Biiru Izakaya Montréal

Biiru Izakaya is a Japanese fusion izakaya restaurant in Montréal that’s inspired by Tokyo’s lively back alleyways and the vibrant energy of downtown Montréal. The restaurant serves a variety of small, meant to be shared Japanese fusion dishes as well as signature cocktails and alcohols on the menu. Step inside the restaurant and you’ll see how the inspirations are reflected in the way they decorate the space. The Japanese artworks painted on the walls, the vibrant neon lights illuminating different corners of the room and the Japanese paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling certainly reminiscence of the energy one would find while walking around the street of Tokyo. The restaurant has plenty of seatings that could accommodate everyone from solo diners to big groups, making this place a great spot for every occasion.

I went to Biiru during my trip to Montréal because my friend suggested the place. She’s been there a couple of times before and liked the food so she wanted me to try it to while we’re in town. It was a Thursday night and we tried to get a last minute reservation online but there’s no table available for 7:30 pm on the system. Since we’re not in a rush, we decided to just try our luck with walk-in. And guess luck was on our side because they actually have a table available for us at the outdoor area. The weather wasn’t too cold (it was early October and the outdoor area was covered with heater lamps on different corners of the area) so we thought sitting outside is probably okay.

Since we’re at an izakaya, we decided to just order a bunch of dishes to share between the two of us so we can try different things. What we ordered:

🍹 Onsen (C$15.95) | 8/10

Sparking Wine, Shiso, Green Tea Syrup, Grapefruit, Passionfruit

My friend ordered this one and she said it was good. She liked it and finished the whole thing.

🍵 Matcha Matcha (C$10.95) | 8/10

I ordered the Matcha Matcha mocktail. Nice matcha, not too strong, not too bitter, not too sweet. It has a nice earthy taste and definitely not something that I usually taste in an iced matcha (in a good, interesting way).

🍽️ Korn Korokke (C$11.95) | 7.5/10

Corn Croquettes, Japanese Curry, Cream, Fukunjinzuke

The croquettes were nicely fried and the curry wasn’t too strong. 

🥟 Pork Gyoza (C$10.95) | 8/10

Homemade Pork Japanese Raviolis, Gyoza Sauce

Great pork gyoza. The gyoza skin wasn’t too thick and the pork was flavorful. 

🍳 Okonomiyaki (C$12.95) | 7/10

Bonito Japanese Pancake with Mushroom & Cabbage, Truffle Oil

The okonomiyaki was just okay for me. Seasoning was a bit under for my personal taste but texture wise, it was pretty good.

🍽️ Kaisen Don (C$20.95) | 8/10

Salmon, Tuna, Emeabi, Ikura, Eel, Tamago, Kampyo, Shiso, Cucumber, Furikake, Sesame Seed, Rice

The Kaisen Don was pretty good. It tasted fresh and and light.

🍽️ Gyudon (C$14.95) | 7/10

Sliced Beef, Caramelized Onions, Beni Shoga, Rice

Honestly I was excited to try their gyudon but the beef was pretty dry for my personal preference (I like gyudon with more tender, juicier meat and a little bit of sauce). Taste was okay, it’s just the beef that we got was a bit dry.

All and all, although I liked some of the dishes better than the others, the food overall was pretty good for a modern Japanese fusion izakaya spot. Service was great and the staff who waited our table was nice. The noise level at this place was pretty high though since it is a drinking place and the acoustic of the outdoor area isn’t necessarily the best one. We were seated next to a table of ladies who were drinking quite heavily and at some point me and my friend had to shout while talking to each other because they were talking so loud. We left not long after we finished our meal because I had no energy left to shout over the noise of the room. 

But if you’re looking for a good Japanese fusion izakaya spot with great drinks menu and lively atmosphere in Montreal, Biiru is worth to try.

 

Biiru Montréal

Address: 1433 Rue City Councillors, Montréal, QC H3B 1B1, Canada
Telephone: +15149031555
Hours: Monday-Friday 11:30am-2:30pm, 5-10pm | Closed on Sundays

Instagram: @biiru_mtl
Biiru Website

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Fei Da Chu Coco Park Shenzhen • 费大厨 福田星河 COCO Park

Fei Da Chu (费大厨) is a popular family-style restaurant chain in China that specializes in authentic stir-fry Hunan cuisine. Its signature Chili Stir-Fried Pork (费大厨辣椒炒肉) made out of green chili peppers and premium pork is one of their best selling menu that you can find in almost every table in this restaurant. Considering the affordable price point, the generous portion and the quality of the dishes served, it’s no wonder that Fei Da Chu became one of the more popular dining spots among the locals as well as tourists with long queues at almost every outlets that they have.

