For years Susur Lee has been at the top of Canada’s culinary scene. In the early 2000s, his restaurant Susur was named the best restaurant in Canada. The high-end restaurant catered to the city’s elite but the award-winning celebrity chef wanted something that better reflected his personality.
“I said to myself, I need a more casual place so people don’t need to break the bank and can still taste my food,” he recalls. “So I opened Lee right next to my building in 2005. It was extremely successful. It was like upscale casual dining.” When the economy took a turn, Susur switched game plans – he closed Susur and expanded Lee.
Susur now runs multiple restaurants in Toronto and overseas, but Lee is still the flagship of his restaurant empire. “It has my name, my family name. This is very close to me,” he says. “I have been in that space since 2000, so it’s a long journey. It has a very close relationship to me.”
Singaporean-Style Slaw (vegan & gluten-free)
19 ingredient salad, salted plum dressing, peanuts (tossed table side)
Seasonal Oysters
shallot & sherry vinaigrette, salted red chilies, fresh horseradish, calamansi
Szechuan Hot & Sour Soup
chicken dumplings, shrimp, shredded veg
Vietnamese Fresh Roll
tofu, avocado, kombu, thai basil, pickled radish, sesame dip
Vegetarian Cheese Burger Spring Roll
sweet chili sauce, pickled veg, lettuce wrap (2 pcs)
Crispy Polenta Log
lemon ricotta, chinese olive vegetable, spicy tapenade, kale, marjoram & cashew pesto
Spicy Crisp Tofu
Mushroom & pepper compote, wildflower honey soya chili glaze, golden sand
Goat Cheese Tart
handmade butter puff pastry, orange & carmelized onion marmalade, shaved jerusalem artichoke, jalapeño, tomatillo, parmesan
Buddha Style Lettuce Cups with Tofu & Veg
szechuan mala multi-grain, crispy soya ribbon (contains nuts)
Fresh Ground Thai Red Curry Gratin
chickpea, tomato, english pea, tempeh, paneer, mango ginger compote, papadum, coconut rice
Tuna Two Ways
ceviche of tuna tataki, avocado, rocoto citrus emulsion, myoga, sea buckthorne berries, & spicy Asian tuna tartare taco, mango salsa
Caramelized Black Cod
Cantonese preserves, miso mustard, dim sum turnip cake
Grilled Octopus
corn potato salad, roasted olive, quail eggs, chimichurri, garlic pani puri
"Luckee" Shrimp Cheung Fun
zucchini, myoga & scallion pesto, superior soya broth, thai basil (gluten free)
Lobster & Shrimp Ravioli
pimenta, tomato soya mignonette, hong kong xo, spinach, lobster tarragon sauce
Jasmine Rice Crusted Diver Scallop
plantain & bacon hash, pickled eggplant, guajillo chili jicama, ponzu sake butter sauce
Asian Crab Cakes With Smoked Kielbasa & Manchego Cheese
manchego, green apple & japanese cabbage kimchi, tomato (4 pcs)
Cheese Burger Spring Roll
Smoked chili mayo, pickled veg, lettuce wrap (2pcs)
Pulled Beef Taco
Charred onion, tomato, avocado, goat cheese (4pcs)
Australian Wagyu Beef Carpaccio & Burrata
ontario artichoke, sweet onion, pickled mustard seeds, pumpkin seed oil, homemade gherkins, capers
Sambal Satay
(chicken, shrimp & beef) peanut sauce, balinese pineapple relish, green apple kimchi, mango salsa
Char Sui Duck Breast
Beijing duck garnish, foie gras pâté, steamed pancake
Jerk Spiced Lamb & Lamb Chorizo
eggplant, chili mint chutney, potato croquette, tamarind sauce
Slow Braised Beef
chived sour cream, crispy shallots, potato leek purée, porcini
& cremini duxelle, confit tomato
Szechuan Sweet & Sour Rum BBQ Pork Ribs
Scotch bonnet sauce, ginger & mango, pomegranate, steamed bao
Top Chef Curry Roasted Chicken
Okra, mustard seed tomato jam, oven dried pineapple, chili mint chutney, polenta croutons (top chef award winning dish)
Signature French & Chinese Tong Yuen
warm sweet rice dumpling, chocolate nougat, indian pastry, strawberry, crème brûlée, apricot & rosewater (contains nuts)
Dessert Trio
choose a chocolate, fruit, and cream dessert from below (espresso martini not included)
Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée
lemongrass, strawberry & gooseberry compote, butterfly pastry
Warm Molten Chocolate Cake
caramelized jackfruit, banana, vanilla bean ice cream
Mango & Passion Fruit Panna Cotta
white chocolate & mango mousse, south asian black rice pudding, sago & coconut, palm syrup
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar
vanilla crème anglaise, wild blueberry coulis, French wafer
Chef's Homemade Sorbets
with fresh berries
Chef's Homemade Ice Creams
