Ethan delivers a robust exploration of Szechuan culinary traditions through a menu defined by bold spice profiles and authentic regional techniques. Diners encounter signature dishes featuring numbing peppercorns, vibrant chili oils, and meticulously prepared proteins that characterize this distinct style of Chinese cooking. The kitchen focuses on the balance of heat and flavor complexity, utilizing aromatic ingredients to elevate classic Asian preparations. Each plate reflects an adherence to traditional seasoning methods, ensuring that the signature profile of the cuisine remains intact. The environment facilitates a direct focus on the food, prioritizing the intensity of the flavor profiles over superfluous aesthetic distractions. This establishment serves as a deliberate destination for those seeking a sincere and uncompromised approach to the nuances of Szechuan spice and traditional preparation methods.
Restaurant Ethan is widely recognized in Montreal Chinatown for offering a broad menu of authentic Cantonese-style cuisine at very affordable prices with generous portion sizes. While many visitors appreciate the quick service, cozy atmosphere, and great value for a casual meal, opinions remain divided regarding the overall experience. Some patrons highlight the efficiency and friendliness of the staff, while others report inconsistent food quality and express frustration over aggressive tipping practices or impolite service. The dining environment is often described as dated or simple, but for those seeking a convenient and budget-friendly spot for staples like dumplings, BBQ meats, or bubble tea, it remains a popular and frequently visited destination.
I saw a kitchen helper picking their nose at the door. The food is okay. If you order BBQ, congee, & wonton noodles, you can see the kitchen. But others dishes are cook by some non Chinese chefs.
We were lucky enough to choose this restaurant for lunch today. Had the duck meal for four & it was a true banquet! The salt & pepper shrimp were amazing, all of the dishes that came were delicious. We eat a lot of Chinese food in various locations & can say this meal was excellent. Our other daughter had #150 sliced pork & duck soup with noodles & she was very pleased. If we are ever in Montreal again we will be sure to stop in. Also the meal came out much quicker than expected. Wait staff was pleasant.
THEY FORCE YOU TO TIP & SCREEM AT YOU !!!
It was my third time here just because its cheap not because the food is good. Service is chinese...you know what i mean. Also you pay on the counter very self service style. As i came to pay i pressed skip on the tip because tipping is if you like the food & service i didnt like either. She started screming at me & then took the machine & restarted it. Telling me that here tips are not included & screamed at me to add a tip. I refused to be intimidated & pressed skip again & paid & i told her in europe we tip if we like the service & its optional. Afterwards i sat doWn felt very unwelcome all the employees were giving me looks & SPEAKING CHINESE as if i came to eat here free. Vibes we so bad. Its the last time i go to this bad food bad atmosphere resturant. My advice to the owner pay ur workers enough & include prices with tax... its criminal to charge 13.99 then add tax the charge a tip on the item plus tax...this is insane. WHEN I EAT OUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO PAY. IT SHOULDNT BE AMBIGUIOUS
Jul 8, 2026
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We had an enjoyable dinner at Restaurant Ethan, a Chinese eatery located in Montreal's Chinatown. This restaurant is known for its authentic Cantonese cuisines, popular Peking Duck, Beef Fried Noodles, Sichuan dishes & Dim Sum. We ordered the Cantonese Chow Mein (crispy egg noodles topped with a stir-fry meat, seafood & vegetables in a savoury sauce) & Pan Fried Dumplings. Both dishes tasted delicious! They were generous with the portions & the price was reasonable.
A solid spot in Chinatown if you're looking for affordable Chinese food. The prices are very reasonable, which makes it a great option for a quick & casual meal. The dishes came out very quickly, which was nice when we were hungry & didn't want to wait long.
The flavors were good & satisfying - not overly fancy, but definitely tasty for the price. The staff were also quite friendly & welcoming, which made the experience pleasant.
Overall, it's a great value restaurant if you want simple Chinese food at a very good price. I would come back again for a quick meal in Chinatown. 👍
Je trouve qu'une étoile, c'est déjà trop généreux.
Mes deux arguments à faire
1. Le restaurant n'a pas respecté la loi 96 sur la langue du Québec, s'adressant à moi en anglais & en chinois dès le début.
2. Le plat qu'on m'a servi avait clairement été laissé de côté pendant un certain temps, il n'avait pas été préparé à la commande (je l'ai comparé au même plat servi à la table blanche à côté de moi). Servir des restes à des clients asiatiques, c'est pas vraiment acceptable, non ? (Malheureusement, je me suis rendu compte qu'il y avait un problème seulement après avoir fini mon repas & je n'ai pas pris de photo sur le moment.)
