Lai Wah Heen

The newly revamped Lai Wah Heen is quite the experience. The interior is beautiful and upscale. Food is delicious with a modern flare. Food has wonderful presentation, and is very aesthetic while also still being delicious. My favourite dish had to the lobster mapo tofu, I'm normally not a tofu fan, but this was just amazing. Cocktails are a must too. The dining experience is worth every penny! Would highly recommend.

I came here for lunch and this place is reservation only. Before coming, I read a lot of reviews mentioning that their prices were quite high, but I still wanted to give it a try. The restaurant’s decor is beautiful, but unfortunately, we were seated in a corner where we couldn’t really enjoy the overall ambiance. We actually preferred to sit in the open area, and I noticed there were empty tables available. I’m not sure why the hostess placed us where she did, but I didn’t bother to ask or complain. Once seated, we were greeted by the manager, who was very friendly and welcoming. He introduced us to a few dishes and explained that their two chefs come from five-star hotels in Guangzhou, China. That got us excited, so we ordered quite a few items. Beforehand, I had seen menus posted by other guests and noticed the prices were high. But to my surprise, the prices have since been adjusted and are now much more reasonable—especially for Lai Wah Heen. Also, parking is free as long as you inform the reception, which is a nice bonus, especially in a downtown location. Now, onto the food: My personal favorite was the pan-fried turnip cake—very well done. The xiao long bao was tasty too, although the presentation could use a bit of improvement. The AAA beef short ribs came out warm but were very chewy, so I wouldn’t recommend them. The steamed pork ribs with mini pumpkin had a nice presentation, but I wish it had more sauce, as most of it soaked into the pumpkin. The lotus sticky rice with abalone came with plenty of dried scallops, which was great, but I would’ve liked more gravy inside—similar to what I’ve had elsewhere. The beef ball was just okay, and the beef rice roll was average. The glutinous rice dumpling had good flavor, but I found the truffle a bit overpowering. One suggestion: the menu could use more flavor variety. Several dishes featured truffle, which made it feel a bit repetitive. Service-wise, the staff could use a little more training. The hostess didn’t ask where we preferred to sit, and when I asked for chili oil, the server brought chili paste instead and told me they didn’t have any. Later, the manager clarified that they actually do have a house-made chili oil. It’s a minor issue, especially since they’re still in soft opening. In conclusion, I’d give this experience a 3.75 out of 5, and I’ll definitely return. I’m also interested in trying their dinner menu—especially since their other chef also comes from a five-star hotel—and see their dishes have any wok hei. I’ll likely wait until they’ve had more time to fine-tune everything.

Had dinner here last weekend to celebrate an event. I didn't know what I was getting into. Thought it was plain Jane Chinese food,IT WAS NOT! It was the best Chinese food I've tasted. Fine dining that suits the environment. Farm fresh, locally sourced ingredients. And don't even get me started on their tea selection Looking forward to eating here again

Review of Lai Wah Heen (New Ownership) July 2025 Lai Wah Heen’s stunning makeover is undeniably its strongest feature. With plush banquettes, elegant lines, and three private dining rooms, the space radiates excellence. Our server Tim was attentive and kind, doing his best to accommodate us. Madison offered to give us a tour of the newly designed space, though sadly never circled back. We were the only guests there for our early Saturday dinner, which made the lack of follow-through even more glaring. The food was a mixed bag. We truly enjoyed the delicate spinach soup (though it was missing morels)($19) and the crispy black cod croquettes ($37). The Hunan heritage pork belly ($35) was our highlight. Both cocktails: the melon margarita ($24) and the Initiation (served in a teacup) ($22) were creative. But the poached choy sum ($31) was unremarkable, and the $43 Peking duck fried rice was a total letdown: bland, missing premium ingredients, and completely devoid of wok hei. Service also fell short of the fine dining standard. Despite flagging that we had a show to catch, the pacing of the meal was slow, and we ended up late. Dishes were dropped off family-style with no plating assistance, at odds with the refined Chinese style, and soup was initially placed in front of just one guest at the table. For a $238+tip bill, the food and experience felt light. They did offer us a complementary pot of jasmine tea at the end and we were able to change it to chrysanthemum. The washroom was not clean and the floor was sticky. Tim asked for feedback, and we offered it honestly. Hopefully the ownership and kitchen leadership take it seriously. For now, the restaurant is not delivering a fine dining experience; it’s an upscale room with nice service and uneven execution in the kitchen. Unfortunately, at these prices for a la carte dinner, we won't be rushing back.

A truly elegant dining experience in Dt. The ambiance is stunning — modern, serene, and thoughtfully designed. The staff are incredibly professional, warm, and attentive without being intrusive. Perfect spot for a relaxed and upscale night out. I’ll definitely be coming back!

If you want to elevated your chinese dining experience , this is an excellent spot for Chinese fine dining. They offer Cantonese food. So like dim sum and family style dishes. Think har gow in the shape of a lobster/koi fish. Think classic canto dishes presented beautifully with garnishes. The lobster mapo tofu, and vegan sweet and sour pork really stood out! They have traditional tea as well as a cocktail menu. Delicious and sparkly. Overall, great service and experience. Would come for special occasions as its on the pricier side.

Lai Wah Heen has always been known for its elegant and refined dining atmosphere, setting it apart from more traditional, bustling dim sum halls. The recent renovations have further enhanced this, with a redesigned interior featuring sculptural lighting, warm textures, and fluid design. It's a place designed for both intimate dinners and special celebrations. The service is generally described as professional, warm, and attentive, with staff eager to provide a high-end experience. While some might find the pricing premium, it aligns with the restaurant's commitment to quality ingredients and an elevated dining experience. Lai Wah Heen's reputation was built on its artfully prepared dim sum, and this continues to be a highlight. You can expect meticulously crafted dumplings and other classics, often featuring premium ingredients like lobster, geoduck, and scallops. Reviewers have lauded the presentation, with dishes often resembling edible works of art. While the dim sum remains a strong draw, the dinner menu under the new chefs, Heyden Sin and Huang Zhenqing, is where some of the biggest changes and innovations are found. They aim to recreate traditional Cantonese flavors within a contemporary context. Expect interesting and playful takes on classic dishes. Some notable dishes that have been praised in the past include: * Peking Duck: Often carved tableside, it's a popular choice for dinner. * Specialty Dumplings: Look for unique creations like lobster, geoduck, and scallop-and-prawn dumplings, sometimes presented in whimsical shapes. * Crispy Roasted Pork Belly: While priced on the higher side, it's a dish that has garnered attention. * Wok-cooked dishes: Options like wok-cooked boneless chicken with fish maw or quail flavored with soy bean sauce have been highly rated for their rich flavors and tender textures. It's worth noting that some long-time patrons of the "old" Lai Wah Heen may find the new iteration unfamiliar, particularly regarding the pricing and the slightly altered ambiance. However, those open to a modern and upscale take on Cantonese cuisine are likely to be impressed. Lai Wah Heen is a destination for those seeking a fine-dining Chinese experience in Toronto. If you're looking for high-quality ingredients, exquisite presentation, and an elegant atmosphere, it's worth considering for a special occasion or a sophisticated dim sum experience. However, be prepared for a higher price point with smaller portions than typical Chinese restaurants in the neighborhood.

