Restaurants & Food at First Markham Place
A curated guide to restaurants and food at First Markham Place — Korean donkatsu, Xi’an burgers, Cantonese BBQ, Vietnamese banh mi, and Asian bakery.
First Markham Place (FMP) at 3255 Highway 7 East, Markham is one of the GTA’s busiest Asian dining destinations, with a food court and over 23 sit-down restaurants spanning Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Asian fusion cuisines. This page focuses on 5 representative restaurants at FMP, covering different cuisine types, price points, and dining styles. All venues offer free mall parking, accept walk-ins, and most accept cards in addition to cash.
5 merchants in this category
- Brown Donkatsu & RamenKorean-style pork donkatsu and Japanese ramen at First Markham Place, Markham.
- BingzXi’an-style Chinese hamburger (rou jia mo) chain at First Markham Place — crispy flatbread filled with stewed meat and signature sides.
- Excellent B.B.Q. House (味香园)Cantonese-style barbecue and roast meats — char siu, roast pork, soy chicken, roast duck — over rice, served at First Markham Place.
- Banh Mi Ngon ExpressVietnamese banh mi sandwiches at First Markham Place — crispy baguette filled with grilled or cold cut meats, pickled daikon and carrot, cucumber, cilantro, chilli.
- Bon CakeAsian-style cakes, pastries and custom celebration cakes at First Markham Place.
Frequently asked questions
How many restaurants are there at First Markham Place?
First Markham Place has over 23 sit-down restaurants accessible directly from the mall parking lot, plus a food court with about 24 vendors covering different Asian cuisines.
What kinds of food can I find at FMP?
FMP covers Cantonese (BBQ, dim sum), Northern Chinese (Xi’an), Korean (donkatsu), Japanese (ramen), Vietnamese (banh mi, pho), Taiwanese (bubble tea), and Asian bakery. The 5 highlighted on this page: Brown Donkatsu & Ramen (Korean-Japanese), Bingz (Xi’an rou jia mo), 味香园 Excellent BBQ (Cantonese roast), Banh Mi Ngon Express (Vietnamese), and Bon Cake (Asian-style bakery).
Where can I get a cheap meal at First Markham Place?
For value: Bingz (Units 11–12, Xi’an rou jia mo) and 味香园 Excellent BBQ (Unit 260, Cantonese roast meat over rice) are typically under CA$15 for a filling meal. Banh Mi Ngon (Unit 30A) banh mi sandwiches are also budget-friendly. The food court inside FMP also has many vendors at quick-service prices.
Where can I get Cantonese-style food at FMP?
For Cantonese roast meats (char siu, roast duck, soy sauce chicken) try 味香园 Excellent B.B.Q. House at Unit 260. FMP also has multiple Cantonese-style cafes and dim sum restaurants nearby (check the mall directory). Most of these venues have Cantonese-speaking staff.
Do FMP restaurants take reservations, or is it walk-in only?
Most FMP restaurants are walk-in. Some sit-down dim sum and larger restaurants accept reservations or use a virtual queue (e.g. yoyaku, NextMe). For quick-service places like Bingz, 味香园 BBQ, and Banh Mi Ngon, you simply order at the counter — no reservation needed.
Do FMP restaurants accept credit cards or just cash?
Most FMP restaurants accept cash, debit, and major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard). Some traditional Cantonese BBQ shops are cash-only or prefer cash for small orders — for example, 味香园 BBQ has been reported as cash-preferred. Many vendors also accept WeChat Pay and Alipay. Confirm at the counter for mobile payments.
What are FMP restaurant hours?
Most FMP restaurants run roughly 11:00 am to 9:00 pm Monday through Saturday, and 11:00 am to 8:00 pm Sunday — generally tracking the FMP mall hours. Specific restaurants vary by 30–60 minutes; bakeries and BBQ shops may close earlier if products sell out. Always confirm with the specific venue.
Is FMP parking free? Where do I park to get to the restaurants?
Yes — First Markham Place has free surface parking around the entire mall. Spots near the food entrances (south and west sides of the mall) fill up quickly at weekend lunch, but turnover is fast. The mall is also accessible by YRT bus on Highway 7.
Which FMP restaurants have Cantonese-speaking staff?
Cantonese is widely spoken across FMP, particularly at Cantonese roast meat shops (e.g. 味香园 BBQ Unit 260) and most sit-down restaurants. Korean (Brown Donkatsu) and Vietnamese (Banh Mi Ngon) venues primarily speak Korean/Vietnamese plus English, but Mandarin is also commonly understood given the FMP customer base.
Are there family/kid-friendly restaurants at FMP?
Yes — Brown Donkatsu (Unit 22) and Bingz (Units 11-12) are good family options with quick service and crowd-pleasing menus. Bon Cake (Unit 236) is popular for children’s birthday cakes. Most quick-service spots can accommodate strollers and have kid-friendly portions.
What's the best dim sum at or near First Markham Place?
FMP has dim sum options inside the mall plus several well-known dim sum restaurants nearby on Highway 7 (e.g. Casa Imperial, Yang's Kitchen, Crown Princess). For a quick mall-based dim sum lunch, the food court has yum cha-style vendors. For a fuller dim sum experience with carts and tea, neighbouring Highway 7 restaurants are typically a better pick — call ahead on weekends.
Are there vegetarian or vegan options at FMP restaurants?
Yes — most FMP Asian restaurants have vegetarian options, though they're not always labelled. Banh Mi Ngon Express usually has a vegetarian banh mi (typically grilled tofu); Bingz has vegetable-only options on the menu. For strict vegan (no fish sauce, no eggs), confirm with the kitchen — Asian cuisines often use fish sauce or shrimp paste in unexpected places. Bon Cake also has eggless cake options on request.
Which FMP restaurants are most kid-friendly?
Brown Donkatsu & Ramen (Unit 22) is a strong kid-friendly choice — quick service, mild flavours, donkatsu and ramen are universally appealing to kids. Bingz (Units 11–12) works for older kids who like burgers. Bon Cake (Unit 236) is great for birthday cakes. Most quick-service spots accommodate strollers and have child-portion options.
What is rou jia mo, char siu, or banh mi? Where can I try them at FMP?
Rou jia mo (肉夹馍) — Xi'an-style "Chinese hamburger" with stewed meat in a crispy flatbread; try at Bingz (Units 11-12). Char siu (叉烧) — Cantonese sweet roast pork; try at Excellent BBQ / 味香园 (Unit 260). Banh mi — Vietnamese baguette sandwich; try at Banh Mi Ngon Express (Unit 30A). Each is a regional specialty with distinct flavour profiles.
Should I eat at FMP's food court or the sit-down restaurants?
Food court is faster, cheaper (CA$8-12 typical), and has more variety in one trip — best for trying multiple cuisines or solo lunch. Sit-down restaurants offer better quality, table service, and are accessible directly from the parking lot — better for group meals or a longer dining experience. Both are valid; many regulars use the food court for weekday lunch and sit-down for weekend dinner.
Information compiled from public sources (Google Maps, mall directory, Yelp). For the most current details, please contact the business directly.