Great Fountain is a Chinese takeout stall known for its large portions and low prices.

Hidden away in the Dynasty Center, a small shopping center off of Sheppard Avenue, Great Fountain was founded in the early 1990s and has been a staple of the food court for more than thirty years.

In 2015, the stall was purchased by Jack Peng and Eva Lin. Though Jack and Eva were no strangers to the food service industry, having managed a fish and chips shop for several years prior, neither one of them had any experience running a Chinese restaurant.

Even so, the couple was determined to give the business their best shot. Their daughter, Anna Peng, explains that her parents wanted to run a restaurant that reflected their Chinese heritage.

This meant expanding the menu to include new recipes, as well as improving upon the items that were already being offered.Great Fountain serves well over two hundred dishes, each with its own letter and number combination. Most of these dishes can be ordered as part of a combo meal, which consists of an entree, a drink and a bowl of soup.Pork bone soup is made fresh daily and consists of sliced pork, chopped carrots, onions and soybeans in a flavourful broth. Hot and sour soup is also made daily, albeit in smaller quantities. This vegetarian dish is made with soy sauce, vinegar and noodles, and has a slightly thicker consistency. Braised pork belly with rice and preserved vegetables ($12.40) is a dish that goes by many names, including mui choy kow yuk fan and menu item T44.

It's one of Great Fountain's most popular dishes, as well as its most labour intensive. Tender pork belly is simmered in a pot over the course of three days, then layered over sticky rice and preserved bok choy.

Fried rice noodles with beef ($12.40), also known as gone chow gnau haw, is menu item T46. It combines thinly sliced beef with rice noodles, bean sprouts and spring onions, creating a dish that is equal parts salty and savoury.If you're looking for a filling meal, look no further than menu item T34, a.k.a. the salted spicy spare ribs on fried rice ($11.49). 

This combo comes with a huge pile of pork ribs, as well as a side of egg-fried rice and mixed vegetables.Cantonese chow mein ($12.40), also called gong dong chow meen or menu item T5, is a hearty noodle dish, topped with shrimp, squid, chicken, pork, mushrooms and veggies.Garlic fried chicken on fried rice ($10.60) is Great Fountain's number one best seller.

Colloquially known by its menu number, T39, this iconic dish consists of crispy fried chicken leg, a side of spicy pepper sauce and a mountain of egg-fried rice.

Iced lemon tea ($3.80) is a light, tangy beverage that acts as a refreshing counterpoint to many of the restaurant's spicier flavours.Lemon water ($3.80) is Great Fountain's take on an American-style lemonade. Made with lemon juice, water and sugar, this drink is slightly sweeter than the lemon tea, but just as refreshing.Iced milk tea ($3.80) is rich and creamy, thanks to a winning combination of black tea and condensed milk.Hong Kong-style bubble tea ($4.43) combines that same delicious flavour with chewy tapioca pearls, making it perfect for slurping up on a hot summer day.Iced red bean ($4.43) is a unique drink, made from condensed milk and sweet adzuki beans. Be sure to stir it before taking a sip — that way, you'll be sure to get the optimal milk-to-bean ratio. Great Fountain can be found in the Dynasty Centre Food Court, at 8 Glen Watford Drive.