Funky & Cool Japanese bistro/Izakaya in Montreal! Biiru is a nice Japanese bistro located downtown, on City Councillors Street, hidden in the shadow of St-James church, a few steps from Ste-Catherine Street. The chef is pleased to offer traditional and refined dishes; you will enjoy the tender and juicy pork chops, marinated in a caramelized sauce. They just melt in your mouth! The tempura vegetables, cooked to perfection, are irresistible. In short, the menu leaves you speechless as its specialties are one better than the other. You will also find a variety of delicious tapas, ideal for enjoying as appetizers! The friendly and courteous staff will be happy to welcome you and promise you an excellent Happy Hour with friends or colleagues. Enjoy tasty specialties at this lovely bistro, very appreciated by its customers!
Reviews paint Biiru as a lively, stylish izakaya in downtown Montreal with a warm, attentive staff and a vibrant, shareable menu that blends Japanese izakaya flavors with a touch of fusion. The food earns frequent praise for quality and variety, with standout dishes such as okonomiyaki, karaage, salmon tartare, gyoza, ribs and tataki noted for flavorful sauces and inventive twists. The service is repeatedly highlighted as friendly, capable and efficient, even on busy nights, though a few comments mention occasional pacing issues or variability. The terrace is a recurring favorite, described as cosy and well heated, offering a pleasant alternative to indoor dining. Some reviewers find portions small for the price and note that prices can be high, but many feel the overall experience, food, drinks, ambience and service, justifies the cost. There is a strong appeal to sampling a wide range of tapas style dishes, with reservations often recommended due to demand. A couple of notes mention the minor exclusion policy, suggesting booking communications could be clarified. Overall, Biiru is framed as a go to spot for fans of Japanese tapas with dependable quality and a friendly, lively vibe.
I went to Biiru during my trip to Montreal because my friend suggested the place. She's been there a couple of times before & liked the food so she wanted me to try it to while we're in town. It was a Thursday night & we tried to get a last minute reservation online but there's no table available for 7:30 pm on the system. But we did get lucky with walk-in though because they actually have a table available for us at the outdoor area.
We decided to order a bunch of dishes to share between the two of us & here are some of my favorites from our meal:
🍵 Matcha Matcha • 8/10
I ordered the Matcha Matcha mocktail. Nice matcha, not too strong, not too bitter, not too sweet. It has a nice earthy taste.
🍽? Korn Korokke • 7.5/10
The croquettes were nicely fried & the curry wasn't too strong.
🥟 Pork Gyoza • 8/10
Great pork gyoza. The gyoza skin wasn't too thick & the pork was flavorful.
🍽? Kaisen Don • 8/10
The Kaisen Don was pretty good. It tasted fresh & & light.
All & all, although I liked some of the dishes better than the others, the food overall was pretty good for a modern Japanese fusion izakaya spot. Service was great & the staff who waited our table was nice. The noise level at this place was pretty high since it is a drinking place.
If you're looking for a good Japanese fusion izakaya spot with great drinks menu & lively atmosphere in Montreal, this place is worth to try.
I've been to Biiru a few times now for both work dinners or out with friends. Every time has been an amazing experience. Staff is on point & actually takes the time to check in & make sure you're having a good experience. Food wise incredible especially for the price. Each dish has amazing sauces & is full of flavour & has some slight twist on traditional Japanese izakaya food.
Update:
Going back a year later, the food & service are just as good. Will helped us tonight & had strong recommendations, including the haru karaage, okonomiyaki, unagi skewers, pork ribs, salmon bonbons, & more. Amazing dinner.
Feb 3, 2026
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Très bon Izakaya, je recommande le menu dégustation à 45$ par personne pour 3 ou4 personnes, ça permet de faire un bon tour du menu, on a pu tester 12 items du menu :)
Mes plats préférés : saumon bonbon, beef tataki, okonomiyaki (plus plat & plus épicé que ceux du Japon), haru karaage, Unagi yakitori
J'ai bien aimé aussi : takoyaki, gyoza, pokuribu
Pas très fan : tarutaru, gyudon, gomae, dessert godzilla, ramen sarada
Cocktail : pas trop aimé
Hotei très bon, un peu sucré
Totoro : trop acide à mon goût
Cute izakaya spot downtown MTL. Terasse is very cute & not something you usually find downtown. Food is quite good, reasonably priced. Service varies a lot, but generally is kind of mid. Would still recommend tho for a smaller group.
This Izakaya doesn't serve Maki rolls. It serves bowls, appetizers & sharables. The food is really good, we specially liked the takoyaki. The service was friendly but they we had to remind the server of bringing some basics, like napkins & chopsticks, a couple of times.
Amazing food! Almost disappointed that we didn't go for the tasting menu, but nonetheless we left with happy taste buds & full belly! Definitely an underrated izakaya spot in the city
This Izakaya style restaurant has good atmosphere with lively mood. We stopped by to have a dinner, they served tapas style, small dishes. Compared to the price tag, I would say it was a bit overpriced & the quality of the food was just meh.
Jun 21, 2025
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Great izakaya in downtown montreal, most of the dishes are fairly prices. Super cozy atmosphere with a nice covered terrace that is warmed up when it's colder outside.
We've been looking for an Izakaya to go for a while Biiru was a great surprise! We made a reservation & we got the table at the terrace. The decoration is super nice, the staff are friendly & we had such a good time there!
The dishes were delicious, specially the Okonomiyaki (10/10) & the Beef Tataki (10/10).
We'll definitely be coming back!
Such a fun little tucked away izakaya right in downtown Montreal. Highly recommend the food & drinks both, & the service was great.
Karaage was delicious !
Mar 2, 2025
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J'ai trouvé mon izakaya à Montréal! Service professionnel, attentionné, rapide & super sympathique! Ambiance & décor stimulants! Clientèle qui a une bonne "vibe"! Terrasse à l'ombre d'un grand arbre & agrémentée par des lanternes japonaises! 5 étoiles bien méritées.
This Izakaya offers delicious food but comes at a higher price. The atmosphere is lively but can be cramped & noisy. Recommended for those seeking tasty Japanese cuisine in a bustling setting, despite the cost & noise level.
Apr 14, 2024
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A bit hard to find but a cool izakaya tucked away. All the staff, including my waiter Fred was attentive & friendly. He explained the menu & the dining style well - recommendations (gyoza, caramelized salmon) were great & food came out quickly
Un excellent Izakaya, parfait pour manger avant un spectacle à la Place des Arts! Une mention spéciale pour le service, attentif & souriant, ils nous ont accommodés alors que nous nous étions trompées dans notre réservation.
Je suis allez visiter ce nouveau izakaya ,j'ai eu un peu de la misère a le trouver mais une fois trouver ça vallait la peine!! le design est très sympa avec plusieur détaille, j'ai essayer les ribs vraiment délicieux , en plus je suis un gros fan des ribs Bravo!!! le karage & le okonomiyaki etait super bon aussi!!
