Congee Queen - Markham

My family’s been going to the Congee Queen (near the Shops At Don Mills for >10 years. It’s our go to place for tasty, moderately priced entres. When one chooses to sit down, it’s an excellent (if sometimes cramped experience… dishes like the spicy turnip patty are crunchy and spicy on the outside fine textured on the inside. The location’s light wood paneling reminds me of som Richmond (B.C. eateries. Congee Queen also does take out. They’re wise about how it’s packaged the wontons are kept separated from the broth. The chow meins have their crispy noodles separated from the saucy coating. For prompt pick up, call ahead and place your order.

We ordered the Pork Hock Lo Mein and also the Garoupa with Bitter Melon Rice from their lunch combo. I liked that their lunch combo included a soup and a small plate of steamed vegetables too (also a spring roll). The size of garoupa fish fillets was substantial and very tasty.

I absolutely love Congee Queen! This is the go-to place for delicious Asian cuisine. My favorite dish is the chili turnip patties - they are incredibly tasty, along with the other items on the menu.

The service here was impressively fast, even when the restaurant was full. Our food started arriving in less than 10 minutes after we placed our order. The staff were very accommodating, even seating us at a booth upon request during their busy dinner rush. I can't speak to how the service is for non-Chinese parties, though. The atmosphere at this Cantonese restaurant was lively and bustling, but it was still easy to have a conversation at a normal volume. Overall, it's a great place to satisfy your craving for congee and other Cantonese dishes. Tip: You can ask for reduced salt and/or oil in most dishes when you place your order, if you prefer.

I visited Congee Queen for the first time last night, where I tried congee for the first time as well. We ordered the shrimp and scallops congee and ginger beef lo mein. The congee was a generous portion, although lacking in scallops. I found the congee a bit bland, but enjoyed it more after adding some chili. It is definitely a healthy choice with a variety of congee options at reasonable prices. The lo mein was not to my liking, as the beef was bland. I ended up using chili oil to enhance the flavors of all the dishes. The service was slow but the staff was friendly. Despite my experience, I would consider returning to try something else from their menu.