MajesThé Bistro Bar became one of our favourite spots because of its cosy, elegant, and underground (literally and figuratively) vibe. It’s located in a basement, so it has that speakeasy atmosphere, complete with tantalising bar drinks, including bubble tea-inspired cocktails.

We tried the fun-named Princess Peach, and we were surprised that it tasted like the real boba tea, but with that subtle alcoholic finish.

The same variety can also be seen on their food menu, which consists of a wide array of authentic Taiwanese comfort food. For instance, our go-to is the signature Taiwanese pork belly bao, and it’s nailed down perfectly, from the softness of the bun to the savouriness of the filling.

We also appreciate how their menu caters to vegetarians as well, with dishes like crispy fried tofu bao and crispy tofu yaki udon.

All of their dishes also feature generous serving sizes. This, paired with the occasional live music and world-class customer service, makes up for the pricey rates.

Pretty much everything on the menu is a hit

“Amazing Taiwanese and fusion cuisine with big portion sizes and creative cocktails (including spiked BBT). Service was top-notch and friendly, and it’s so convenient (right next to McGill and the metro), making it a top bar in Montreal. 

The only thing is that people may not know about it since it’s underground, but don’t let that deter you. From the second you’re seated, it’s a great experience. I loved the fried chicken, truffle fries, and juicy baos the most, but pretty much everything on the menu is a hit. 

I always swing by when I’m in the area.”

– Jonathan Lee, Google Review

Very filling

“The photo doesn’t really do it justice. Great value for the quality of food. I suggest the omurice, chicken Katsu curry or the pork belly bun.

Very filling and the price would be 5-8$ more at other restaurants, especially in the plateau area. It’s in the basement, but it has a cozy vibe, and I went on a Saturday, and they had a free jazz band.

I tasted the lychee spritz, which was good also, it’s good for non alcoholic drinkers as well. Younger crowd, great place for either a date or chill vibes with friends. Also, inexpensive Japanese whisky flights. Great value overall and decently large menu.

The truffle fries were yummy.”

– Max Salmela, Google Review

We love visiting Restaurant Rizière because of its bustling atmosphere. As soon as we enter its space, we’re greeted by the sounds of a busy kitchen, the aromas of cooked meat and spices, and the friendly customer service.

Dining here is a feast for the eyes as well, featuring Asian-inspired decor, including dragons, paintings, and scrolls.

The main highlight here is the food, with one of the prime examples being the braised beef noodle soup. This Taiwanese staple is nailed to a tee, from the tenderness of the beef chunks to the springiness of the noodles and the addition of green onions.

We also want to recommend their spicy beef with rice, which features the same tender texture, but with a bit more kick, courtesy of the stir-fried chilli peppers. The place also serves a wide variety of dumplings, with their bestseller being the Szechuan.

We only wish they would operate longer hours, as they’re closed on Sundays and open for only 5 hours on 4 of their opening days.

Considered the best of North America so far

“Came to Montreal for our honeymoon, and randomly had a chance to visit this restaurant. I must first recommend the place for its small environment with friendly and efficient staff.

I am always a laksa lover, the laksa is great for its broth, and is marvellous for the rice noodle option they had—Thin, chewy, and immersed well in the soup.

For tan tan noodles (or dan dan noodles, whichever you translate), it is considered the best of North America so far, based on my wife’s opinion (for these 8 years). The proportion is also fair for a single order.

Still, we two skipped lunch, so we ordered the beef noodle soup to wrap up the experience. For how chewy and juicy the beef chunks are, it’s worth a 5-star rating itself. The soup is kind of a blend of Taiwanese and some southern Chinese style, which satisfied both our taste buds.

As a result, I am adding another 5-star review to the 600+ others. The place is worth it, and quite a hidden gem in the city. Bon appetit”

– Lawrence CH Hsu, Google Review

A treat for the senses

“Walking into Rizière in Montreal is always a treat for the senses. The bustling atmosphere, combined with the savoury aromas wafting from the kitchen, immediately sets the stage for an authentic experience. 

I recently tried their spicy beef with rice, and it was absolutely exquisite. The Dumplings were perfectly prepared, crisp on the outside, tender and flavourful inside. The service was prompt, friendly, and attentive, ensuring our tea cups were never empty. 

If you are looking for top-notch Cantonese cuisine (or Szechuan, depending on the restaurant), this is easily one of the best spots in the city. A must-visit for any serious food lover!”

– Mhamed Ben Jmaa, Google Review

Maison Mignon caught our attention with its mom-and-pop shop-esque ambience. It’s easily missable, which made our expectations low, but we were wrong.