Absolutely phenomenal, the food and atmosphere. We’re beyond expectations and exceptional. Every course of the meal was throughly explained in sufficient detail. Truly a fine dining experience.

I've been waiting for Lee Wah Heen to reopen again. This time is under new owner and management. The decoration is much nicer and comfortable now. Service was very nice and attentive. You will feel very comfortable there. The scallop and shrimp dumpling was beautifully presented like a piece of artwork and our waiter Issac told us the story behind it. The siu mai had Hokkaido uni topped on it which is very unique. I love the shrimp balls, it was just the right level of texture with cheese inside that you can pull out! The lobster dumpling with fresh lobster, caviar was $37 per piece, the price was a little high for one piece. But lots of levels and work went into it. Since it's soft opening, probably things will be fine tuned. The steamed pumpkin bun for dessert is a must order! So chewy on the outside and inside filled with cheese. Sweet and savoury. The shrimp ball and the pumpkin shaped dumpling were my favourite! My parents enjoyed the xiao long bao, the wrap was thin and nice. Overall, a nice comfortable experience.

There is a lot of competition in Toronto and you come here when you want a very catered five star service not for down and dirty dim sum. You pay a premium for the art and the service and the food is absolutely beautiful worth it for a special occasion. The Koi dumplings were almost too good to eat. Also, here you can get a cocktail with your dim sum.

My family want to do something special to pre celebrate the Lunar Lantern Festival. So, we decided to give the legendary Lai Wah Heen Cantonese fine dining restaurant's famous dim sum a try. As I have not visited this restaurant before since they open in year 1995. Let first talk about the restaurant interior and parking. The restaurant itself looks very dated but not feeling classic at all. There is parking space available at the underground parking but physically parking your vehicle can be very difficult even with a multiple view parking camera vehicle. Steamed dumpling of fresh lobster escalopes & shrimp in garlic butter / Open-purse dumpling of minced scallop, shrimp & bakchoy, topped with caviar: Even though, both dim sum dishes look totally different but they almost tasted exactly the same with the same texture. My family and I did not taste any lobster escalopes in the lobster shaped dumpling. This is my first time at Lai Wah Heen and I am not sure do their lobster shaped dumpling suppose to have lobster inside, even when it is listed in their Prix Fixe menu. I understand we are in an age of hype-inflation. If lobster is too expensive, then rise the price or cut this dim sum dish from the menu. Another dim sum restaurant I went to recently did cut their lobster rice roll dim sum dish from their menu. Similar situation with their scallop open-purse dumpling. My family and I only tasted one very tiny piece of minced scallop in the scallop open-purse dumpling. For this price, I do not think customer is asking too much for a full piece of scallop inside an open-purse dumpling that is large as a mini muffin. Also, the caviar is only for decoration with no taste. The only thing I tasted in both dumplings are shrimps, which is fresh and bouncy. Seared crab claw, shrimp & green chive in wonton: On the other hand, the crab claw wonton is actually the best tasted steamed dim sum in this Prix Fixe menu in my opinion. Even though, the many ingredients of the crab claw wonton is shrimps but the green chive in the wonton does give this dim sum dish an unique flavour and texture. I can also tasted the crab claw, which give this wonton an umami taste. Deep-fried soft dumpling of Berkshire pork: The outer thin layer of the deep-fried soft dumpling is crispy. The glutinous rice paste in the middle layer is soft but not too sticky. The Berkshire pork inside is not salty. I personally real liked this dim sum dish. Crispy fried pastry of foie gras & minced pork: In my opinion, this is the best dim sum dish in this meal. I can already smell the foie gras as the waitress bring this dish to the table. When I take a bite of the foie gras pastry tart, it is still very warm and instantly melts in my mouth. The foie gras is not super strong but that's okay as foie gras is extremely expensive now-a-days. The foie gras and the minced pork blended together perfectly, I thought the minced pork is also foie gras. Classic honey glazed BBQ pork: This is one of the best classic Cantonese style BBQ pork I had in Toronto. It is percent in every way. From the use of high quality pork shoulder, marinated enough time before roasting, roasting (BBQ) perfectly with little crispy outside and moist inside, and the sauce is not too sweet but sweet enough to bring out the unique flavour of Cantonese style BBQ pork. The only thing I can pick on is the appearance of the BBQ pork dish. Chiu Chow style soy marinated duck: This dish looks very presentable, which increased my appetite. I can smell and tasted the strong duck meat flavour (not the Chiu Chow style soy) went taking my first bite. Everything went well until I tasted the tofu beneath the marinated duck. It turns out the Chiu Chow style soy sauce on the plate is salty as salt and totally ruin the tofu. My family hate wasting food but we have to gave up the tofu. Customers who pay a premium for their dim sum experience at Lai Wah Heen should receive exceptional food experiences. In my personally opinion, this is not the case at Lai Wah Heen, as there are too many hits and misses.

Visited here for the first time as a company outing. We made a reservation for 11:30AM - The restaurant had not opened yet. When they did open we were promptly seated. Atmosphere: High end, fine dining restaurant located on the 2nd floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton. Not many tables, but when lunch time rolled around the place was filling up. Authentic decor, very well manicured setting. Food: We ordered many dishes, from dim sum, to e-fu noodles, to fried rice, peking duck, crispy chicken, spicy beef. The quality of food was good (for people that aren't too familiar with Chinese food); it is a great way to introduce friends of other cultures to authentic Chinese food as the presentation of the space and food was on par with other high end restaurants. Service: Everything is plated for you, it is not a hole in the wall, the level of service is exceptional, we were well taken care of by the staff. Tea was poured, dishes were brought and changed and she was very attentive to our table. Price: This restaurant is on the more expensive side as it does cater to a specific clientele that is looking for a fine dining experience, what they lack in food they made up for in service and the price reflects this. The majority of guests that arrived were there for business lunches. You can definitely find better Cantonese from other hole in the wall restaurants. Would I come back? Yes if I want to make my guests feel comfortable and enjoy a good meal. If my guests did not care about ambience/presentation - for sure I can take them to a hole in the wall restaurant. This is the definition of you get what you pay for. Overall I'd recommend if you want a bougie Chinese cuisine experience, but if you just want good dim sum without paying a hefty price tag there are other options.

