Gala BBQ

What is Gala BBQ? Tucked inside an unassuming commercial strip mall at 1883 McNicoll Avenue near Kennedy Road, Gala BBQ (旮旯小串) is a bustling late-night institution dedicated to authentic Northeastern Chinese skewer culture (Dongbei chuan'r). The compact dining room hums with loud chatter, glowing neon signage, and tight table arrangements tailored for communal grazing and midnight cravings. Diners gather around simple wood tables and cozy banquettes to feast on fresh-off-the-grill meats, seafood, and cold beers well into the early morning.

Gala BBQ Menu & What to Order The kitchen specializes in heavily seasoned, charcoal-style skewers dusted in cumin, chili flakes, and sesame. Standouts include the Gala Special Chicken Rack (spiced and stir-fried to crisp perfection), tender lamb skewers, fatty and lean beef skewers, and shell-on grilled scallops topped with garlic and vermicelli. Balance the heavy grill fare with house-special cold noodles (kao lengmian), crispy deep-fried mushrooms, and the refreshing sweet-and-sour Gala Spiced Salad.

Know Before You Go Expect significant peak-hour lineups during evenings and weekends; call ahead if you are arriving with a group of four or more to secure one of the few reservable tables. The on-site strip plaza parking lot fills up quickly at peak dinner hours, so arrive early or carpool. Operating daily from late afternoon until 2:00 a.m., it is one of northern Scarborough's most dependable late-night dining destinations.