Food is delicious but on the pricey end.Doesn't take credit card and only accepts cash.I paid what I think is just at 15% tip. The nerve of the waitress coming back with the change and telling me I didn't pay for tip. If my kids weren't there I would've let them have it.A lot of places would give cash discount. You're lucky I didn't ask for an official receipt because I'm certain not all orders are reported.
This might be the best Shanghai restaurant in Markham. We tried the XLB, sesame pancake with minced pork, wonton in hot and sour soup, and the A LA stir fried rice cakes. Everything tasted really good and was made with good technique as the boss himself is the chef here. XLB had very thin wrappers and plenty of soup. Favourite is the wontons in hot and sour soup. Staff are friendly and check vax records at the door.
Although this restaurant opened for a long time, today was the first time we came. Yummy Shanghai's food.
I've been going to this restaurant with my family for more than 8 years.Unfortunately, we are all so familiar with the restaurant I didn't even bother to take photos as it is a trusted favourite, go-to place for hearty, flavourful, consistent and reasonably priced Shanghainese food.Favourites:(1) Hot and sour soup - I've eaten this soup in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal in Canada; in LA, San Francisco, NYC and Boston in the US; and in Singapore, Taipei, Hong Kong and even Shanghai around the world. There is no restaurant that even comes close to the make of their soup here. The taste is just so harmonious with plenty of ingredients. Such a comforting dish on a cold day, after a stressful event, for a celebration etc.(2) Soup filled dumplings - the soup inside is genuinely flavourful and much less oilier than most other restaurants that make this dish. Always ordered whenever we come. Only feedback is for $6-7 there should be 6 dumplings instead of 4 - it's a bit pricey relative to what other similar restaurants offer, and for the portion the restaurant delivers.(3) Red bean paste fried cake - so good and so hearty. Fantastic way to finish the meal. Again, there has not been a single time we ordered this where we were unhappy.The staff are real friendly and professional. Unlike many Chinese restaurants where you feel like you're invisible, or they don't care for your business, at A La Kitchen they actually know to say hello and thank you, and provide diligent service at just the right amount.I've also liked their centre piece as part of the restaurant decor, which consist of upside down hung wooden crates that they put soup dumplings in - innovative and very fitting with the type of restaurant!Overall, a highly recommend place. Unlike many restaurants (both Chinese and otherwise) where quality and quantity have gone downhill after COVID reopening and resumption of dine-in eating, A La Kitchen has not deteriorated and kept the same consistent and robust quality of food and service. Congrats and good for you!!! You have the support of my family and friends. Keep up what you do please.
Truly cannot stress enough how authentic the food at ala kitchen is, exactly reflects the name of restaurant, ala kitchen has a very special spot for the Shanghainese living in Toronto! The food quality has been very much consistent for years, it’s the place if we feel a yearning for the 蟹粉小笼包 and 东坡肉…this service is absolutely great, the menu is authentic but also has enough options for non-Shanghaiese or non-chinese, very much family friendly, no doubt to become our favourite go-to Shanghai restaurant!
Good service, clean and bright space. Prices are a bit higher. Food is tasty!
Haven't been to this place for a very long time (nothing to do with pandemic) and heard that their steamed crab pork dumplings taste different and I'm very picky about these steamed buns so gave it a try tonight. I was very happy with the steamed crab pork dumplings ordered. We also ordered the steamed lobster & port dumplings, pan fried port dumplings, pork and vegetables wontons in soup, pan fried pork buns, veggie spring rolls and salty rice roll with fried stick. I find the salty rice roll for the rice not as sticky as expected other than that everything we ordered taste really good. Will definitely go back as I'm a big fan of steamed crab pork dumplings.
Haven't dined in since before pandemic. Grabbed take out here this week. Ordered ahead using their online menu. Food was ok! But disappointed that their promo for free soup dumplings (4) with minimum purchase of $25 - was not honoured. Also disappointed about the red bean soup dessert: not good at all.
This was good 10 years ago. The menu is now dated, service is sub-par and considering how many phenomenal Shanghai cuisine around the area, it's worth just eating elsewhere.
Restaurant is clean and food is delicious. Better to reserve the table before you goto eat (Always busy)