Ate here again yesterday after many years. Still the best Dim Sum restaurant in Toronto in my opinion, just a cut above everywhere else. Food was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented.

Celebrating the end of lunar new year festival by feasting on this gorgeous crab from Lai Wah Heen. It's super easy to find lobsters from many restaurants. But crab, no, unless you are willing to sell your organs . I still find the price of this crab to be on the steeper side, but at the same time, I love how fresh and juicy this Dungeness crab was. Furthermore, when I called the restaurant to make inquiry, the guy was super helpful. He told me that the restaurant was located right in the midst of the protest, and that it will take longer to reach the location. I really appreciated his honesty and gave my business to them. Great dish, awesome customer service.

Lai Wah Heen is an elevated Hong Kong dim sum experience. Wide black granite steps, a solarium-style glass wall, and tall 12 feet ceilings. It's clean, minimalist, and very spacious inside the dining space. The "innovative dim sum prix fixe" features seafood bisque garnished with fish roe, lobster escalopes and shrimp dumplings, minced scallop / shrimp / bakchoy open-purse dumplings topped with caviar, bacon-wrapped deep-fried prawns coated in shrimp mousse and scallop, seared crab claw and chive in wonton, deep-fried Berkshire pork, lobster noodles laden in truffle scented oil, and a classic dim sum dessert sampler. Maybe I'm a sucker for the classics done well and the quintessential dim sum cart experience, but Lai Wah Heen's $55 "innovative" menu just comes off contrived, over-complicated, and fussy. On one hand, elegant, exquisite, and luxurious. But to my sense, a lot of truffle oil, caviar, fish roe, and lobster galore. Everything is well-balanced and presented thoughtfully, but it's all just average with an unneeded fussiness sprinkled on as an afterthought. Go to Chinatown or Markham for equally good dim sum at a fifth of the price.

I found the dim sum very average, even the few unique options. They tasted no better, and sometimes less flavorful, than what you would expect at a hole in the wheel type place. Also both the steamed and fried options were very doughy, not at all light.

I recently attended a dinner at Lai Wah Heen with 9 others. We had made a reservation with the expectation of having a set dinner, but when we arrived, we discovered the menu we had been looking at online was no longer available. We were presented with a few other options and in the end, we selected one that everyone could agree on. This was my first time trying sea cucumber and I'm not sure I'll be jumping at a chance to have it again. The texture was really strange, and it kind of reminded me of chewing on cartilage. Not my favourite, let's leave it at that. My favourite dishes of the evening were the scallops and prawns, the Wok-baked lobster and the fried rice with foie gras. They were packed with flavour and left me wanting more. Every dish was quite good, actually - those were just the standout ones for me. The dessert was a bit weird, based on comments from a few people in my group. The dessert trio included a soup that consisted of sweetened red bean, which is quite typical for a Chinese dessert and there was a sesame ball with taro inside (I loved this) and a strawberry jelly roll, which I didn't really care for, and was apparently the strangest item in our entire meal, after a very interesting conversation about Chinese desserts. Service was really good. There were a few people taking care of us, which helped speed things along when it came to plating the food. They would first bring the large platter to our table so we could see (take photos!) and then swiftly move to a serving cart beside our table and divided everything up between 10 dishes. I much prefer this to letting us serve ourselves, and I wish more places would do this. It takes away any chance of someone feeling slighted if, for example, they didn't get the lobster claw, or the 'best' piece of chicken. It was a pricey meal, at $100 per person - plus tax and tip (not including any drinks you ordered) and it's definitely not somewhere I'd be going often, but it was a nice way to spend a few hours. I would definitely recommend it if you wanted to splurge on dinner.

We came here for Peking Duck around late lunch time and ended up getting dim sum. Steamed barbecue pork bun: yes! Get this! Flavorful and light. I also enjoyed the pork shrimp and scallop siu mai. Average items: deep fried mini shrimp ball Things I didn't care for: deep fried dumpling of Berkshire pork and baby shrimp (tasted like a sesame ball with a filling), baked mini egg tart, steamed soft bun filled with custard, tapioca lychee and mango in chilled sweet soup DO NOT GET: steamed short spare rib in garlic and toasted garlic. This dish was horrendous! It was slimy! We weren't too impressed so we left to have another meal around the corner.

Came to Lai Wah Heen with my family to try out their peking duck as I had received a coupon for a free order. Growing up in Scarborough and being completely surrounded by Chinese restaurants, and being Chinese myself, I've had my fair share of Chinese cuisine. Upon arrival, I knew right away it would be a different vibe as it was located inside a hotel and everything looked fairly nice. The staff was helpful and polite though a bit stiff. Nonetheless our order was accurate and the tea was always filled. We had dinner on a Tuesday night so it wasn't overly busy but there were some larger parties dining. On to the food: so as I said, I'm Chinese and have grown up around eating this food in and outside of the house. We ordered about 9 dishes for 7 people including peking duck, stir-fried beef flavoured with aged mandarin peel, sweet and sour pork w/ lychee, gailon vegetables, pineapple chicken fried rice, soy sauce fried rice noodle with beef and fried chicken. First impressions, the food looked nice but was pretty small portions and cost a pretty penny more than what you get uptown. Not surprising with this being a downtown hotel restaurant. The taste though was really really good. Everything was delicious and had lots of flavour. Presentation was pretty and at the end we ordered enough to feel full though not without a price. Overall, the food was delicious, the service was good but price for the amount of food was just a bit too much for myself. They are other options out there for upscale Chinese food that might possibly be less expensive and closer to my neck of the woods.

Lai Wah Heen used to be the best luxury dim sum restaurant in downtown Toronto. Overtime, the quality of the restaurant declined. While services and atmosphere still remain the same, quality and price are no longer on par. Out of the four items my brother and I shared, the best item was fried bean curd sheet with mushrooms served with aged balsamic vinegar ($5). It was crispy and juicy. Truffle Snow pea vegetarian wrap was unfortunately subpar ($5.5). The snow pea is not picked and over-steamed. With that said, it may still be a good option if you are a downtown dweller. However, I would not recommend Lai Wah Heen if you have access to dim sum restaurants in uptown Markham and Richmond Hill.

I love this place. Good ambiance and delicious food. We had a party of 4. We ordered a Peking duck 2 styles, one is with the wrapper and the skin and the other is mixed duck with lettuce cup. The only one thing I would say is the lettuce wrap portion was too much to put a quarter of the minced meat in one. They should have broken it down to a few servings for each person. The pouched chicken was top notch. No salty but smooth and silky with tons of fresh chicken flavors. The pea shoots with dungeons crab meat were so delicious. We just had the pea shoot at lunch at Moon Palace. Compared the pea shoots at this restaurant, it was 1000 percent better and tastier. And only 5 dollar for parking in the same Doubletree Hotel parking garage. At the end we ordered the glutinous rice rolls with red bean paste to share. Very good.