What they lack in fancy interior decor is entirely made up for by the quality of their food. A prime example of this is their authentic and comforting beef noodle soup, which does Taiwanese cookbooks justice by featuring slowly braised sliced beef and clean-tasting broth.

Other bestsellers from their menu include the equally rich pork broth soup and the almond shrimp plate. The latter is great for groups because of its portion, but honestly, every dish we’ve tried featured generous serving sizes.

We also love that they offer various Asian desserts, including mooncakes, which are a Taiwanese staple during the Mid-Autumn festival.

Lastly, we love how affordable their dishes were. We only wish that they could add delivery options, so we could enjoy their offerings at home.

So comforting and delicious

“A hidden gem in the area! I love coming here for their beef noodle soup, so comforting and delicious, and marinated sides. The owner is always so nice. I always try to drop by for lunch when I’m in the area.”

– Ping Yu, Google Review

The food is RIDICULOUSLY good

“Maison Mignon is very easy to miss. This small, family-owned, humble business doesn’t look like much from the outside (or the inside), but don’t let appearances deceive you. The food is RIDICULOUSLY good. 

The owner is INCREDIBLY friendly, hospitable and honest. This is one of the rare places that I actually feel deserves 20%+ tipping.

The beef noodle soup is easily one of the best in the city. EASY. This is a complete “Sleeper OP” restaurant. It is LEGITIMATELY one of those hidden gems.

The prices are fairly low, too. Strong recommendation for the Beef Noodle Soup and Almond Shrimp plate.”

– Some Random Canuck, Google Review

Fondue Haidilao is an excellent gateway to Taiwanese cuisine, offering an authentic hotpot experience. We like going to this spot for the sheer variety of their hotpot fixings, from fish balls to fresh vegetables and different types of meat.

They offer premium-quality meat, such as sirloin beef and grass-fed lamb slices, both of which feature an exceptional meat-to-fat ratio and marbling. At the same time, however, they offer “exotic” kinds, like the lamb brain, which is surprisingly creamy.

The place also offers a myriad of dipping sauces. To get the authentic Taiwanese hot pot experience, we recommend getting the raw egg, soy sauce, and cilantro combination.

We do wish to find the same variety in their Taiwanese dishes; it doesn’t offer staples from the cuisine beyond the hotpot experience.

As far as hot pot restaurants go, this is among the most beautifully designed, with its elegant light fixtures and posh furniture. Even when it’s packed, it never really feels crowded, as the layout is well-planned.

The food was great!

“A wonderful hot pot experience! The service was stellar! We didn’t have a reservation, but we went early enough that they found us a table right away. Highly recommend making a reservation if going at peak times. 

The food was great! There were so many options, it was a little overwhelming. Our waiter was very patient with us and explained the best options to choose for the best price. Everything was tasty, and the spicy, numbing broth was definitely something to experience.”

– Paul Marchand, Google Review

Fresh and flavourful

“We had an amazing experience at Haidilao! The food was fresh and flavorful, and the broth options were incredible. My first time trying hotpot was absolutely a success! But what made the experience even better was our server, Oliver, who was absolutely the best! 

Super attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed the entire time. Thank you, Oliver, for the recommendation and for making our dinner so enjoyable! Definitely coming back”

– Zineb Samdi, Google Review

My team and I wanted to include Cuisine Formosa because of its cheap prices and home-cooked Taiwanese dishes. We appreciated how they offered dishes not typically offered in Taiwanese restaurants in other countries to cater to foreigners.

For instance, they offer the braised pork soft bone, which is paired perfectly with soft rice. We tried it once on our trip to Taipei, and they’ve nailed the soft, chewy cartilage texture here, as it’s been slow-cooked for several hours.

They also offer various Taiwanese rice rolls, which are another staple of the cuisine. We order their sausage Taiwanese roll whenever we stop by because it perfectly combines savouriness and that signature Taiwanese flair.

We also love the overall simplistic look of the restaurant, resembling those hole-in-the-wall eateries we’ve seen in Taipei. Customer service is stellar as well, as their servers always patiently explain dishes we’re not familiar with when dining here.

Our only gripe is that their serving sizes are a bit small, but we can’t complain too much, as they are cheap.

Tasty and authentic Taiwanese food

“Travel to Montreal as a tourist. Try to find some places to visit and tasty food to eat. Found this small restaurant, which has tasty and authentic Taiwanese food. Definitely come back and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have Asian food.”

– Xuefen Yang, Google Review

Very welcoming and delicious food

“Great service! Very welcoming and delicious food. Although the portions were a bit small, we (5 people) ordered two other meals. Definitely recommend the beef noodle soup! Beef was tender, soup was flavourful with the toppings, and the noodles were soft”

– Caroline LSM, Google Review