Swatow Restaurant in Toronto

Most of the hype around this place seems to be coming from the Tdot bloggers who do not have the ability to venture outside of downtown and try actually good Chinese food that exists outside of Spadina. Ive tried Swatow soups, friedrices, and a rice on plate, and all were underwhelming and did not live up to the hype piled on top of it by BlogTO, Dished, and such. This place is often labelled as a Hidden Gem but its actually in plain sight on Spadina with its distinctive signage and distinctively grungy look. The minced crab meat soup was ok, hardly any crab though and it looked like it may have been immitation crab meat. The fried rice was nothing impressive. The rice was too hard and it felt stale. Hardly any meat. Nothing authentic either. The duck on rice was the last straw. A few oversalted duck pieces placed on top of white rice, three greens on the side, and no sauce whatsoever. This was hard to eat. The duck meat was okay, but no significant seasoning. I was expecting greatness with this dish but what I have tried is telling me the other dishes There are way better Chinese restaurants in tdot. I have never dined in because the interior is not appealing. Parking is extraordinarily hard to find. And they do not accept card for payment. If youve come here from afar, try Bitter Melon nearby or go to Annalakshmis on Blue Jays way for memorable food experiences Parking: Extremely congested area and the only practical parking options are the GreenP slots along Spadina. Dont visit in the winter, its a miserable walk from parking for sub par food Kid-friendliness: Cramped interior, usually loud, and the area is generally not safe for unsupervised kids Wheelchair accessibility: Just a regular door, seemed like itd be hard to get in if I was on a wheelchair

This restaurant is still collecting tax during this time,Dec 17/2024

Delicious food and great portions !

A No-Frills Gem: Swatow Swatow, a timeless, cash-only hole-in-the-wall, is a true hidden gem in Toronto. Despite its unassuming exterior, this place has been drawing crowds for years, and for good reason. The star of the show is still undoubtedly their BBQ pork chicken soup. On a cold day, its the perfect comfort food. We also enjoyed their classic dishes like spring rolls, fried rice, and chow mein, all of which were delicious and reasonably priced. While the service is efficient, dont expect a warm and fuzzy experience. The focus here is on the food, and the staff is more concerned with getting orders out quickly than providing exceptional customer service. If youre looking for a no-frills, authentic Chinese dining experience, Swatow is a must-visit. Just be prepared for a quick and efficient meal. *-*-*-*-*-*-* 2017: Spectacular bbq pork noodle soup for a VERY reasonable price.The broth is next level and perhaps one of the best in chinatown. Service is a bit lackluster but the food is worth while

delicious food , big portions and low prices

For the 96-dollar bill I ordered, I got two spring rolls that were supposed to cost 2.99 dollars each ended up being 6 dollars for 2 I also got a shrimp fry rice, a chicken fry rice, curry chicken and vegetables with tofu, and a pop for about 5 dollars. It was definitely not worth 96 dollars. At the end, the lady decided that we didn t want the 4-dollar change and that it was her service charge and tip. After paying 96 dollars for mediocre rice and greasy spring rolls, and a pop for 5 dollars, it was a rip-off !!

I seldom put a comment but the waitress was so rude to me. She forced me to pay by cash and asked for tips with a brutal attitude without thank you. It is not the matter of dollars of tips but she should learn to repect her costumers The waiter at the front desk in the cafeteria has a bad attitude and shows no respect for customers. If you want to eat, be careful not to let it affect your mood.

Sweet and sour chicken: 4/5 stars Fried Dumplings:5/5 stars Lo Mein: 2/5 stars Food : 4/5

Very economic and good food.

Best in the city

Stuffed tofu tasted great. Portion sizes for the noodle soups are big and their chili oil is excellent. Servers kinda rushed us out as soon as we were done eating but I guess thats how most chinese restaurants are?

