kwy_li's Profile
Overnight Tokyo stopover in late May - Any suggestions?
Hi Chowhounders!
I have an overnight layover from Hong Kong to Montreal this coming May; specifically, I will be arriving in Haneda Airport late evening and scheduled for departure in Narita Airport at 11:00 the following morning. It's been over 10 years since I paid a visit to Tokyo, so I'd love any ideas to maximize my very-short time there.
Cheap eats and holes-in-the-wall that are much loved by appreciated, particularly if they include kushiyaki. Any joints near route between Tokyo Central and Nippori stations, though if I can be swayed with a decent hotel in Shibuya and decent transport to Narita, I'd be up for that too. Thanks!
Soft Shell Crab
I've had the soft shell crab appetizer twice at Yasu Sushi - where the entire crab cost $10 - and it was gigantic, fresh-tasting, and divine...best I've had in a Japanese restaurant thus far.
I've yet to have them with salt and pepper in Chinatown; it's usually not in the English menu and written in Chinese so all you have to do is ask the waiters. A review would be nice. :)
Map of Great PHO (Vietnamese soup) joints in Montreal
Our teacher took us to Hoài Hương once.
For their prices, portions are HUGE. They have a good variety of dishes outside the pho/bun/com domain.
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Restaurant Hoai Huong
5485 Av Victoria, Montreal, QC H3W2P9, CA
Just Good Sushi Please.
I second SnackHappy - agedashi is served at most non-fast-food sushi joints. The freshest silkiest tofu I've had was at Takara at Cours Mt-Royal, but it was not nearly as good the second time around.
While I'm still looking in vain for authenticity, I like Oishii Sushi on Bernard and Parc for creativity. And their agedashi tofu is not bad at all. Isakaya on Parc (just north of Sherbrooke) probably serves the most authentic stuff - with the freshest mackerel carpaccio in January - but you'd have to ask for the Japanese menu.
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Oishii Sushi
277 Rue Bernard W, Montreal, QC H2V1T5, CA
Need Montreal recommendations - researched!!
If you want good coffee (OR tea!) and don't want to leave downtown, go to Cafe Myriade. I think the owner placed second in the International Barista competition last year, and the velvety texture of their latte says it all.
Need Montreal recommendations - researched!!
> Any recommendations for places open past 12:00AM?
If you need to stay in downtown after midnight, go to Al Taib (on Guy); better yet is Boustan (on Bishop) - their chicken or veggie pitas are awesome.
If you don't mind the short travel, head to The Main (St-Laurent, north of Pine). Their matzoh ball soup undoubtedly beats Dunn's, their smoked meat is peppery and arguably better than Schwartz's, coleslaw's got a nice garlic kick; they've got borscht, blintzes, the list keeps going....
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Al Taib
2125 Rue Guy, Montreal, QC H3H2L9, CA
Looking for chucharron in Montreal!
My bf and I just watched the Mexican episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations and it took me back to the lip-smacking days of street food in Mexico City. One of my fondest memories was chucharron. Does anyone know of any restaurants that make it?
"Raw Deal" report on Sushi
I agree with Cass' comment on culinary pedigree being about training and not nationality, with all these sushi places popping up left and right - some of which are owned by restaurateurs with their mind on profits over quality, it's hard to trust which kitchen has got the credentials. My gut is always to go towards people who have long- and well-established careers in Japanese food preparation, and in Montreal, if one's worked in a Japanese restaurant kitchen for over 20 years, one's likely Japanese.
That being said, has anyone recently tried Takara (top floor of the mall in Cours Mt-Royal) and Isakaya (Parc btw Milton and Sherbrooke)? It's been a while, but I always found their quality to be fresh and their skills authentic.
New: The Sparrow
My bf and I visited Sparrow in October specifically for the scones, when our waitress told us that they don't make them anymore. :(
She also said that they update their menu every month and may reinstate the scones. Has anyone had some recently?
Montreal Restaurant Guide online?
Midnight Poutine: www.midnightpoutine.ca/food
restomontreal.com
best $10.....
I'd probably stay in Mile-End forever...wait, I already do:
Jardin de Cari - Guyanese food on St-Viateur off Clark
Milani - cheap, homey Vietnamese food on Bernard and Jeanne Mance
Curry House on Jean talon (I prefer Royal Cari on St-Laurent but the restaurant is no longer - RIP)
Cuisine Bangkok and Nouilles WonTon (they've got Chinese seaweed soup!) at the top floor of the Faubourg
Brunch at Croissanterie Figaro - Hutchison and Fairmount
More to come.....
