Zoe DubeThe 9 best Chinese restaurants in Montreal that bring the flavours of China closer
From the Great Wall of China to the streets of Montreal, the distance feels a lot smaller thanks to the city’s Chinese restaurants that keep the cuisine alive and authentic.
Every so often, my team and I get that undeniable craving because let’s be honest… who can say no to silky noodles, crispy spring rolls, or juicy dumplings?
The best part is, we don’t need a plane ticket to taste all these flavours. They’re right here. So if you’re craving for some Chinese food too, we’ve put together a list of our favourite spots we’ve visited.
And it’s not just about what’s on the plate! We also paid attention to the service and the ambience, so you’ll know exactly where to go depending on the mood you’re in.
1. Nouilles de Lan Zhou
Media credits: eishwithme and nouillesdelanzhou
Address: 1006 St Laurent Blvd
Contact details: +1 514-800-2959
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 11 AM – 9 PM
- Friday to Sunday: 11 AM – 9:30 PM
Price: $$
Nouilles de Lan Zhou is famous for its hand-pulled noodles from Lanzhou, a city in northwest China. One of the highlights here is watching the chefs pull the noodles right in front of you. It’s really fun and shows how fresh they are.
The restaurant is cosy, with traditional Chinese decorations. Seating is a bit tight, but it works well for small groups or solo diners.
We’d say the dan dan noodles are the real star here—fresh, chewy, and full of flavour. The traditional noodles with extra meat are okay, but the broth isn’t as exciting. Portions are large, and prices are very reasonable.
If you want to try other popular dishes, some of the good ones are the beef tendon noodles and zhajiangmian (dry soybean noodles).
| Pro tip: They offer different noodle thicknesses. We recommend getting the 3rd thickness if you want the perfect balance of chewiness and texture without being too thin or too heavy. |
2. Chez Chili
Media credits: chezchili_mtl
Address: 1050b Clark St
Contact details: +1 514-904-1767
Operating hours:
- Monday to Tuesday: 11 AM – 10 PM
- Wednesday: 11 AM – 9:30 PM
- Thursday to Sunday: 11 AM – 10 PM
Price: $$
Chez Chili stands out as a top spot for authentic Sichuan and regional Chinese cuisine. It’s downstairs from street level, so it’s a bit hidden, but that adds to the charm.
Their menu offers a great mix of dishes. The highlights include General Tao chicken, twice-cooked pork, Hunan-style beef, and house eggplant.
Personally, we loved the General Tao chicken. It’s crispy and flavourful without being too sweet, but it could benefit from more vegetables on the side to make the meal feel more balanced.
We’ve been here a couple of times, and it’s always busy. Despite this, the staff are super efficient. Even with limited seating, we never had to wait long, and the service is friendly and attentive.
| Pro tip: The basement setup has small tables and limited space. We recommend going in small groups of 2 to 4 people so you can have a smoother experience. |
3. Restaurant Rizière
Media credits: memory_lifeshoot, whatsupquebec and restaurant_riziere
Address: 4495 St Laurent Blvd
Contact details: +1 514-842-5518
Operating hours:
- Monday: 11 AM – 3:30 PM, 4:30 PM – 9 PM
- Tuesday: 4:30 PM – 9 PM
- Wednesday to Friday: 11 AM – 3:30 PM, 4:30 PM – 9 PM
- Saturday: 2 PM – 9 PM
- Sunday: Closed
Price: $$
Restaurant Rizière is a bright and casual restaurant, so it’s perfect for hanging out with friends or even making new ones at the long communal tables. We loved how you can also watch the chefs do their magic in the open kitchen.
The dumplings with their Sichuan sauce are tender, tasty, and basically little flavour bombs. The dandan noodles come with a creamy broth. The black bean noodles are rich, chewy, and super satisfying.
For vegetarians, they also have dishes for you, like chow mein or the tofu done three ways.
Service is friendly and multilingual, so you can ask the staff about the dishes you want to try. We noticed they’re always happy to help their customers.
| Pro tip: If you want a visually stunning dish, try ordering the torched salmon rice. The salmon arrives lightly seared with a smoky aroma that makes the presentation so nice. It’s a perfect photo before you dig in. |
4. Cuisine AuntDai
Media credits: auntdai
Address: 1448 St Mathieu St
Contact details: +1 514-935-1067
Operating hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 11 AM – 3 PM, 4 PM – 10 PM
Price: $$
Cuisine Auntdie is like walking into someone’s cosy living room with a twist. It has two floors of seating, a tatami lounge if you feel like ditching the chairs, and even a “Sky-Table” under a skylight.
We found the guo bao rou (fried pork) our favourite on their menu. Everyone loves it, and apparently, some people go back just for it. The coating is crispy but has that mochi-like chewiness underneath, and the sauce hits that sweet and sour balance.
The braised pork belly with sweet potato noodles also gets lots of love, though some of us joked we wanted more noodles to go with the mountain of meat.
Prices are super reasonable. We’re talking $5 to $7 cheaper per dish than most other places, plus rice for only $1.50. Considering the portion sizes, it’s a win for us.
| Pro tip: If you want some variety, try the Sichuan spicy pot. It has veggies, seafood, and spam, all in a fragrant mala sauce. It’s perfect if you can’t decide on just one dish. |
5. Restaurant Dobe & Andy
Media credits: dobeandandy
Address: 1071 Rue Saint-Urbain R-12
Contact details: +1 514-861-9958
Operating hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday to Thursday: 11 AM – 8 PM
- Friday to Saturday: 11 AM – 10 PM
- Sunday: 11 AM – 9 PM
Price: $$
Restaurant Dobe & Andy has only been around since 2019, but it feels like it’s always been part of the neighbourhood. It’s a 90-seat spot with a straightforward dining room. If you want a Hong Kong-style BBQ fix that feels authentic, you’re in the right spot.