We travelled from Mississauga with small children because we heard such great things about the food. And it was definitely worth it. The servers were all really attentive to both me and my kids. the food was brought out really quickly and tasted amazing. All the small children definitely approved my friend and I loved everything about this place. Kid-friendliness: They didn t mind at all that we had small kids with us every time we ask for a spoon they quickly brought us one.

Tips are optional, not mandatory. This place hounds you to pay for undeserved tips. The stew beef noodles taste bland and the place is quite dirty & unclean. Heard rude service to all the customers including mine.

Was and always will be the best Chinese food downtown. Anyone who says otherwise doesn t know what they re talking about. Thank you, Swatow. You have a special place in our hearts. P.s. order the ho fun and beef with eggplant. You will not be disappointed.

Best noodle house in the city!

Still this restaurant continues to be one of those spots that cant miss in Chinatown. Some dishes disappeared over the years. The staff is friendly and still is a busy place.

Really great spot to get some food! The prices are very reasonable and portions are pretty big. The dishes themselves were really tasty as well. Would definitely recommend to check it out.

Way too greasy, ramen not cooked enough and not enough meat.

classic Spadina Chinese

Have not been here for a long time the food still delicious and the portion is ok as well

This is one of the restaurants I always wanted to visit when returning to Toronto. I visited for the first time in 30 years, and remarkably, almost nothing about this place has changed, even though the city has transformed so much. The deep, rich flavors of their food took me back to the time when I lived here.

Went here instead of our regular restaurant on dundas st.west that serves dim sum and a huge variety of chinese dishes on their menu. If you name it, they can make it or already have it on their menu. But they are close on Wednesday. This place was a bad decision. Not sure why ppl still come here for chinese food. The food is very greasy and the place is not comfy at all. Nothing here that you cant get anywhere else and the flavour is just meh. Will not be returning.

Ben coming here for 30+ years. Its comfort food. In my 20s/30s it was the spot to stop after work and grab food on the walk home. Late night eats was also a tradition.

My friend Jeff K. and I have been visiting Swatow restaurant since the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series in 1992. I recommend trying The Classic Shrimp Wonton Noodle Soup, Shrimp with Lobster Sauce, or my own specialty, Curry Squid on Fried Noodles. Additionally, I highly recommend the Oysters with Black Bean Sauce, which is an underrated dish. Until next time.

Homey food. Recommend the fook kin fried rice.

Fantastic delivery experience. It s not cheap, but each dish came hot, and was of high quality. Not easy to find a reliable Chinese food spot for takeout / delivery consider me officially a card carrying member of the Swatow fan club. 5/5.

Yummy food Ive been going since I was 5 years old (32 now). Vegetarian options: Yes Kid-friendliness: Yes Wheelchair accessibility: Yes

I have been going to Swatow for 25+ years and it has the best food

ignorant waiter no class as if we were not welcome never going back

Great food, fast service.

Great place to go for casual Cantonese comfort food. Food was tasty, service was good, washrooms were clean. Chinese restaurants in this area are hit or miss, but this place is a go.

This place brought me back almost last century of Hong Kong style traditional Chinese food. Fast and great service and food was delicious.

Decent downtown option for Chinese food. We found the dinner specials to be the best value. All food i would say is average/good

Bad experience. 1. Staff are not polite. They press us to pay tips which they do not deserve. 2. Restaurant is very small and unclean. 3. Food is of low quality and expensive. We last went to a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown, Montreal, Quebec. Well, terrible experience. We will NOT go to Chinese restaurants in Chinatown in Canada again. Never!

Always a great meal no matter what time of day or night.

There was a bug in our seafood noodles takeaway!!! Been coming here for years. Unfortunately, recently it seems like things are going downhill. Management change?