Three stars for decor. I came with a group and we could hear each other speak! These days this is a rarity. The white linens and fancy appointments made a mediocre meal feel special.

Never been ripped off so badly in my life. You are better off going to a cheap Chinese take out. Same quality at 10% of the price. Do not be fooled by the way this place presents itself as high end Chinese food.

I am most definitely not an expert in this food! But it tasted very good, I especially liked the steamed barbeque pork bun. The restaurant is clean has a nice calm vibe and the wait staff is very attentive and good. Our waiter was very helpful in helping us pick out our food. They have cool Chinese artwork around the walls. A very cool place to try and would be willing to return.

I give this restaurant three stars. I have been to Lai Wah Heen twice, most recently in January. Lai Wah Heen is a upscale dim sum restaurant located on the second floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton, in downtown Toronto. The restaurant is spacious and bright, the staff is friendly and the service is excellent. The dim sum is very good but there aren't many, if any vegetable options so it is quite heavy. Also, it doesn't seem very expensive but the price can increase rather quickly when you purchase a few of the higher priced dishes. The bill was higher when my wife and I went here in January than it was when we took our friend last year for her birthday. We particularly liked the crispy shrimp rolls served with sweet hawthorn sauce and the sticky rice filled with assorted seafood & meat, wrapped & steamed in lotus leaf. The spicy, sweet oyster sauce goes really well with the majority of the dim sum and the tea is excellent. I will likely return to Lai Wah Heen sometime in the near future. I recommend this restaurant to anyone that likes dim sum and wants experience eating it in a high end setting. Three stars.

Located on the second floor of DoubleTree By Hilton hotel is Lai Wah Heen, a premium dim sum restaurant. The restaurant is clean and elegant with original Chinese calligraphy paintings. I have dined here for dim sum on a few occasions, and have enjoyed it each time. However, most recently, I finally tried their dinner menu. It contains a variety of classic dishes and some more imaginative items. They are also now serving casserole dishes. Got the Casserole of Lobster, which was a very flavourful dish containing a healthy chunk of lobster, and vermicelli cooked in conpoy chili sauce. The XOXO added a nice spicy kick to it. That was my favorite dish of the night. They also have classic clay pot dishes. I wasn't a fan of the eel one (a little salty), but I enjoyed the chicken and foie gras & minced beef ones. They're priced for four people, so definitely good for friends or family to share. Since it's upscale, prices are higher than the average Chinese restaurants. So, I think people need to go in with an open mind that the price is not the same as most of the places in Chinatown or Markham. Overall, what I like about Lai Wah Heen is the consistency of the dim sum dishes and creativity (while remaining tasty).

There's really too many good dim sum places in the GTA so it's really hard to say that this place is phenomenal. It's located on the 2nd floor of DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. I love the ambiance here and it's a great place for a business lunch. If your office is connected to the PATH, It's really easy to get to; walk towards the Sheraton food court, exit the doors of the Sheraton parking lot that takes you up to City Hall and then its another 5 mins walk. I've been here many times for dim sum and it is always consistently very good. A recent reviewer mentioned that the skin was a bit thick on the steamed dumpling. I have to admit that it was on the chewier side but the shrimp inside was very tasty! The siu mai and the fried shrimp balls are my favorite! The dishes are a bit pricey for about $9.50 a dish which makes it even harder to say it's worth it. But given that there aren't too many dim sum restaurants around the core financial district, I will likely be back. Besides, everything is expensive downtown.

Lets face it, dim sum can be a stressful experience. The waiting, crowds, loud noises and rushed service can all be off-putting. It may be a big price to pay for those delicious Chinese tapas that we call dim sum. Some may argue these unpleasantries are part of the quintessential dim sum experience, but I disagree. I don't like crowds and I don't like noise, so typically I stay away from dim sum. Lai Wah Heen is an exception to the typical Dim Sum experience. Dim sum at Lai Wah Heen is more like a High Tea experience. It's mostly calm and soothing. The service is impeccable with attentive uniformed waiters. The ambiance is upscale with white tablecloth and minimal ambient noise. It's pricier than average dim sum. True. But you get what you pay for. All the dishes are very good. The clay pot eel rice is delicious as is the steamed bean curd sheet wrapped with mushrooms. My gf's favorite dish was the steamed chicken with fish maw in rice wine sauce. Now that my mother lives in condominium close by, Lai Wah Heen may be my new go-to for some "peaceful" dim sum. It may be more expensive, but it's worth it in my opinion, since I only get dim sum occasionally.

This place is perhaps my favorite dim sum place in terms of food. It's very unique in terms of ingredients. This place never fails to impress combined with the nice atmosphere. My choices are the Ha-gow... the meat is very spacious and has a nice aura of flavours evenly distributed that has just the right amount of flavour in it and the texture is truly awesome

First of all, let's be clear. Growing up in Asia, I have tasted the best of the best! So I'm not easily impressed by Chinese restaurants overseas. Lai Wah Heen came with rave reviews by Canadians, so I thought I'd check it out and see how it measured up to restaurants in Singapore and Hong Kong. Verdict - Lai Wah Heen, which is supposedly 5-star here in Toronto, has dim sum that any 3-star restaurants in Singapore (eg. Mid-tier Wah Lok would win hands down) and Hong Kong can easily beat. The presentation was nice. The taste profile of some of their offerings were decent, but there was only ONE stand-out dish that wowed - and that was the lava custard buns, which were flawlessly executed. My biggest complaint was the skin on the steamed dumplings. The skin was too thick (especially the lobster dumpling) and chewing through it was laborious. Overall, it's not worth the price.

Oh man this place is pricey. I came here for a quick afternoon Dimsum snack. I came in with the expectation of ordering around 4 different items (4pcs each). But each item costs $5.50-9.00 and most of them were per piece. So we decided to order items we felt were more unique and tasty and skip out on the siu mai etc. We ordered lobster & shrimp dumpling, deep fried shrimp & scallop wonton wrapped in bacon, and their special spicy braised noodle with minced pork. Lobster & shrimp dumpling was delicious. You can taste the lobster though subtle. It came in a super cute lobster design that I just didn't want to consume it. The piece was large and packed. They didn't skimp out on filling. The shrimp & scallop wonton was savoury. Although I couldn't taste the scallop at all, it reminded me of those giant crab claw balls at other dimsum places. It had that same flavour plus the crispy bacon. The only item that wasn't a hit was the noodles with minced pork. It tasted exactly like canned bean sauce was slathered over the noodles. We lost our appetite after this. We regret not ordering some other dimsum item instead of this. I cannot justify paying $9 for t. Still regretting it as I type this! I'm giving this 4/5 stars because the quality of the two dimsum dishes we ordered were able to offset the crappy noodles. Yes this place is expensive but the happiness I got from the cute lobster and my partner's reaction from the shrimp and scallop wonton made the trip worth it. I'd come here for a snack not a meal if you don't want to blow the bank but still want to experience a more upscale dimsum.

