Yan Dining Room

The space is cosy so expect to share tables with strangers. This restaurant is in the back room of Hong Shing, which gives you a slight speakeasy vibe. They offer cocktails from the shared bar as well as wine and Asian spirits. Chef Eva is a great story teller. She shared how each dish is tied to her memory and heritage. This was very meaningful and heartfelt as we savoured each dish. My personal favorite to my surprise was the shaobing with the smoky eggplant dip and the aromatic rice, which is essential lard rice. It was so flavorful, aromatic with the perfect texture rice. The shiso and lychee granita was also so refreshing. Service was impeccable. Chef Eva’s wife was supporting the dining room and she was lovely. Each dish was unique and well thought out. At the end they also gave a small take away dessert package for my hubby which was very thoughtful. Food was amazing and unique. We also shared the wine pairing which included rare wines not commonly found in Toronto. Overall this was a very enjoyable dinner. Other than the 3.5 hours dining time and the shared table, this meal was near perfect.

Had the pleasure of eating at Yan Dining Room. Food was delicious, atmosphere was great, servers were friendly and accommodating. Chef Eva puts her heart into each plate and it shows in both flavors and presentation. The stories that accompanied each course were entertaining and provided the culture and history behind each dish. Overall an amazing evening!

I’ve been to Yan Dining Room several times now, and every time I leave thinking the same thing: this is one of those rare places that truly gets it right. Chef Eva Chin has created something incredibly considered here—not just in the food, which is inventive and intentional, but in the way the entire experience unfolds. Each dish carries the weight of a story. The menu draws from Chef Eva’s upbringing and lived experience, and what arrives at the table feels less like a course and more like a shared memory. A plate of vinegar-bitter greens might seem simple at first, but a few words about where it came from, who made it first, and why it matters transforms it into something else entirely: a lesson in nostalgia, culture, and care. Eva conveys the significance of each dish without ever slipping into performance. Although the menu shifts monthly with the seasons, two recent standouts come to mind: the sweet and sour red fish—bright, layered, and deeply satisfying—and a signature broth that opens every meal, always delicate, comforting, and complex. I’ve done the baijiu cocktail pairing a few times now, and I’m always struck by how seamlessly it complements the food. Nothing here feels accidental. From the storytelling to the plating to the attentive but unfussy service, the experience is meticulously curated, yet the price remains surprisingly accessible for downtown Toronto. What sets Yan apart is how personal it feels. There’s a warmth to the room that’s hard to explain but impossible to miss. It’s why I’ve brought my closest family and friends—and left with a few new ones. Yan is thoughtful without being pretentious, intimate without being exclusive, and rooted in something real. Easily one of my favourite dining experiences in the city.

Really great service and loved the story telling from chef Eva on the dishes. Was celebrating birthdays and they provided a birthday gift of snacks for the birthday people and shots. The snack portion of the menu was the standout. What I was expecting out of elevated Chinese dishes. The drunken oyster, potato salad and asparagus are the standouts. The cocktails were good, the General Tao was the standout. Mains were somewhat average, so depending on the menu you get you may get a 5 star experience. Salmon executed well although flavour combination was somewhat on the fishy side. The orzo fried rice had great flavour and amazing texture from the pork belly. Although the orzo itself in this preparation has a bit of an oily mouth feel. Chicken was solid. Wine pairings throughout were well matched to the food.

We had an unforgettable dinner at Hong Shing—but here’s the twist: if you know the secret password (just kidding), you might just find yourself in the ultra-exclusive Yan Dining Room. This hidden gem offers a curated 8-course dining experience by the incredibly talented Chef Eva Chin—though lucky us, we indulged in a 13-course feast that completely blew us away. Each dish was bursting with layers of flavor—every bite was a surprise, a story, a little masterpiece. We were genuinely in awe from start to finish. The value? Honestly, exceptional for what you get. And the experience? Elevated even more by the warm, attentive staff who noticed every little detail and made us feel right at home. We also made some new foodie friends along the way, which made the night even more memorable. Since the menu evolves every month, we’re already planning our return trip this summer. Trust us—you’ll want to experience this for yourself. Thanks Chef Eva for our complimentary bubbly 🍾 and a cute birthday gift 🎁 for my gf.

