michelin guide and took Yu with him as he ate his way through the country. “He lived and died by the red book,” Yu says. Over the course of two years, Yu ate his way from Reims to Rhone, accumulating close to 150 Michelin stars. “It was my fine dining education,” Yu says.

Following his travels, Yu settled in Richmond Hill, where he started to document all his food experiences on Chowhound. He quickly gained a following for his knowledge of regional Chinese food. Yu’s retired now, but regularly hosts food meet-ups and spends a good chunk of his time discovering new restaurants in the GTA. Here are Yu’s top spots on his favourite food street, Highway 7.

Northern Dumpling Kitchen

550 York Regional Rd. 7, Richmond Hill, 905-881-3818

Yu frequents this Northern-style Chinese restaurant for its signature dumplings, dim sum and one particular pork dish.

Go-to item #1: Pork with garlic and Szechuan peppercorn sauce. Tasting notes: This thinly sliced leg of pork coated in a spicy garlic sauce is Yu’s favourite dish here. “It’s so addictive. The chili oil and spices really add so many nuances to the dish—no one else does it this way.”

  Go-to item #2: Onion pancake and slices of smoked pork. Tasting notes: Yu says the best way to enjoy this plate is to find an opening in the pancake and stuff it with a slice of pork belly and scallion, then top it with hoisin sauce. “Like a little sandwich, you get the perfect balance between smoky pork belly and savoury pancake,” Yu says.

  Go-to item #3: Braised pig’s trotters cooked in soy sauce. Tasting notes: “The pork is blanched in boiling water and then dunked in a huge pot until its nice and tender,” Yu says of the umami-rich dish.

Wonton Hut

3760 Highway 7 E., Markham, 905-604-9060

Situated in a nondescript strip mall at the Markham Town Square, this mom-and-pop operation specializes in noodle soup. “Trendy noodles tend to be either Japanese ramen, Vietnamese pho or Chinese hand-pulled noodles,” Yu says. “However, as an aficionado of the Cantonese won ton noodle, this is—and has always been—my go-to noodle soup.”

Go-to item: Shrimp won ton noodle soup. Tasting notes: “The chef takes the time to use ground sun-dried flounder, shrimp shells and eggs in making the delicious broth,” Yu says. “The silver thread noodles are really fine and cooked perfectly al dente, and the won ton morsels are stuffed with nicely seasoned crunchy shrimp.”  

Casa Victoria

8601 Warden Ave. #4, Markham, 905-948-1618, casavictoria.ca

Locals (and the occasional downtowners) visit Casa Victoria for its Cantonese dim sum. Also popular are the set menus, where groups can feast on everything from Peking duck to a whole roasted suckling pig.

Go-to item: Wok-fried lobster with a coating of salted duck egg yolk. Tasting notes: “It’s sticky, savoury and full of umami goodness—a great example of a ‘finger-licking good’ dish,” Yu says.

Diana’s Seafood

2101 Lawrence Ave., E., Scarborough, 416-288-9286, dianasseafood.com

Yu recommends that everyone acquaint themselves with Scarborough’s premiere seafood shop. “It’s my go-to place for oysters—I’m a big bivalve addict,” Yu says. “My first exposure to Diana’s happened years ago, and it was actually through an advertisement placed in the food magazine of the daily Chinese newspaper Ming Pao.”

Go-to item: Oysters. Tasting notes: “Be they English, Colchester, Irish, Galway Flats or French Belons, Diana’s gets so many great varieties from coast to coast. I love the west coast Virginicas. If I can get my hands on some, the jumbo Taylor’s Special oysters are awesome. They’re so huge, only a couple will fill your stomach.”