This was the best dim sum I've had in a very long time. It is the most authentic HK dim sum for all the dishes I ordered. After having a mediocre dim sum recently I was very Happy to have come here. Only thing is that I don't live here... The steam bao bun was fluffy and had a decent amount of filling. The egg tart was my favorite as it was warm and the custard was nice and rich. The pork belly was an additional bonus. Will have to come and order the Peking Duck on my next visit. Service was great too!!! Highly recommend. A tad pricey but worth it in IMHO. Can't wait for my next visit!

I rate this place a 3.5 stars I came here for dim sum. Reservations were made on open table, which was super easy. TIP: Parking is $5, first come first serve in the underground parking of the hotel, Double Tree. However, it is only for 2 hours and it is added to your bill at the end. So for those of you that think you can park for $5 all day (like myself), don't do it! There is $8 parking at city hall, which is an 5-10 minute walk to Double Tree. The restaurant is on the second floor. it is not to be mistaken for the restaurant on the main floor. I have to say, the service was the highlight of my experience. The staff was attentive. Helped us cut the dim sum so people can share without us asking. Food also came quickly. They have a list of different teas so have a look at the menu so you aren't on auto-pilot when you order, unless you like familiar comforts. We ordered a total of 14 mains and 3 dessert dishes for 5 people. Steamed dumpling of fresh lobster escalopes & shrimp in garlic butter - B - This is the most popular dish on the menu because the dumpling is shaped like a lobster. Aesthetically, it looks nice and unique, but the pastry was too thick. There was a good amount of shredded lobster, but it was mixed with veggies. Overall, this was not my fave as I was expecting. Grade: B *Crispy fried pastry of foie gras & minced pork - this was my fave dish. The Tart was crispy and flaky. There was a long piece of foie gras and the flavors paired nicely together. Grade: A+ Steamed soft bean curd sheet wrapped with assorted mushrooms & truffle in soy sauce dressing - I didn't have this, but my aunt liked it. It was pretty small, but nicely plated. Crystal shrimp dumpling - same as any other dim sum place, but pretty pricey. B Steamed minced beef Siu Mai - I didn't like this. The flavors were not like regular siu mai. It was very salty. It also looked very dry. C Steamed barbequed pork bun - it was melt in your mouth, but nothing special. Not worth the price to be the same as other dim sum places. Baked mini turnover filled with pineapple & barbequed pork - this was really good. Flaky and good flavor. B+ Beef mousse & mandarin peel in rice roll served with sweet soy sauce - couldn't taste the mandarin peel. Underwhelming - B Shredded chicken & abalone in congee - chicken was soft and a hint of abalone. B Veggie noodles - my aunt had this. It was underwhelming for the price. Steamed soft bun filled with custard lava - the custard flowed out. The filing isn't too sweet. B Deep-fried sesame ball stuffed with pickled ginger & lotus seed paste - I could really taste the ginger. It was was nicely fried. B *Deep-fried pastry stuffed with milk custard & papaya - my fave dessert - flaky and a nice milk custard taste and consistency. A+ I was full at the end, but some of my guests weren't too full and didn't want to order anymore. The bill came up to $180 with parking for two cars. It is a very expensive dim sum place, but nice for a special occasion. I did enjoy the uniqueness of the tart and milk custard, but the other dishes aren't outstanding to other dim sum places that are cheaper in price, but just as nice. I think if there were more unique dishes, it would make this place worth the price value. At the same time, as a whole, I did enjoy the service, atmosphere, and food. I wouldn't necessarily come back again, but if there was a special occasion, I would pick this over Pearl near the habour front for food.

Food is good. Compared to the $3 dimsum that I usually get, you can definitely taste the difference. Much less greasy, and much more flavorful. We ordered some of the $9 a piece things and they did not disappoint my taste buds. However, no matter how prepared I am, it's still $9 for a bite, and subconsciously I'm just wondering if I could get the same quality for a tenth of the cost. In general, all of the dishes were enjoyable. Service I found it be pretty standard for a chinese restaurant. Perhaps it was because we were not dressed as well as the other diners who were decked out in business attire? The female staff paid very little attention and just served up dishes as they came. One guy however did take the time to explain what the dish was. Then again, it is a chinese restaurant, so I don't expect it to be that much different. Just the culture right?

Very elegant dim sum. We had the tasting lunch. 2nd order at 50%. I ate here over 15 years ago and looked forward to eating here on my return to Toronto. The restaurant did not disappoint. Deep-fried prawn coated with shrimp mousse & scallop, wrapped with bacon and the seared crab claw, shrimp & green chive in wonton were both outstanding. I can't wait to return to Toronto to eat here again.

Lai Wan Heen has some unique taste on some Chinese dim sum dishes, which is nice and innovating but some of the dishes aren't the best. Let me clarify some of the traditional dishes are fine with quality and taste but the price really drives it south for me. Dim sum is meant to be a family style and affordable meal that most people can choose to eat. I think my friend and I ordered around 7-8 plates of food and it was around 40 CAD per person if memory comes to serve. It's been a few months since I visited there but it's not on my favorite spots to visit. They had some foie gras and truffle in their dishes but it didn't do much for me . I couldn't eat the foie gras cause of allergies and the truffle didn't taste any different or special from a regular dish. The service was good and attentive. As a whole, I don't think the price and my friend's recommendation was living up to the hype. Overall: 3 (Rounded) Food: 3 Service: 3 Price: 2 Atmosphere: 3

High quality, fancy dining with some of the best dim sum I've had in Toronto. The interior was quite elegant (inside the Double Tree Hotel), service was very attentive, and every single dish was delicious.

Regardless if you're Chinese food purist or a new age Asian fusion maven, you'll probably find something here that you'll like. Keep in mind you are dining in the double tree, so you will be paying for everything from the food to the service. I made a reservation for Christmas Eve dinner and it was quite busy. The star dishes here are really the Peking duck or lobster if you're having a big dinner party. The lobster can be cooked in two different styles, so I would opt for one fried and one steamed so you get some variety. The pork belly here is incredibly tender and the best I've had so far. I would stay away from the dim sum platter, as it leaves much to the imagination. However, their specialty dim sum seem to be a hit, so that may be something I'll have to come back and try. If you are parking in the hotel underground lot, the restaurant will cover part of the cost!

