Oncle Lee serves a refined selection of Szechuan and Chinese cuisine focusing on authentic spice profiles and traditional preparation methods. The menu features complex flavor combinations such as mapo tofu, crispy chili chicken, and various hand-pulled noodle dishes that showcase deep culinary roots. Diners encounter a bold approach to heat where peppercorns and aromatic oils create a distinct numbing sensation characteristic of regional Asian cooking. The environment maintains a functional design that highlights the artistry of the food while ensuring efficiency for all guests. Fresh seasonal vegetables and high-quality protein sources form the foundation of each meticulously prepared plate served in this vibrant setting. This establishment delivers consistent quality through techniques that emphasize balance, texture, and technical precision in every component of the expansive menu.
Oncle Lee offers a vibrant, modern take on Asian fusion cuisine that leaves many guests impressed by the imaginative flavors and high-quality ingredients. The five spice duck platter and the spicy sesame noodles frequently stand out as must-try dishes, while the French toast dessert earns consistent praise as a perfect finale. Although the restaurant is highly regarded for its attentive service and lively, trendy atmosphere, some diners find the noise levels can be challenging and the pricing relatively high for the portion sizes provided. While a majority of visitors describe their experience as exceptional and memorable, a few guests have noted concerns regarding salt levels or inconsistent value, making it a destination best suited for those seeking a creative gastronomic experience rather than a budget-friendly meal.
I had a wonderful dinner experience at Oncle Lee on Laurier. From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed with genuine warmth & positive energy. The hostess was friendly & guided us to our table with a smile.
The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated, with a cozy atmosphere & elegant red accents. One thing I really appreciated was that, despite the open kitchen concept, there was no lingering food smell in the dining room.
The service was outstanding. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, & took the time to explain the menu & answer our questions.
To start, I ordered the spicy salmon on rice cake, & it was absolutely delicious. The contrast between the crispy rice cake & the fresh, tender salmon was perfectly balanced.
For my main course, I had the sweet & sour eggplant, topped with fresh coriander & crunchy peanuts. The portions are moderate, so if you have a big appetite, I'd recommend ordering a few dishes to share & enjoy more of the menu.
To finish, I ordered the pain perdu, & it was absolutely delicious.
Overall, everything exceeded my expectations. The prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the food, the attentive service, & the overall experience. The staff regularly checked on us, cleared empty plates promptly, & made us feel genuinely cared for throughout the evening.
I highly recommend Oncle Lee if you're looking for flavorful food, excellent service, & a cozy atmosphere in Montreal.
We had a fantastic time. The food was delicious (Sautéed greens were 10 out of 10, as were the salmon rice cakes)! But above all, The service the service was exceptional. The staff were just really lovely & made our night better, always filling up our water & wiping the table down etc . The attention to detail was great & appreciated. Highly highly recommend for a fab time!! Also Great non-alcoholic options.
I went to Oncle Lee when it opened & went back several times…every time I go the portions of the plates diminishes (ex:tataki saumon) I understand that owning a restaurant is difficult & challenging in 2026 but charging over 20$ for 3 thin slices of salmon is simply too much! When you are a group it's hard to share one plate or 3 slices of salmon tataki… 😐
Mar 24, 2026
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The atmosphere of the restaurant is beautiful.
We tried a variety of dishes from the menu & the ones that stood out were the salmon bites (appetizer) (8.5/10) & the miso mushrooms (9/10). We also tried the chow mein (6.5/10), the ribs with sweet sour sauce (7.5/10), the garlic fried vegetables (8/10) & the sesame spicy noodles (7/10).
The food was good & the price is reasonable (we were a group of four & shared everything). I did find that the food was too salty for my liking which hindered the flavors. I would highly recommend getting vegetables as it brings freshness & cuts the salt from other dishes. Note that the salmon bites are small, however I still recommend trying them out.
The service was great! I overall had high expectations for this restaurant & maybe should have picked dishes that were more varied to not get bored of the bold flavours.
Montreal always feels to be a lively city. Dining at Oncle Lee Ouest seemed especially vibrant. The service was prompt & attentive not just by our waiter but by other staff waiting in the wings offering support such as offering to bring second cocktail drink.
To start we had the curred salmon, bao & wonton soup to fight of the Mtl chill 😎. Salmon had a sublte tang & with the sharp bite of the ginger. along with bao. The wonton soup did not have your typical chicken broth to accompany the dumplings. The broth was dark containing an explosion of flavours. Notes of star anise & bay leaves along with chili pepper base with strong sesame flavour coming through to warm you up. a great introduction to what was to come.
For the mains we had ( as recommended) the sesame noodles, garlic rice & sweet & sour eggplant. Comfort food taken to the hilt. The noodles had a slightly spicy essence delicate texture but firm to the bite. Eggplant was silky with a great peanut crunch & garlic rice fluffy, full of flavour & comfort with a slight moistness. Will definitely be returning to discover more. Well recommended.
Food was AMAZING. The spicy salmon on crispy rice & the duck platter is an absolute must. The vibe is great inside & the service was excellent. Can't wait to come back!
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Absolutely amazing experience!
The vibe was perfect - trendy but relaxed - & the waitress/bartender was so sweet & attentive. The drinks were incredible, & the food was honestly next level. We had the spicy salmon rice cakes (I'd come back just for those!), the chili cucumber salad, sesame noodles, & the five spice duck - everything was a total 10/10. Can't recommend this place enough!
O. M. G. This is one of the best restaurants I've been to in my life! The salmon appetizer, the sea bream main & legumes, all to die for. But the dessert... Holy crap the dessert! I got the yogurt parfait with chocolate ganache & it's one of the best desserts I've ever had. I'm so sad I don't live in Montreal so I can't come everyday, though that's probably for the best lol. But I'll definetely come everytime I visit the city
I have had my own Chinese restaurant for almost 12 years. I heard about this new Chinese restaurant for some time. Look at our names, Aunt Dai & Uncle Lee!
The birthday of one of my best friends is coming up. I invited her & her husband to try this famous restaurant. I checked the reviews before I made the reservation. I totally understand some customers had a high expectation about the flavour given the price tag for the dishes. With my own restaurant having much lower prices & bigger portions I feel I am a tiny little bit responsible for people expecting higher taste/dollar values. So I am thinking about either doubling the prices for all dishes in my own restaurant or giving this beautiful restaurant a visit myself. Three of us ordered the duck plate (ordered additional crepes for ONLY 3 dollars, I should have asked 10 orders of those additional crepes without ordering the duck at all if I want to save money), spicy noodles, tomato salad, salmon dish, two cocktails named'faire ca pour toi' & tea. The three of us are all from mainland China & we all think the food is very tasty. Me, looking from the angle of a Chinese restaurant owner I think their team is very dedicated to Chinese cooking & they are very into the details. I think it's a great contribution to Chinese food in Montreal. Very impressive! They deserve a lot of credit for doing what they are doing.
After this visit, I would assume Uncle Lee & Aunt Dai would follow each other on Tinder!