Cash only

Disappointed by rude entitlement of masked man at cash. Masked guy manning the cash brought the bill to me. I walked up and paid exact cash at the front. Instead of thanking me for the business, he just loudly proclaimed, What about the tip? So, as I did to me, I loudly but calmly explained to him that a tip is an optional gratuity as a reward for servers who perform good service. Not for a guy who just brings me the bill. Also, I actually did leave a tip at the table for the efficient servers. This genius just didn t notice. Anyhow, Swatow s days as a quality food restaurant are over. It is mediocre at best, relying on its 1980s newspaper reviews still posted on its walls collecting dust. For the same price or less there are better options like Yueh Tung on Centre St near city hall.

Good one for dinner

Such good Chinese food that I ve been here and ordered delivery multiple times. I usually get the same thing and it s always been the same delicious food. I recommend Cantonese fried noodle, Beef and broccoli, Shrimp dumpling soup, Crispy dumplings with meat and pork fried rice.

AMAZING FOOD

Busy restaurant, fast service, lot of cuisine from many different provinces.

Best Sechuan in town. Ive been eating at Swatow since the mid 80s ... The only thing thats changed are the prices as theyve kept pace with inflation. Same incredible menu, same fast service, same bustling Spadina/Chinatown atmosphere ... Truly authentic, delicious food at great prices ... But this isnt a place to linger ... Dont be offended if they drop a bill on your table mid-meal ... Sometimes thats just how quickly they move ... Great place to stop for a late lunch after an afternoon of shopping and hanging out ... Parking: Green P parking lot in Kensington Market a block away ... Spadina is harsh trying to get parking, but there is Paid Street parking on Spadina - IF youre lucky enough to get a spot Kid-friendliness: Bring the whole extended family with circular tables to accommodate groups up to 7 or 8 people Wheelchair accessibility: Sidewalk level entrance with double glass-paned doors at entrance

I use to come to this place 20 years ago. Although the price did change, the food is absolutely still delicious and I will of course return.

Over-priced, rude service and noisy AF. Also, they pack so many seats in there that its uncomfortable.

Wow! Great place to go with a group of people and get to sample a lot of different foods. Everything we tried tasted great, the portions were good and the price was right. Its not the newest restaurant and it could be renovated but thats not what youre going here for.

This is one of those places that is well established and serves good food but doesnt give a damn about their customers. You can drop by if you dont mind not getting even a basic level of service or courtesy. I hope the staff get a reality check else theyre gonna lose their establishment soon.

Chinese restaurant in Torontos Chinatown, simple but with high quality products, fast and clean service.

Sawtow Restaurant in Chinatown has a few notable aspects, but overall, it falls short in key areas. The first thing that stood out was the unfriendly staff, who seemed more focused on an eat, pay, and leave mindset than providing good customer service. Unfortunately, the food didn t make up for it the dishes lacked authentic flavors, and the duck was so chewy that we couldnt finish it. On the brighter side, the complimentary green tea and fortune cookies added a fun touch to the meal. However, the overall experience left much to be desired. Parking: Spadina is a busy street to even secure street parking, so plan it ahead to walk a distance.

Best food!!!

The food is okay, but can you wipe the table with a dry cloth? It feels wet when you put your hands on it, and there is an indescribable smell. From the moment I entered this restaurant, I never saw a smile on the waiters face. Also, after seeing my bill, I found that I had to pay the extra 13%. I thought that the consumption had been accounted for. Unexpectedly, when it was time to pay him the money, he asked me in a tone of I owe him. , wheres your tip? He was confused when he asked me, so I gave him another 13% and left... I was quite speechless.

Great selection

The food is delicious. The owner is also friendly.

Definitely a hidden gem downtown. Looks like a typical small Chinese food spot. But amazing food and great portions ! Just dont forget to tip or they will go to your table and try to embarrass you into giving a tip

The food was alright but it was a bit greasy especially the fried chicken wings as it tasted like the oil used was old. The food portion size is good for the price. The service was good and the atmosphere was good; the customers appeared to be regulars. P.S. I wouldn t recommend the Fuk-Kun Fried Rice.

