Markham Restaurants & Food Guide
A guide to Asian food in Markham, Ontario — starting with First Markham Place merchants and referencing other Markham dining options where known.
Markham, Ontario is a major Asian-Canadian dining hub in the GTA, with a dense cluster of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Taiwanese restaurants along Highway 7 and Steeles Avenue. Several large Asian shopping malls anchor the food scene: First Markham Place (FMP, 3255 Hwy 7 E), Pacific Mall (4300 Steeles Ave E), Remington Centre (4261 Hwy 7 E), and Metro Square. This guide currently focuses on 5 merchants inside First Markham Place; where we know other Markham-area options for a specific cuisine, we reference them below.
Detailed merchant pages — see the FMP-specific category page →
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of food can I get in Markham, Ontario?
Markham covers Cantonese (dim sum, roast meats, café), Northern Chinese (Shaanxi, Sichuan, dumplings), Korean (BBQ, tonkatsu), Japanese (ramen, sushi), Vietnamese (pho, banh mi), Taiwanese (bubble tea, beef noodles), and Asian-style bakery. Dense restaurant clusters are along Highway 7 (including First Markham Place, Remington Centre) and Steeles Avenue East (including Pacific Mall, Market Village area).
Where can I get good Cantonese-style roast meats (siu mei / 烧腊) in Markham?
Inside First Markham Place, 味香园 Excellent B.B.Q. House (Unit 260) is a popular option. Elsewhere in Markham, well-known Cantonese roast meat specialists include KS BBQ & Noodles House (忠記港式燒臘粉麵), Cantonese Best BBQ (港式燒味大王, has suckling pig), Char Siu Manor (大亨燒臘飯店, all-day specials), and Jian Hong Yuen BBQ (粵香燒臘). We cover 味香园 at FMP in detail on our FMP restaurants page.
Where can I get Vietnamese banh mi in Markham?
Inside First Markham Place, Banh Mi Ngon Express (Unit 30A) serves Vietnamese banh mi. Elsewhere in Markham, Banh Mi House at King Square (9390 Woodbine Ave) is another well-known banh mi shop. These are two different shops at two different malls — if you want banh mi at FMP specifically, it is Banh Mi Ngon Express.
Where can I get Xi’an rou jia mo (Chinese hamburger) in Markham?
Bingz 西少爷肉夹馍 at First Markham Place (Units 11-12) is the main Xi’an rou jia mo option in Markham. Bingz is a North American chain originally from Beijing, with locations also in New York, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Where can I get Korean-style donkatsu (pork cutlet) in Markham?
Brown Donkatsu & Ramen at First Markham Place (Unit 22) is the main Korean donkatsu option at FMP. Markham and the Finch-Steeles corridor also have several other Korean restaurants (e.g. Haidilao is nearby for hotpot, not donkatsu); for donkatsu specifically, Brown Donkatsu is a staple.
Where can I order a custom Asian-style birthday cake in Markham?
Bon Cake at First Markham Place (Unit 236) is a popular Asian-style bakery specializing in lighter, less-sweet fresh cream cakes with Hong Kong-style flavours. Another well-known Markham option for creatively decorated Asian-inspired cakes is Daan Go Cake Lab. For custom cakes, pre-order 1-3 days ahead is recommended.
What are the main Asian shopping malls in Markham for food?
Four main Asian malls anchor Markham dining: First Markham Place (3255 Hwy 7 E — mix of Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Xi’an, bakery, dim sum), Pacific Mall (4300 Steeles Ave E — largest by count, food court with 60+ stalls), Remington Centre (4261 Hwy 7 E — dim sum, hot pot), and Metro Square. Each has different strengths; FMP has the best mix of sit-down restaurants accessible from the parking lot.
What can I eat along Markham Highway 7?
Highway 7 between Warden Ave and Kennedy Rd is Markham’s dense Asian dining corridor. Anchor points include First Markham Place (3255 Hwy 7 E) and Remington Centre (4261 Hwy 7 E), plus many independent plazas with Cantonese cafes, dim sum houses, noodle shops, and Northern Chinese restaurants. Highway 7 parking is free at most plazas.
What's the best Asian food in Markham that's NOT inside a mall?
Many of Markham's top-rated independent Asian restaurants are in standalone Highway 7 plazas: Tiger's Kitchen, Casa Imperial (dim sum), Yang's Kitchen (Shanghainese), Crown Princess (banquet-style Cantonese), and several Hong Kong-style cafes (cha chaan teng). Hong Tai BBQ on 16th Ave is a popular standalone roast meat shop. For Sichuan: Mama Mia in Markham. Check current Yelp/Google reviews as the Markham dining scene moves quickly.
How does Markham Chinese food compare to Toronto Chinatown?
Markham generally offers more authentic, regional, and recently-emerged Chinese cuisines compared to Toronto Chinatown (Spadina/Dundas), which is older and leans Cantonese-American. Markham reflects post-1990s Hong Kong, Mainland Chinese, Taiwanese, and Korean immigration — so dim sum, Sichuan, Northern Chinese (Xi'an, Beijing), Taiwanese, and Korean-Chinese fusion are all stronger here. Chinatown still excels at old-school Cantonese basics and is more walkable.
Are there halal Asian restaurants in Markham?
Markham has several halal-certified Asian options. For halal Chinese, look for Northern Chinese / Hui cuisine restaurants, often labelled with the Arabic word "Halal" or 清真. There are halal Vietnamese, halal Thai, and halal Indo-Chinese restaurants in the broader Markham/Richmond Hill area. For Cantonese/Hong Kong-style Chinese specifically, halal options are rarer; ask the restaurant directly. Confirm halal certification at time of order.
Best Markham restaurants for dietary restrictions (vegan, gluten-free)?
Vegan: Buddhist temple-style vegetarian restaurants (素菜館) in Markham serve fully plant-based Chinese meals. Many Vietnamese restaurants have vegan pho/bun. Gluten-free: Vietnamese (rice-based pho, banh mi on rice paper), some Korean (rice-based bibimbap), avoid soy sauce-heavy Chinese dishes. Always confirm: many "vegetarian" Asian dishes contain fish sauce, oyster sauce, or shrimp paste. Ask for specific allergen menus where available.
Information compiled from public sources (Google Maps, mall directory, Yelp). For the most current details, please contact the business directly.