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 and stylish dining experience in Montreal, celebrated by many for its imaginative fusion of Asian flavors and cozy, well-decorated atmosphere. Guests frequently highlight the five-spice duck, crispy rice salmon bites, and umami-rich mushroom dishes as standout menu items, often complemented by a thoughtful selection of cocktails and sake. While the service is consistently described as attentive, warm, and highly professional, opinions on the experience are nuanced; some patrons find the flavor profiles and modern creative twists to be a gastronomic triumph, while others point to occasional inconsistencies in portion sizes, pricing, or noise levels. Despite a few mixed feelings regarding the value and saltiness of certain dishes, the restaurant remains a popular destination for group celebrations and casual outings, particularly for those who appreciate a lively environment and a refined approach to shared plates.
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.
The service & place is very nice. Had the the tofu dip (8/10) & tartare (7.5) which were probably my favorites. The spicy noodles (7.5) & veggies (7.5) are good. Not a fan of this version of peking duck (6.5). The sauces, daikon, peanuts almost makes it taste like a banh mi instead of the traditional chinese duck.
Overall decent for a first time, but don't expect traditional taste.
Oncle Lee on Laurier is the kind of meal you keep thinking about long after you've left the table.
We started with fried calamari & shrimp - simple, but executed perfectly. Then scallops in XO sauce, & a ceviche so creamy & flavourful it stopped the conversation at the table. A strong opening act.
The spicy sesame noodles & garlic fried rice followed - both loved, both demolished. Fair warning: there's an aioli mayo on the rice that isn't for everyone. It wasn't for me. Didn't stop me from scraping every last grain.
Then came the highlight of the night: the five-spice duck platter. A refined spin on Peking duck - perfectly cooked duck breast served with pancakes, sauces, cilantro, peanuts, & chilli oil. Elegant & deeply satisfying. The kind of dish that justifies the trip on its own.
We finished with the pain perdu - French toast with ice cream. The right ending to a remarkable meal.
Michelin rated. The service is excellent & attentive throughout. If you're visiting Montréal, this is a non-negotiable stop.
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Had such a great experience at Oncle Lee! The food was absolutely delicious - the ribs were incredible & the spicy sesame noodles were easily one of my favorite dishes of the night. Everything we tried was full of flavor & clearly made with care.
The drinks were also fantastic, & the staff made the whole experience even better. Everyone was super friendly, attentive, & welcoming, which made the night feel relaxed & enjoyable.
I'd definitely recommend Oncle Lee for a dinner with friends or a date night. The atmosphere is lively & it seems to get busy - which makes sense because everything was perfect - so I recommend reserving in advance.
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.
Ordered the hot pot, spicy noodles & mushrooms. Very disappointed to receive a plate of soba noodles & mushrooms drowning in a sauce flavoured with burnt garlic. All the dishes created a meal of indistinguishable flavours. I like trying new places & this was a birthday dinner letdown.
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!
