We’re going to start 2023 with a bang. Literally. A meal at this place felt like a straight body-shot to the gut. You may not know it but not only does Montreal have great Chinese restaurants, but we are home to restaurants that represent the various regional cuisines of China – as per my article for Tourism Montreal. The majority of restaurants in the city serve Cantonese cuisine- fried noodles, sweet and sour deep this and thats, rice dishes, sizzling platters, dumplings. It’s once you get into regional specialties can you tell the difference. The spices, the techniques, the ingredients. The regional cuisine that stands out is Szechuan. I recently discovered the small Szechuan restaurant – Mala Express – in one of the most obvious neighbourhoods in the city… Kirkland.
Kirkland
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; K.F.C. is better than K.F.C… wait, what? You heard me, Korean Fried Chicken is better than K.F.C. Wherever it is in Montreal, I’ve had it. From my current favourite and gold standard Comon in Verdun, to the OG chicken spots Dawa and Mon Ami in NDG or Hoya in the Plateau and the new comers Olivia’s and Matjip, I’ve gone in deep. I think I’ve eaten my weight in Korean fried chicken in Montreal, all 185 pounds. Stop laughing. So you know I had to investigate when I got word that there was a new spot in the West Island for KFC. How could I say no? I had to. It’s my duty, for science… and safety. This week I visited Corrilla in Kirkland.
What are some of your food goals? Some people might strive to bake the perfect cake or want travel the world to eat at a Michelin starred restaurants. Others may want to compete and crush 74 hot dogs in 10 minutes or try and have their bodies process dairy without fireworks and regret. Mine are pretty simple. One was to try and find the best pho in Montreal and more recently, to eat at all the dumpling restaurants in the Westisland. Seems so funny to be saying that, as if there are options in the west, but there are! I checked out this new spot called Dumpling King to add to the list!