Arguably one of Toronto’s most cherished chop suey icons is set to be brought back soon, just two years after the restaurant had permanently shut its doors.
Sea-Hi Famous Chinese Restaurant was a landmark Toronto institution that closed for good in March 2020, just before the onset of the pandemic. The closure devastated the restaurant’s loyal customers, many of whom had gone to dine at the restaurant throughout their entire lives. But, after an outpour of support and the help of some new investors, the original owners are now working to revive the beloved business.
Although, don’t expect the same Sea-Hi of yesteryear––the reboot will run as a takeout and delivery operation at a new location, a few minutes up the street from their landmark building. That aside, Sea-Hi’s iconic menu will return, along with much of its original staff.
Originally opened in 1955, Sea-Hi was a mainstay in Toronto’s “First Chinatown”, which stretched along York and Elizabeth Streets between Dundas Street and Queen Street West, before the neighbourhood eventually migrated in the 60s to make way for Toronto’s city hall.
The spot was originally opened by the late Edna Chan, who moved the business to its iconic Bathurst outpost in 1961 before handing the reigns over to Stanley Chui in 1977. Chui successfully operated Sea-Hi until its closure in 2020, and is now working with investors to bring the beloved restaurant back to Toronto.
The new location is located at 7000 Bathurst Street in Vaughan, on the north side of Steeles Avenue. The grand re-opening is set to happen as early as next month, almost exactly two years since they supposedly closed forever.
