MAKAō transcends being just a restaurant, offering an unforgettable experience that ignites curiosity, tantalizes the palate, and transports you to a realm where the East seamlessly unites with the West in exquisite harmony.
Relish the deep, rich traditions of Asian cuisine—the flavors and techniques developed over centuries—and let them also introduce you to the bold innovations that characterize modern Western cooking.
Nestled in the heart of Montreal’s Chinatown, MAKAŌ is the ultimate destination for those seeking an authentic and immersive cultural experience.
Overall, MAKA? earns consistently positive notes for a chic, cozy, contemporary vibe and attentive service, with a lively dining room and well curated music that suits both date nights and groups. The menu delivers bold Asian fusion flavors with standout dishes like truffle udon with grilled shrimp, bang bang shrimp, surf and turf, sashimi and dumplings, and a popular teriyaki salmon, complemented by creative cocktails and desserts, though a few items are described as underseasoned or too salty and some cocktails as not as strong as hoped. Portions vary, with some mains described as generous and others felt small for the price, and some guests noted a gap between online promos and in restaurant offerings. The service is repeatedly highlighted as friendly, patient, and professional, with staff going above and beyond, although a few visits mention slower pacing or occasional miscommunications. In sum, MAKA? is a stylish spot in Montreal that shines with flavorful fusion dishes and excellent service, making it a strong pick for those seeking a vibrant ambiance and a memorable night out, even as expectations on value and flavor depth differ.
I want to share my experience at Makao to give others a clear heads-up before deciding to go.
This was my first visit, & I went with guests from out of town, so expectations were naturally high. Walking in, the decor is genuinely impressive-very clean, upscale, & it absolutely gives off a luxury dining experience. Based on that alone, you expect the food quality to match.
Unfortunately, it didn't.
The food across the board was very bland. The steak was poorly seasoned & not very tender, & the lobster lacked flavor as well. For the price point, the portion sizes & overall quality just didn't add up. It felt overpriced for what was served.
To be fair, the service was good, the staff were professional, & the restaurant itself was clean. Also, the drinks were the one highlight of the night.
I always give positive reviews when they're earned, but I also believe in being honest when they're not. Everyone at our table left disappointed, especially given how strong the first impression is when you walk in.
Just something to keep in mind if you're considering going-don't let the decor set expectations too high for the food.
The food & drinks were filled with flavours, some of which I haven't had before! The surf & turf was a great portion, steak cooked just how I asked, & tender juicy lobster. Delphine was a great, friendly, & funny server. Was visiting Montreal but home to be back not just to the city but to Maka?!
Je suis allée manger chez Makao & honestly… la bouffe était INCROYABLE.
J'ai pris les lamb chops - portion généreuse, flavor qui a dépassé toutes mes expectations 🔥
& là… l'Amaretto Sour… JÉSUS.
I almost wanted to kiss the bartender 😭 she made that drink like she knew :
'nopeee, it's Saturday night, let me make her night.'
Bref, je recommande à 100%. Food, vibes, drinks… tout était on point 💃🏽🍸
Jan 30, 2026
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Honestly, one of the best restaurants I've ever been to.
The service, the food, & the atmosphere were all absolutely perfect.
The servers were incredibly kind & welcoming. The food was amazing, & the drinks were just as great.
They even let us play our own music in the restaurant, which made the experience even more special. They took shots with us too, & it was such a fun vibe.
This restaurant truly deserves much more recognition & should definitely be far more popular.
Shoutout to Delphine & Lee you guys were so nice💕
The service, the staff & the food are amazing!! Little cozy spot with some good drinks & food options. The music isn't too loud allowing a good vibe but also good conversation
The hype was very high but the experience was far from the expectations. The plates are all tapas style, so be ready to order 2-3 dishes per person. The atmosphere was great, loved the decor & the colours. The service was acceptable but not exceptional. We started off with 5 starters, they were all on the cold/warm side. The spring rolls were overcooked, the general Makao chicken, which supposed to be their signature plate was leaning towards the cold side. The taste wasn't anything spectacular, just tasted like a General Tao. The rice & noodles came after, these plates were hot. Unfortunately, they both tasted very similar as they both were very salty (drink lots of water if you order) - it's unfortunate because I feel like they have something nice to show, but after eating there, I felt like I only got half the experience
I can understand why MAKAO has such conflicting reviews. We did not encounter any of the reservation issues (we booked on OpenTable) nor the service issues. In fact, we had a really lovely server who was very attentive & diligent with food allergies at the table. Even though she wasn't well versed in food allergies in their entirety, she went above & beyond to make sure nothing slipped through the cracks. The ambiance was cool & the restaurant is well designed with fun music, despite being tightly packed. Our drinks were good, but as some others have noted, the food was just ok. It was not elevated in a way I expected it to be. For example, the dumplings & spring rolls were similar to something you could get out of the freezer section at the grocery store. & the bang bang fries were just basic fries with a couple of pieces of boneless wing type chicken on top splattered with sauce. The food was not BAD by any means, it just wasn't great either. & for that reason we probably wouldn't return.
The fusion food was great! The highlight for me was the roasted beet salad which had a great mix of flavours, I appreciated the fig & jelly along with the toppings. The fried rice & the general makao chicken were quite flavourful. The fried calamari themselves were good however I'm not sure I liked the tzatziki dip they were served with, I would have preferred something along the lines of a sriracha mayo. Service was attentive, drinks came up quickly, water was refilled promptly. There was a slight mixup with 2 food orders, but that can be forgiven by how it was handled & resolved. The right orders were put in quickly & we even got to keep an order of the extra rice. The atmosphere is nice, the restaurant is on the smaller side so it feels more intimate. The music is great.