My aunt recommended Lai Wah Heen Chinese Restaurant to us. There was options to order set menu (set price per person) as well order al carte options. It wasn't your typical dim sum restaurant as it didn't have push carts. We ordered hot tea and shared eight dim sum dishes including Roast Pork Pastries, Steamed Shrimp Dumplings, Sticky Rice with Meats and Vegetables, Minced Beef and Mandarin Peel in Rice Roll, Chicken and Truffle Dumplings, Steamed Pork, Shrimp, and Scallop Siu Mai, Minced Beef Siu Mai, and Deep Fried Dumplings Filled with Berkshire Pork. My favorite was the Roast Pork Pastries but all of them were yummy and I'd order them again.

Located in the Metro Hotel, Lai Wah Heen is a gorgeous restaurant and dim sum location. We decided to have dim sum for Sunday brunch and were happy to be seated without much of a wait. All ordering is done from a paper menu that includes English and Chinese translations. Selection is good and prices are moderately high. Service is polite but otherwise unspectacular and the decor is perhaps the most notable thing about Lai Wah Heen. It really is a beautiful place in the Metro Hotel and great to take out of town guests or visitors. As for the food, it's solid but not noteworthy. Most items are done well and they do try to add some variations to befit the high class location. For example, XO sauce is included standard on all tables, the shiu mai is topped with a scallop, and the egg custard consists of egg whites only. In the end though, while I appreciated these touches and the nice atmosphere, I thought the food was only ok. I'm guessing there are better dim sum choices in Toronto, but if not, Lai Wah Heen is a safe bet. Lai Wah Heen takes American Express.

I was pretty excited to go to Lai Wah Heen, one of the ultra-high-class Cantonese restaurant in Toronto. I'd heard my friend rave about their $48 lunch dim sum prix fixe menu, but I wasn't really willing to shell out that much for dim sum. Stepping into the dining room, I felt transported to the 90s. Everything was very old school, perhaps due for a renovation. Though it was probably very nice when the restaurant opened, the décor felt a little dated to me, . For a restaurant of this calibre, the overall ambiance paled compared to the lavish extravagance of other Chinese restaurants, such as Casa Imperial and Casa Victoria. Lai Wah Heen's gourmet chili oil had chunks of dried conpoy and shrimps, which made very good snacks. But the chili oil itself wasn't very spicy at all and didn't make a very good dip. Now onto the actual food: Siu mai of pork, shrimp and scallop ($6.50). I'm usually not the greatest fan of siu mai, but this version was quite delicious. The bold, meaty flavours made up for the small sizes of these dumplings. Crystal shrimp dumpling ($6.50), or har gow, was quite ordinary. The sizes were on the smaller side, and it wasn't particularly outstanding. Overall, it was well executed, but for this price, I expected some sort of wow factor. Baked puffy turnover filled with minced barbequed pork & pineapple ($6.50)- My favourite dish of the entire meal. The soft, buttery pastry was filled with sweet, delectable barbequed pork fillings. The pineapple added an extra sweet dimension and a perfect tinge of acidity. Altogether, the turnover was divinely rich (in a good way). This wasn't one of the restaurant's intricately presented dishes, but it impressed me based on flavours alone. Certain items on the menu were served by the piece. We ordered one to try- crispy deep-fried roll of pitaya, mango and shrimp ($3.50). I liked it, but it sounded better on paper. The fried roll was filled with salad dressing, and I wished there were more fruits to counterbalance the greasy richness. Seared beef sirloin in rice roll served with sweet soy sauce ($8.00). This was a pairing of a dim sum classic with gourmet ingredients- in this case, beef sirloin. I didn't actually enjoy the combination all that much because the beef sirloin wasn't prepared in a Chinese way. However, I have to say that the rice noodle roll itself was lovely and velvety smooth. I ended up eating the two components separately. Deep-fried bumble bee dumpling of sweet green tea paste ($6.50) were adorably irresistible! On a side note, the bumble bee dumplings tasted as good as they looked! Tapioca rice ball in a lightly ginger flavored syrup ($6.50). I didn't love this because it was filled with red bean paste, and I prefer black sesame filling. But the unique part about the rice balls was that the skin was covered with tapioca pearls. My bf loved that part, and I happily gave him my share as well. Looking back at the bill, I noticed that they over-charged us by $1.50, as we had actually order 5 items that were $6.50 and only 1 item that was $8.00. But I'm willing to look past this small fault as we were offered complimentary tea for absolutely no reason at all. Nevertheless, the meal was still very pricey for dim sum. Would I come back again? Not anytime soon, but I'm tempted to come back just to try some of their more exquisitely presented dim sum. For ordinary dim sum, there are infinite cheaper alternatives uptown. However, some of the dishes here are definitely worthy of a visual feast, and I would very much like to have the pineapple and barbequed pork turnover again.

If you are looking for more fusion dim sum, this is the right place for you. Really love the foie gras tart, the lobster dumpling is pretty good. Didn't like the turnip cake and caviar dumpling as much. Ordered the deep fry veg bean curd roll that's really good too forgot to attach the picture here. The truffle chicken dumplings were okay. It's a little pricy compare with other dim sum restaurants. I would say the food is 3.5 stars but the price of the parking and service made it to 4 stars. The parking is cheap as it is located in downtown.

Located on the second floor of the Double Tree Hilton, I knew from the moment we walked in we were in for a treat. My friend and I were visiting Downtown Toronto to attend a science conference and we...dressed like scientists. I was a bit embarrassed but the staff didn't miss a beat and greeted us like we were VIPs and immediately offered to take my Starbucks coffee and poured it in a tall elegant glass for me to enjoy. This level of service stayed throughout our meal, with our plates always clean and our cups always filled with hot tea. I'm definitely not used to paying too much for dim sum and so I had a bout of sticker shock when perusing the menu (I also forgot to mentally convert CAD to USD so that certainly didn't help). I was also a bit skeptical that fancy fusion dim sum would be any better than their traditional counterparts, but Lai Wah Heen proved me wrong. The two things you should absolutely order are the sticky rice in lotus leaf and the Berkshire pork fried dumplings. The sticky rice was and is thus far the best I have ever had. Perfect filling to rice ratio with not a single grain over or under cooked and bursting with bits of marvelous pork, sweet Chinese sausage, and a perfectly salted egg yolk. The fried dumplings came in the form a cute little mice with garlic chip ears. They were beautifully light and crispy on the outside without sacrificing any of its glutinous mochi skin chew. The filling tasted different than what I'm used to but the Berkshire pork came in superb bite-sized chunks. Granted, not everything was a home run (I don't recommend the siu mai or the rice noodle rolls) but judging from the other pictures Yelpers have posted, there is plenty to try on the menu that I have a feeling will be good as the sticky rice and deep fried dumplings I loved. All and all, I would recommend this place as a must-try for anyone visiting DT Toronto.

