From The Fairmont Royal York Best Nearby Asian (Restaurants) (10 Overall Closest) Metro: Toronto, ON Monsoon (Restaurants - Asian) 100 Simcoe St, Toronto  ON  M5H 3G2 • 416-979-7172 Distance: ~0.508 km         Description: DOWNTOWN. Upon stepping into the super-stylish Monsoon you'll immediately notice the subtle lighting and peaceful color palette. The ambience is in perfect harmony with the pan-Asian menu, which blends the cuisines of various cultures with dramatic results. Each dish is a surprisingly successful foray into fusion dining – try crab cakes with cucumber namasa and coconut aioli, tiger prawns with Asian guacamole, duck breast with truffle-artichoke rosti in tamarind plum sauce, or pork tenderloin with a moo shoo bean thread crepe in hoi sin orange sauce. Colborne Lane (Restaurants - Asian) 45 Colborne St, Toronto  ON  M5E 1P8 • 416-368-9009 Distance: ~0.626 km         Description: DOWNTOWN. On the Toronto dining scene, Claudio Aprile is a name to be reckoned with. The inventive chef experiments with molecular gastronomy, creating intricate dishes such as prawn ceviche with avocado, Peruvian potato, smoked chili, jicama, puffed corn noodles and corn nuts; and coffee- and cumin-rubbed rock hen breast with confit wings and creamed curry corn. A Far East influence is evident in many dishes, like the Southeast Asian soup with coconut milk, lemon grass and lobster dumpling, and the miso-glazed black cod with lotus seeds. Dessert, elaborate and unusual, is a must. For an overview, opt for the tasting menu or the more extensive kitchen table tasting menu. Rain (Restaurants - Asian) 19 Mercer St, Toronto  ON  M5V 1H2 • 416-599-7246 Distance: ~0.679 km User Rating: 10 / 10         Description: DOWNTOWN. You'd never know it now, but the building that houses this super chic restaurant was once a women's prison. Sleek lines, contemporary banquettes and earthy colors are punctuated by shiny pebbled walls, cascading waterfalls and dramatic lighting. The sophistication extends to the menu, which includes grilled miso-marinated cod with tatsoi greens, and tempura shrimp in shiso leaves with a yuzu-ponzu dipping sauce. As you might expect, celebrity sightings are not uncommon, and most patrons dress to impress. And in keeping with big-city trends, the washroom is unisex. Nami (Restaurants - Asian) 55 Adelaide St E, Toronto  ON  M5C 1K6 • 416-362-7373 Distance: ~0.727 km User Rating: 9.3334 / 10         Description: DOWNTOWN. One of the finest Japanese restaurants in Toronto, this large, attractive restaurant allows diners the choice of eating at the sushi bar, in tatami rooms, or joined by other patrons at a cooking grill. Seafood reigns supreme and varies from scallops or shrimp to Atlantic salmon, ocean perch, or mackerel. Reservations suggested. Hot House Cafe (Restaurants - Asian) 35 Church Market Square, Toronto  ON  M5E 1T3 • 416-366-7800 Distance: ~0.730 km User Rating: 7.1 / 10         Description: DOWNTOWN. Hot House Cafe's Sunday brunch buffet from 9:30am -3pm includes traditional breakfast favorites, numerous pastas, beef and seafood specialties, a divine dessert table, plus an impressive salad bar. Accompanied by live jazz, it's a fun experience not to be missed. The rest of the week, the cafe satisfies hungry diners with hearty and innovative Italian pastas, gourmet pizzas, and an interesting range of International entrees such as an Asian chicken stir fry, Indian-style curried shrimp, and jambalaya. Plenty of creative vegetarian dishes, burgers, steaks, and a good selection of wine and cocktails, too.    Ematei (Restaurants - Asian) 30 St Patrick St, Toronto  ON  M5T 3A3 • 416-340-0472 Distance: ~0.874 km User Rating: 10 / 10         Description: DOWNTOWN. This Japanese bistro is loved by Japanese tourists for its authenticity. The sushi is the freshest around, and appetizers are perfect. In the bar or one of the tatami rooms, a hot pot can be ordered and shared among friends. Hiro Sushi (Restaurants - Asian) 171 King St E, Toronto  ON  M5A 1J4 • 416-304-0550 Distance: ~0.979 km         Description: DOWNTOWN. The consensus of opinion about Hiro is that the only way to truly appreciate it is to sit at the sushi bar and order the omakase. Watch as each tidbit is prepared, chat with the chef, and relax – then marvel that anything could taste so incredibly good. To be sure the omakase (chef's choice) is usually an adventure, so if you're new to sushi or prefer to stick with the tried and true, you may prefer to order off the a la carte menu. Lai Wah Heen (Restaurants - Asian) 118 Chestnut St Metropolitan Hotel, Toronto  ON  M5G 1R3 • 416-977-9899 Distance: ~1.122 km User Rating: 7.8334 / 10         Description: DOWNTOWN. This exquisite Cantonese restaurant definitely lives up to its name, which means "elegant meeting place." For an extra-special experience, call and pre-order "Lustrous Peacock," comprised of melon, barbecued chicken, duck, and honey walnuts. You'll also find 100 other choices on the menu. It's said that Lai Wah Heen serves some of Toronto's best dim sum in town too, including thin pouches filled with shark's fin and sprinkled with lobster roe. Susur (Restaurants - Asian) 601 King St W, Toronto  ON  M5V 1M5 • 416-603-2205 Distance: ~1.553 km User Rating: 8.5 / 10         Description: DOWNTOWN. World renowned chef Susur Lee creates truly stunning seven-course tasting menus comprised of a delightful variety of Asian-Continental dishes. The menu changes daily and is dependent on what fresh ingredients are available, so every dining experience here is an adventure. You may be served spicy pork with tamarind sauce, Chinese ham with apricot glaze, mahi-mahi satay, soy-marinated bass, apple chiffon cake, or chocolate-hazelnut pot de crème. The vegan menu is equally elaborate and impressive. Lee (Restaurants - Asian) 603 King St W, Toronto  ON  M5W • 416-504-7867 Distance: ~1.556 km         Description: DOWNTOWN. Chef Susur Lee's more casual and affordable alternative. The cuisine is similar to what you'd find at his flagship eatery, Susur, except the focus is on tapas sized portions and the vibe is funkier. Sample as many dishes as you can – the Asian-Mediterranean fusion food is unusual but colorful and full of flavor. Past winners have included Singaporean slaw, braised lentils with roasted apple, curried potato-pea croquettes, jerk calamari, duck confit with pineapple and salmon ceviche. Copyright ©2001 10Best Inc. All rights reserved.