Herman from this restaurant is such a kind, honest & good person. I accidentally paid more and he went out of his way to make sure I get my money back. He also gave awesome customer service and the food was incredible!!! Ill definitely be back!!!

$25 for a plate of big noodles that had no taste. Not a Chinatown icon anymore.

The flavor is good. But prices are high. I ordered vegetable Lo Mein and got vermicelli, so didnt like that. The spring rolls are good but Ive had better. The sweet and sour chicken was good. For reference, I live in Southern California.

Only accepts cash, absolutely crazy. There are better places in China Town. I would avoid

Very authentic Chinese cuisine. My friends took me here and ordered in Cantonese. Honestly Im not sure how successful I would have been ordering from the menu even though it is bilingual, since it doesnt correspond to the typical western style Chinese food places Im accustomed to. Anyway the food was great!

If you like your noodles not to be cooked and the food to be tasteless then this is the place for you !

Consistently great

The one and only! This is our go-to spot for fantastic Chinese in the city. The food comes out when it s ready and you sit with strangers (who become friends) if it s full. In the winter, there s a line outside.. freezing cold temperatures won t keep people away. When you first walk inside you may wonder about the decor but it s all part of the charm. Enjoy!

There is some gap with expectations. Ordered the beef offal soup thick noodles. The thick dough is not ideal, and the dough is not ready to be dried. I think it is almost impossible for the dough to fall apart when it falls into the water. The key point is that the noodle cake is a bit hard and not broken up. The offal is beef, without beef bladder, and the soup base has no taste of pork belly juice. The portion is enough for girls, but it should be a little different for men. There is a teapot that is better than yours, and the tea is of average quality than nothing. There is tax on meals (good luck remembering this tip). A couple of Westerners thought there was no tax when they came to eat. The guests said that the Chinese food they had been to did not require cash. The waiter said that the restaurant had been open for several years. After the customer left, the waiter had a conversation and asked if he had any tips? There is no guest relationship. I was so shocked that I forgot to compare. Will come back to help. It s hard to find Chinese-style noodles.

Nice inviting atmosphere with great food and huge portions you will not leave hungry

ive been going here since my nightclub years. i come by once a month.

Downtown authentic, down to the bathrooms from 1988

First Time here.. tasty food!!

Been going here for many years - great food and great people working - ask for the watercress soup w ginger tofu and scallions - best in the world !

Very good taste.

Best Chinese food in downtown Toronto. Been going here for over 20yrs.

Damn good food

Very yummy and staff was kind :) My partner recommended this since I am not from the area and I will look forward to coming back my next time in Toronto.

Wow the shrimp with scrambled eggs on rice was so tasty! Lots of flavor in all the dishes we ordered. Staff is chill and friendly. Price is very reasonable!

Not good.

Its hard to know what to say other than that the food here is perfection. Hands down one of the best Chinese restaurants in Toronto. My family is from Swatow (Shantou, China) and it makes me so proud of this lil mom n pop shop for representing the Teochew people and its cuisine!

I have been eating at this place for at least the last 15 years, and this was the first time I felt that the quality has detoriated. The food was bland, and the soup was lumpy with cornflour. Not sure if they have changed chefs

Price is on the expensive side within china town. However, the restaurant is bright and clean. Food is decent but congee queen will give u slightly bigger portion for the similar price you paid here. Cash only but have atm kiosk onsite if needed.

Great food. Can be a fast bowl of one of the best noodle places in the city or a full multiplate meal. Been going for 30 years

Fantastic food and quick, friendly service Kid-friendliness: Very family friendly Food : 5/5 |

Bad food, dirty place, rude server. And they accept only cash!!

Was looking for a lunch spot with a friend who wanted Chinese food and came across this place. Fish Ball Soup (7.8/10). Round balls of fish cooked with slice pork, bok choy and scallions. Decent. General Tsos Chicken (6.8/10). Chicken was overcooked, but flavour was good. Rice Noodles with Shrimp (8.2/10). Shrimp, thin sliced bell pepper, onions with rice noodles and sauce. Really good. Beef Chow Mein with Black Bean Sauce (7.8). Crunchy noodles. Better food else.

