"Any restaurant that has a four-foot-long belt noodle that comes with its own pair of scissors on the menu immediately has our attention. But don’t worry, Mimi Chinese doesn’t rely on gimmicks or stereotypes. (That being said, there is a cocktail that comes in a panda-shaped vessel… but stay with us, here.) The menu, which pulls some of the most authentic and iconic flavors and techniques from across (mostly Southern) China, has quickly become one of Toronto’s favorite scenes for authentic Chinese food: a Smacked Cucumber Salad bursting with flavor, Sichuan-style Hidden Crispy Chicken that comes under a mound of 100 peppers, and a shrimp toast on fried bread with spicy mayo that, in itself, is worth booking a table here. Everything about this beautiful boîte feels like a special occasion, and Toronto’s robust, excellent Chinese food scene is all the better for it." - Todd Plummer