Lai Wah Heen is worth the visit once in awhile or a nice place to let my out of town guest to treat me to a nice dim sum lunch (thanks so much!). Service here is definitely top notch. Their dim sum is quite unique compares what other dim sum restaurants in Toronto or even GTA would offers. These all comes with a price. We ended up ordering: Steamed dumpling of fresh Dungeness crabmeat ($4/pc) - the cutest thing I ever ate, maybe not taste as good as it looks but great for photos! Crispy fried pastry of foie gras & minced pork ($4/pc) - I expect a little more, the taste and the texture of the foie gras was lost... not really memorable Deep-fried lobster dumpling served with a clear consommé ($5/pc) - chunks of lobster meat with great bouncy bite! Steamed dumpling of minced chicken & truffle ($6.50/3pc) - A little over cooked and dry Steamed chicken & fish maw flavored with rice wine ($6.50) - meh... I can barely taste or smell the fragrance of the wine Baked mini puff pastry filled with cured ham, shrimp & pork ($6.50/3 pc) - delicious! love the pastry shell, I ended up eating 2 of those! Tapioca, lychee & mango in chilled sweet soup ($5) - presentation is pleasing! And has tons of fresh lychee inside, so refreshing! Make sure you ask for hot sauce, which is really a chili oil but loaded with dried scallops! I love the options of ordering some of the dim sum selection by each piece as some time as a person that dine alone, it give me more option to try out other things! I think I will be back again! Especially if I want to have some decent dim sum in the area, as there are not too many to choose from that worth going.

Not the worst place to eat but I expected way more after reading all the yelp reviews. I think the disappointment coupled with the overpriced food made the dim sum experience unappetizing. From all the dimsum I have tasted, I think the staples should always be served no matter how "high-class" the restaurants are. I think my girlfriend and I ordered about 5 plates of food which wouldnt cost more then $15 at most in an average dim sum restaurants but here we paid $75!!! Anyone who consumes dimsum on a normal basis knows at that price you can feed at least 10 people. On top of which, the dimsum was if anything just average, all the unique items were too americanized and "hip-sterized". I think if you want to have dimsum, you need to go to Chinatown. I think this is not a place for dimsum maybe dinner or lunch but not dimsum.

Oh my goodness. Overrated and expensive dimsum place ever. I've tried dimsum multiple times in NYC, and this has got to be the most expensive-est and not so great tasting dimsum. My bf and I ordered about 10 small dimsum dishes, total was $85. We came here thinking that the dimsum would be yummy bc it's so highly rated. I ended up stuffing my face even if I didn't like it because it was too expensive to not eat :/ Although, I have to say it is fancy and more catered to the American palate. If you enjoy dimsum like they give in NY, try going to Chinatown of Toronto. 2 stars for the fancy dimsum experience and the aesthetics.

I came here twice recently - once for dinner, and once for lunch. This is like expensive, elevated Chinese dining, but the food is good quality. There is definitely some stuff (especially with regards to the dim sum) that is just bougie and kind of necessary, but cool to try anyway. Food highlights: Soup - we ordered soup to start our dinner with, and it was just a simple, traditional kind with these like long, green, stringy vegetables. I've had this soup at many different places, but I found the flavour particularly good here... the vegetables had less of a bitter flavour and more of a softer/slightly-sweet flavour. Also the soup was very smooth and had almost a velvety texture. Dessert - chilled pear glazed with light osmanthus syrup. This was a lovely and unique way to end off our meal! The pear was very refreshing, and the syrup was a little bit sweet, but not overly so. When you cut open the pear, there are some chunks of aloe inside, which was a pleasant surprise. It's pretty pricey ($6 for one pear), but I guess it doesn't seem so bad if you share it between a few people. The mains we ordered that night were pretty traditional Chinese fare. Nothing stood out to me in particular, but everything was tasty and unlike some other cheaper Chinese food places, you can tell they don't put MSG in their food as it's not as salty. For dim sum, my dad and I ordered the following which was plenty of food for two people, but at around $60+ definitely the priciest dim sum I've ever had. Steamed dumpling of fresh lobster, scallops & shrimp in garlic butter ($5) - this is probably the single most gimmicky thing on the menu. Yeah, it tastes pretty good, but the main hype is that the dumpling is shaped like a lobster, so like... you gotta do it for the 'gram. I found that none of the three main ingredients particularly stood out, so I guess they just blended together into some indistinguishable (albeit tasty) seafood-y lump. Crispy fried pastry of foie gras and minced pork ($5) - again, $5 for one tart, which I thought was good to try (I love foie gras) but ultimately a one-in-a-lifetime experience for me. It was a good tart, the pastry had just the right amount of flakiness, the texture of the filling was smooth and creamy and the meat was tasty although the sauce was a bit overpowering. Open-purse dumpling of minced scallop, shrimp & bok choy, topped with caviar ($5) - this was my favourite bougie dumpling because the scallop flavour really shone through. Honestly though, the rest of the ingredients are simple and basic, so you are mostly just paying for the caviar (which you can't really taste anyway.) Har gow (shrimp dumplings) ($7.50/4) - these are some damn expensive har gow, BUT they are also the best shrimp dumplings I've had in my life. Quality on these is next level, with the dumpling skin that is not too sticky and the huge ball of shrimp inside that is bursting with juice and flavours. If anything, come just for these. Siu mai ($7.50/4) - again, Lai Wah Heen's take on a traditional dim sum dish was just another level above. What makes their siu mai unique (and justifies the price) is the fact that they put a scallop on the top of each chunk of pork. The scallop flavour actually blends wonderfully with the pork and shrimp and adds a lovely extra dimension of flavour. Tapioca, lychee & mango dessert ($5.50) - this comes served chill to you in a glass with a straw, so more like a drink than a soup. I really did not think this was worth $5.50 given the size and the fact that it's just like a typical dessert/drink. Steamed soft bun filled with custard lava ($8.00/3) - this is typically one of my favourite dim sum dishes/dessert, and we ordered this as an add-on mostly because I was still a little peckish after all of the other food. It wasn't significantly different from the buns you get at other dim sum places (except 4x the price.) I enjoyed both of my experiences, but thought the dim sum experience was definitely more fun, unique and memorable. Many of the things I got were just cool to try, but I would not feel the need to order them again unless I just really felt like treating myself. However, I would highly recommend trying some of the more traditional dim sum items (specifically har gow and siu mai) because Lai Wah Heen's take on them really impressed me.