Wow what a wonderful dining experience at Yan Dining Room! Was warmly welcomed from the start and it’s so nice the chef’s wife is working and warmly welcoming everyone. Every course was introduced by the chef and you could really tell she’s put her heart and soul and nostalgia into each dish as she describes them. Every thing tasted and looked great. Really loved the biscuit, the take on steamed fish, funcee, really everything was great!

A wonderful experience and one of the only good ‘fine dining’ Chinese restaurants in Toronto. Miles better than Sunny’s or Mimi’s Chinese. How crazy that a Chinese person could cook up better Chinese food than some white guys! 🤯

I had the pleasure of sitting down for Chef Eva's extraordinary blind-tasting menu this past Friday. I was blown away by the variety of dishes, each having amazing unique flavours. It's been 2 days and I'm still thinking about the Sweet & Sour Radish and Mr Chin's Congee. The Chef and the entire team did one hell of a job. Well worthwhile to try and secure a seat to this fantastic experience.

The space is cosy so expect to share tables with strangers. This restaurant is in the back room of Hong Shing, which gives you a slight speakeasy vibe. They offer cocktails from the shared bar as well as wine and Asian spirits. Chef Eva is a great story teller. She shared how each dish is tied to her memory and heritage. This was very meaningful and heartfelt as we savoured each dish. My personal favorite to my surprise was the shaobing with the smoky eggplant dip and the aromatic rice, which is essential lard rice. It was so flavorful, aromatic with the perfect texture rice. The shiso and lychee granita was also so refreshing. Service was impeccable. Chef Eva's wife was supporting the dining room and she was lovely. Each dish was unique and well thought out. At the end they also gave a small take away dessert package for my hubby which was very thoughtful. Food was amazing and unique. We also shared the wine pairing which included rare wines not commonly found in Toronto. Overall this was a very enjoyable dinner. Other than the 3.5 hours dining time and the shared table, this meal was near perfect.

We had an unforgettable dinner at Hong Shing--but here's the twist: if you know the secret password (just kidding), you might just find yourself in the ultra-exclusive Yan Dining Room. This hidden gem offers a curated 8-course dining experience by the incredibly talented Chef Eva Chin--though lucky us, we indulged in a 13-course feast that completely blew us away. Each dish was bursting with layers of flavor--every bite was a surprise, a story, a little masterpiece. We were genuinely in awe from start to finish. The value? Honestly, exceptional for what you get. And the experience? Elevated even more by the warm, attentive staff who noticed every little detail and made us feel right at home. We also made some new foodie friends along the way, which made the night even more memorable. Since the menu evolves every month, we're already planning our return trip this summer. Trust us--you'll want to experience this for yourself. Thanks Chef Eva for our complimentary bubbly and a cute birthday gift for my gf.

Yan Dining Room features neo-Chinese cuisine by Chef Eva Chin. It is a 26-seat private dining room inside Hong Shing Restaurant. "Yan" means a banquet feast in Chinese, celebrating the deep connection between food, culture, and heritage. The dining room runs for 3 nights, Fri to Sun, with only one seating per night, starting at 18:30 for 3 hours. This 8-course neo-Chinese dinner costs $88. You must make a reservation for 1 to 10 people and pre-pay. A $88 per person no-show fee will be applied to parties who cancel less than 48 hours before their reservation. Reservations are open 60 days in advance. Each dish is a work of art and culinary delight. The menu changes seasonally. The 8 courses follow the same structure. It starts with a comforting broth followed by a course of seafood crudo and an array of cold snacks. This is followed by a hot-cold dish, then a series of hot mains. The dinner finishes with something sweet. Along with the food, the owner of Hong Sing offers a $50 drink pairing of baijiu or biodynamic wines from small wineries. The dishes highlight farm-fresh seasonal ingredients from local farmers and from a local veggie stand at the local Toronto Chinatown. Some dishes highlight regional Chinese cuisine. Chef Eva was inspired by her childhood memories and her love for Banchan (Korean side dishes). She would add her own twists to create dishes with interesting flavour combinations. This dining room was opened 2024-10-05. The entire months of Oct, Nov, Dec 2024 have been sold out. Chef Eva Chin moved to Toronto in Mar 2020 to helm Kojin Restaurant, making a splash in the city's food scene. Her Chinese fusion dishes, like the viral mapo tofu pizza, became pandemic sensations. Prior to starting Yan Dining Room, she was Hong Shing's culinary director. Chin had a Chinese-Singaporean father and a Chinese-Samoan mother. She bounced between Hawaii and New York thanks to her dad's consulate work. After graduation, she landed in Tokyo. There, she was Inspired by Japanese chefs who elevate a single dish into an art form. Chin cooked in top restaurants in Japan, Australia, France, and England. After that, Chin spent many years throughout China, cooking in Beijing, Guangzhou and Nanjing. She wanted to see the real depth of Chinese cuisine. Yan Dining Room is also operated by Theresa Walsh (head of Front-of-House and Chin's wife), Cyril Maquinto (Chin's sous-chef), and Colin Li (Hong Shing's owner). Review 2024-245

