Dragon Pearl Buffet — Restaurant in Toronto

Dragon Pearl Buffet is another Asian type buffet found in Toronto. We have read glowing reviews of this buffet and was excited to try it out (it was also a dollar cheaper than another buffet we were looking at). We went on a Monday for our Mother's Day lunch.

We come to find that the buffet area is much smaller than all of the other buffets we've been to. The first thing I want to mention is... The dim sum is absolute trash! it's so crappy. It's cold, tasteless, oily/greasy and the soup dumping doesn't exactly have soup in it (it's oil).

The sushi section is large. They have this purple rice sushi, which I found rather interesting. Never seen that before in a buffet. The sushi section also offers you to take a soy sauce jar/container/pouring thing with you.

The BBQ section is also large, with a variety of BBQ food items from BBQ pineapple, bacon, sausage... To mash potatoes, edamame, brussel sprouts.

The hot food section is rather... Smaller than expected. It's just one island in the center. There is a variety of Asian foods.

The Peking duck is self-serve. It's different at Dragon Legend, where the employees serve you the Peking duck. This one here is basically free for all.

The dessert section is definitely smaller than other buffets, but covers a lot of variety. There's the classic cakes you can find at every other buffet, cliche buffet dessert foods, and some Asian desserts. The Mango Sago dessert (I call it a cold/chilled sweet soup) is pretty good.

There's a very small cheese and crackers section. The cheeses they have are marble cheddar, an aged white cheddar, Brie, and Bocconcini. The cracker was just your basic cracker you throw in soup.

There seems to be a very small seafood section that serves a few different seafood dishes. The mussels are great.

The salad section feels like it's big, the actual size is small, but there's plenty of variety (also, some things are bitter as heck). The fruits section was so tiny I didn't even see it. Oh, I saw that they had kimchi.

The soup section has your classic buffet soups and a sweet Asian dessert soup. The sweet soup is a bit too sweet. There's also a soy/tofu pudding with syrup on the side. The pudding itself is smooth. The syrup is way too sweet.

The washrooms are alright. It has a very wooden type theme. It's clean from what I could see. The whole buffet restaurant has a very similar vibe to Dragon Legend. The decor and interior is almost identical, that we almost mistook them for being the same (apparently they're not - rumors say that they're sister restaurants).

Weekday lunch has the cheapest prices. They have senior prices here for seniors aged 65+. They also don't allow dogs here.

There's an ice cream section. I didn't go get any. I assume it's standard ice cream for every buffet. Has your classic flavors.

There's this washing hand station within the buffet area. For a second, it looked like water fountains because of how short they were.

Overall, we found that this buffet to be way more greasier/oily as heck. Food can come off as rather salty and too sweet. After eating here, half and hour later, we were all very thirsty, and drinking water didn't quench this thirst at all (the rest of the day we we're dying of thirst).

The service for picking up finished plates was okay. Sometimes they were fast and other times the waiters never came around, especially if you don't want to eat something anymore (you'd have to make it look like you don't want it - put used napkin with the plate/bowl).

The dim sum was utter trash. A complete disappointment. I have no clue how they can mess up the classic 3 dim sum food items.

The reviews for this buffet were "glowing" and "happy" reviews. There were plenty of people who said Dragon Pearl was better than Mandarin. In our opinion, this buffet falls short in the selection, and the thirst we felt. My dad bets MSG was used.

Dragon Legend...

Nestled in the heart of Toronto, Dragon Pearl Buffet beckons with its alluring charm and promises a culinary adventure like no other. As we stepped through its doors on a lively Saturday evening, the air was filled with an irresistible aroma and the excited chatter of fellow diners. Our purpose? To celebrate a joyous birthday occasion and savor the delights that awaited us at this renowned buffet.

From the moment we entered, it was evident that Dragon Pearl Buffet was a place of vibrant energy and bustling activity. The restaurant was teeming with diners of all ages, creating an atmosphere brimming with anticipation and celebration. The staff, ever attentive and welcoming, guided us to our table, where we embarked on a culinary journey that would leave an indelible mark on our taste buds.

The buffet spread at Dragon Pearl Buffet was a sight to behold. A cornucopia of colors, textures, and aromas awaited us, offering an extensive selection that catered to every culinary preference. And there, amidst the tantalizing array of dishes, gleamed the crown jewel—the succulent lobsters. However, due to their popularity, the restaurant had implemented a one-lobster-per-person policy. While this limited our indulgence, it only added to the anticipation of savoring this delectable delicacy.

As we navigated the enticing choices, it became clear that Dragon Pearl Buffet was a haven for food lovers. The wide range of Chinese cuisine was a testament to the rich culinary traditions it represented. With each dish meticulously prepared and presented, the chefs showcased their skill and artistry. The Peking Duck, a true masterpiece, stole the spotlight with its crispy skin, tender meat, and an exquisite medley of flavors. It was a taste sensation that transported us to the vibrant streets of Beijing.