Situated in a hotel on the second floor, Lai Wah Heen isn't exactly a restaurant locals would stroll into for a meal. I visited Lai Wah Heen a few days ago for their Spring Equinox event where they collaborated with Sake Kurabu & That's Life Toronto for a set menu with Sake Pairing. Since this is a review for Lai Wah Heen, I will limit my review to the food, as sake is not what they usually offer. Our meal started off with a cute lobster and shrimp dumpling that was shaped and colored to look like a lobster. The filling tasted good, not amazing - so the appearance was definitely better. This item is usually on offer during their dim sum hours for $5.50 a piece. A pan-seared scallop with white truffle cream was next - the scallop was perfectly seared (not overdone) and the white truffle cream was a heavenly pairing. Scambled egg white with dungeness crab meat and silver fungus mushroom - the taste of the crab came through and the dish is on the light side. The egg whites didn't do too much other than adding some needed saltiness Deep fried lamb rack, with truffles and assorted mushrooms - the truffle didn't really come through, but I like the assorted mushrooms. Deep fried lamb rack tasted ok, but I would have liked it better seared instead. Pan-seared wagyu beef with raw sea salt and zucchini - I think the wagyu would have benefitted if it was grilled instead (with bamboo charcoal), but it was delicious and tender nonetheless Briased pork belly - this is my favourite item of the night. The pork belly was very tender and braised well and flavoured well. YUM. Crispy foie gras and minched chicken wonton, with clear truffle consumme - this was my second favourite dish. I thought the wonton was presented nicely, and the truffle broth was delicious Black sesame rice ball with ginger syrup - I thought Lai Wah Heen could have given a few more rice balls considering this is probably the cheapest thing on the menu, but alas, one lone rice ball in a bowl lol. Overall, I think the food at Lai Wah Heen tasted great, although there are elements of their cuisine that are not Chinese (i.e: truffles, wagyu beef). I believe the Spring Equinox menu was good value considering I got to taste a lot of premium sakes that are normally not found elsewhere. There is very little question that in terms of Chinese food, Lai Wah Heen is probably the best in downtown Toronto. Given the price tag they normally charge however, I probably would not visit Lai Wah Heen on a normal night unless it is for a special occasion for someone who likes to dine in an upscale chinese restaurant.

Overpriced dim sum. Worst part was that the quality wasn't even great. Crown Princess is way better in my opinion. The bill ended up being $30 per person and we were still hungry after.

I love a serene restaurant, and this one was just that. The music, the atmosphere, the service, everything made me feel relaxed and refreshed for diving back into busy Toronto. The food is of course really amazing, too. I loved the novelty shaped dim sum, although I felt I had to apologise to them before I ate them, because they were just too cute!

Dinner: Peking Duck, 2 courses Spicy Shrimp hot pot with vermicelli Shrimp with black bean sauce I had not been to Lai Wah Heen in several years, until recently. The two course peking duck was definitely better than in a normal restaurant. I could tell that the flour wraps were of much higher quality than normal. Perhaps made fresh at the restaurant? They serve it with the duck, cucumber, green onion already on the wrap, then you can add the sauce on your own. The second course was a pretty standard version of the lettuce wraps. Spicy Shrimp Hot Pot with Vermicelli was excellent. I would order this dish again without question. The clear vermicelli noodles are a great compliment to the spicy sauce and large shrimp. Shrimp with black bean sauce was good, but did not stick out as much. Overall, it was a good meal, but the prices are prohibitive.

Lai Wah Heen offers excellent service and good food. The prices are higher compared to restaurants in Chinatown nearby, but you are paying for better service and food. The service is always great here. Servers are attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is casual. Overall, I enjoy most of the items I've had here. You will not leave disappointed if you have a dinner here. The service and food are both great. However, I am only giving it a 3 stars because I think the prices are high for what you get. Yes, the food is better than some of the cheaper restaurants in Chinatown. However, it isn't anything exceptional to me for the price they charge. It is priced higher because it is in a great location perhaps. For the prices here, I am expecting more unique items.

On the pricey side but you pay for quality. They have an extensive menu of dim sum and everything we have had so far was delicious. The interior looks nice as well with white table cloths and napkins and the staff are all dressed up. It's a quiet, fancy place to have good dim sum at. The service is always top notch. Can't wait to go back once the pandemic is over!

If you are looking for a cheap dim sum place with greasy taste, and cart chasing, Lai Wah Heen is not the place where you want to be. Among all well-known dim sum restaurants in Toronto, Casa-Imperial, Crown Princess and Dragon Boat ,the best one is in a 3 star hotel; Lai Wah Heen is located on 2nd floor of DoubleTree. Wait, did you just say inside of DoubleTree? You gotta be kidding! Actually, it is not because I didn't realize how hard it is to find an authentic dim sum restaurant in Toronto, especially, we have been the best dim sum restaurant in Vancouver. Lai Wah Heen offers some unique dishes that you don't often see in most dim sum places, such as deep fried mini shrimp ball, chicken truffle dumpling, and minced beef siu mai. We started with their darker color pu-erh tea which is richer and deeper in flavor, and menu is well designed so you know how many piece per order. Then, our mouths started to be filled all the fabulous dishes. Deep fried mini shrimp isn't often served at dim sum restaurants. Deep fried creates golden brown exterior but keeps nice contrast of crispy textures and juicy shrimp flavor inside. Chicken truffle dumpling is full of different layers of flavors of chicken meat broth and incredible flavor of truffle. Next is dim sum classic, steamed shrimp dumpling, and most restaurants over steam shrimp dumplings that makes taste so gooey and loss of flavor but this didn't happen to Lai Wah Heen. Translucent skin is slightly chewy but not sticky that encases pump, juicy and chunks of shrimp. Undoubtedly satisfy didn't stop here that steamed sticky rice with Chinese sausages just the way I like. Chinese sausage enhances another layer of flavor to the rice and pine nuts balance sweet and savory. My only complaint is their buns, BBQ pork buns and custard cream buns(steamed soft buns with custard lava). Even it does taste good, it is too doughy and stuffing is only a little.

Consistently good food. High quality and tasty. Service varies depending on the server and whether the customer looks Chinese or not. We've noticed that non Asians are generally seated beside the window and that several wrong assumptions are made about our preferences. No, I don't want jasmine tea. Offer me the full tea menu! The restaurant is spacious and generally quiet and elegant. The high prices are generally justified.

So happy we found this delightful little dim some spot. It's in the Doubletree hotel upstairs a little small but that made it all the better. They had a special dim sum lunch by one get second 50% off so my friend and I took advantage of that. Check out the pictures the food was delicious definitely worth going, he said the last time he was there was 15 years ago which shows they been around for a while and he explained how much better the food was on this visit. Definitely worth the visit.

Stopped by on a Sunday for some dim sum, having visited previously ~6 years ago and recalling an enjoyable visit. Lai Wah Heen is on the second floor of an aging Doubletree Hotel in Chinatown. The hotel has seen better days, but the dining room is fine and clean, if dated. Our experience with the food on this visit was quite mediocre. While nothing was off putting, the flavor and quality were not a good as we had remembered, and certainly a far cry from our best dim sums in China/HK. Honestly, there were no clear highlights. Service was above average for a Chinese venue, i.e. you don't have to flag down a waitress, but nothing to write home about. While we are out-of-towners, believe there are probably better options for dim sum.