Dinner at Congee Queen (Hwy 7 and Leslie Location)

Congee Queen is one of my go-to spots for lunch. With locations scattered around the GTA, they offer an affordable variety of Chinese, as well as Thai and Vietnamese options. My family and I decided that we head over to Congee Queen one night for dinner. This time, we decided to visit their fairly new (Hwy 7 and Leslie) Location, right by the 404 in Richmond Hill.

While browsing the 'Hot Picks' menu, the Tiger Shrimp tossed in Custard Sauce (2/5) caught our eye. The Shrimp wasn't 'tossed' in the Custard Sauce as advertised which made us quite disappointed as some pieces were lacking in sauce. The shrimp was nice and crispy which we enjoyed. The custard sauce drizzled on top was really just mayo.

We decided on the Two Assorted BBQ Combo (3/5) , which included Roasted Duck and BBQ Pork. The Roasted Duck was beautifully prepared in my opinion where there was little to almost no fat and the skin was not soggy at all. The meat was moist and not dry. The BBQ pork was great as well, as it wasn't too fatty or chewy. The soy sauce on the bottom made the meat taste overly salty which I didn't enjoy, as I would've preferred to have it on the side. Maybe next time I'll ask for that.

I'm a sucker for anything in a Hot Pot. Even rice in a clay hot pot. With 9 varieties to choose from, and more than 10 long minutes of deciding, I decided to go with the Chicken and Chinese Mushroom with Rice in Hot Pot (3.5/5). The large pieces of chicken were moist, but had very big pieces of bone still attached. Most restaurants I've been to, tend to use boneless chicken which would've made it easier to eat. Nonetheless it was tasty, especially the Chinese mushrooms which added a nice smokiness to the dish. The rice was aromatic from the chicken and Chinese mushrooms.

The Beef with Mushroom On a Sizzling Plate (3/5) arrived piping hot and sizzling as advertised. The large pieces of beef were tender and not chewy at all. The caramelized onions were sweet and flavourful, while the mushrooms exhibited a nice texture and weren't too soft. Oh man pair this dish with a bowl of rice...

Also on their special menu, was the Golden Milk Pudding (4.5/5). My goodness these were delicious! Creamy, Smooth and full of milk flavour, these are definitely a must try! These weren't too soft which I enjoyed. Something about the rich milk flavour makes this dish so tasty, I couldn't stop eating them. Yes Yes, I know these can be easily made at home, but something about these make them a must try.












Something that can be easily made at home that I
wouldn't have again here is the Fresh Mango Pudding (1.5/5). Texturally, it was nice and smooth, but really it was the average mango pudding you find at a dim sum spot. The taste was pretty generic and I expected some pieces of Mango as it was called Fresh Mango Pudding. For $3.99, I'd rather add an extra dollar for another order of the Golden Milk Pudding.




The food at Congee Queen can be consistent at most times which is great. It can also get quite busy during lunch and dinner hours, so be prepared for a short wait (Depending on the Location). The staff at the locations I've visited are nice which is a plus.


The Good:

• Not a long wait for Food
• Everything was at the right temperature
• Spacious

The Bad:

• Food can be inconsistent at times

Congee Queen

Congee Queen has been opened for many years that I know of, and ever since they have over 6 locations around the GTA. The locations I frequent most is the McCowan/Hwy 7 and Leslie/Hwy 7 Location. Most recently they opened a new location right by Centerpoint Mall on Yonge/Steeles, so
we decided to check it out.

Being at Congee Queen, we must order a bowl of
Congee. Our go-to is the Pork Meatball and Liver Congee (4/5). The Congee itself had a nice consistency as it was neither too thick or too watery. It was flavourful, with the addition of Pork Meatballs and Liver which are great for dipping in Soy Sauce. They do not skimp on the ingredients as you can see in the picture.

A favourite of ours when we visit Congee Queen would be the Fried Chili Turnip Patties (4/5). These are pretty popular at Congee Queen as you can see them on almost every table. I've tried these at 4/6 locations, and I honestly have to say there are some differences. One chef let's say, might be heavy on the chili's while another isn't. Although there are differences, they are small and these tasty patties are always executed properly. At this particular location, this was done right, as the Turnip Patties were Crispy and there was a decent amount of Chili's, meat and egg. This wasn't very spicy which was nice and it was seasoned well.

Another favourite of ours, would be the Deep Fried Crab Claw (4.5/5). This isn't like the average crab claw you would have at Chinese Weddings or events. These are HUGE! I have pretty big hands and all I can say is these are are big as my fist. These always arrive crisp and piping hot!











They do not skimp on the shrimp and crab meat, which is always tender. Add a little Vinegar and you're good to go!

The Beef Brisket and Tendon Lo-Mein (4/5) is another must order here at Congee Queen. With a choice of Thick or Thin Noodles (We usually pick the Thick), these go great with the succulent and tender brisket. The noodles were cooked to perfection as it wasn't chewy or mushy. The tendon is not overly soft or chewy and is always flavourful. The accompanying Wonton Soup was not overly salty.

 The Malaysian Fried Rice (3.5/5), smelled really good as it arrived to the table. The ingredients such as the minced beef and vegetables added a nice textural contrast as well as flavour, as the dish was not too salty. The taste reminded me of Salted Fish and Chicken Fried Rice, minus the salted fish. It was a bit on the oilier side, but nonetheless this was good.











Congee Queen is a great place for decent Chinese Food. They also have items such as Pho and Pad Thai which are definitely worth a try next time. Their service is quick and friendly and seating is usually always available, depending on which location you go to. (Centrepoint Mall and Hwy 7/ Leslie Locations are more spacious).


The Good:

• Great place for Decent Chinese Food
• Congee is not too watery or thick
• Quick and Friendly Service

 The Bad:

•  

Congee Town

It was a beautful Sunday Afternoon, and my family decided we should eat somewhere Chinese. I mean, I am Chinese and I do love Chinese food, so why not? We decided to go to Congee Town, located just on the outside of Woodside Square mall.

It is quite a spacious Restaurant with lots of large tables for parties and bigger groups. It was very clean on the day I went and there were quite a lot of people. First we ordered their Seafood Congee (7.99) (3.5/5) which had generous amounts of Salmon, Bay scallops, Squid and shrimp. The Congee was pretty watery itself, and it did have quite a lot of MSG. Overall it was still tasty with all the seafood and it would've been better if it was a little thicker. I loved the amount of parsley and onions!

We also ordered the Ho-Fan (Thick rice noodles) with Beef and Peppers in Black Bean Sauce $6.95 (4/5) . I would have to say this is one of the best Ho-Fan dishes I've ever tasted. The Black Bean Sauce was really flavourful, not over powering the flavour of the other ingredients in the dish. The Ho-Fan noodles were tender and not sticking together, and the dish wasn't very oily. The beef was nice and tender and the peppers were sweet and you could taste that it was very fresh with a crunch. 

Overall, Congee Town has some good food and I'm looking forward to trying their dinner menu.