Shiny Pan-Asian Comptoir Maneki Touches Down in Hochelaga

The East End has a new miscellaneous east Asian dining option, in the form of Maneki Comptoir Asiat’. Not quite a restaurant — more of a casual comptoir-slash-take out spot, it opened up in recent days on Hochelaga, right near Préfontaine metro.

French-language food blog Tastet has many of the details: it comes from a group of four friends, Kevin Lee, Michael Chan, Mandy Zeng, and Michael Tran. Lee in particular has an industry background, with his father opening NDG Szechuan restaurant Fay Wong about 18 years ago, according to Tastet. Lee has worked at Fay Wong but hasn’t had the chance to shake things up there — it’s more of a classic, go-to Chinese restaurant/take out spot for that neighbourhood.

As such, Maneki is somewhat different, although it’s not running miles from Chinese restaurant standards — plates like General Tao, salt and pepper tofu, and crispy sesame beef all fit squarely within the oeuvre of North Americanized Chinese eats. But there are Thai and Vietnamese-leaning options such as grill plates, Tom Yum soup and Pad Thai (dubbed Pad Homa by Maneki). It’s all rather affordable, with prices maxing out around $11. Check out the full menu (in French) below.

As for the space — well, it’s not your old school Chinese resto. A bright space with plenty of white tiles, and minimalist wood-topped tables and stools adorn the restaurant, with an Yves Klein style blue-tinged-purple colour scheme throughout.

Maneki Comptoir Asiat’

STATUS — Maneki Comptoir Asiat’ is open at 3121 Hochelaga Street, for eating in, take-out and delivery. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. weekends.

• Maneki Comptoir Asiat’ [Facebook]
• Maneki Comptoir Asiat’: Manger Asiatique 2.0 Dans Hochelaga [Tastet]