For northern and southern Chinese, I would say Swatow (I couldn't resist). I hear they have the best shrimp dumpling soup.

Most of my Asian friends go to Markham for chinese but I would say New Sky on Spadina is one of the most authentic Chinese restaurants downtown.

swatow is really good at 2:30am after a night of heavy partying, but I have never tried it sober.

Just joking... kind of. Its really good

Parts of China, like other Asian countries, are buddist (and therefore vegetarian).

Its amazing what Chinese people can do to sustitute meat, they have mock everything and you don't feel like you've missed anything.

Cafe 668 at 668 Dundas Street is highly recommened even by non-vegetarians, their servings are huge and the service is great.

668 Dundas Street WEST to be more specific...

I have done that already... a list of downtown places and my candid comments on each.

Dim sum - Golden Leaf, sky dragon, Rol San, Dynasty, Lai Wah Heen and I guess Sky Dragon is the most authentic in every sense

Noodle/congee - Gold Stone, best in Chinatown, but that doesn't mean much really, because they(including Swatow) are all pretty crappy

Northern Chinese - Asian Legend. Northern and Southern cuisine have some different kitchen equipment and so it is infeasible for a small place to have the right stuff for both.

Outside of the downtown area I can't name any right away because I don't generally know their English names. Not too many good places left in Scarborough/Agincourt as the earlier immigrants moved on to Richmond Hill and beyond, and the good restaurants followed.

2 good Shanghai restaurants in the Birchmount/Steeles area, on Silver Star Blvd, one just south of the No Frills, another across from it.

Real "swatow" style cuisine can be had at the plaza at Finch/Leslie. But if you like Swatow downtown, you are not likely to like the real thing.

Best vegetarian: Lotus Vegetarian 3838 Midland Avenue in Scarbaria.

p.s. but it's more fun to name (and critique) real japanese restaurants in Toronto. Never seen it done here.... LOL

That would be interesting. My friend's wife, who is Japanese, was explaining to me about Gyoza and how they consider it Chinese food in Japan. She said if you see Gyoza (dumplings) on the menu, it's not authentic Japanese.

Hmmm, that could be true Urban. I'm going to look out for that. My two fave sushi places are Toshi and Shogun. Both are run by Japanese.

Like someone else said, though, just because it may not be authentic, doesn't mean it's not good. I had the best sushi I've had to date, in Seville, Spain, of all places.