Reviews consistently praise Kan Bei for authentic Sichuan flavors, bold heat, generous portions, and quick service, with many calling it the best Chinese restaurant in Montreal and noting freshness and reliability over years. Dishes frequently highlighted include mapo tofu, boiled fish in chili oil, twice cooked pork, spicy cumin lamb, kung pao, and crispy noodles with shrimp, and other favorites such as garlic fried ribs and cabbage, while a few items were described as overly oily, bland, or overly sweet with some texture or salt balance concerns. Service is repeatedly described as friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere as warm and inviting, though some diners find the space sparse, the lighting chilly, the tables cheap, or the kitchen noise audible. Location notes include proximity to Centre Bell and a newer Peel Street location, with reviewers saying portions and price offer good value even if some find it a bit pricey for the amount. Overall Kan Bei comes across as a reliable, flavorful spot for authentic Chinese cuisine, popular with regulars and groups, delivering strong dishes and consistent quality amid occasional menu inconsistencies.
Came to Montreal on holidays but craving for Chinese food. The Sichuan dishes here lack of Mala flavor (numbing & spicy flavor) but I guess it's adapted to local taste. Although not completed satisfied, it did give some sort of comfort to my cravings. Service here is slow & not excellent. Also they have two types of La Zi Ji ( spicy chili chicken) which I haven't never seen in any restaurants, one with bones & the other without bones. The one without bones is actually not authentic at all, it's just fried chicken with some chills, more catered for westerns. The one with bones? My advice is not to have La Zi Ji with bones as most authentic La Zi Ji dishes don't come with bones.
Kan bei is THE BEST chinese restaurant I've been to in the one year that I've been living in Montreal. we ordered the chicken fried rice (#809) beef with satay sauce (#315) stir fried shrimps, spring roles & shrimp soup. All of them were absolutely delicious. Will definitely visit again. If you're looking for good portions, great prices, & a succulent chinese meal, Kan bei is the right place for you.
The door was opened & we were inhaling cigarette smoke from people who hanged around in front of the restaurant. But the staff listened to our complaints & shut their door eventually.
The Hot & Sour soup & the Mapo Tofu were beyond delicious. Extremely flavorful. The mapo felt like authentic shanghainese style. The dan dan noodles were also delicious but needed time to soak the sauce up.
Oct 15, 2024
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Small restaurant but lots of space & large tables. Very clean. Service was fast, attentive & friendly, food is cooked to order & served quickly. We had the fried pork spare ribs, general Tsao chicken, baby bok Choy with garlic, shrimp fried rice & shrimp wonton soup. The soup was very nice, with a delicate broth & generous wonton & bok Choy. Both main meat dishes were amazing with lovely seasoning. The garlic bok Choy just went WOW it was that good. The rice was very nice & cooked to perfection.
Amazing experience eating there. Food came fast & was delicious. The restaurant & the toilets were clean. Great service from the counter lady. I definitely recommend this restaurant.
I've been to Kanbei for dinner a few times & I really like this restaurant. The environment is clean, especially the bathroom, which is really clean. The waiters are very good & the food is served quickly. It's rare to find a restaurant with classic Chinese food & reasonable prices in the city center.
Everything was amazing until I went to pay for my meal. When I did, I couldn't afford to tip (I am a student who also works in the food service industry). When I proceeded to enter no tip, the waitress told me that because I had opted to dine indoors as opposed to getting takeout, I was required to tip. This would have been no problem if I had been told when I sat down that there was a mandatory tip or if it was written anywhere, but it definitely did not appear to be. When I explained that she had not told me that there was a mandatory tip & that I hadn't counted on being able to pay it, she started getting very upset at me & would not let me finish my transaction saying I was obligated to tip her. Very frustrating experience & rude customer service, but the food was very good. I unfortunately will not be coming again if this is how they treat their customers. Edit (to reply to owner's comment) - You are correct. As someone who works in the food service industry, I do understand how important tips are for waiters. I also understand, however, that not everyone is able to afford tips & it is NOT the server's job to harass customers or question them when they do not leave a tip. The server should not assume a given person's financial situation & should never DEMAND a tip from a customer. If workers feel unhappy with their compensation, they should take it up with their managers.
It was a very pleasant dining experience. The environment is beautiful, the dishes are delicious, & the prices are favorable. I finally had real Sichuan flavor. The environment is very clean. Highly recommend everyone to come & eat.
