Where to go in Chinatown? (Part 1)

People often ask me for suggestions as to where to go in Chinatown because of my heritage. I never know where to begin because depending on what you feel like doing or eating there are many places to visit. In this first entry, I've compiled a list of some of my favorite spots in Chinatown...with more to come in subsequent postings! 

Dim Sum: 
Dim Sum is a Cantonese style brunch in which dishes are presented to you in little carts pushed by the waiters. It's basically the equivalent of a buffet because you can see the food before you choose it, but in this case, the buffet is brought to you! Each table has a card and as you order your dishes, the waiter marks the cost of your choice on your tab. At the end, the tab is added up to calculate your bill. The dishes consist mainly of different bite-sized foods, such as dumplings and rolls, and each portion serves approximately four people. 

Kam Fung on St-Urbain street is definitely the place to go for Dim Sum, and it serves it everyday of the week until 3 pm. On any day, expect a lot of people if you arrive around noon; the best time to arrive is around 11:30 am, or perhaps around 1:30 pm. Seafood is prominent during dim sum, especially shrimps, so be prepared to find them in many dishes.

I highly recommend many dishes at Kam Fung including the broad rice noodles with shrimp, the spring rolls, the soya sauce sesame noodles, the fried shrimp dumplings, the seafood rolls...The list just keeps going! Here are two examples of great dishes:

Steamed shrimp dumplings (called Ha gao):

Ha gao are steamed shrimp dumplings with a see-through dough. Traditionally, ha gao is considered to be the dish that is representative of the dim sum chef's skills. The shrimp should be plump and juicy and the wrapping tender. Ha gao can be eaten alone, but I usually like them with a little dip in sauce - worchestershire or soya.   

Eggplant stuffed with shrimp, or green pepper stuffed with shrimp in black bean sauce:

This is another one of my favorite dishes. When done successfully, the eggplant should be juicy, yet sweet and the shrimps flavorful.

For dessert, many sweets are available, but my all time favorites are the custard egg tarts (called Dan Ta). They have a flaky crust and a creamy sweet filling. They truly are the perfect end to the meal.
 
Finally, as a side note, I highly recommend drinking tea during the meal (and during all Chinese meals for that matter). Keep in mind that the meals were designed with tea as a beverage, and therefore the drinking of tea really complements the dishes, and will help your digestion.

Approximate cost for two people: $30
http://www.restaurantlamaisonkamfung.com/


Chinese meal:
Another one of my favorite places to go in Chinatown is Hong Kong restaurant on St-Laurent boulevard.  Many of their dishes are incredible here. The dishes I regularly order are:

- Shrimp wonton soup: Delicious cantonese style wonton, with a thin skin and a really flavorful broth.

- Barbecue pork and roast duck appetizer platter: Hong Kong specializes in Chinese barbecue style roasting, and on their left hand side entrance, you can see the meats hanging in the window. The Chinese style barbecue pork (called Char Siu, pronounced Tsa Siu) is really their trademark and I highly recommend it. On the appetizer platter, I also like the roast duck, as well as the pickled vegetables which really accompany the meats perfectly with their sweet-sour flavor.

- Salt and pepper squid, shrimps or pork chops : "Salt and pepper" dishes all consist of some meat or seafood battered and fried in the same spicy seasoning. It's crunchy, it's spicy and it's delicious! Don't forget to eat the spicy red and green peppers and onions in the dish.

- General Tao chicken (or Ginger chicken) : They make an excellent General Tao chicken here. The sauce is perfectly sweet and the chicken pieces are juicy and crunchy.

- House special fried rice: Their fried rice is the best in town. The rice itself is so tasty, and all the ingredients - shrimps, pork, peas and carrots - are cooked to perfection.  A must order!

Approximate cost for two people (with leftovers): $40

Restaurant Hong Kong
1023 St Laurent
Montreal, QC H2Z 1J4