Nian Yi Kuai Zi — Restaurant in Richmond Hill

Right through the door it feels like you've walked into a rustic Sichuan eatery lost in time. Even the wooden chairs are stylized in old Sichuan style with them resembling more of backless benches.

Chopsticks and cups are single use and a large pitcher of lemon water is provided. They aren't stingy with their napkins and that's a good thing because the food is spicy and will have your nose running in no time.

As for the food in total I ordered three dishes. The cold rabbit bits were flavourful and spicy with a hint of sweetness and lotus root and it is swimming in a sea of chili oil. Overall it is a good starter dish if you don't mind the fact that it's not a hot dish. One thing though is that due to the fact that they are smaller bits of rabbit the oil that it is soaked in clings to the bits and steals the flavour away from the rabbit. Larger pieces of rabbit don't have this problem due to less of the oil clinging to the surface overall.

The Liang Fen or cold noodles are surprisingly actually hot. They are stir fried with Chilis and Fermented black beans and the dish itself is quite fragrant. It's one of the first times eating a dish like this and despite the fact that the first few bites might seem rather bland it really picks up with the spiciness after three or so bites.

The last thing I ordered was the stir fried beef brisket fat with green peppers. It's a spicy and novel dish at least to me. Instead of the beef fat that one would expect the dish is actually comprised of omentum, the fat that secures organs in place. That means istead of it being all fat it's actually mostly a soft tendon like structure. That means the dish had a nice pleasant chew to it and is nice and springy without being too hard to eat. Flavour wise it's sweet spicy and has hints of cumin and coriander reminiscent of a Xingjian dish or lamb skewers.

Service was good and our server brought us extra napkins when needed and when it came time to leave packed up our food promptly when we asked for boxes.

Overal I would say that Nian Yi Kuai Zi is a excellent Sichuan restaurant and the food they serve is the most authentic Sichuan cuisine I have had thus far in Canada. If you like Sichuan food I would highly...

When we arrived at the restaurant to put our name on the waitlist for a table for 4 (they don't take reservations), it was a 45 minute wait time that ended up being closer to an hour, and because there isn't much space to wait in the entryway, we went to our car and waited for the hostess' phone call. That was quite literally the only "negative" we have about our experience, which has no bearing on my 5-star rating. My husband and I brought our 2 children, who have never had sichuan before but are non-picky food lovers like their parents. The menu is extensive and we had a hard time choosing but we went with 6 dishes; pork & snow pea leaves soup, green beans, crispy rice and pork, fried chicken gristle, pork with 2 kinds of mushrooms and soy fried rice. Everything was served in a timely manner at a thoughtful pace, each dish cooked perfectly to order and presented beautifully, the flavours were balanced and ingredients were fresh, the portions were big and fairly priced. We appreciated that we could have some dishes "mild", as our daughter has a lower spicy tolerance. As outstanding as the food was, the service was equally amazing. The servers were friendly, constantly walking around, asking how the food was tasting and if we needed anything, giving more napkins and changing the water pitcher even though it was still half full. We are definitely coming back so we can try more dishes. My husband's birthday dinner was a success! It's easy to pass up this place because of the wait time and the plethora of other restaurant options in the plaza but it's well...

🌟 An Unforgettable Dining Experience at Nian Yi Kuai Zi! 🌟 📍 505 Highway 7, Richmond Hill I can't say enough great things about Nian Yi Kuai Zi! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warmth and genuine hospitality. The staff made us feel right at home and went above and beyond to ensure we had an exceptional dining experience. I’ve attached same food plates we’ve got but couldn’t take more pictures as everyone started digging in as soon as it arrived 😂 (I don’t have to say no more about their food if I didn’t get time to take pictures). The food? Absolutely phenomenal. Every dish was bursting with authentic flavor, beautifully presented, and cooked to perfection. You can tell that a lot of love and care goes into every item on the menu — from the sizzling hot pots to the delicate appetizers. It's rare to find a place where everything you try exceeds expectations, but this is one of those gems. We were also celebrating a close friend’s birthday, and the team at Nian Yi Kuai Zi made it extra special. They surprised us with a beautifully presented dessert and joined in on the celebration with such enthusiasm — it truly felt like we were celebrating with family. That personal touch made the night unforgettable. Whether you're here for a casual dinner or a special occasion, Nian Yi Kuai Zi delivers an experience that is second to none. Incredible food, top-tier service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere — I’m already looking forward to my next visit! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Highly...