The menu revolves around classic Cantonese BBQ meats—crispy roast pork, soy chicken, char siu, and roast duck. The roast pork got that crunchy skin, but very soft inside. The duck is popular too, though it tends to be salty sometimes.
The meats are the headliners, but don’t ignore some of their other dishes. The curry-braised beef is tender and different enough to break up BBQ overload. If you want something fresh, we loved how the pok choy (stirred vegetables) isn’t drowned in oil.
| Pro tip: Go for the combo plates if you want the best way to sample roast pork, char siu, and duck. Each platter comes with rice and veg, which makes it a complete meal and arguably the best bang for your buck in the $7 to $17 range. |
6. Liuyishou Fondue / Liuyishou Hotpot Montreal
Media credits: liuyishou.montreal
Address: 1224 Crescent St
Contact details: +1 514-861-1322
Operating hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 11:30 AM – 12 AM
Price: $$
Liuyushou is one of the go-to spots for an authentic Chinese hotspot in the city. It blends tradition with a modern, playful twist. Wait until you see the cat robots delivering your plates while you cook fresh meats, seafood, and vegetables right at your table.
We couldn’t stop raving about the broth options. There are more than ten: fiery Sichuan classics, sweet-salty Japanese Sukiyaki, Malaysian Laksa, and more. Each of us seems to have a favourite, and you can even split the pot into two flavours.
The pricing structure can feel like a math problem. It’s a flat fee per person for the all-you-can-eat part, but you can also pay extra for the broth base (and more if you want a split pot).
The vibe is definitely geared towards groups since the tables are set up for sharing. The restaurant does get busy quickly, so arriving near opening time is a smart move.
| Pro tip: Take advantage of the sauce station, and don’t just stick to soy sauce and sesame. Try mixing garlic, cilantro, chilli oil, and sesame paste for a classic Chinese-style dip. |
7. Qing Hua Dumpling – Chinatown
Media credits: qinghuadumplings
Address: 1019 St Laurent Blvd
Contact details: +1 514-903-9887
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 11 AM – 9:30 PM
- Friday to Saturday: 11 AM – 10 PM
- Sunday: 11 AM – 9:30 PM
Price: $
Qing Hua Dumpling is the mothership, calling all dumpling lovers home. With two locations (Chinatown and Ville-Marie), you basically don’t have an excuse to miss it.
They have a lot of varieties for their dumplings, but there are also other dishes to try. Between the traditional jiaozi, soup-filled xiaolongbao, and even pan-fried buns, there’s something for almost every palate.
While the classics shine, not everything hits the same high note. We found the Chef’s Special dumplings underwhelming compared to the more traditional offerings. But the option to order dumplings steamed, pan-fried, or half-and-half adds some flexibility.
Each dumpling order comes in 10 pieces, so pace yourself. It’s easy to over-order, so the best move? Come with friends, share multiple fillings, and swap plates around.
| Pro tip: For just 50 cents extra, you can order a plate half steamed, half fried. It’s a perfect solution for indecisive eaters or first-timers. |
8. Fung Shing Chinese Restaurant
Media credits: elisebgravel
Address: 1102 St Laurent Blvd
Contact details: +1 514-866-0469
Operating hours:
- Monday: 12 PM – 9 PM
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday to Sunday: 12 PM – 9 PM
Price: $$
Fung Shing Chinese Restaurant has been around since 1976. It’s been dishing out dim sum and Cantonese-Shichuan comfort food since before most of us were even born.
The vibe here is retro cosy with its 70s wood panelling, double swinging kitchen doors, and that old-school charm that feels like family dinners from decades past.
They have an impressive range of dishes, with portions that lean on the generous side. Our group couldn’t stop praising the Hunan dumplings, shrimp and pork wontons, and spring rolls for their freshness and depth of flavour.
We also loved how they served green tea right away, no questions asked. The cooking style also gets bonus points. It’s light on salt and heavy-handed spices; it tastes closer to home-style Chinese food rather than something watered down for tourists.
| Pro tip: If you’re into seafood, the mixed seafood hot pot or a whole lobster with garlic Chinese broccoli is amazing. The lobster portions are huge, and you’ll probably need someone to help finish them. |
9. Kan Bei 川月
Media credits: official_kanbei
Address: 1228 Stanley St
Contact details: +1 514-871-8778
Operating hours:
- Monday to Saturday: 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM
- Sunday: 1:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Price: $$
What makes Kan Bei so interesting is how it walks the line between authenticity and adaptation. The menu has an impressive range, from Sichuan and Hunan specialities and the more delicate, nuanced flavours of Cantonese cuisine.
We specifically loved their pork belly cold rolls, roast duck, and La Zi Ji (spicy fried chicken). What’s interesting is that they offer their La Zi Ji in two versions: one with bones and one without. The boneless version is easier to eat but less authentic.
Prices are fair, the portions are good, and the restaurant itself is clean and cosy. The area around it can feel a bit quiet at night, but inside, it feels warm and inviting.
| Pro tip:They sometimes tone some of their dishes down for non-Asian diners. Just ask for the full spice if you’d like it authentic. |