The founder, Chef Fei Lianghui, opened the first Fei Da Chu restaurant in 2003 and it has now grown to more than 200 locations across 16 different cities in China due its popularity which also has earned him the title of “China’s King of Stir-Fry”.

If you are traveling to one of the bigger cities in China, there’s a big possibility you’ll probably pass by one of the chains of this restaurant. Their green-colored branding (a nod to the Hunan province that is dominated by green landscapes I assume) is pretty eye-catching and if that’s not enough to draw your attention, the crowd that is usually formed in front of the restaurant probably will. 

I had the chance to try this restaurant during my first ever trip to China at the end of last year. My family and I were exploring Coco Park in Shenzhen and ended up at Fei Da Chu for dinner as suggested by our local guide. We got to the restaurant a little before 6 pm and there was already a lot of people waiting for tables in front of the store. Put our name down for a table of five and waited to be called. 

Considering how busy the restaurant was, the wait wasn’t too bad actually because 25 minutes later, we got seated at our table. Placed our orders and soon after, the food started to come out (service was pretty fast at this place. And also at most places in China I noticed during my trip).

What we ordered:
(Also, just a disclaimer, I am not fluent in mandarin so all these English menu names below are from Google Translate. I apologize in advance if anything is wrong or inaccurate. When we ordered, we literally just relied on Google Translate or just based it off of the vibe of the pictures.)

🍹 The “King” Iced Lemon Tea 大王冰柠檬茶 ¥19 | 8/10

The Ultimate Chili Antidote (700ml)

Refreshing Lemon Tea that really goes well with (a lot of) the spicy food on the menu. And for the price (≈$2.76) I think it’s pretty worth it (you can’t really see it from this pic, but the glass was pretty huge, almost as big as my face). You can even share it between two or three people I think.

🍟 Organic Vegetarian Crab 有机素螃蟹 ¥19 | 8.5/10

Okay, funny story. I don’t know if the English translation is a miss or not (I checked on a couple of different websites and they all gave me the same translation so I guess this is correct. But if it’s incorrect, mandarin-speaking readers, please let me know and leave the correct translation in the comment section), but apparently this is a deep-fried organic vegetarian crab. When I ordered it, I legit thought it was sweet potato fries just based off of the pictures on the menu. And honestly, it also tasted like sweet potato fries (at least to me and my family. Are we delulu? Lol). And it was good. The breading was nice and crispy and it wasn’t too oily. We all liked it. The only thing I’m now questioning is wether we ate sweet potato or vegetarian crab (or maybe both are the same thing?). 

🥚 Steamed Organic Eggs (with Guoyang Minced Pork) 蒸有机鸡蛋 (加果陽肉米) ¥35 | 8.5/10

Silky smooth egg with juicy minced pork. Seasoning was spot on as well, not too salty. Super comforting dish.

🐖 Fei Da Chu's Stir-fried Pork with Green Chili 费大厨辣椒炒肉 ¥68 | 9.5/10

Tender meat with bold flavors and the right amount of smokiness. A very nice dish and I get why this is their signature dish. It is a bit spicy for me who can’t really eat spicy food, but I still ate it (with a lot of rice to cut down the spice) cause it was good. Although our guide was saying that that day, the dish was a little spicier than usual. 

🐖 Pineapple Crispy Pork 菠萝酥肉 ¥39 | 8.5/10

Tender and juicy pork with pineapple sweet and sour sauce. The sweet and sour sauce wasn’t too overpowering, making it enjoyable to eat with the pork meat. I also enjoyed this one.

🥬 Wok-Torn Cabbage 千锅手撕包菜 ¥25 | 8/10

Simple and straightforward dish. Nice and clean taste, seasonings were also just right. 

Since their portion is a bit big, we did have some leftovers at the end of our meal and had them to go. I think with what we ordered (1 appetizer, 4 main dishes and white rice that came in a rice cooker pot), it’s probably good for 6 or even 7 people, depending on how big your appetite is (our group is probably on the normal to smaller appetite spectrum). 

If you are in China and happened to pass by this chain, I definitely recommend you to try this place. The restaurant is good for family style meal so come with a bigger group (or a big appetite) if you want to try different dishes. Waiting time is not bad either since the line moves pretty fast (at least when I was there) and they usually provide waiting area with chairs so you can wait comfortably. Also, my parents liked the food so if you’re bringing older people, this place is probably a pretty safe bet.

