Ailun H.
Yelp
My cousins and their parents love Jumbo Lobster Restaurant -- so much so that this was their third visit during our annual Markham trip. They often talk about their first time dining here as a "life changing experience", which set expectations high. We called about a week in advance to make a reservation for a party of 9 for 12/30.
The interior is massive, with seating for over 800 guests. Designed like an upscale banquet hall, the walls are lined with wine displays, dry-aged steaks, and live seafood tanks. Elegant decor and polished finishes are balanced by numerous hanging lights that brighten the otherwise dark color palette.
We were seated immediately upon arrival. The restaurant was incredibly busy and fully booked, with several walk-in parties waiting in the lobby without reservations. Despite the crowds, the staff moves fast and our orders were taken shortly after we sat down.
Between 8 adults (+1 toddler), we decided to share the combo: 魚蝦蟹扒餐 6-7位 (FISH, CRAB, LOBSTER & STEAK DINNER FOR 6-7), listed at $428. This price is a rough estimate, as the final cost varies depending on the actual weight of the lobster and crab. The combo included the following dishes:
例汤 (SOUP OF THE DAY)
Tonight's soup was an herbal chicken broth with a clean, comforting profile. The light herbal notes and subtle hints of dried tangerine peel were well balanced. Overall, I found it soothing enough to go back for seconds, though my cousins mentioned it didn't give them the same "wow!" factor like previous visits.
避風塘龍蝦 (3 磅) (LOBSTER IN HONG KONG STYLE 3 LB)
The dish arrived as an impressive deep-fried lobster tower piled high with fries. While the shell was crispy, the lobster meat inside remained soft, tender, and juicy. The fries were well-seasoned and addictive, but not binge-worthy. Everything was flavorful, though after a couple of lobster pieces and a handful of fries, I had to retire from eating this dish.
上湯焗龍蝦 (3 磅) (BAKED LOBSTER W/ SUPREME SOUP 3 LB)
Despite the name, this didn't seem baked. We assumed it was stir-fried with snow pea tips and longevity noodles in a light Cantonese-style sauce. This was definitely our favorite dish of the night thanks to its lighter feel and subtle wok hay flavor, especially compared to the fried options. The lobster was fresh and juicy, but the wok hay was weaker than expected for a restaurant of this caliber, and the pea shoots tasted slightly past their prime. The longevity noodles were savory and chewy which we loved eating.
熟成20日以上AAA肉眼扒 (16安士) (DRY-AGED OVER 20 DAYS AAA CANADA RIBEYE STEAK 16 OZ)
My uncle declared this the best steak he's ever had. Prepared in a Western style, the ribeye was grilled and seared, served with fresh thyme and plenty of garlic cloves on the side. Unfortunately, the steak itself was surprisingly bland and quite tough to chew. We were all disappointed, and my cousins mentioned it tasted noticeably better on previous visits.
金沙焗溫哥華蟹(2.25磅) (DEEP FRIED CRAB W/ SALTED EGG YOLK 2.25 LB)
This dish uses Vancouver crab rather than King crab, which noticeably impacts the quality. While the salted egg yolk coating was enjoyable, the crab itself was difficult to eat, with very little meat. What little meat I managed to extract was bland and unremarkable, and I didn't even finish the piece I took. This was definitely our least favorite dish this evening.
清蒸青班 (1.5磅) (STEAMED SEA BASS 1.5 LB)
Although the menu listed this dish as steamed, my uncle ordered it deep-fried. At this point, it felt like far too many fried dishes for one meal. The oily batter was bursting with flavor, but the sea bass itself was overcooked, resulting in dry, unappealing meat. Sea bass is naturally delicate and buttery soft when prepared well, so this poor execution was especially disappointing. My cousins and I agreed the steamed version would likely have been more enjoyable.
皇子菇扒豆苗 (SNOW PEA TIPS W/ KING MUSHROOM)
Unfortunately, the snow pea tips again lacked freshness and had very little wok hay. Another underwhelming dish.
甜品 (DESSERT)
The dessert platter included mango-and-coconut jelly along with red bean-coconut jelly. I'm not a big red bean fan, so I stuck with the mango version. Light, bouncy, and not overly sweet, it was a pleasant way to end the meal.
Overall, the food was a bit hit-or-miss, and I'd rate our experience a 7/10. However, the restaurant was packed, and the staff was clearly working nonstop. We suspect the quality of both food and service wasn't at its usual standard given the New Year's rush. While we still think highly of the restaurant, we'll likely avoid visiting during peak holiday periods in the future.