Coq au Miel is bringing some of the best local examples of this beloved street food snack to the West Island. Their crispy Korean-style corn dogs, commonly called kogos, 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 is slowly becoming a go-to dining destination in its own right thanks to many of its low-key neighbourhood eateries, and Bol Orange is a fan favourite for Korean food. Deopbap (a variation of bibimbap), japchae, galbi (grilled short ribs), and kimbap rolls all are on the menu, which includes a few Japanese options.

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

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

The charming and affordable Le Petit Seoul has done quite well for itself since opening in the Mile End in 2018 thanks to steerage by owners Jonathan Lee, originally from Seoul, and Kang Joong Lee, alongside chefs Hey Jung Sim (Jonathan Lee’s wife), and Young Mi Kwon. Among its recommended dishes are brothy noodles, the tartare-like yukhoe, and the seafood pancake.

Shaughnessy Village suffered a significant blow when student favourite Ganadara closed in 2020, but luckily sister joint Bar Ganadara, which opened in 2017, is still going strong with a new Ganadara address in La Petite-Patrie. The food here is a mix of both traditional Korean and contemporary fusion dishes, with a focus on small plates, dupbap, udon, sashimi and a local Korean-fusion favourite of poutine.

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.

After closing their restaurant in 2018, Atti’s owners turned their focus on their takeout counters — and anyone who works within walking distance of the underground malls where Atti Express’ three locations are based should be glad they did. A far better lunch option than the ubiquitous downtown food courts, Atti has all the classics at a great price (like $10 bibimbap and japchae).

Another standout Korean fried chicken joint, 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 at two locations in Verdun and Monkland Village.

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.

Chefs Jongwook Lee and WonGoo Joun’s Saint-Henri restaurant breaks away from the mold many of Montreal’s Korean restaurants fall into by combining Korean cuisine with techniques and inspirations from the chefs’ tenures at local restaurants. Find curated wine lists alongside dishes like a koji-marinated tonkatsu with lemon salt, gyeranjjim (Korean steamed eggs served with a nori-anchovy broth), and traditional salt-cured, charcoal-grilled sea bass.

Located near McGill University, this small mom-and-pop restaurant caters to the students crowd by keeping its menu of dishes like tteokbokki, kimchi pajeon, and japchae affordable. They’re also known to cook up a couple of Japanese plates, too, like takoyaki.

This Côte-des-Neiges restaurant defied the odds by opening in 2020 and surviving since, all thanks to their selection of fried chicken, sizzling plates of bulgogi, stews, noodle dishes, and lunch specials that go for a song.

An offshoot of a Toronto-based chain, Daldongnae’s Korean barbecue has quickly curried favour from locals. Alongside pork, vegetables and beef to cook up, the menu offers options like haemul pajeon, a fried pancake filled with greens and seafood, as well as bulgogi. It’s not all-you-can-eat like other options in town, however, so choose wisely while dining.

Open for over two decades, Hwang Kum remains one of Montreal’s stalwart Korean restaurants of its unofficial K-Town, NDG. Owners Jun Beom Lim and chef Young Ui Hong will whip up a lot of staples commonly found around town like galbi beef ribs, kimchi jjiage soup, japchae, haemul pajeon seafood pancakes, and some of the best bibimbap in town.