Elegant Flavours, Regional Stories, and a Bold Reimagining of Chinese Dining

In Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood, MIMI Chinese brings a thoughtful, contemporary perspective to regional Chinese cooking. Founded by Big Hug Hospitality, David Schwartz, Braden Chong, and Brandon Marek, the restaurant pairs an atmospheric dining room with attentive hospitality. A refresh of its branding and menu in spring 2026 marks a new chapter, revealing a team with the ambition and dedication to keep raising its own standards.

The Steamed Dungeness Crab with Scallion, Ginger and Housemade Cheung Fun captures that commitment. The rice noodle sheets are the result of repeated trials and careful adjustments, with the chefs refining each version until they achieved the texture and quality they wanted to serve. Sweet crab, fragrant ginger and scallion, and delicate cheung fun come together in a dish that feels familiar yet thoughtfully composed. Behind its apparent simplicity are many hours of work.

Other signatures show the team’s growing confidence and appreciation for classic Chinese cooking. The chicken wing stuffed with glutinous rice brings together careful preparation and comforting flavours. The Iberico Char Siu with Caramelized Soybeans is a notable step forward from the restaurant’s previous version. Particularly pleasing is this young team’s decision to serve caramelized soybeans alongside the barbecued pork, preserving a classic accompaniment and showing an understanding of the small details that make a dish memorable.

The cocktail program and curated sake selection carry the same attention to balance, offering pairings that complement the spice, richness and delicate notes of the cooking.

Velvet banquettes, soft lighting and candlelit tables set the scene, but it is the work of the chefs and the wider MIMI Chinese team that gives the experience its substance. Their willingness to experiment, refine and revisit the details makes this new chapter compelling. The result is a more polished and complete dining experience, shaped by a young team whose ambition is matched by the effort they put into every service.