Modern Asian, Canadian Heart

In the heart of Toronto’s Chinatown, R&D stands as the first collaborative restaurant of Alvin Leung—the “Demon Chef” celebrated for his boundary-breaking, three-Michelin-star molecular Chinese cuisine—and his protégé, Eric Chong, the inaugural winner of MasterChef Canada. Recognising a kindred spark in Chong, Leung mentored the young chef, and together they forged this bold, modern dining room: a place where traditional Asian flavours encounter beloved Canadian classics with wit and finesse.

Exclusively open for dinner, the à la carte menu reimagines dim sum and Chinese staples with a contemporary lens. The char siu bao, housed in fluffy, house-baked milk buns, has become a cult signature—sweet, savoury, and deeply comforting. The shrimp toast, lifted by preserved lemon emulsion, milk bread, fresh lemon, and chives, layers indulgence with surprising brightness. For the ultimate spectacle, the whole roasted Peking duck arrives lacquered and glistening, paired with roasted garlic hoisin—an unapologetic feast that commands attention.

At R&D, Leung’s rebellious edge meets Chong’s emerging voice in dishes that are playful yet precise, rooted yet progressive. More than a restaurant, it represents the genesis of their creative partnership—a foundation that would later evolve into the ambitious tasting-menu journey of aKin.