Cash Only & we had to ask for drinks wth. 99 out of 100 restaurants would bring water right away . No greeting & I was literally yelled at for asking for rice in a Chinese restaurant. My wife was quickly ushered away from table when we finished before I could tip . Never in my life have I only tipped 10% First time for everything. If you want a Seinfeld type restaurant experience (bad) go visit for the humorously bad service. Food was ok

A nice little eatery for authentic Swatow (a regional Guangdong region) cuisine with beef balls, fish balls, squid balls & fish slices. I ordered the shop s special soup noodle with all the famous 4 delicacies, beef tendon & sweet bread. I was not disappointed. But when I came to settling the bill, I was told the eatery only take cash. As I normally pay by cashless in Europe, I could not even get any money out of their cash machine in the shop. In the end I was offered to settle by PayPal which I was happy to do. Interior was plain with no frills.

delicious food

Great food and service.

another great chinese food in Toronto you all should try.... you will love it

Really good, Cantonese food. I had the tamoto curry dish and it was really good, great portions. Staff was a little distant but my girl friend speaks Cantonese so at least I was able to get my water. Cash only, so bring cash. Still really great food

The food is alright - nothing to write home about. But they charge significantly more than most other restaurants in the area - you can get much better value elsewhere.

Apparently people of color aren t welcome in this establishment. The servers every table other then mine water and tea. Their Lomein was angel hair and not even mix. Some geltin stuff poured over the top! Horrible!

Best Chinese Food in Toronto!

Pretty good authentic Chinatown spot in toronto

Hidden gem in Toronto!!! We randomly ordered 2 dishes and they taste so amazing!!! Full of Wok Qi! I m also very happy about the beverage I ordered!

Be careful what you get when they give you change. I had to get cash because this was the ONLY place I went to in my stay in Toronto that only accepts cash. So this is the ONLY place I d get change from. So I m very sure where this game token is from. Food is alright. I d give credit to that.

Food is mediocre at best, staff is rude

Fast service for large portion of food for the price. Specifically, I come here for the shrimp lobster sauce on rice and cover it in Uncle Chens sriracha sauce.

Omg delicious food

Was expecting a traditional Swatow experience based on the name. Its more of a Cantonese food than anything else. We tried the Swatow special noodle soup, excellent. Beef with black bean rice noodle, also good, could be better in the sauce execution. Half of the braised duck, not bad. Fried stuffed tofu, average. The star is definitely the stir fried Ong Choy with fermented bean and chilli. BTW, cash only.

Tasty food and competitive prices, tight spaces, cash only.

Swatow is an institution. I ve been coming here since the 80 s. Known for its casual Cantonese fare, this place has stood the test of time. I fondly remember coming here with my parents in the 80 s to have wonton soup, and Cantonese Chowmein. In the 90 s and early 2000 s I often came here after a night out from drinking/partying. There is always a buzz about this place no matter what time you arrive. Everyone has a favourite dish that makes them repeat customers for decades. Today I was feeling nostalgic and ordered Chicken Fried Rice with Salted Fish to go. There is a ton of wok hei , portions are generous, lots of quality ingredients. It tasted exactly like I remember it. Always consistent. Nothing really changes over the years here. You come back and all the wonderful memories with friends and family rush back. The staff are amazing and always welcoming. It s like Cheers, everyone knows your name, especially if you re a regular. One thing to note is that they are cash only. I love a success story and Swatow is one of them. I wish them many, many more years to come. Vegetarian options: Lots of vegetarian dishes

Great food in big serves

You will never find better Hot n Sour Soup than at Swatow. Addictive to say the least and clears the nasal passages! lol; CASH ONLY

Had sweet & sour chicken and Shanghai noodles Both were good Food : 4/5

Been craving for some simple shrimp wonton noodle soup. I am definitely satisfied.

