Sunday was made for a big round table, a lazy Susan and too many plates to share. Montreal’s Chinese food scene runs from decades-old Chinatown institutions to young chefs blending Chinese cooking with Quebec ingredients. To find the best Chinese restaurants in Montreal, we went through Tastet’s Chinese restaurant list, updated in July, and picked ten tables beyond the dumpling specialists (we covered those separately).
A quick guide to regional styles
- Cantonese: the southern style behind dim sum, Hong Kong barbecue and many seafood dishes. Think delicate flavours and crisp-skinned roast meats.
- Sichuan: bold, spicy and numbing, thanks to chili and Sichuan peppercorns.
- Lanzhou: famous for noodles stretched by hand to order and served in a clear beef broth.
- Modern Chinese: young chefs mixing traditional recipes with local ingredients and techniques from other cuisines.
The best Chinese restaurants in Montreal: Chinatown classics
1. Kim Fung (dim sum)
In the heart of Chinatown at 1111 rue Saint-Urbain, Kim Fung serves some of Tastet’s favourite dim sum in the city, pushed to the tables on rolling carts in true tradition. After 11 a.m., you can also order soy sauce chow mein and very good rice noodles with XO sauce.
2. Mon Nan
A Chinatown pillar since 1982 at 43 rue de la Gauchetière Est, Mon Nan offers an impressive range of classic dishes: salt and pepper shrimp, a very good Peking duck with homemade pancakes and sautéed gai lan.
3. Dobe & Andy
A hidden treasure at 1071 rue Saint-Urbain, Dobe & Andy has been inspired by the best Hong Kong barbecue since it opened in March 2019. Order the crispy roast pork and the sweet chicken, and don’t miss the curry braised beef. Prices are very affordable for the portions.
4. Nouilles de Lan Zhou
The line that often spills onto the sidewalk at 1006 boulevard Saint-Laurent says it all. Lan Zhou makes noodles to order in several thicknesses; regulars go for the Lan Zhou beef noodle special in beef broth with thinly sliced beef.
5. Dynastie
Typical Cantonese food that transports you to Hong Kong at 107 rue Clark, and it’s open late: until 1:30 a.m. Sunday to Wednesday and 2:30 a.m. Thursday to Saturday. Try the wonton soup, shrimp dumplings, General Tao and yi mein noodles.
6. Keung Kee
Chinese and Cantonese specialties at 70 rue De la Gauchetière Ouest, open until 1 a.m. Seafood is the star: clams, lobster and scallops, in very generous portions.
The new wave
Beyond Chinatown, a newer generation of restaurants is reinventing what Chinese food looks like in Montreal, from chef-driven dining rooms in Mile End and La Petite-Patrie to late-night spots downtown that cater to students and night owls.
7. Oncle Lee (Mile End)
Young chef Anderson Lee, who trained at Cadet and Bouillon Bilk, combines Chinese cooking with Montreal’s vibrant food scene at 222 avenue Laurier Ouest. There’s also a more refined sibling, Oncle Lee Kăo, on McGill Street.
8. Chouchou (La Petite-Patrie)
At 201 rue Beaubien Est, Chouchou offers something still rare in Montreal: refined Chinese cuisine made with French techniques and Quebec ingredients, in delicate, carefully plated dishes.
9. Flamme du Sichuan (downtown)
Steps from Concordia on Bishop Street, this restaurant embraces authentic Sichuan cooking without toning down the heat. Dine under Chinese lanterns in a space inspired by bustling market alleys, minus the noise.
10. Petit Poisson Bistro (downtown)
From the team behind Petit Poisson Dumpling, this bistro at 1813 rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest serves sharing plates in a warm room with red lighting and lanterns, with sake, beer and wine. It’s open seven days and until 2 a.m. Thursday to Saturday.
Tastet also gives a special mention to Maison VIP on Clark Street in Chinatown.
Tips for your Chinese food Sunday
- For dim sum, go before noon on weekends to beat the line and get the best choice from the carts.
- Bring a group. Family-style ordering is half the fun.
- Many Chinatown spots are small; check hours and whether they take reservations.
- Make an afternoon of it with a walk through Chinatown after lunch.
Hungry for more? Explore our food hall guide, our smoked meat roundup, our best poutine picks and our Sunday brunch list. More in our Food section. Bon appétit!
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- This Week in Montreal (Nov. 9–15): Remembrance Day, the Christmas Market Opens and CINEMANIA’s Final Week
- Montreal Sports Week Ahead (Nov. 9–15): Wild and Avalanche at the Bell Centre, Then the Grey Cup
- Olympic Stadium Roof: Emergency Repairs, a Roof Assembled and a 2028 Finish Line
- More Montreal food on MTL365
Photo: Canmenwalker / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Sources: Tastet (best Chinese restaurants), Tastet (Kim Fung), Tastet (Mon Nan), Tastet (Dobe & Andy), Tastet (Lan Zhou), Tastet (Chouchou)
