Through Oorja, we aim to create a restaurant inspired by the flavors of Hakka, primarily Indo Chinese cuisine, where the emphasis is placed on fresh ingredients and great service. We take pride in the food that we create, and it is our ambition to bring this vibrant and culturally rich cuisine to Montreal. As both a restaurant and a cocktail bar, our objective is to shape a fun and dynamic environment centered around a unique culinary experience. Our team will create dishes and cocktails made from quality seasonal ingredients sourced from local producers. Indo Chinese cuisine is surprisingly absent from Montreal, and we believe that its vibrance and imaginativeness will be very well received.
Overall, reviews of Oorja describe a vibrant Indo Chinese fusion spot with inventive cocktails, playful tapas style dishes, and a warm, stylish ambiance that can range from relaxed lunch vibes to lively evenings with live music. The food frequently earns praise for bold flavors and presentation, with favorites including momos, chicken lollipops, chilli chicken, duck wings and other tapas style plates, while some diners note portions can be small for the price and spice levels may be very high. Cocktails are repeatedly highlighted as well balanced and creative, with several guests enjoying standout options and seasonal changes. Service is a common point, with many experiences described as friendly, attentive and professional, though others recount slow or inconsistent service, missed items, or long waits. The setting is often praised as chic and cozy, with attractive presentation and a welcoming atmosphere suited for dates, gatherings, or casual bites. Overall, Oorja comes across as a notable destination for Indo Chinese fusion in the area, delivering memorable drinks and interesting dishes, but with uneven service and portion consistency that may vary by visit.
We were on a family trip to Montreal via Quebec City & were heavily craving good Indo Chinese when we found this place. The ambience was amazing. The menu was surprisingly small but the flavours packed in each dish was amazing. Ive not had food this delicious for a very long time & being from Toronto we do have a lot of Indo Chinese places around, but this one tops them all. The staff was super friendly, attentive & polite. The only flaw was, I wished the portion size was bigger but overall & prices a little moderate but overall its a good place. Now everytime im in Montreal this is going to be my must visit.
Amazing place to try out indo-chinese food. Fantastic! It was my birthday & they took us in last minute. Had an absolute blast & shout out to the server Alejandro who did an exceptional service. I really enjoyed chicken chilli & chicken lollipops plus the hakka noodles were bomb. Thank you for making my day!✨
Jun 7, 2024
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Being of Southeast Asian descent, I've always wanted to try Hakka which technically is cuisine from a region of China. However, it gets more complicated than that because Chinese from that region migrated to Southeast Asia, India, & the Caribbean, merging their cuisine with that of their host country. Oorja is a sophisticated spot to enjoy Hakka, which I consider fusion cuisine before there was fusion cuisine. It's an intimate place with a relatively small number of tables, & a significant part of the place devoted to a lovely cocktail bar. I sometimes like to eat & drink at a bar, so that's a bonus. This time there were three of us. Our cocktails were amazing. We were served by very helpful & competent staff. The best dish by far was the Momo appetizer. So many layers of flavors which I found familiar, but mixed together in a unique way that I hadn't tasted before. My companions had the Chili chicken with fried rice & noodles on the side. They loved it. The fried rice had that typical wok hei aroma & so was well prepared. As were the noodles. I had the braised pork belly. This in my opinion was the weakest of the dishes, but I'm willing to give Oorja the benefit of the doubt on this one. Unlike the Momo with its multiple layers of flavors, the dish lacked complexity. I've had several versions of Southeast Asian pork belly which involves pan frying it with the usual Asian aromatics plus lemongrass, with umami provided by fish sauce. So I guess I was expecting something of those flavors. I do know that Hakka involves braising, rather than the other techniques I usually associate with pork belly preparation. So it might just be me having preconceived notions. Nevertheless I still enjoyed my meal. All in all, my experience in Oorja was thoroughly enjoyable.
Loved the place. Loved their food. The perfect indo Chinese cuisine that I have been looking for! I had the cocktail (Forty Birds or fifty? Forgot the exact name) it was a little too sour, so go for it if you like this taste. Place is a little smaller & it is hard to bring in a big gang. Service was very good. Will definitely recommend this place to all my friends
This is a nice Indo Chinese spot in St Henri. We ordered the mango cocktail, chili baby corn, braised pork & chili chicken. The menu is small but good. The chili chicken with chowmein tasted very much like the street side chili chicken I've grown up eating in Kolkata. The braised pork was delicious. The crispy babycorn came with a nice sauce. The portions are quite filling. The atmosphere is very pleasant, with soft music playing in the background. This is a really cute spot for dinner.
It's a cosy date spot with great Indo Chinese food. The serving size is comparatively small. I liked the ambiance & the customer service. It would be great to see a bigger menu & food servings.
Amazing food. The starters (Lamb spring rolls, Fried Momos, Manchow Soup) were really well made, especially the dips & the chutneys. Plating was superb. Tried the Chicken Manchurian with fried rice. The gravy was so close to indo chinese but the chicken was not as succulent & tender. Waiting staff were quick & delight to interact with. Everything was served really fast. Restaurant was a bit smaller & seating was not very comfortable as the tables are laid out very close to each other. Lighting was a little dim so could not read the menu. But overall a very nice ambience & is on the rustic side & the place was packed with people.
The food is really very close to the Indo-Chinese Hakka cuisine. But I can imagine it might be a little too spicy for some people. So just ask before you order. Ordered one cocktail & it was well made. Would love to see cauliflower lollipop for vegetarians.
Saw a few posts about how this is the first Indo-Chinese restaurant in Montreal. As someone who grew up eating hakka chinese every other week, Oorja was immediately added to my list of places to try. It did not disappoint. The service, ambience, drinks, food, literally every single thing was absolutely phenomenal & so authentic. Will be going back often.
Sep 23, 2023
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As someone who likes Indo Chinese a lot, I'd give 4 stars to the food, maybe 3.5-4 stars to service only because it's a little slow, however the staff is very courteous. Great Ambience, awesome cocktails
This is such a nice place to come have a drink &/or eat. The food is delicious. Indo-chinese fusion with immaculate flavours in each dish. Not only that the food is amazing, so are the cocktails. There is a large range of alcohol & tasty beverages. It is not too expensive & it’s a cozy place to come either with your friends or with a date. The ambiance makes it really nice, the staff are super friendly & comprehensive. I would 100% recommend
Upon entering, I was greeted by a welcoming & cozy atmosphere that immediately established the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable dining experience. This restaurant skillfully combines the finest elements from Indian & Chinese culinary heritages, crafting a seamless harmony of flavors. I had a memo & chill paneer that comes with noodles. The noodles were perfectly cooked & generously tossed. The impeccable execution, thoughtful presentation, & exceptional service make this restaurant a must-visit for food enthusiasts.
Aug 13, 2023
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Overall, Oorja was a good place for a great cocktail & shareable entrees. The place was nicely designed, & the atmosphere was good to have a nice chat with friends. The cocktails were all delicious & definitely different. We had a few entrees to share, & my favorites were the duck wings & lamb spring rolls. I would recommend them for sure!! The main dishes were a little more disappointing. My braised pork was a little tough on some bites, & the white rice was either mushy & not cooked on some parts. The paneer chili was quite tasty & an original take on sweet chili sauce dish. The chicken chili was very similar to what you would get in a Chinese restaurant but with a higher price tag. In the end, I would recommend that if you are looking for good cocktails & tasty entrees.
Great new restaurant in the St Henri neighbourhood. First time trying Indo-Chinese food . Everything from the Dumplings to the spicy chicken dishes were delicious .(along with nice glass of the natural wine ) . Service was friendly & helpful
