Restaurant GIWA serves a curated selection of authentic Korean dishes that bridge traditional preparation with a modern, contemporary aesthetic. Diners encounter plates centered on balanced flavor profiles, featuring essential staples like seasoned banchan, flame-grilled meats, and hearty fermented stews. The kitchen prioritizes precise heat application and high-quality ingredients to maintain the integrity of classic recipes within a streamlined, polished environment. Every composition on the menu reflects a commitment to cultural authenticity while presenting the food through a cleaner, more minimalist lens. The space focuses on efficiency and clarity, allowing the vibrant colors and bold textures of the primary proteins and pickled vegetables to define the sensory experience. This approach provides a focused exploration of Korean culinary fundamentals for those seeking consistent quality and standard-setting techniques in their meal.
Restaurant GIWA is widely regarded as an exceptional dining destination in Montreal, celebrated for its thoughtful, authentic approach to Korean cuisine that transcends typical expectations. Guests consistently praise the high quality of the food, noting that the seasonal menu is both creative and meticulously prepared, with standout dishes like the sotbap, Korean fried chicken, and unique fusion desserts receiving frequent acclaim. While the menu is intentionally concise, this focus on quality and technique is highly valued, and the presentation of each meal is frequently described as beautiful and elegant. The staff is consistently highlighted for being friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, often taking the time to explain the ingredients and traditional methods to diners. Although the restaurant is occasionally noted for being on the pricier side or having a small, intimate layout, the overwhelming majority of visitors find the experience to be well worth the cost, recommending it as a must-try gem for anyone seeking a sophisticated and memorable meal.
Excellent Korean restaurant. The food is authentic & delicious. The esthetics are appealing & the taste is amazing. For Korean food, it is on the pricier side; however, it is well worth it. The waitress is knowlegeable & explains every dish. I truly recommend the yukhwe (beef tartare) & the haemul jang (raw seafood platter). The sotbap was excellent too. The rice & beef come with many side dishes.
First off, I have to mention how cozy the place is. Very homey vibe; you're literally walking into an apartment, but it's setup like a resto. It does feel a bit small, but I enjoyed that aspect. Feels a bit more.. private, I suppose.
Next up, food & service. The food was absolutely amazing! We had ordered the seafood platter to share, along with the banchan sides & a few extra appetizers (yuhkwe(beef tartare) & dakgangjeong(fried chicken)). Every bite was incredible & fresh; by the end of the meal, I was soo stuffed, but I still wanted more, hahah.
Service itself was great! Servers were attentive, & explained the menu clearly. We barely had to ask any questions. Although, we did have a slight timing issue with the food.. but that was easily resolved. Everything made it to our table in the end, & satisfaction was achieved!
Thanks again for the food! We'll definitely be coming back. 🤤
Feb 16, 2026
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Small menu but everything was so tasty, well prepared, authentic flavours & beautifully presented. I was a bit apprehensive coming here after having read the bad reviews, I worried for nothing. From their appetizers to their creative desserts, every dish was so delicious. The fried chicken was the best I had in years, the sauce not drenched with cheap syrup, so perfect. The galbi jjim was flavourful, not oily, so tender, filling as it came with rice & banchan. The beef sotbap was so good too. Beef was tender, rice cooked perfectly, & the sauce seasoned just right. The noodle soups didn't disappoint either. Don't forget to be blown away by their desserts. Loved their chocolate brownie, the chef creation, & sorbet. If any thing to be improved I'd say is their service. Never been to a restaurant where we were not greeted upon entering nor leaving. Also it took awhile before the waitress brought us water & asked us if we had any questions. This is not Korean hospitality. But we will be back for it's the best Korean restaurant in town.
I had such a wonderful dining experience at Giwa! The food was absolutely amazing. The appetizers were delicious; especially the dakgangjeong. The cheese sauce on top perfectly complemented the sweet & spicy chicken, making it so addictive! The beef sot-bap was also incredible, the meat was full of flavor, & the side dishes paired perfectly with the meal.
& the dessert... wow! I loved how it wasn't overly sweet but still so satisfying & delicious. You can truly taste the time, care, & love the owners put into every dish.
This restaurant is truly a gem, & unlike anything else in the city.
The raw marinated seafood was one of my favorites - so thoughtful & intentional, especially the raw marinated crab, which is usually hard to eat with the shell but here felt effortless. The other seafood dishes were just as memorable.
The korean fried chicken was beautifully elevated, & the cheese foam complemented it perfectly. I also loved the sotbap with mackerel, made with seasonal ingredients that kept it fresh & special each time.
Other standouts were the beef tartare, the refreshing & beautifully presented watermelon salad, & the gimbap, which felt elevated & refined.
A special mention goes to the desserts. I'm usually not a dessert person, but their korean-fusion creations completely won me over.
Ultimately, Giwa is worth a visit if you're in Montréal. It's elevated Korean food with intention behind every dish.
the fried chicken (dakgangjeon) was super good it surprised me!! beef tartare (yukhwe) & beef noodle (yukgaejang) were also rly good. the gimbap too but feels kinda small for the price
but we mainly came for the raw seafood platter (haemul jang) which was $90 at MP & none of us rly liked it. it was either too salty or slimey or just not to our taste
we reserved & service was rly good, they took the time to explain each dish & how to eat it
In addition to Korean BBQ & Korean fried chicken, we can now enjoy authentic Korean food in Verdun. Giwa's menu is not large, but every dish is delicious. We went there twice & tried almost everything on the menu. Our favorites were the gimbap, beef gimbap, & chocolate brownie.
