Lee Chen Asian Diner, Part 2: The Mains

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Shanghainese-style dumplings at Lee Chen Asian Diner. That was Part 1. Part 2 is about their main courses. The menu at Lee Chen is somewhat smaller than many other Chinese/Asian restaurants, but many favourites, such as kung pao chicken and sweet and sour pork can be found. It’s interesting how their main course items are more for the North American palette (save for items like Ma Po Tofu, while their Shanginese-style “specialties” are more Chinese.

General Tao Chicken

The mains ordered at recent visit were General Tao’s chicken, black pepper beef and vegetable and egg fried rice. The chicken and beef dishes are available family style as well as individual platters which come with a side of steamed rice (fried rice or chow mein also available at an additional cost). The General Tao’s Chicken definitely had a bit more of a kick than what one might find elsewhere, but all in all, it wasn’t too bad. The black pepper beef, on the other hand, was much milder. In fact, it shouldn’t have been labelled spicy at all!

Black Pepper Beef

I have to note, however, that the vegetable fried rice was not good. Until that visit, I didn’t know that one can mess up fried rice. The rice had next to no taste – it was literally rice thrown into a wok, with very little eggs, vegetables and tofu. It’s kind of strange, since their barbecued chicken fried rice was very good. I’m willing to give the veggie fried rice a second chance, however.

Vegetable Fried Rice

The restaurant has a small selection of Asian-inspired desserts such as sesame balls with red bean paste or western desserts like ice cream. However, I would suggest that you not order anything from the dessert menu, but rather from the specialty section. Most of the dishes listed are savory, but one (just one) is a dessert. The sesame buns with coconut cream filling is absolutely delicious. You won’t regret ordering that. Of course, if you want more appetizers, they’re also available with chicken or fritter fillings as well as plain.

Coconut cream stuffed sesame buns

Lee Chen Asian Diner is located at 832 Yonge Street. Reservations can be made by calling 416-901-8869.

About Cynthia Cheng Mintz

Cynthia Cheng Mintz is the founder and webitor-in-chief of this site and the petite-focused site, Shorty Stories. She has also written for other publications including the Toronto Star and has blogged for The Huffington Post. Her first novel, Aspirations, was published in 2007. Outside of writing, Cynthia researches and advises philanthropic ideas for family funds and foundations and also volunteers.