The first restaurant in the city for ancient clay pot rice just opened its doors in Toronto
Published February 4, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Clay pot rice is something you can’t find just anywhere in Toronto, so it’s great to have a brand new restaurant specializing in the dish opening now in the city.
Rice & Flame has just opened, and they actually claim to serve Toronto’s very first ever ancient clay pot rice.
The way they describe it, clay pot rice is cooked slowly over direct heat in a special vessel that distributes the heat evenly and saturates the entire dish with deep flavours. The result is a rice dish that’s fluffy on top with a crunchy and golden crust on the bottom that actually has its own special name: “gou tei.” Rice & Flame finishes off their clay pot rice dishes with a fragrant sauce.
The origins of the clay pot rice cooking method actually stretch all the way back to the Tang Dynasty in China. These types of clay pots are the result of hundreds of years of Chinese craftsmanship, and the pots have endured due to their durability and ability to distribute heat evenly.
Some of the don’t-miss items on the menu at Rice & Flame are their Rainbow Braised Chicken Rice Pot, Kung Pao Chicken Rice Pot and Mouth-Watering Chicken. They also serve pig ears in spicy chili oil, Sichuan-style beef shank, marinated crunchy jellyfish, and also some veggies on the side.
Each of the clay pots at Rice & Flame is actually handcrafted and one of a kind, and all their other utensils, glassware and cookware are imported from master artisans in China. The glassware is actually made custom, and reflects the shape of Rice & Flame’s logo.
The look of the restaurant draws inspiration from Chinese traditions and symbology, blended with a modern and approachable style that’s intended to be sleek and welcoming to guests. Lots of white and clusters of lanterns overhead
“Rice & Flame brings time-honoured Chinese flavours to everyday dining, highlighting the ancient cooking techniques passed down through generations, while capturing the warmth and comfort of shared family meals,” reads a quote from the owner of Rice & Flame on their social media.
“Each menu item reflects a distinct Chinese region or culinary tradition, offering guests a diverse range of flavours at an accessible price. Our logo features traditional Chinese motifs inspired by Fu, Lu, Shou, Xi and Cai, symbolizing fortune, prosperity, longevity, happiness and wealth, offering every guest a visual blessing.”
Rice & Flame is now open in Scarborough at 3290 Midland Ave.