Yummy Chinese food at affordable prices.

Hands down to the best duck ever

Not really a Swatow restaurant

Such fantastic and authentic Chinese dishes.

Great yeung-chow fried rice in chinatown

Is still good after all these year.I give 5 stars because they are worth it.

Its a good Chinese restaurant, but not exceptional. The staff is friendly and patient. Very fast service. Cash payment.

I m posting this as a public service to all travelers: This is absolutely the worst Chinese food I ve ever had anywhere in the world. On a blustery day in Toronto yesterday, of the things we ordered was hot and sour soup. It was hot, but negligibly sour. It had red bell peppers in it and tomato juice, or what frighteningly tasted like tomato. It is SHAMEFUL for a Chinese restaurant to serve something so terrible. This place is a real hole in the wall, and the first clue that the food might be subpar is the extensive nature of the menu. The other items we got were tasteless, with gloppy, pasty sauce. Even the rice was lousy! I m not going to waste any more of your time, and I advise you not to waste yours, or any of your (cash only) money here. There are 8,000 restaurants in Toronto. This is one that might pass on some lonely highway in barren Oklahoma. If this is one of the best Chinese restaurants in Toronto, then go eat any other cuisine on the planet than Chinese when living or visiting here.

Love this place and have gone many times. Wish I lived closer so I can go more.

Delicious food, the best I have ever had

Always a pleasure!

We were there for dinner, love the fried noodles, the best in town, hot and delicious, the restaurant was small and always packed with customers, not reservation was allowed and waiting time was 30 mins or so.

We miss your congee

Ive been to Swatow three times and each time I was very satisfied. Their portion sizes arent as generous as other Chinese restaurants (quite a bit smaller) but their food is so good, definitely quality over quantity. However, their curry beef a la carte, which is more expensive, didnt come with that much more curry beef than the curry beef on rice, which is much cheaper. Looking forward to my next return so I can try other items on the menu.

Quick service but the prices are on the high side !

Lovely small restaurant open in the early hours. I recommend their Wonton Soup Noodles

Its an institution in TO. Simply the best

Calculated) for this minus. The food is delicious, noisy, atmospheric, but shortchanged

Wow this was so delicious! Sweet and sour pork is the perfect balance of sweet savoury and crispy. Food came very fast and was super hot and fresh. Not greasy or overly heavy.

really good servings, tasty food but bring cash!

I love this place when i lived in Toronto swatow is my favorite spot my favorite chinese restaurant in Toronto

Fast service, authentic food. Very large portions for a good price.

Personally, it would be one of the most underrated Chinese restaurants.

Classic Chinatown joint that s been around forever and a true mainstay of Chinese food in downtown Toronto. Service is fast and food comes out quick. All the favourites are on the menu and at reasonable prices. Their swatow house noodle soup is everything you want in a bowl, and it s a meal in of itself. Those less adventurous may want to avoid because it does have liver and other organs. Get the shrimp wonton soup or just their wonton & noodles soup if you want something a little safer. They also do one of the best general tso chicken s out of any of the chinese restaurants. Szechuan style shrimp is also quite good and comes spicy, though no peppercorn. Note they ONLY take cash

A day in Chinatown and we decided to try this Chinese restaurant. It was so busy we had to wait a bit. The service is the typical one you get in a Chinese restaurant, very fast and without care. The food was good but we had better in Toronto, maybe not in Chinatown but definitely around Markham and Richmond Hill area.

