East Chinatown is a Chinese neighbourhood located in the city of Toronto's east end in Riverdale and one of the several Chinatowns in Toronto. It was formed during the early 1970s and is centred on Gerrard Street East between Broadview Avenue and Carlaw Avenue.
The History of East Chinatown
With the expropriation of the first downtown Chinatown from the 1950s to 1960s as well as subsequent property values increased in the Spadina avenue West Chinatown, many Chinese Canadians migrated to Toronto's east end.
The East Chinatown community was formed in the Riverdale neighbourhood around 1971 when Charlie Cheung moved from first Chinatown and purchased a property at 383 Broadview Avenue to start Charlie's Meat, a Chinese butcher shop. Other restaurants soon followed with the growth of the community, such as the Pearl Court Restaurant that opened in 1982. Pearl Court became a hub for many of the community's events including many involving Jack Layton, the MP for the area for many years. A street adjoining East Chinatown is dedicated to Layton. Chinese-Vietnamese and mainland Chinese immigrants dominate this neighbourhood.
The East Chinatown community was heavily affected leading up to the 2001 by Toronto's bid for the 2008 Olympics and subsequently by the construction of the "Studio District", in South Riverdale next to the Toronto Port Lands. The land speculation in these construction project drove up property values, which prompted many of business and residents to migrate north to Scarborough, Markham, and Richmond Hill.
East Chinatown Today
As with many Canadian Chinatowns, the demographics of East Chinatown has been changing with gentrification and immigration At the northernmost corner of East Chinatown (northwest corner, Broadview Avenue and Gerrard Street) is the Riverdale branch of the Toronto Public Library. This branch is bilingual in Chinese and English. North of the library in Riverdale park is a monument to the Chinese revolutionary and first leader of Republican China: Sun Yat-sen. There two streets with bilingual signs (English on top, Chinese on the bottom) located in the neighbourhood at three of the four corners of the intersections:
The neighbourhood is also the site for the only Chinese Archway in Toronto, with its official construction beginning in late 2008 and opening to the public on September 12, 2009. The archway and parking lot next to where it is located has since won a prestigious international award in 2012 for Best Design/Implementation of a Surface Parking Lot.
Looking for the best of East Chinatown?
Parks
Schools
Please click here for a comprehensive list of schools in East Chinatown..
Restaurants
Madame Levant: Bright, snug eatery with an open kitchen serving Middle Eastern-inspired brunch, with a kids' menu.
Batifole: Cosy, unpretentious French bistro with a 300-label wine list and simply prepared fare in lively digs.
MiMi Restaurant: Pho, noodle dishes, barbecued meats and seafood in a relaxed, family-owned Vietnamese eatery.
Cafés
Juliana Social Café: Plants hang behind the bar of this airy spot serving espresso drinks, salads, sandwiches and pastries.
.Hailed Coffee: Minimal-chic storefront spot serving artisan coffee drinks with housemade chocolates and dried dates.
Dineen Outpost: Espresso drinks, baked goods and light fare offered in a chill, bright space with whitewashed brick.