Délices de l'Ile Maurice
Let me just begin by saying that prior to my first trip last year, my boyfriend went with four of his guy friends and had a blast (they even wrote a song about their adventure!), so I was psyched to check this place out.
After waiting for a table for 25 minutes outside in the spring thaw, we finally got a table for six. He came to our table, in a ripped and grease-drenched t-shirt, and took our order. I, being the adventurous one, ordered pork tongue. He scoffed at my asking him which of the 6 sauces he'd recommend with it. He doesn't skimp on quantity (we were stuffed by the second round of appetizers), but I can't say the same on quality - details later on.
By 11:30pm, with three tables of guests, he brought out his prized "poison", but instead of a hockey game, he turned on the Bleu Nuit channel. He slumped on a chair with his poison and watched soft porn. I kid you not.
Right before we left, he asked me some question about dating and marrying my non-Asian boyfriend and when I even dared to smirk an answer, he hushed me with: "I like my women quiet. You talk too much."
Details about my meal: Before you judge me on the insanity of ordering tongue, I grew up with braised tongue with Shiitake mushroom as my grandma's speciality. The texture of the meat at Sylvester's was way too soft (more mush than bite is not a good sign) to be fresh. Needless to say, I was up all night in the bathroom.
I am not one to be easily offended, but the man is piggish and chauvinistic. A warning to women or anyone who doesn't want to be abused by the host.
Moroccan
My bf and I second the veggie plate - it was the best plate at the best price at $6. The appetizer kefta was not as spicy as I'd like but had good texture.
I wouldn't order their veggie couscous next time and instead, order a tangine.
The owner was indeed very friendly and assured us that we'd be back again. I am ashamed to say that we haven't yet returned...too many restaurants! :(
What's the best place for breakfast in Montreal
I'm surprised that no one's mentioned La Petite Marche on St-Denis below Laurier. They've got the brunch-conventional and non-conventional dishes (apple-cheddar or orange-ricotta crepes) at huge portions and good prices. Service is okay.
Of all the stores that sell bbq duck in Chinatown, which one is the tastiest?
I think the stewy tripe you're referring to is fat brisket and tendon - not too foreign relative to actual tripe...! :)
Lunch Downtown with picky guests
Would plain things include Chinatown? Kam Fung seems a pretty safe bet.
Of all the stores that sell bbq duck in Chinatown, which one is the tastiest?
If I'm not mistaken, it's called Lam Kee.
Any good cheap Indian restaurant?
Indian Curry House for the best bang for your buck - hands down: Thalis at $7 ($6 for a veggie version) and it stuffs your face. LOTS of veggie and non-generic dishes:
http://restomontreal.ca/restaurants/index.php?section=viewresto&resto_id=928&show=main_menu&entry=a_menu_Maison_India.gif&id=0#viewpic
996 Jean-Talon W. - one block east of l'Acadie, one block north of l'Acadie metro.
chez mein - $2 chow mein in montreal
My bf had one with PB, I had one without. The noodles sans-PB was also sans salt, sans soy sauce, maybe a sprinkle of oil.
The one with PB was not too much better, also sans salt or soy sauce. At $2 with change, I can look for a Vietnamese submarine at Maison Thai.
Late-night specials?
I recently read that the famous(ly expensive) Milos on Park is offering a late-night set-dinner special for about $20 after 10pm. Lemeac has been offering that for years too.
Does anyone know of other upscale restaurants that are offering similar specials for the impoverished food lovers?
Best Chinese dumplings?
Every grocery market in Chinatown sells various brands of dumplings with all sorts of filling (unfortunately, only Sunrise brand sells a vegetarian variety and it's medicre at best). My fave brand is sold at the dried and frozen groceries store on Clark just south of de la Gauchetiere; I can't recall the name, but it has a picture of dumplings on the front. The skin is thin and the pork-mushroom stuffing is exquisite. This same store also used to sell frozen veggie-sticky rice in the weekends.
If you like to Korean variety, I like the kimchi flavour ones sold in the Korean grocery store on 6151 Sherbrooke West. There are definitely more vegetarian varieties there.
Montreal sushi?
When I first went to Oishii Sushi on Bernard (Mile End) a couple of years ago, I was greatly disappointed: despite innovative menu at very affordable prices, service was snail-pace and some of my friends got their main course before the rest of us received our appetizers. Many months later, I decided to give it another chance and to my surprise, the restaurant had changed ownership. It was a vast improvement - service was efficient, appetizers were fresh, sushi variety was innovative and vegetarian(!) friendly. I would steer away from the Thai stuff on their menu, though.
