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.
Typically when I have a bad experience at a restaurant, I will give the benefit of the doubt & I have NEVER given a negative review. However, so many things went wrong at our dinner the past weekend. To begin the evening, me & my 2 guests ordered drinks & shortly after placed our food order. The drinks took close to 45 minutes to arrive (I only ordered a coke, there were only 3 other tables filled at the time). The appetizers arrived another 10 minutes after our drinks. They were all pretty tasty, so we brushed off the wait & were looking forward to eating our main before we had to leave to catch a show (which was 2.5 hours after our reservation time, so we had assumed we would have plenty of time to eat & get there). When we ordered our food originally, we had asked for the duck wings. The server came back shortly after & said that they no longer offer them, & had us choose a different option. We were a bit disappointed because that was one of the dishes we saw that made us decide to try this restaurant. Less than an hour later, we see the table directly next to us receive an order of duck wings. We were getting a bit annoyed at this point, but again willing to overlook.
Eventually, we FINALLY received our main after almost 1.5 hours since we arrived. This is where things really took a turn for us. In the beginning, one of my friends specified to the server that she has a garlic allergy. Knowing that it is a common ingredient, she is VERY understanding when restaurants cannot accommodate. 5 minutes after we placed our order, the server returned to let us know that the dish she had chosen could not be prepared without garlic. She went on to provide a list of dishes that the kitchen told her COULD be made garlic free, & my friend happily chose a different option. After the extensive wait for our mains, they brought out only 2 plates for us, & plainly explained to our friend who had been waiting for her food that in the end they could not make that dish without garlic. Despite the fact that it was one of the options provided to her as garlic free. As I mentioned before, this was now over 1.5 hours into our dinner & we could not afford to wait for another dish to be prepared at this point. We couldn't believe that after all of that time waiting, nobody came to inform her earlier that her dish was not coming, & instead left her to sit completely empty handed while the 2 other people in the party had their main. She would've been happy if they had even offered her a serving of plain rice. However, she didn't even receive an apology.
We are all extremely understanding people, & absolutely are willing to look beyond a few mistakes & slow service. However, there were so many things that could have been handled differently (literally just a sincere apology would have sufficed). Even if they had told her earlier that they could not accommodate a garlic allergy, we would have understood & at least she could have gone to find food before we had to leave for our show. Overall, it completely spoiled a dinner meant to be a birthday celebration. As far as the food, the appetizers WERE good but the mains we did receive were not that great. Mine was missing a component & my friend's lamb had several pieces that were quite chewy.
Always impressed by their menu & drinks that change seasonally! Their indochinese cuisine is truly a first in the city & the staff is welcoming & professional, highly recommend.
Jan 25, 2026
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The food was absolutely delicious & the drinks were just as good! It's not a very busy place, which makes it perfect to relax & truly enjoy your time. The manager was incredibly kind & sweet enough to let us stay a little longer while we finished up. Definitely a must-try spot!
This is one of my great finds in place st.henri near to the metro & the ambience is 🤩. I'd recommend everyone to try the chicken lollipops, the chilli chicken momos & the ghee shrimp, you'll be craving for more. Amongst the drinks it was a big hit -'thriller' &'almost everything cashew'. We did miss out on our last drink but given the crowd & how busy it gets during the evening it's well understood.
I'm a happy customer here being an Indian this indo-chinese fusion menu is 🤗😋🤤
I hope more people come to this restaurant because I had a fantastic experience! It was fairly empty on a Wednesday evening (6pm). I ordered the chilli momos, fried oyster mushrooms & the pear cocktail drink. The batter on the mushrooms was flavorful, crispy & well spiced while the momos were in the most delicious savoury, tangy, spicy sauce. Both hit it out of the park for me. Cocktails are inventive & well balanced as well.
Jun 26, 2025
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very cute little resto. very popular.
interesting drink menu, lots of options.
we were 3 & shared 6 plates. everything was delicious.
the chili momos were much better than the straight up steamed ones, so I would just get the chili one.
lollipop chicken, paneer, hakka noodles, lamb spring rolls. all amazing.
highly recommend
RUN to this place, delicious food & AMAZING service!!! We got many dishes & the drinks were absolutely phenomenal. 10/10 would recommend. If you cannot handle the spice, please make to let them know cause it was definitely very spicy even for myself as an asian. We will be coming again & trying out other dishes!
Great service, tasty food & many tapas options on the menu. The drinks were also delicious we had the mezcal cocktail. We enjoyed our dinner here, good vibes & a good addition to Saint-Henri. We'll definitely be coming back.
This is the best hakka chinese restaurant in Montreal. Oorja means Energy...& this restaurant had the best energy. The taste was outstanding & the drinks classy. & the service was homely. Hidden gem.
Beautiful small restaurant! Good vibe. The menu is different than the online menu. So we got confused what we decided home & to decide differently at the restaurant; they need to update their menu properly. The service was very scattered. Our orders were taken but not for drinks. Our dishes were tapas, for four of us to share, for each dish that came, we had to ask serving utensils. We had to ask for water refills repeatedly. In the end, we wanted the bill, the waiter forgot about it. Overall, every food was delicious. Since their restaurant is new; we hope in the near future, they will improve.
It's a wonderful place, tastefully done up. The music was amazing & not too loud. You could have proper conversations & hear people across the table. The cocktails surprised us, & we loved the drinks! They were delicious! The food was so tasty, that one is bound to overeat! They menu is limited, but each item is finger-lickin' good! The food is on the spicier side, but they accommodate spice level requests. It's perfect for a date night or even after work meetup. Definitely recommend this place!
I recently visited Oorja & was blown away by the flavors & quality of their Indo-Chinese cuisine! with perfectly balanced spices & tender ingredients. The service was attentive & friendly, & the ambiance was cozy & inviting. I'm so impressed with the care & authenticity that goes into every dish. Highly recommend for anyone craving delicious & authentic Indo-Chinese food. Can't wait to come back & try more of the menu! Score a FREE SIGNATURE DRINK if you spot 40 birds hidden in the restaurant! Their beverages were out of this world.
Aug 19, 2024
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Excellent place to share appetizers with friends. The main meals were also decent portions, so good value there. The lamb spring rolls were amazing, as well as the lollipop chicken. The only big downside is the dessert. They had only a red bean ice cream, no other options. The menu can be expanded a little bit. The drinks were definitely swanky, but not worth 17$ for cocktails. Cider & beer were 8 to 10$. Service was fast & efficient. Our server was attentive & relatable. He made the night really fun. The atmosphere was cool & posh, but still warm & welcoming. Good location as several places have closed previously at this spot. Hope it prospers
Ate here late last Sunday nite & was pleasantly surprised. The momos were fantastic & the cocktails were top notch, as well as my mussels served with curry. But this review is not about the food, it's about Dima. He was the absolute hero of our night. Amazing banter, amazing hospitality. Introduced us to some great new drinks, really sold the menu, & took care of us in so many ways. Thank you so much, Dima, from the bottom of my heart. I hope you go far in this life.
Everything just out of this world , my new favourite Hakka place in Montreal can't recommend more. 100% drinks 🤌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽😋 everything so delicious served perfectly, must visit if you in saint Henri
