Canton Family Restaurant is located in one of the top island destinations in North America, Cape Breton, one of the most beautiful scenic areas according to “Travel and Leisure Magazine 2011 World’s Best Awards”. A favorite of both locals and tourists, it has made a name through providing outstanding service and a fantastic selection of tasty dishes. Specializing in Cantonese cuisine, Canton Family Restaurant, owned by Raymond Chan, has changed with the times, always keeping up with current culinary trends.

Some of the more popular dishes on the menu include Cantonese Chow Mein, General Tso’s Chicken and Canton Fried Rice. Of course, there are other outstanding dishes offered including seasonal local lobster and seafood dishes. Surprisingly, the restaurant also offers various desserts. Many might think that a pastry company prepares the cakes and pies, but in actuality they are made by Chan himself. This is due to Chan’s past baking experience. Before opening Canton Family Restaurant, Chan ran a bakery and in the process gained a wealth of baking experience.

Decorated in a timeless contemporary style, Canton boasts a calming interior, which includes a smiling Buddha, wooden tables and chairs, and soft lighting. Looking around the restaurant, customers will notice other artistic touches including twin dragons and red lanterns. There is a private room in one corner of the restaurant for birthdays and other private events. Not just a place for big events, the restaurant is also a great place to go for an intimate meal.

Most of Canton’s customers are locals but there are also a large number of tourists and exchange students from China who also patronize the restaurant. Having been in business for over 25 years, the restaurant has established great word-of-mouth and people around town often recommend the restaurant to tourists looking to enjoy some delicious Chinese food. May to August is the peak tourist season but even then it is never hard to get a table as the restaurant has an area of over 4000 square feet. 

Always looking to provide savings to its customers, Canton Family Restaurant offers 8 lunch combo meals to choose from between 11:00AM to 2:30 PM. Discounts are offered to the restaurant’s loyal customers during Chinese New Year and the anniversary of the restaurant’s opening.

Evident to all those who dine in the restaurant is the amazing hospitality that the staff and chefs are willing to provide. The menu offers dishes to suit every palate and diet by customizing the dishes to better suit your desires.

One thing apparent to all those who enter the restaurant is the attention that is paid to sanitation. To Chan, sanitation is as important as the taste of the dishes and the service.  Every nook and cranny of the restaurant is cleaned daily and the refrigeration systems are monitored to ensure that food is always stored at the proper temperature. “I believe that sanitation plays a huge role in service. Customers want to dine in a clean environment. Otherwise, if the restaurant is unsanitary, even the most attentive service in the world would not make the experience a positive one,” Chan says.

Striving to provide patrons with the best dining experience possible, Chan has spent a lot of time training the staff in how to provide exceptional service. This is reflected in how the staff greets every customer coming in and then continues to provide attentive service to them throughout their meals. At Canton Family Restaurant, everyone is treated like a VIP.

Humble Beginnings

Chan arrived in Canada in 1974 at the age of 12. After arriving he would often help out at his aunt’s restaurant by assisting with food deliveries. His parents later opened a restaurant in the area and he would also go help. Originally majoring in architecture, in 1982, he chose to help out at his parent’s restaurant instead of pursuing a career in architecture because of the rough economic climate of the times. “At first I was just trying to help my parents out but later on I realized that I was having a great time and that the restaurant industry was a lot more interesting than I had originally thought it to be,” adds Chan.

Happy with his decision, he would later decide to stay in the restaurant industry. But, running a restaurant is not as easy as it sounds, especially in the beginning. The early years of the restaurant were marked with long tiring days and the occasional set back. But, Chan powered through the challenges with the help of his family. Helping to take care of some of the load, Chan’s wife and other relatives have done a lot over the years to help keep Canton Family Restaurant running on all cylinders. Their hard work paid off and Canton Family Restaurant has become a local favorite.

Like the restaurant’s business, the Chan family has also increased in number over the years. Two of his children are attending high school, two are in University majoring in Political Science and Genetics Biology respectively, and the eldest is working on her second degree in Public Health. Always believing in giving his children a choice in what they want to do, he wants for them to choose their own careers.

Message from the Owner

Unlike the United States, Chinese restaurants in Canada are a bit more spread out.  You won’t have two or three restaurants on the same block; instead, there might be a 20-30 minute drive between restaurants. This distance is a good thing as this leads to more co-operation and communication between restaurant owners. We meet up every once in awhile to talk about the industry and also ask about each other’s families. This has led to a lot of friendships and opportunities for me and other owners to pass on knowledge to each other. We would like to thank the community for all their support and hope that even more people will come and try out the great food here.

Canton Family Restaurant

Location: 294 Commercial Street, North Sydney, Nova Scotia, B2A 1C1, Canada

Phone: 902-794-4587

Year of Establishment: 1985

Offers: Buffet, Dine-in and Take-out

Cuisine: Canadian, Cantonese, and Szechwan Cuisine

Signature Dishes: Cantonese Chow Mein, General Tso’s Chicken, Bird Island, Mongolian Beef, and Seafood Wor Bar