Newcomer Coq au Miel is bringing some of the best local examples of this beloved street food snack to the West Island. Coq au Miel’s crispy Korean-style corn dogs are stuffed with cheese (mozzarella or cheddar) or sausage (or both); stick with the basics or try the squid ink or potato versions (the latter is covered in small potato cubes). As the restaurant’s name suggests, Coq au Miel also specializes in chicken, including wings and popcorn chicken.

Ville-Saint-Laurent may not be a go-to dining destination, but it’s replete with a sturdy number of low-key neighbourhood eateries, and for Korean food, Bol Orange is a fan favourite. Deopbap (a variation of bibimbap), japchae, galbi (grilled short ribs) and kimbap rolls all feature on the menu, which includes a few Japanese options.

There’s no shortage of options at the various locations of Mon Ami, giant of the local Korean food scene. Known for its Korean fried chicken, the chain also serves up a number of other Korean classics, and two of its locations — one downtown, the other in Saint-Laurent — specialize in Korean barbecue. The restaurant is expanding across the city at a rapid pace, with four fast food counters now among its offerings.

On the east side of Côte-des-Neiges, chef Marie Kim of Incheon is crafting both new and classic Korean dishes. That means options like hot stone dolsot bibimbap and jeon appear alongside a kimchi-bulgogi burger and K-tacos made with a kimchi salsa.

Now located in Lasalle, BYOW resto La Maison De Seoul is a great bet for sizzling dolsot bibimbap and Korean fried chicken, and has also begun incorporating more trendy, street food-inspired items (like kogos—Korean pogos) and Canadianified takes on Korean flavour (ahem, kimchi poutine).

Montreal has several all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ joints, and Shaughnessy Village’s SamCha is one of the best. At $25 per person, it’s a great value, too; the all-you-can-eat option includes soup, salad and rice, four meats, two sides, veggies and dessert.  SamCha is especially great for those who are eager to engage in some tabletop barbecuing, but the menu is chock-full of other Korean fare if you’re not into cooking your own dinner.

Shaughnessy Village suffered a great blow when student favourite Ganadara closed in 2020, but luckily sister joint Bar Ganadara, which opened in 2017, is still going strong. Don’t let the “bar” in the name fool you; the food — a mix of both traditional Korean and contemporary fusion dishes, with a focus on small plates, dupbap, udon, sashimi and local Korean-fusion favourite, poutine — is far from an afterthought. 

Unceremoniously hidden in a downtown basement (right alongside another hidden gem, Super Sandwich), Opiano’s vast menu covers a range of classics, including bibimbap, japchae, kimbap, mandu (Korean dumplings) and more. Warming pork bone soup (bbyeo haejangguk) is but one highlight.

Now located in the Quartier des Arts, Omma is a perfect date night or pre-show option, serving up a well-rounded menu replete with soups, curries, and salads.

Another standout Korean fried chicken joint, Verdun’s Comon offers half and whole orders of fried chicken with a variety of flavour options and toppings, plus a number of other apps, sides and Korean staples.

The japchae (stir-fried sweet potato noodles) and just-greasy-enough dumplings are some of the hot items at Chinatown’s Chez Bong, an institution in the local Korean food scene. The restaurant’s namesake owner, Madame Bong, opened Montreal’s first Korean spot along with her husband in the late 80s, and has been running Chez Bong since 2003.