La caissière était extrêmement désagréable. Elle était aimable avec les Blancs, mais pas avec les Asiatiques. Sans parler des restes de nourriture ; tant la nourriture que l'expérience en général m'ont donné l'impression que le restaurant pratiquait une discrimination envers les Asiatiques. Il s'agit d'un cas de discrimination inversée.
J'ai trouvé que même un pourboire de 20 % était excessif ; je n'aurais pas payé un centime. J'ai commandé un plat de riz combiné au canard & au porc, mais par rapport au repas identique servi aux clients blancs de la table voisine, mes légumes semblaient rassis, sans saveur & extrêmement difficiles à mâcher. En y repensant chez moi, le riz lui-même était également tiède & dur (après avoir observé le repas du client blanc voisin). En tant que client asiatique, j'ai d'abord écarté mes inquiétudes en recevant le plat. Cependant, pendant mon trajet de retour, j'ai soigneusement repensé à cette expérience & l'ai comparée au plat identique servi aux clients blancs à côté de moi, ce qui m'a conduit à cette conclusion.
Il s'agit d'un cas où le racisme intériorisé s'accompagne d'hostilité horizontale.
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I think one star is already too generous.
My two arguments
1. The restaurant did not respect Quebec's Law 96 on the language, addressing me in English & Chinese from the start.
2. The dish I was served had clearly been left out for some time; it hadn't been prepared to order (I compared it to the same dish served at the white table next to me). Serving leftovers to Asian customers isn't really acceptable, is it? (Unfortunately, I only realized there was a problem after I finished my meal, & I didn't take a picture at the time.)
I felt that even a 20% tip was excessive; I wouldn't have paid a cent. I ordered a rice dish with duck & pork, but compared to the identical meal served to the white customers at the next table, my vegetables seemed stale, tasteless, & extremely difficult to chew. Looking back at it at home, the rice itself was also lukewarm & hard (after observing the white customer's meal). As an Asian customer, I initially dismissed my concerns upon receiving the dish. However, during my journey home, I carefully considered the experience & compared it to the identical dish served to the white customers next to me, which led me to this conclusion.
The cashier was extremely rude. She was nice to white people but not to Asians. Including the leftover food I received, both the food itself & the dining experience made me feel that the restaurant was discriminating against Asians. This is a case of Internalized Racism comes with Horizontal Hostility.
I have been a regular customer at Ethan for quite some time. I dine in & order takeout frequently, around three to four times a month, because they serve good food at an affordable price & the restaurant is only a few minutes' walk from my place. It has always been my go to Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. However, after my most recent experience, I decided never to eat there again.
During my visit, a homeless man entered the restaurant. He appeared extremely hungry & stood quietly, staring at the food. He eventually approached the serving area & touched a plate, though he did not touch the food itself. The servers immediately noticed him & scolded him, after which he sincerely apologized.
The cashier then charged him for touching the plate, which I understand is reasonable. That said, if I had been in their position, I would have chosen to offer him food out of sympathy & basic human decency. The man apologized again & paid for the food using what appeared to be his last few dollars.
After paying & receiving his meal, he attempted to sit down, but the server refused & insisted that he leave the restaurant. Feeling frustrated & humiliated after being treated this way despite paying for his food, the man threw the meal on the ground & walked out. While I agree that his reaction was wrong, I can understand the emotions behind it given how he was treated.
Unfortunately, the food landed near me & the sauce splashed all over my jacket. The servers witnessed the entire incident, yet I did not receive a single apology or any acknowledgment.
Because of this experience, I made the decision to never return to this restaurant, despite being a loyal & frequent customer for a long time.
La nourriture de ce restaurant chinois est bonne, c'est de la vraie cuisine chinoise, authentique & savoureuse. Cependant, l'expérience est gâchée par l'attitude des propriétaires. Ils semblent très avares & ne paient pas correctement leurs employés.
Le serveur nous a mis beaucoup de pression pour donner un pourboire de 10 $ ou plus, en disant qu'ils ne reçoivent pas un salaire adéquat & qu'ils vivent uniquement des pourboires. Ce genre de situation est très inconfortable pour les clients & injuste pour les employés.
Je pense sincèrement que le gouvernement devrait vérifier ce genre de pratiques. Une bonne nourriture ne justifie pas de mauvaises conditions de travail.
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The food at this Chinese restaurant is good; it's real, authentic, & tasty Chinese food. However, the experience is spoiled by the owners' attitude. They seem very stingy & don't pay their employees properly.
The waiter pressured us into leaving a $10 or more tip, saying they don't receive an adequate wage & live solely off tips. This kind of situation is very uncomfortable for customers & unfair to employees.
I sincerely believe the government should investigate these kinds of practices. Good food doesn't justify poor working conditions.
