My stepdad grinned mischievously when I asked where we were going for dinner. “It’s a new place called The Mandarin, up in Brampton,” he said. It’s now a major regional resto chain. But I still think of the Mandarin as ‘my’ Asian buffet…
The food is always great, plentiful and hot. With more than 100 Asian dishes, salads, a sushi bar and desserts, it’s got something for everyone. There’s even a carvery stand at the far end of the double-barrelled steam table array with classic roast beef, ham and even a leg of lamb for folks who don’t cherish Asian food the way I do.
And it’s all the fruit of one man’s vision.
Started small…
James Chu was born in 1948 on Taiwan. His family immigrated to Canada from Taiwan in 1963, settling in Montreal. A born entrepreneur, Chiu studied business at Concordia University and followed up by opening his first restaurant, Sweet ‘N Sour.
But Chiu had bigger ideas. The kind that set future icons apart from the crowd. With his brother and sister-in-law, and a friend – all of whom had years of experience in the restaurant business – he moved to Brampton, just northwest of Toronto, in 1979, and bought a small Asian takeout joint called the Mandarin. The name stuck.
Fast forward…
By its 40th anniversary, in 2019, the Mandarin had gone from standalone takeout joint to a chain of 29 buffet restaurants spanning Southern Ontario, from Ottawa to Windsor.
And Chiu had become a legend both in the community and the hospitality industry.
“What began as a means for survival, transformed into a lifelong love of hospitality,” his family said.
Philanthropic endeavours
Chiu expanded his empire via a franchising scheme that allowed his employees to become his partners. His restos also helped train thousands of new foodservice workers over the years. And the Mandarin organization’s scholarship program supports students at Community Colleges across Ontario.
But he also funded community causes from the Canadian multiple Sclerosis Society to the Giant Panda Conservation Breeding Program at the Toronto Zoo. In 2007, the Mandarin gave $1 million to the Schulich Heart Centre capital expansion at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
A formidable presence
Chiu passed away May 1, 2026, from pulmonary fibrosis just days after celebrating his 78th birthday.
At his death, his vision had blossomed into a formidable organization employing more than 2,500 people. True to his commitment to the community, its corporate headquarters remains in Brampton, where Chiu got his start.
“He lived with positivity and gratitude until his peaceful passing,” the family wrote in an online tribute. “James leaves an indelible mark on the hospitality industry. His vision for exceptional food and genuine customer service will live on, inspiring generations to come.”
My take
One of the newest Mandarin locations is right here in my town, Ottawa. When I read it was coming, I thought, “My Mandarin experience has come full-circle…” How appropriate, considering the significance of the ‘full-circle’ in Asian philosophy!
According to Wikipedia, the Confucian ‘full circle’ concept, “describes the dynamic, interconnected, and holistic nature of self-cultivation, ethics, and cosmic order. It emphasizes a return to the roots—morality, family, and tradition—to transform both the individual and society.”
What better way to describe James Chiu’s whole outlook on life!
~ Maggie J.