Mandarin Restaurant — Restaurant in Markham

I visited this Mandarin location today for a birthday event, and unfortunately, my experience was marred by an extremely distressing incident involving my friend's child. While the child, an 8-year-old, was walking around taking pictures of the food, she was approached by the manager. The manager abruptly informed her that pictures were not allowed, which, while disappointing, could have been handled with more professionalism. However, what followed was both shocking and unacceptable: the manager physically assaulted the child by pinching her — hard enough to cause bruising.

When our family approached the manager to address this appalling behavior, his response was to deny any wrongdoing. To make matters worse, the staff members supported the manager’s version of events, claiming that "whatever happened, happened" and offering a vague apology. This is beyond troubling. An apology is not enough when a child is physically harmed in such a manner. This is not a minor incident; this is assault.

Under Ontario's Criminal Code, physical assault is defined as the intentional application of force to another person without their consent, which clearly applies in this situation. The Ontario Child Protection Act also mandates that children be protected from physical harm and mistreatment, including assault. A pinch, especially one causing visible bruising, constitutes a clear violation of a child’s rights and safety. The lack of accountability from the manager and his team is alarming, and no amount of vague apologies can justify or erase the harm done.

I am deeply disappointed by the lack of action and accountability from both the manager and the staff. It’s crucial that businesses, especially those serving families, foster a safe and respectful environment.

I hope that management takes this incident seriously and takes the necessary steps. As an employer you have the duty to investigate and take action. Employers are liable for harassment that occurs in the workplace, including harassment of customers...

Mandarin Restaurant in Vaughan, Ontario, offers a buffet-style dining experience featuring a wide array of dishes, including Chinese and Canadian cuisine. Located at 8787 Weston Road, this establishment is known for its extensive selection and family-friendly atmosphere. 

Customer Feedback

Reviews for Mandarin Restaurant are generally positive, with many patrons praising the variety and quality of food. On Restaurant Guru, the Vaughan location holds a rating of 4.3 out of 5, based on 6,725 reviews.  TripAdvisor users have also commended the restaurant for its fresh and tasty offerings, as well as excellent service. 

However, some diners have noted that while the food is enjoyable, it may not represent authentic Chinese cuisine. Discussions on Reddit highlight that the buffet offers a variety of dishes, but some consider it more of a “Chinese junk food” experience rather than traditional fare. 

Ambiance and Service

The restaurant is appreciated for its clean environment and attentive staff. Guests have mentioned that the service is excellent, contributing to a pleasurable dining experience. 

Pricing

As of February 2025, the buffet pricing is as follows: • Lunch Buffet: Monday to Friday at $25.99; Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays at $30.99. • Dinner Buffet: Monday to Thursday at $35.99; Friday to Sunday and Holidays at $40.99.

Seniors aged 65 and over receive a 20% discount, and children aged 5 to 12 receive a 50% discount. Children 4 years and under eat free from the buffet (up to 2 kids per paying adult). 

Conclusion

Mandarin Restaurant in Vaughan provides a diverse buffet with a range of dishes catering to various tastes. While it may not offer the most authentic Chinese cuisine, it delivers a family-friendly environment with commendable service. For those seeking a broad selection of dishes in a buffet setting, it remains a popular choice in the Vaughan area.

For a visual overview of the dining experience, you might find this...

Went on a Monday for the lunch service. For our late Mother's Day lunch. Surprisingly busy for a Monday lunchtime.

This Mandarin has the main meals, appetizers, bread, soup, salads, seafood, sushi and sashimi, the other hot foods, ice cream and frozen yogurt, and the desserts and fruits stations.

Last time we went to a Mandarin, they had no bread station, a smaller sushi and no sashimi station.

The 4 of us are many plates of food, and as we did, the dining room that we were in, slowly filled up with people.

The food was good. Better than I remembered. The mussels in black bean sauce was really good. The BBQ ribs were tasty and tender. The seafood medley was like a mashed potatoes with seafood in it. The sushi was alright. The sashimi wasn't as fresh as I hoped for it to be. The egg drop soup was smooth and light. The slider (mini hamburger) bun was way too buttery, extremely oily, it was like I was drinking straight grease. The salad options were good, made me feel clean and healthy. The wonton soup was good, the wonton itself tasted funny. The Mandarin slices were lightly sweet and addicting to eat. The mango pudding was smooth and thick. The creme brule was thick and smooth and sweet. The ice cream had a very overpowering, and overwhelming strong flavour, tasted too sweet and bad. The frozen yogurt was lightly sweet and melted really fast.

My mom said that the seafood was pretty good. She ate a lot of mussels and fish. My grandma seriously liked the BBQ ribs. My dad enjoyed his chicken balls. I enjoyed my nostalgia and brand new experiences.

The waiter/employees were quick on their feet in removing dirty plates and filling up on water cups. They also weren't surprised to find out that we found a tiny, little crab from the mussels. It seems they've seen it quite a number of times.

The washroom was clean. We also found a small, tiny crab in one of the mussels in...