Yu Seafood — Restaurant in Richmond Hill

Update: Went to Yu Seafood for dim sum on a Sunday afternoon and noticed they’ve done some renovations. The new interior looks great—modern and upscale—but still feels familiar.

What I really appreciated is that the quality of the food and service hasn’t changed at all. The dim sum was just as good as I remembered—everything was fresh, flavorful, and came out quickly even though the restaurant was packed. The shrimp dumplings and egg tarts are still a must-try, and the staff were attentive without being overbearing.

It’s nice to see them update the space without losing what made the place special. If you’re in the area, it’s definitely worth stopping by.

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I recently had the pleasure of dining at Yu Seafood for dim sum on a Sunday, and I must say that it was an extremely enjoyable experience.

We arrived at the restaurant at around 11:30am, and we knew that it would be busy, but we were not prepared for the 1 1/2 hour wait that we ended up having to endure. However, the wait was worth it as the restaurant was beautifully appointed and the atmosphere was lively and energetic. The restaurant was filled with the sounds of happy diners chatting and laughing, and the smell of delicious food wafted through the air.

One thing that I would recommend to anyone planning to dine at Yu Seafood on a weekend is to go early and leave your cell phone number with the hostess so that you can be notified when your table is ready. This will save you a lot of time waiting around and allow you to enjoy your meal that much sooner.

Once we were seated, we were greeted by our server who was extremely friendly and attentive. She was able to recommend a variety of dishes to us and explained the different options available. We ended up ordering a variety of dim sum items, including dumplings, bao buns, and siu mai, as well as some fried rice and chow mein.

One thing that really impressed me about Yu Seafood was the cleanliness of the washrooms. Not only were they impeccably clean, but they also had mouthwash available for guests to use, which was a nice touch. The restaurant itself was also impeccably clean and well-maintained, and the beautiful decor added to the overall atmosphere.

The staff at Yu Seafood were also a highlight of the experience. They were all extremely friendly and attentive, making sure that we had everything we needed and checking on us regularly throughout the meal. They were always willing to refill our tea and bring us more food, and they even brought us some complimentary desserts at the end of the meal.

As for the food, it was beautifully plated and tasted absolutely delicious. The dim sum was cooked to perfection and was bursting with flavor. The dumplings were delicate and flavorful, and the bao buns were soft and fluffy. The fried rice and chow mein were also delicious, and we finished every last bite.

The dim sum at Yu Seafood was reasonably priced, although it was on the premium side. However, given the high quality of the food and the overall experience, I would say that it was well worth it. I would definitely recommend this restaurant for a nice dining experience and for taking friends or family. The atmosphere is lively and the staff is extremely friendly, and the food is beautifully plated and tastes absolutely delicious. Just be prepared for a wait on weekends and make sure to go early and leave your cell phone number for a table. You won't be...

Food Critique: Abalone & Lobster Combo for 2, $300.00(upcharged on a larger lobster)

Soup

Score: 3/10 (Flavor: 7/10) The soup arrived piping hot, which was a great start. However, just a minute later, the abalone and sea cucumber were served. By the time I finished the soup, these delicate ingredients had gone cold, making the experience underwhelming. The poor timing significantly affected my enjoyment.

Flavor-wise: If rated on taste alone, the soup deserved a 7/10.

Score: 2/10 (Abalone & Sea Cucumber)

Not fresh—the abalone had a slightly sour taste, while the sea cucumber was bland.

Since their flavors were completely different from the soup, they were likely not simmered together, disrupting the dish’s harmony.

When I raised my concern with the server, she shrugged it off, making it clear that feedback wasn't valued.

Lobster

Score: 9/10

Fresh, crispy, and well-seasoned.

Easily the best dish of the night.

Stir-Fried Bean Stalk

Score: 9/10

Fresh, flavorful, and had a great wok aroma.

Stewed Rice Dish

Score: 6/10

Mediocre, nothing particularly memorable.

Dessert

Score: 6/10

Bean soup: Bland and lacked depth.

Cookie: Crispy and served hot, probably the highlight of dessert.

Jelly square: Overly sweet, making it a bit overwhelming.

Final Thoughts

The meal had serious consistency issues in both food quality and service.

The head cook lacked passion, which was evident in the execution.

Poor timing—ingredients like abalone and sea cucumber should never be served cold.

The servers were friendly but untrained in handling customer complaints.

I also had a stomach ache when I got home, which raises concerns about food handling.

Recommendation for Improvement

If they want to elevate their service and execution, they should learn from a well-run steakhouse like The Keg, where food quality, timing, and customer satisfaction are key priorities.

The Yorkdale location...

In my opinion, the food and service here were both subpar compared to the yorkdale location, especially service wise. This location has the usual service level where hosts and waitresses can be rude and dismissive- the hostess yelled at me over the phone when I was trying to confirm my reservation and then in person she just hurriedly walked me to my table with not a single smile. It's like they're so busy they didn't care for my business. But on the contrary, the staff at yorkdale really take care of you and make sure you have a nice experience. However, there is also a price difference that I noticed between the two locations, with yorkdale items being 20 to 30% more expensive than here (comparing the siu mai or shrimp dumplings, for example).

Food wise, I thought the bamboo charcoal egg yolk bun, which had a dry grainy filling, was not as good as the molten egg yolk bun at yorkdale, which was liquid molten egg custard that would drip out of the bun. I thought the siu mai at yorkdale was also slightly better. The bean curd roll was a bit of a let down because they put celery into it which I don't think is traditional, and the sticky rice didn't have that much meat filling.

However, I did enjoy their pork bun a lot and their durian puff pastry was very flavorful and had a good amount of durian in it. The fried octopus tentacles were also decent.

So, I'd say if you are looking for a little bit of pampering and really good customer service and you're willing to pay a bit more, go to the yorkdale location. If all you care about is decent food and you're okay with the regular dim sum service level (servers and hostesses can be rude and dismissive, similar to most dim sum places), come here for some slightly cheaper dim sum.

In both locations, the decor is really beautiful, if you are trying to impress anybody...