Chinatown Spadina

Chinatown Spadina centres on the intersection of Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street West in downtown Toronto, Ontario, and is one of the largest Chinatowns in North America. The neighbourhood stretches along Spadina and Dundas, with dense blocks of dim sum restaurants, noodle shops, bakeries, herbal medicine stores, fruit and vegetable markets, jewellery shops and stores selling housewares and imported goods. Signs appear in Chinese and English, and the sidewalks are busy with produce displays, live seafood tanks and street vendors. Visitors can sample items such as steamed buns, egg tarts, barbecued meats, congee, bubble tea and Vietnamese dishes, as Chinatown also includes a large Vietnamese community. The Art Gallery of Ontario and Kensington Market are a short walk away, so the area works well as part of a longer day of walking. A typical visit lasts around 1.5 hours for browsing and a meal, and longer for those exploring side streets. Weekend lunch is the best time for dim sum but also the busiest, with queues at popular restaurants. Weekday mornings are calmer and give a better look at the markets, while evenings bring a livelier atmosphere and restaurants open late. The Lunar New Year period features parades, lion dances and decorations, and attracts large crowds. Photographers find rewarding scenes among the neon signs, produce stalls and murals. Many small vendors prefer cash, so carrying some is practical. The area is reached by TTC streetcar 505 Dundas or 510 Spadina to the intersection, and pedestrians dominate, so patience with crowded sidewalks is useful. Parking is limited and expensive.