Mimi Chinese

Mimi Chinese opened to the public on October 21, 2021, at 265 Davenport Road on the fringe of Yorkville, as the sit-down restaurant David Schwartz and Braden Chong had been building toward while running the pandemic Sunnys Chinese takeout pop-up. Toronto Life covered the launch as a theatrical, grown-up regional Chinese room: lipstick-red banquettes, white tablecloths, bow ties, and dishes labeled by Chinese region rather than vague “fusion.” Michelin lists Mimi as a refined regional Chinese destination; sibling Sunnys later took the permanent Kensington Market space and the Bib Gourmand. Schwartz won Michelin’s Toronto Young Chef Award in 2023. Big Hug Hospitality now runs both rooms.

The cooking is shareable regional Chinese with higher-end ingredients and careful technique, leaning Cantonese and southern (Guangdong, Hong Kong, Sichuan, Hunan, Shaanxi) rather than a single-province house. Michelin and Canada’s 100 Best keep returning to shrimp toast with hot mustard and the four-foot belt noodle dressed in chili crisp or house chili oil, snipped tableside with scissors. Infatuation and TasteToronto echo the same showpiece noodle, plus cocktails that lean into baijiu and Chinese pantry flavors (panda mugs, Tea Ceremony pours). Other plates that stick include stir-fried cheung fun, steamed prawns, typhoon-shelter-style vegetable builds, and mai lai go (brown-sugar sponge with custard) to close. Couples often use the tasting or chef’s-choice format; groups book booths or the private room. Expect hard reservations and a check above Chinatown cafe prices.

Come when you want polished regional Chinese and can share the table. For the louder Big Hug sibling, book Sunnys in Kensington. For Dundas wonton-brisket nostalgia, House of Gourmet still delivers (Sunnys’ namesake worked there). For Agincourt yum cha with a group, Grandeur Palace is the plaza hall, not the Yorkville red booths.

Diners treat Mimi as a special-occasion regional Chinese hit: the belt noodle spectacle, shrimp toast, strong cocktails, and a glamorous room that photographs well. Regulars talk about booking weeks ahead, ordering for the table rather than one plate each, and comparing it to Sunnys as the fancier sibling.

The same reviews warn about reservation scarcity, noise when booths fill with celebrations, checks that climb with cocktails and group ordering, and individual dishes that can feel precious or oily depending on the night. A minority preferred Sunnys’ casual energy. Come when you want Yorkville regional Chinese theater, not a quick Chinatown noodle stop.