The story
Sunnys Chinese draws from the high-energy dining cultures found throughout China—shaokao spots in Chengdu and Xi’an, dai pai dongs in Hong Kong. The result is a casual, playful restaurant in Toronto’s Kensington Market that earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its good quality, good value cooking.
The menu is built around regional traditions, with a charcoal grill at the heart of the kitchen. Cold starters like fresh tofu skin with black vinegar and green peppercorn oil set the tone, while charcoal-grilled dishes such as Mala Young Chicken with dry chili and Sichuan peppercorn, or five-spice Pork Chop with mustard oil and lap cheong, show the kitchen’s range.
Hot dishes include Dan Dan Noodle with ya cai and ground peanut, Mapo Tofu with dry-aged beef and doubanjiang, and Typhoon Shelter Squid with garlic breadcrumbs and salted black bean. The Orange Chicken—onion, pepper, Shaoxing wine—takes inspiration from Hawaii. Desserts stay playful: a daily soft serve, seasonal bing fen with jasmine jelly, and Blackbird HK French Toast with black sesame jam and oolong condensed milk.
Sunnys also shares a list of favourite spots around Toronto, from Northern Dumpling Kitchen to Swatow Restaurant—a nod to the wider Chinese food community that informs its own cooking.
The restaurant is tucked inside Kensington Mall, accessed through an indoor hallway. It’s a setting that matches the food: unpretentious, energetic, and focused on flavour. Whether you come for the charcoal-grilled short rib or a bowl of silver needle noodles, Sunnys Chinese delivers a Bib Gourmand-worthy meal that feels like a neighbourhood find.
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