The upside of having a Chinese friend is that you can beg him about bringing you to Chinatown and revealing all the must-go-to-places you would never otherwise know about simply because you're not Chinese. The kind of place where the menu is in Mandarin and the clientele is mainly Asian. The kind of place that is so hidden in Chinatown, I feel like a tourist when I go there.
That's where my friend Chiyu brought me on Thursday: Mon Nan.
Mon Nan is the place to go when you want a good Pekin Duck. When we arrived, Chiyu mumbled something in Mandarin to the waiter, and moments later I was sipping my duck tofu soup. Chiyu explained to me that the duck should be dipped into the plum sauce and with some green onions, rolled into a crepe. Again, had I not been there with Chiyu, I would have finished my crispy duck with a fork, curiously glanced at the crepes and onions (marinated or not) and went on with it. We also ordered Udon noodles. Now I know that the large noodles that I love so much are called Udon. And when the bill arrived, I couldn't believe it. Really cheap.
After the supper, Chiyu had the kindness of walking me through Chinatown, revealing more hidden treasures. Here's a list:
- Sumo Ramen 1007 St-Laurent for cheap japanese noodles
- Kagayaki 75 De La Gauchetiere O. for japanese fondue
- Mongolian Hot Pot for ... go check it out. I went inside and it smells so great. You cook the food yourself. I'm eager to go there!
- La Maison Kam Fung for dim sum in the morning and asian supper. This place is complicated to find. So much that Chiyu walked me there, and I raised an eyebrow when I saw that the dining room is huge... and there was a line-up. Needless to say, I'm going there soon.
- Not in Chinatown BUT Akiko sushi on 5701Côte-Des-Neiges
- Hwang Kum 5908 Sherbrooke Ouest for fine Korean cuisine
Also, if you go to these spots, or have already went, PLEASE REPORT. Comment. I'm dying to hear what you have to say.
