Andrew B.
Yelp
Azyun Restaurant in Markham was once a shining star in the local dining scene, part of what many considered the trifecta of culinary excellence in the area, alongside Smash Kitchen and Bar and NextDoor Restaurant. Unfortunately, like its companions, Azyun seems to have lost some of its former glory. My recent visit on a Wednesday evening around 7 pm was a telling sign: the restaurant was nearly empty, with only one table finishing up on the patio and another occupied inside. The emptiness might have been a red flag, but the silver lining was the service, which remained prompt, attentive, and, most notably, warm. The waitress who served us was genuinely kind, taking the time to answer all of my questions politely and professionally, even when the meal itself left me with mixed feelings.
Our order included an assortment of dishes: Triple Cooked Truffle Fries, Chilled Noodles, Marinated Eggplants, Pho-Spiced Beef Tartare, Indonesian Shrimp Toast, and Truffle Fried Rice, all totaling $99 after tax and tip. Unfortunately, the culinary experience fell short of expectations.
The Triple Cooked Truffle Fries, in particular, were a major disappointment. Truffle, often used to evoke a sense of luxury, can easily become a culinary crutch when not executed properly. In this case, the truffle flavor was overpowering, likely due to the use of a cheap truffle oil or paste, which typically relies on the synthetic compound 2,4-dithiapentane for that artificial truffle essence. The fries themselves were soft and lacked the crispy exterior and tender interior that triple-cooked fries are known for. Instead of delivering a sophisticated and indulgent experience, they were a soggy letdown.
The other dishes, unfortunately, didn't do much to lift the overall impression. The Chilled Noodles were excessively sweet, a one-note dish that lacked balance, while the Marinated Eggplants were drenched in oil, overwhelming the delicate flavor of the eggplant itself. The Pho-Spiced Beef Tartare was an intriguing concept but ultimately missed the mark. The intense flavors of hoisin and clove drowned out the natural taste of the beef, resulting in a dish that felt confused and disjointed.
The Indonesian Shrimp Toast was perhaps the biggest disappointment of all. When I cut into the toast, I found barely any shrimp, which is usually the star of this dish. Traditionally, shrimp toast features a generous layer of shrimp paste sandwiched between slices of bread, but this version seemed to stray far from that. I inquired about this with our waitress, who was incredibly polite and patient. She took the time to check with the chef and explained that their method differs from the traditional approach--something about mixing the shrimp into the bread. Unfortunately, this technique didn't translate well on the plate, resulting in a bland and unremarkable dish that relied too heavily on an overly sour dipping sauce for flavor.
Even the Truffle Fried Rice, which I had high hopes for, was far too salty. It was as if the dish was trying too hard to impress with its bold flavors but ended up overwhelming the palate instead. Despite my attempts to enjoy the food, each dish seemed to fall short of what I had anticipated.
It's disheartening to see Azyun struggle to maintain the quality that once made it a standout in Markham. The empty restaurant could be a reflection of several issues--whether it's a lack of innovation, declining food quality, or insufficient marketing. While the prices weren't unreasonable considering the quantity of food, the overall experience simply didn't measure up. Still, the attentive and kind service offered a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing meal. Azyun might have once been a star in Markham's dining scene, but it now seems to be struggling to keep up. I'd give it a 2/5, acknowledging the room for significant improvement.
