New restaurants in Markham were nearly non-existent this year, since having a grand opening for your business amidst a pandemic isn't exactly ideal. That being said, the city did get a handful of notable new destinations for Asian eats worth checking out for takeout and delivery — or for sit-in dining, whenever that may be.

Here are my picks for the top new restaurants in Markham. 

Tanuki

New to J-Town Shopping Centre, Toronto's iconic destination for all things Japanese, is this restaurant serving comfort food and Japanese brunch. Think dishes with fun names like the Super Saiyan Spicy Silken Tofu or Memories of Harambe Tonkatsu Curry. 

Hana Don

Decadent bowls of seafood and rice hit Woodbine Avenue earlier this year with the arrival of Hana Don. This restaurant is all about the kaisendon, topping their portions of rice with maritime eats like dry-aged premium bluefin tuna and other raw fish. 

Sung Won Korean Restaurant

This homey restaurant on Highway 7 replaced Mr. Jerk recently with Korean classics like kamjatang and bibimbaps. Large portions and a great selection of banchan have already made this spot a local favourite. 

Sushi Umi

This omakase opened in Liberty Square just last month. While dining across from the chef, Kevin Li, is obviously not an option right now, Sushi Umi will hopefully reopen to guests eager to dine on their housemade soy sauce and Japanese fish.

West Gate Classic Canton Eatery

This diner specializes in Southern Chinese eats, more specifically from the Xiguan area of Guangzhou. The menu consists of cozy foods like claypot rices, congee, and street-style noodles. Their rice noodle rolls are also a big highlight.