While the lobster and the Peking Duck took center stage, the buffet offered so much more. The variety of Chinese dishes catered to diverse palates, with flavors ranging from delicate and subtle to bold and robust. The aromatic stir-fries, the tender beef dishes, and the fragrant seafood creations delighted our taste buds and left us craving for more. However, it must be noted that the thick Chinese noodles, while visually appealing, did not quite meet our expectations in terms of taste.

No culinary journey would be complete without a sweet conclusion, and Dragon Pearl Buffet ensured that dessert lovers were not disappointed. The dessert section was a haven of temptation, featuring an assortment of delectable treats. Creamy ice creams in a myriad of flavors, artfully crafted cakes, and a selection of traditional Chinese sweets beckoned to our sweet tooth. It was a symphony of flavors and textures, a grand finale that left us with a sweet and satisfying aftertaste.

Throughout our dining experience, the staff at Dragon Pearl Buffet provided impeccable service. Despite the bustling crowd, they remained attentive, ensuring our glasses were never empty and our plates were swiftly cleared. Their warm and accommodating nature added a personal touch to the evening, making us feel valued and well taken care of.

In reflection, Dragon Pearl Buffet in Toronto is a culinary haven that combines the vibrant spirit of celebration with a delightful gastronomic journey. While the lobster had us longing for a bit more tenderness, and the noodles didn't quite live up to our expectations, these minor hiccups were overshadowed by the overall quality and diversity of the dishes served. The restaurant's ambiance, the exceptional variety of Chinese cuisine, the unforgettable Peking Duck, and the decadent dessert offerings all contributed to an evening of pure culinary delight. It's a dining destination that I would gladly return to, ready to be enchanted once again by its...

So let’s get one thing straight, this place ain’t no Mandarin. The food here is high quality and actually quite delicious.

Finally got a chance to go here for dinner. What really drew my friend and I here was the Peking duck, the snow crabs and the angus beer. Of course I tried a bunch of other food items from here as well and everything was very good. I’m not the biggest fan of crab because of the work it takes to eat it but I really enjoyed the snow crabs here and the fact that it’s unlimited is great. The angus beef steak was absolutely exceptional - some of the best beef steak I’ve had. This was the first time I ever tried Peking duck and I think this was my favourite food item at Dragon Pearl. Other foods that I’d love to highlight were the bbq spare ribs, the fried rice and especially the pork shuimai. The spare ribs were meaty and bbq sauce was good. The fried rice was salted to perfection. But the pork shuimai here was by far the best shuimai I’ve had at any restaurant. Not often do you find shuimai where there is a generous amount of meat in the dumpling but this was filled with pork and very flavourful. The sushi here is also edible, unlike at other Chinese buffets. Dessert selection was the typical dessert found at any other Chinese buffet, nothing too exceptional but they had the favourites: twist cookie, selection of mouses and cakes and of course ice cream with the fixins.

Service is actually quite rough at Dragon Pearl though and it’s the only but biggest downfall. Now people usually don’t go to a buffet and expect the most amazing service. But I think their biggest downfall is their time limit. They only allow a seating time of 1.5 hours. Good luck if you come here with a big party. The server gave us the bill when we had 20 minutes remaining, that’ll make any guest feel very rushed. Server comes right at the 1.5 hour mark and kind of demands that we pay and finish our dinner. Not friendly either - though to be fair, I feel they don’t care to be friendly. I understand the food is excellent, but with their dinner price, a 2 hour seating time is much more fair. In their defence though, this place gets incredibly busy. My reservation was for 5:30 and there was a steady stream of diners walking in at that time with a short lineup inside at the front. By the time we were leaving just after 7, the entire front of the restaurant was packed with diners waiting to be seated.

The atmosphere of Dragon Pearl is also so amazing! They all the tables are spaced out well and the decor made me feel like I was in an authentic Chinese restaurant. Around the restaurant they have a few different themed tables, such as one table that’s designed as a boat and another that’s in a large bird cage. The atmosphere here felt much more modern than other Chinese buffets out there. One understated thing that Dragon Pearl has is a hand washing station right in the middle of the buffet section. Instead of going to the bathroom to just wash your hands, you can use this station to wash with soap and dry with the paper towel. With the all you can eat crab, this hand wash station came in clutch!

Overall, I’m glad I came here. The food here is the best you can find for a Chinese buffet and very high quality. So delicious, everything. I highly recommend this place over any other buffet in Toronto. Just understand that when you come here, yes you will get great food and the restaurant itself is gorgeous and welcoming but service is not good at all and you will feel rushed. Overall for me though, it’s worth it and I cannot wait to...