As a Chinese Canadian- I am very picky about what i consider good Chinese food. For instance, I don't eat General Tao chicken or Chop Suey and my apologies in advance but I really consider these things white washed Chinese food. While I have my reservations for restaurant chains like Ho Lee Chow and the Mandarin, I am always happy to go to Asian Legend.
The calibre of chinese food and the selection on the menu are great! They have classics like pork soup dumplings (peking money sacks) that are steamed perfectly and dipping them in the gingery vinegar just makes them pure perfection. I'm happy with the dim sum options such as chive and pork dumplings, deep fried pork dumplings, hot soy milk, green onion pancakes and sticky rice filled with pork shavings. Yep it's hard being a vegetarian and eat dim sum.
The one thing is we did order a spicy tofu dish called mapo tofu- it wasn't as spicy as we would've liked it. It was more peppery than spicy - the kind that can get caught in your throat. We also ordered this thing that I know how to say in chinese 'called lions head' - it's basically a stew with chinese cabbage and meat balls - it was a bit heartier and a sweet flavour. For some reason I had this dish glorified in my head but it wasn't as good as I remembered it in my head. It was still a mild flavour with a glutonous salty gravy.
I love this place, but please don't let me go crazy when ordering as my eyes are definitely bigger than my appetite and I will get excited and order all my very favourite dishes.
*** 1/2 stars
Asian Legend
I'd avoid the Asian Legend at Finch and Leslie during busy hours. It's IMPOSSIBLE to get a table! The downtown one isn't bad, though my mom said her friend saw something gross in her siao long bow once.
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