Congee Queen - Mississauga(Heartland Town Centre) — Restaurant in Mississauga

we’ve eaten here 3 times and it’s really a mixed bag. the first time the food was pretty good- nothing spectacular- but solid nonetheless. the second and 3rd times however were very hit or miss among the dishes that we ordered.

our most recent experience was forgettable to say the least, other than the roast pork and duck, which was honestly some of the best i can remember in the past year or so. however, our other dishes which consisted of the sweet and sour chicken, crispy tiger shrimp and mango salad(tossed with custard), peking pork chops(i can’t remember what the name was on their menu), and their diced sirloin with chili black pepper(in a golden bowl).

the sweet and sour chicken was ok- nothing negative to say about it and we enjoyed it. the crispy tiger shrimp with the mango custard was pretty bland, though. i like how it’s different from the traditional custard/mayo shrimp dish but the custard sauce was just bland with a a bit of mango flavour- i’ve definitely had better version of this at all-you-can-eat bbq and sushi places close by.

next we had the “peking pork chops”. again, i’m not sure what they call it on their menu but it’s the same thing. this is one of my favourite dishes whenever i can get it and it’s made well- this was not one of those times. it doesn’t seem they put any sort of breading on it before they fry it but all the other versions i’ve had before have a very light coating of cornstarch and/or flour before they fry them, that way they have a nice crispy texture even when they’re covered in sauce. the sauce itself was… just not good, tbh. it didn’t taste how it’s supposed to and was bland, but also had the unmistakable flavour of baby corn. the only thing i can think of as to why it would taste like that would be that the liquid they used for the base of the sauce was the water that canned baby corn comes in. it’s an undeniable flavour that completely ruined the dish. along with it not having the proper texture, it was just awful.

finally, we had the dice sirloin, which was cooked well and looked great but the sauce was extremely bland… this was a shame since this is also one of those dishes that’s just incredible when done well. i know they can do better as the previous times it was better. unfortunately this time it just fell short.

honestly, i’m not sure we’ll be coming back to this particular location as it’s gotten progressively worse since the first time we had it, which is a bummer since they have such a great selection of dishes. i gave it a 3/5 because, while it’s not the worst chinese food by a long shot, it’s also inconsistent which is really important. if you’re really wanting chinese food and you want a good selection, this is still a solid choice. when they make the food well, it’s great, but, for us, 1/3 times just isn’t...

Great value cantonese-style staple chain in the GTA that’s been around since I was a teenager.

Ambiance: This location is actually pretty nice inside with high ceilings, lots of space and the decor is decent. Congee Queen typically does make good choices with their locations though.

Service: We had an early dinner at 4PM - not my usual time but I was with family and just wanted to kill time not sitting in traffic on the 401; when we sat down the restaurant capacity was at around 30%.

We didn’t get tea until they came over to take our order about 10 minutes later, not sure if it was because 1 of our party members went to the restroom but this was the case.

After we ordered service was decent, they didn’t particularly “ask” us if we needed anything but they were always circling to make sure if we did we can flag them down

Food: Food was good, nothing exceptional but it hits the spot cause I grew up on it

Chili Turnip Cake - Staple at Congee Queen, nice golden fried turnip cakes stir fried with seasoning/sauce, green onion/scallion and egg (⅘)

Sweet/Sour Pork - Not the best but hit the spot, good portion size of meat/veggies (⅗)

Salmon Congee (Large) - Salmon with congee, cilantro on top for garnish and scallion. Hits the spot (⅘)

Dough fritters - nice and crunchy, vv hot cause it came fresh from the fryer, delicious paired with the salmon congee (5/5)

Steamed rice roll w/ shrimp - this is what you make of it, sauce it up, eat it dry, w/e you want baby. The star of the show should be the rice roll/crepe and not the inside. As long as it’s not chewy and is soft and smooth textured - Chinese term is WAAT(smooth) (5/5)

Parking: Ample parking outside, massive plaza where seafood city is.

Overall experience: ⅘ - we come here often when we go to mississauga cause it’s easy, convenient and a go to cause older asian parents only like to eat their own...

I’ve been to my share of bustling Chinese restaurants, but nothing quite compares to Congee Queen. Stepping inside, you're hit with a vibrant energy. The massive, open dining hall is so striking it almost feels like you’ve been transported to a flashy, Vegas-style canteen. Despite its size, the atmosphere is incredibly comfortable and relaxed.

The menu is a testament to its name, but it’s also so much more. While their extensive selection of congee is a definite highlight, I always find myself drawn to their wide variety of traditional Cantonese dishes. A few of my personal favourites include the fragrant vegetable fried rice and the savoury satay beef rice. The classic Cantonese chow mein is also a must-try. For something different, you can’t go wrong with the sirloin steak with chili black pepper or the beef with mushrooms. The kitchen here is lightning-fast—it’s amazing how quickly your food arrives, perfect for when you're starving. Service is just as quick and efficient, making the entire experience from start to finish feel seamless.

But let's talk about the real star of the show: their homemade chili oil. This stuff is a true game-changer. It's a flavourful, spicy condiment that elevates everything it touches. don’t be shy, you absolutely have to add a few spoonfuls to your congee, noodles, or anything else you're having. It makes a good meal great.

A tell-tale sign of an authentic Chinese restaurant is when a large number of the patrons are from the same culture and region, and Congee Queen is no exception. This place is packed with people who truly appreciate genuine flavours, which tells you everything you need to know—you're in for an authentic and...