With so many underwhelming new eateries opening across the neighbourhood lately, it is genuinely refreshing to stumble upon an unexpected culinary surprise.
A longtime fixture in Richmond Hill for over 30 years, Choice of the Orient was previously regarded as a dependable spot for decent, no-frills Chinese fare. Recently, however, management undertook a complete renovation and rebranding initiative — retaining the English name while adopting a new Chinese identity. The restaurant has successfully reinvented itself from a conventional neighbourhood Chinese restaurant into a dual-concept operation: a Hong Kong-style café serving breakfast and lunch during the day, and a wok-hay-focused Cantonese kitchen during dinner service.
The renovation has also modernized the dining room considerably, giving the space a brighter, cleaner, and more contemporary atmosphere while still maintaining comfortable neighbourhood charm. Thankfully, pricing has remained accessible and very reasonable.
To evaluate the kitchen’s capabilities, we selected several classic à la carte dishes that typically reveal the strengths — or weaknesses — of a Cantonese kitchen. What followed was an unexpectedly outstanding meal. Every one of the five dishes arrived promptly, piping hot, and executed with an impressive degree of care and technical skill. Seasoning was consistently balanced and confident throughout.
Highlights from Our Meal
-
Sweet and Sour Pork
Exceptionally crisp with a beautifully balanced glaze that avoided the overly sweet or aggressively tangy profile often found elsewhere. -
Stir-Fried Sliced Beef with Chinese Kale (Gai Lan)
Tender, well-marinated beef paired with vibrant, perfectly cooked greens. The dish carried excellent wok-hay aroma and depth. -
Braised Silken Tofu with Wild Mushrooms in Clay Pot
Comforting yet surprisingly nuanced, featuring a deeply savoury sauce enhanced by fermented black beans and earthy mushroom flavours. -
Hong Kong Typhoon Shelter-Style Jumbo Prawns
Easily one of the standout dishes of the evening. The prawns were expertly cooked and coated in an addictive mixture of crispy garlic and shallots, delivering a satisfying balance of savoury, sweet, and subtle heat. -
Sautéed Free-Range Chicken with Rice Roll Crepes in Hot Pot
Richly caramelized ingredients enveloped in a glossy brown sauce, with the rice roll crepes absorbing all the savoury flavours beautifully.
Beyond the food itself, service was warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming throughout the meal.
Choice of the Orient has quietly transformed itself into one of the more pleasant Cantonese dining surprises in the Richmond Hill area — serving flavourful, skillfully prepared comfort food at excellent value. We will absolutely be returning.