The important thing is to say it three times, good taste, good taste, good taste

The shop sells many delicious Chinese dishes, especially wontons and special noodles, prices are above average, remember to wear cold clothes if queuing in winter. Parking: Few paid parking spaces in front of the restaurant

you place your order and then your food comes to you magically fast. really friendly service and very attentive aswell! big portions and decent prices. cash only which is rare these days but a nice added touch! i recommend the snow pea leaves sautéed in garlic. YUMMY! I will definitely be back! :)

I love there sevice and good food

Good portions

Its one of a few remaining old school chinatown restaurants and is becoming popular with those looking for that experience. True to form, its still cash only.

One of the legendary restaurants in China Town for more than 40 years of history. Havent been here for a long time and am very glad that their food & service are still great

Pretty tasty I would say... Fried Rice was cooked well. Beef Ho Fun was tasty... though a bit greasy -- but I didnt mind. Sweet Sour Chicken was also tasty. Wonton noodles were eaten in seconds. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The atmosphere is packed with people; creating a lively atmosphere within the restaurant. Would recommend.

No frills hole on the wall Chinese restaurant. Very delicious foods. Definitely be back

I used to go here often when I lived in Kensington Market in the late 90s. Nothing has changed... Except my memories of their food was better. Maybe Ive changed. Ive found better noodles elsewhere. It used to be a more affordable place. Maybe its just evidence that Toronto has become a real dump and people are clinging on, trying to survive, trying to make ends meet. The meat was skimpy, the sauce was bland. About the only thing still the same was the spicy Chile oil you can add. I get better and larger portions at lower prices in the burbs now. Warning: still cash only.

Cash only. ATM is inside the restaurant in case needed.

Incredible food

Best fried rice Ive ever had and the duck was nice and juicy.

Super tasteseee yummy foodse here. I come here a lot all the time to taste goods. Food is always so good . Staff very nice and talk to you in China English. When you pay, cash only this is China .

Delicious sweet and sour pork, and also eggplant shrimp.

We ate here about a week ago and got exactly what we expected. The prices were great for the quality. Very very large portions big enough for sharing. We ordered the general Tao chicken, chicken fried rice, and chow mein noodles with BBQ pork and we had enough to bring home leftovers for dinner the next day. Just like any good Chinese restaurant the service and atmosphere were not the focal point. I can appreciate this and have no issues with it considering again the value perception on what I ordered. I will definitely be back and if youre looking for a quick place to eat this is definitely it as we only waited 8 to 10 minutes for our order.

My favorite Chinese spot in all Toronto Beef black bean on rice is amazing Food : 5/5

The best shrimp wonton ever. We are eating there over 30 years Food

Good authentic Chinese food. Price was decent but they dont take card and the atm is an extremely uncomfortable position in the middle of the dining area. Discovered this place just walking around Chinatown, the servers were very knowledgeable , nice and pretty dang fast.

Not as cheap as people say and definitely overrated. The spring rolls smelled and tasted like they were fried in old oil. The chow mein, noodles and vegetable fried rice were all below average. And surprise, surprise, cash only, with an ATM conveniently located inside restaurant.

Cash-only restaurant with traditional Chinese fare. Don t be deterred if there s a line up outside the door. Food is served quickly and they flip tables just as quick. We were a party of 3, and got seated within 15 minutes on a weeknight dinner. We ended up splitting 5 dishes, which was plenty, considering the generous portions. Everything was great, but the overall favourite was the Roasted Duck with Special Sauce, which came out nice and crispy. Highly recommended and can t wait to try more of their menu.

Phenomenal food! Their orange beef is legendary. I love their wonton and noodle soup. Their mixed Veg and cashews are delicious with the right amount of spice. Magnificent food. Dont miss it!

Great location for delicious food. Make sure you hit an ATM before as they only tak cash and the machine there charges a big fee for withdrawal.

Title: Disappointing Experience with Salt and Pepper Shrimp Order Review: I recently ordered from Swatow and was left quite dissatisfied with my experience. I opted for the Salt and Pepper Shrimp, attracted by its appetizing description. Unfortunately, what I received was far from what was promised. The shrimp was soggy, completely lacking the crispiness and flavor that one would expect from such a dish. This made it inedible for me, which was a major letdown. Additionally, the packaging of the food was damaged upon arrival. This not only raised concerns about the foods handling during transit but also contributed to the poor quality of the meal. While I have had better experiences with this restaurant in the past, this particular incident has affected my view of their consistency in quality and service.