This is a premium experience of Neo-Chinese cuisine. This "room" is found inside Hong Shing Restaurant. Get on their mailing list to pre-book a meal! Note: the $88 (pre-tax) 8-course dining experience is paid upon booking. You may choose to add drink pairings when booking, or on the day-of event. Drink pairings are based on baijiu -- or you can request mocktail pairings. Due to the limited 26-seat capacity, they are sold out months in advance! So get on their mailing list for openings. I was lucky enough to get a seat at their November tasting menu: 1. Broth -- a warm and nutritious welcome! The perfect start to any Chinese meal 2. Scallop 3. Cold Snacks: Brussel sprouts, Dong li zhi (pear), Radishes, Sunchoke, and Delicata squash -- these vegetable-forward dishes are spectacular and rival your tastebuds for best bites of the meal 4. Bing -- a modern take on 梅菜扣肉 as a pork terrine in wrap/pancake/bread 5. Sweet and Sour -- a fantastic ling cod in the most balanced cherry sweet and sour sauce 6. Shellfish and e-fu Noodles -- spin on vongole-style dish. So good that I wish this would be served at every Chinese banquet! 7. Lamb Claypot -- Chef Eva Chin's father's favourite dish. It's a traditional winter dish, and it was the best version of it. 8. Sweet: Jiu niang, and Sweet potato and ginger Service was warm and thoughtful. Before each course was presented, Chef Eva would offer the story behind each dish -- a behind-the-scenes look into the inspiration and thought process. Her stories wrap each course with charm and nostalgia. For those of us also belonging to the Chinese diaspora, each dish reaches into our own memories and allows us to experience home and culture in a new way. It is so very special. My party of three had a great time. We left with full bellies and hearts. Thank you Chef Eva and team for the amazing experience. Can't wait to return and try a new menu!

WORST $$$ DINING EXPERIENCE, PERHAPS EVER! After reading glowing, almost fawning reviews of Yan Kitchen and hearing that it was the "hottest reservation" in Toronto this summer, we felt lucky when 2 seats came up on a Friday night not long after. So we prepaid the meal online, including an mandatory 20% tip as required by their system, and looked forward to a unique experience. That was what we got, only not the one we had hoped for. : Atmosphere: 1 out of10. Earsplittingly noisy. 26 people crowded into a very claustrophobic windowless space, all yelling over each other to be heard. Raucous. Noise abated for a few moments between courses then quickly picked up again when diners ran out of food. Only quiet spot was the washroom; went there several times just to get a break. Food: 4 out of 10. Not fusion food, maybe confusion food. Most dishes did not really have a direction, just ingredients piled on randomly. Because it was hot, instead of broth to start, we were served a strawberry tea, which purportedly featured a whole case of strawberries But they perished in vain as the tea was bitter and unpleasant. Special turbot was unrecognizable in a bland fish ball, accompanied by black bean that overpowered the mild fish, Best dish was the house-made tofu, or it would have been if it were not overwhelmed by a cacophony of extra ingredients. After a few courses of disappointing dishes and a lot of aggravation over the degree of noise, we decided to forego the rest of the meal, so we paid and left. No one asked us why. We will not be back.