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.
We were lucky to have a table without having a reservation. There were a lot of people which was great to see. It made the dining room so much more lively & enjoyable. The service was great, all the waitresses were friendly, respectful & also cheery. It was overall an amazing experience. I found the food had interesting combination of flavours. I can't say that the combination was particularly delicious, but it was definitely interesting, especially their watermelon dish. The fried chicken was good but wasn't as crispy as I would have hoped, the okonomiyaki was tasty as well & the corn was plain & flavourful. The mochi bacon had good flavours but I would have preferred it if the mochi was softer. This one was a bit tough & not as enjoyable.
The food has some really interesting flavours, the salmon bon bons & the watermelon salad were tasty. But the beef & cheese skewer was cold. Yes I ordered take out but I live 2 steps away so I ate the meal within minutes & the grilled beef was cold. Makes me wonder if they put less effort into take out meals. The restaurant is really nice though but for the price, the portion size is really small.
Sep 1, 2025
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Our first visit tothis restaurant, it was a great time. Our server Mike recommended the Sampler which consists of the chicken karage, salmon tarta, pork gyoza, fish with caramel, cold noodles topped with seaweed & to finish the pork ribs. All were super tasty & well presented. We also had the Yuzu beer absolutely delicious. Our server Mike is so pleasant & personable he made our meal very enjoyable. On our next visit to Montreal we will absolutely go again!
Juliana the assistant manager gave probably the best customer service i've had in 2 year of living in Montreal. The restaurant has great atmosphere & vibes. Quick service & tasty food.
Amazing place! Delicious authentic Japanese food. The Chinese brocoli with sesame paste was particularly tasty. Went there with my family to celebrate my dad's birthday & it was pouring outside. We wished to have a seat inside rather than on the covered terrace which was colder but they didn't have seats left. To apologize, the restaurant offered us sake & free dessert. The manager was super kind & attentive. She felt we were a bit disappointed & first & kept checking on us to see if she could make things more comfortable or enjoyable. Service was fast, & the lanterns & flame heater on the terrace were super cosy. Will go back!!
Sep 7, 2024
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had dinner here. The staff is friendly, the service is excellent, the atmosphere is unique, I liked it. The food here was nothing surprising, the peshmeshki were tasty, but let's be honest, they are tasty everywhere, the tartare & karagi are the most ordinary, so you get 4 of yours, maybe even with I'll come by in case, thanks ☺️
Wow! I knew the food would be tasty based on the reviews. When we walked in & saw the Pac-Man decor, I was even more excited. Then it became clear they were having a very busy night & there aren't that many servers per area. Our server, Mike, was incredible. Talk about someone who understands client services. He was clear from the start & went above & beyond to make the meal, which was my husband's birthday meal, one of the best ever. I can't overstate how much of a difference his kindness made. Without him, the food would have been awesome, but it would have been a four-star experience. He made it a 5 (or more). The food itself- pork ribs, salmon tartare, gyoza, mushroom pancake- all were memorable. It was all delicious. So thank you chefs for a perfect culinary experience & thank you Mike for making it possible for us to enjoy the food.
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.
Biiru is one of my favourite Japanese spots in Montreal. The service is top tier & the small dishes to share is perfect when going out with a group. Everything on the menu is super tasty & rightfully priced.
Mar 30, 2024
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Biiru has been one of my favourite spots to dine in Downtown Montreal for many years. I just went again this week with my girlfriend & the food, drinks & overall atmosphere were amazing as per usual. The prices are very fair & the food is served tapas style so it is easy to share. I love the ramen salade, candied salmon, the tartare & the many other tasty & unique dishes they have on their menu. Special thank you goes out to Mike & the rest of the incredible staff at Biiru for their amazing service. We will definitely be coming back soon! :)
Cool venue. Food average. Karaage - deep fried, oil could be fresher Okonomayaki - same sauce as the Takoyaki - enjoyed the bonito flakes Takoyaki - tasty & hot Rice w/ Chopped Salmon & Sushi Paper Rolls - more seaweed to wrap the chopped salmon. Yes ... Rice krispies
Nov 13, 2023
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If you're seeing this review, stop scrolling, stop looking, stop debating, just go here. This is by far the most amazing place I've been to in Montreal. Aside from the incredible atmosphere with Japanese decor & cool lighting, great music, friendly staff, & good service, the food is delicious. We couldn't decide what to get, so we were offered a tasting menu, which included what felt like an infinite amount of food, each one better than the previous. Every dish was so different & tasty, never mind being such a generous size & so filling. This was the first time in 4 years my boyfriend & I have never not been able to finish the portion served. This is a must try place in Montreal, especially for the taster menu that changes day by day. Thank you Biiru!
Beautiful spot with a fun atmosphere & tasty food! The outdoor patio space was bright & well-decorated. Our food & drinks came out fast, faster than expected & the service was great! Our server suggested we order 4-6 dishes for 2 people & we were super full with 4. We really enjoyed the karaage & okonomiyaki, the corn korroke was unique & flavourful! The drinks were refreshing & I don’t have much experience with sake but I thought it was smooth & nice. We had a great dinner here!!