Always great food.

Overall affordable and fast service. We went on a Tuesday at 7pm and the place was packed, but had one table left. Six of us were in and out in an hour and it was $27 each, incl. tip. Food was decent overall a bit hit or miss. Maybe you just need to know what to order. Bbq fried rice, snow pea leaves, and General Tso Chicken were the best of what we ordered. Cash only. Do not serve beer/alcohol.

Sweet and sour pork was all fat and chewy. couldn t even swallow half the dish had spit it in a napkin.chow me in was tasteless and the beef with eggplant was mediocre I don t know how people can think food like this is anything but something to keep you alive because it was definitely very poor. The lady working taking our order was nice though. Sad food unfortunately

I am coming to this restaurant for over 15 years. The best Chinese food in downtown !

Their specialty duck was good, as was their mixed vegetables. But the hot and sour soup tasted odd, like a ketchup soup! Way too sweet, not even hot or sour. I also wasn t the biggest fan of their signature lo mein. I do like the atmosphere of this place and I m sure there are better things on the menu.

I don t think the staff know how to treat customers. Food is cold and stale.

What a horrible restaurant!! Dismal food and even more dismal staff. This is the second time I am visiting the restaurant. The servers here are as rude as hell. We ordered a fried green pepper and when we asked what meat was attached to the hot pepper , the server rudely replied - I don t know, some kind of fish . The food was disgusting and my girl said I am to be blamed if she falls sick tonight. To top it all, they accept only cash. They have an ATM installed there which I doubt accepts all cards. If you are not able to withdraw cash, the people in the restaurant are super rude. We left the food halfway through and were ready to leave disappointed, when the chief server comes over and has the audacity to say - Leave some tip for us for our excellent service . What the heck! I don t even know how this restaurant has 4+ rating on Google, seems like they have some sleight of hand tricks to keep themselves highly rated. Trying to understand why do they accept only cash. Are they involved in any kind of dubious tax avoidance tactics? Furthermore, they need to work on the heating. I remember I was in March 2023 here and then again today in Feb 2024. On both occasions, the person accompanied told me they felt cold, and it was a different person each time.

This place used to have the best noodle soup in town, however their soup loses its flavor on this last visit. I am not sure why. The meat, wonton ..etc still taste good, maybe you need to ask them to add the Beef broth?? Anyways, their fried dishes still taste good! Just a side note, for the spicy salt fried squid, ask them to go easy on the batter/flour. It just make the squid flavorless and greasy

Good food, in the traditional non fancy Chinese Restaurant! Loved it!

The food was really nice and good but the service is really awful and no the waitress they was really gentile, but, I didnt finish yet and they removed the dishes, never ask for the bill and they bring it, ahh and is good to know they include in the bill the tip... Really? This is Canada... I always receive my cashback and after leave the tip... This is disgusting... Thank you, first and last time here.

The best food !

Good quality food although the portions are a bit small for the price.

Decent food. Fish ball soup base is not as good as before.

Food is delicious as always but prices have gone up and service is not as amazing but Ill still keep going back

The food here is definitely worth coming back for; hot and fresh, large portions, and just plain delicious! Im a particularly big fan of their soy braised duck and lemon chicken! The only con about this place is that its pretty small and as such, can only seat so many people.

Went to Swatow based on reviews for their hot and sour soup. It was not at all what I had expected. The first taste came across very sweet and it did not get any better. Very disappointing.

stir fried beef rice noodle and general Tao chicken are delicious.. assorted seafood and vegetables fresh and tasty, highly recommended

We have been coming to Swatow for over 20 years, we love the food and service.