Mon Nan:

The Hunt Is Over

Saturday, February 14, 2015 514eats

RESTAURANT ASIAN CHINESE CHINATOWN MODERATE <$40

Disclaimer: By no design of ours, the owner of Mon Nan was informed of our visit via a common friend. While we didn't discern any special treatment and paid our bill in full, we feel it necessary to divulge this detail.

The Pitch

Chinatown is a tough cookie for us; although we love Chinese food, our frame of reference was the American variation we grew up eating in the Middle East. With so many options in the area, we never knew where to go for a good, authentic meal; the disappointments were frequent and the gems rare. That all changed when we heeded the call of the aforementioned friend and hit up Mon Nan (twice actually).

The Mood

Mood image

This multi-generational family outfit lies on the eastern edge of Chinatown on Rue Saint-Dominique, making it easy to miss. The spacious, largely nondescript dining room drew a mixed Valentine's Day crowd of couples, families and a few sketchy people. One can only imagine the 4AM lot (yes, they're open that late)�

tagged: BRING THE FAMILY

The Food

Renowned for its dumplings and Peking duck, Mon Nan also prides itself for serving fresh seafood of all sorts: lobster, crab, oysters, razor clams� you name it, they have it. We quickly ordered a couple dishes that wowed us on our first visit, and burdened the owner (Joe) with the onus of suggesting the rest from the long menu (200+ items, in typical Chinatown style!).

Starter

$12.95

Tom Yum

"Thai style spicy soup with shrimps". Yields three bowls, as pictured. Hot, sour and comforting; way to go on a cold winter night. Add those jumbo shrimps for the win!

Wor Tip Shrimps on Toast thumbnail (click to enlarge)

Starter

$12.95

Wor Tip Shrimps on Toast

"8 shrimps". Oily as hell, but you won't hear us complain. Tensions may flare if someone at your table gets fewer of these than the rest; you've been warned!

Salt & Pepper Spicy Seafood thumbnail (click to enlarge)

Main

$16.95

Salt & Pepper Spicy Seafood

"shrimp, squid & scallop". This dish is an absolute must; battered, deep fried seafood goodness. What an awesome combination of sweet, salty, spicy and tangy flavours.

Spicy Honey Beef thumbnail (click to enlarge)

Main

$11.95

Spicy Honey Beef

The beef strips were sweet and sticky as expected, but lacked in heat and were more chewy than crispy. This was just average compared to everything else we had.

Lobster with Ginger & Scallions thumbnail (click to enlarge)

Main

$20

Lobster with Ginger & Scallions

Chunks of lobster in-the-shell, stir-fried with ginger and scallions; simply wow! We enjoyed sucking on the battered shell just as much as devouring the meat inside.

Mushroom & Snow Pea Leaves Special thumbnail (click to enlarge)

Main

$23.95

Mushroom & Snow Pea Leaves Special

"shiitake & king oyster mushrooms". We had to round up our protein-heavy meal with some veggies. Add a truckload of mushrooms for that burst of umami; score!

tagged: YOU MAKE ALL THIS?

The Verdict

How often do you obsess over a dining experience? Since leaving Mon Nan, we've been thinking and talking about it incessantly. Its excellent, family-style "soul" food earns it a spot on our current crush list. While we can't claim this is THE best restaurant in Chinatown, one thing is certain; we now have a go-to spot in the neighborhood. Our hunt is finally over (for now).

tagged: SOLID

Price per person: $27.93