Everest Hakka House in Mimico -- Worth the trip to South Etobicoke!

One of the great pleasures of living in Toronto is its truly diverse food "scene". There are, quite literally, restaurants that offer up regional variations from every corner of the world, as well as restaurants that reflect the diversity of cuisine within cultures and nations.

Sometimes, as in the case of the Everest Hakka House in Mimico, they offer what amounts to a fusion of different methods and broader cultures of cooking, in this case of a southern Chinese style of cooking and Indian flavours that many of us are familiar with. There are other Hakka houses in Toronto, though not many and no others in South Etobicoke. A few years ago Everest re-purposed itself from a very good Indian restaurant into one serving an Indian variation of Hakka cooking.

Hakka cuisine is itself diverse. It is both the cuisine of the Hakka people of Southern China, which is closer to what most North Americans would perceive as "Chinese" food, as well as, as is the case with Everest, a type of cuisine that originated in India when restaurateurs of Hakka background added local Indian flavours to their dishes.

Over the years Everest has never disappointed! Of a relatively modest size, with a small front patio, it is nicely decorated, welcoming and very family friendly. It also has an unusually affordable set of lunch specials.

The food is excellent. Along with the dishes below the Malaysian Shrimp Fried Rice ($11.25) is a stand out as are all of the different Hakka style noodle dishes I have tried. The blends of curry flavours and Chinese style sauces are delicious. Also notable are the really delightful and surprising Chinese Biryani dishes.

Some other favourites are:

Vegetarian Spring Rolls $5.50

The spring rolls are a must try as, instead of the ingredients that you might

expect they are instead stuffed with those you would find more normally in a samosa.

Everest Indian Hot Wings $10.25
Any regular reader of this blog knows I love chicken wings, and these are great.

Crispy but very moist, they are served in a terrific and somewhat spicy sauce.

 Gobi Manchurian $11.50

Battered cauliflower that has a perfect texture and bold flavours.

  

Crispy Chilli Beef $13.25

Spicy, tangy and a little bit sweet this dish is very addictive.

Hot Garlic Shrimp $15.25

A total home run. Battered in a fiery, complex sauce.

Szechuan Chicken Noodle $11.50

A terrific fusion dish. 

House Special Mixed Noodle $11.75

A perennial favourite and staple, noodles with a predominantly curry seasoning

that has, as the name implies, a mixture of ingredients like chicken, shrimp, veg, etc. 

Everest is affordable, with friendly service, and well worth heading to Mimico to try. An evening dinner for two with an appetizer and a couple of drinks will run you around $50-60 plus tax and tip. The lunch specials are a steal.

Everest Hakka House is located at 2356 Lake Shore Blvd W., on the 501 Queen Streetcar line, and is a couple blocks east of Mimico Avenue. 416-640-1015. It is fully licensed. It is also located by the lovely Amos Waites Park and the amazing Indian roti restaurant, Maurya.

See also: Yueh Tung -- Hakka & Chinese Cuisine by Toronto City Hall

See also: Swatow Restaurant -- Shrimp Dumpling Noodle Soup & more in the heart of Toronto

Yueh Tung -- Hakka & Chinese Cuisine by Toronto City Hall

Yueh Tung is a well-established restaurant just a stone's throw from Toronto's City Hall and Nathan Phillip's Square. For over twenty-five years they have been serving up classic Chinese dishes with the the addition of a variety of Hakka dishes throughout the menu as well.

For those unfamiliar with Hakka cuisine it is a style of cooking influenced by the flavours and techniques of both Chinese food and Indian food. It originated in southern China and northern India.



Yueh Tung delivers both with bold

The view of the back of City Hall from just outside!

flavours, nice presentation and excellent service. It's second floor dining room is large (though reservations for generally busy nights are recommended, especially for larger groups) and bright with modern decor. Service is excellent and very friendly.

Portion sizes are large and the prices very reasonable. This is great spot to go with family or friends after an event or afternoon spent downtown. It also could not possibly be more central!

There are a lot of great dishes on the large menu, but here is a look at a few favourites.

Hot & Sour Soup: Ranges from individual  serving at $3.95 to a large group bowl $14.95

The Hot & Sour soup here is a real standout. One of the best I have had in the city.

Tangy and spicy, it is full of shrimp, tofu and absolutely delicious BBQ pork.

Honestly, the Hot & Sour soup alone would be worth coming here for.

Hakka Wonton Yam Mein: $8.95

Hakka cuisine is noted for it noodle dishes and this is a great one.

The noodles are perfect with delicious pork & shrimp dumplings 

and more of that wonderful BBQ pork!

Chili Chicken: $9.95

Bold flavours and mildly spicy, a terrific chicken dish.

Calamari Fritters: $9.95

They have this in the appetizer section of the menu but it the size of a main!

Battered and crispy, they have a nice kick of heat. 

Crispy Beef: 10.95

This is one of my family's favourites.

Just as they say -- crispy battered beef strips in a terrific sauce that has a hint of sweetness.

Manchurian Fish: $13.95

'Manchurian' sauced dishes are Hakka staples with chicken, fish and other varieties.

The Manchurian fish at Yueh Tung is moist and bursting with spicy flavour.

A night view of bustling Dundas St. W. taken from Yueh Tung's window

by 11-year old Julia Laxer

The Manchurian Fish, Crispy Beef and Chili Chicken can all be had served on a sizzling plate for an additional dollar. This is always a fun and crowd-pleasing service.

There are so many dishes to try and keep you coming back from Shrimp or Chicken Pakora platters to sauced seafood platters with Vancouver Crab or East Coast Lobster.

They are licensed and serve beer and wine. The dining room also has a few tables that accommodate large groups. Unfortunately, however, it is a second floor restaurant that can only be accessed by a staircase so there are accessibility issues. It is very family friendly and the busy and bustling dining room is great for kids. They do also deliver within downtown Toronto.

You can see their full menu and read about the story of the restaurant and the Hakka style of cuisine at their website. 

Yueh Tung is located at 126 Elizabeth St., right behind and to the north of Toronto City Hall. 416-977-0933. They are open seven days a week with extended hours on Friday and Saturday. 

See also: 12 Great Dishes at Toronto's Asian Legend

See also: Swatow Restaurant -- Shrimp Dumpling Noodle Soup & more in the heart of Toronto