topped with salted butterscotch caramel, caramel popcorn, wild blueberry preserves & butterfly pastry
Espresso Martini
almond baileys, kahlua, crème de cacao, espresso cocoa, chocolate
Lee Lemonade
belvedere vodka, rosemary, fresh lemon and ginger, lemon mousse, candied lemon wheel
Shanghai 75
whitley neill rhubarb/ginger gin, ginger syrup, lemon juice, prosecco, fresh cucumber
Hibiscus Plum Sour
hibiscus infused Whitley Neil Gin, Green Chartreuse, Lillet Blanc, egg white plum reduction, cherry bitters
Herbal Mezcal Margarita
Levenda Organic Mezcal, Tromba Blanco, cointreau, rosemary/thyme syrup, chipotle salt rim
White Orchid
el dorado 12-year rum, soho lychee, aperol, ginger beer, lime
City Middle
Glenlivet 12, Drambuie, Remy Martin VSOP, grapefruit bitters, Laphroaig spray, applewood smoked glass
Burnt Orange Manhattan
Elijah Craig 12yr Bourbon, Cointreau, Carpano Antica Vermouth, Grand Marnier, Orange Cream Citrate Bitters
Oyster Caesar
Wyborowa Vodka, Fresh Shucked Oyster, Basil, Celery Leaves, Lime, Capers, Chives, House Spices, Plum Tomato, Siracha Sauce
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Very good atmosphere and amazing food. Love this place. Been 4 times!
We went there for a friend’s birthday. The slaw was very good and most of the food was ok. As we were eating the food, it seemed like the same sauce/flavour was used for most of the food. So, it was too much of the same thing. The server said that she would take care of a little desert because we were celebrating a birthday, so she brought a little chocolate molten cake. We thought it was nice of the server to do this. The way the server was saying she would do a little something for the birthday, gave us the impression that it was a complimentary little desert, as many restaurants do something like that. We were surprised to see that there was a charge for that desert. We were planning on ordering a desert and if we were going to be charged for it, we would have liked to have looked at the desert menu. It left us with a bad impression – as if we were tricked into that desert. Another friend of mine had a similar bad situation at this restaurant where she had surprise charges on the bill. There are better restaurants in the city in terms of food and customer service.
Wonderful atmosphere and great service. The fusion style of Asian food in a tapas setting is excellent! The Singoporean Slaw is a must for any newbie to Lee. It is located close to the Theater district also! I will be going back for sure!
Restaurantica-dot-ca, thank you! For about 6 years you have not let me down in choosing a restaurant, but this was exceptionally good. On restaurant-crammed King Street West in Toronto, this simple rectangular tightly packed dining-room offers much more than one would expect. We were lucky that the chef, Susur Lee, was in-house that Saturday night, so we did not even order. He took care of choosing our food and the sequence it came in. Nine courses came in delightful succession with a lovely desert to follow. The variation of taste and mixture of aromas were perfect. It was difficult to imagine a better meal. Zofia, our waitress was very pleasant. I agree that the food description was a bit over the top, but hey the have earned the right to brag. The music was nice and the atmosphere pleasant. The tables were a bit tight. Would definitely recommend Lee's
We stumbled upon Lee and decided to go in because it was so busy and so inviting. The waiter suggested we order a few dishes and share, his recommedations were fantastic. The flavours, presentation and food was just incredible. Would return in a heartbeat, still thinking about the incredible flavours.
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Home to one of Canada’s most well-known chefs, Susur Lee, this spot focuses on fusion cuisine. Expect dishes like Singapore Slaw, which has 13 different ingredients, or the cheeseburger spring roll. The balanced flavours and complex fusions are what the restaurant has become known for, and Chef Lee’s television appearances don’t hurt either!
View this Smart ListOften touted as one of the best chefs in Toronto, Susur Lee’s flagship restaurant is a fan favourite among Winterlicious foodies. The restaurant has perfected fusion cuisine offering the famous Singapore Slaw. You can find these types of dishes and more on the prix-fixe menu this Winterlicous.
View this Smart List