 

Fei Da Chu Coco Park Shenzhen • 费大厨辣椒炒肉 福田星河COCO Park

Address:
深圳市福田區購物公園Coco Park B1層
Coco Park (B1) 268 Fuhua Road 3, Futian District, Shenzhen

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Protokoll Roasters Yeonhui • 프로토콜 연희점

Protokoll Roasters Yeonhui (프로토콜 연희점) is a specialty coffee roastery cafe that is located in Yeonhui-dong (연희동). 

“PROTOKOLL is a specialty coffee roastery whose name originates from the German word meaning “storage” and “record.” It is a space that captures the process of documenting through the lens of coffee.

Records are preserved in thick notebooks, in moments of contemplation, and in the act of putting pencil to paper—remaining in all visible and invisible forms over time. From roasting profiles and extraction recipes to individual sensory impressions, we create a diverse archive shaped by every coffee experience.” —Protokoll

I found this place when I was doing my research on cafes around Yeonhui-dong area and the interior of the cafe was what first caught my attention. The cafe occupies the second floor of a pretty spacious building and is set up like what feels like an open floor architect firm. The coffee bar is made out of wooden architect drawers and their coffee and desserts display/cashier is set up on a drafting table. Pretty nice setup. The main seating area is filled with 8 sets of table of four with additional single seatings along the side walls next to the windows. The wooden furnitures combined with the metal chairs, study lamps and concrete walls really give the whole space a clean and modern vibe. 

The place has been on my cafe-to-go list for a while but since their menu is very coffee-centric, I thought it’s probably better for me to go with a friend who drinks coffee rather than alone so I can find out if their coffee is good. And the day finally came when my friend who works at a coffee bean company happened to be in Seoul and asked me to bring him and his colleagues to a good coffee spot. And so I took them to Protokoll Yeonhui, wanting to hear what they think about their coffee. 

We went on a Monday around 2 pm and the place was full. I was honestly surprised since it was a weekday (later I found out it’s even busier during the weekends so be prepare for that if you’re planning to visit). There was a wait list going on so we put our name down for a table. While waiting, I noticed that there were a lot of people who are studying/working on their laptops. Given how the cafe is set up, I guess it makes perfect sense why this place is popular for remote studying/working. Good thing we didn’t have to wait too long because 15 minutes later, we got a table. 

Since I don’t really drink coffee, I ordered their Earl Grey Classic (₩4,000) and it was good. I think cafes in Korea have great teas in general. The rest of the group ordered their Cafe Latte (₩6,000) with different kinds of coffee beans they have in rotation. The group’s verdict was they all think that Protokoll’s cafe latte was pretty good and the ratio between the coffee and the milk was great. The group gave an 8/10 rating for their coffee orders so I guess my coffee spot recommendation was a success.

If you’re looking for a great coffee spot or a place where you can study or work around Yeonhui-dong area, Protokoll Roasters Yeonhui (프로토콜 연희점) is definitely a good option to check out. 

 

Protokoll Roasters Yeonhui • 프로토콜 연희점

Address: 서울 서대문구 연희로 109 2층
Telephone: 0507-1389-6159
Hours: Everyday 09:00-22:00 (Last Order 21:30)

Instagram: @protokoll.roasters
Protokoll Website

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The Buoy

The Buoy is a Korean cafe and dessert shop in Hayes Valley, San Francisco that specializes in rice flour pastries. It all started with the owner’s curiosity on why there aren’t many rice flour desserts in the US, something like the Korean rice cake that she grew up eating a lot. Her curiosity eventually led her to go to Korea and learned all about rice flour pastries and baking techniques. She then started her baking journey in her own kitchen, creating and making desserts for friends and family who then encouraged her to sell them because they were so good. 

And so in the summer of 2024, The Buoy was born. Their dessert and drinks menu revolve around rice flour and Korean flavors (black sesame, mugwort, and injeolmi flavors to be exact) which certainly pretty unique and unusual in San Francisco’s cafe scene. Their moist, chewy and fluffy roll cakes become one of their best sellers and they also offer a variety of baked goods in their dessert lineup. In one interview, Esther Kim—the owner of Buoy—talked about the health benefits of rice flour desserts such as how easy they are to digest and they are naturally gluten-free. On top of making a lot of their ingredients in house—including the syrup, toasted coconuts and toasted black sesame—they also created their own unique recipes that are followed down to a T. Not only striving to serve delicious desserts, they also wish that everybody who comes to The Buoy feels happy, uplifted and welcomed. 

The cafe itself is pretty spacious, with three different seating areas to choose from—the regular tables, the tables with couches by the window and the bar seatings. There are more or less 40 seatings around the space, ranging from 2-person tables to 4-person tables.

I visited this place with my sister during one of our outings in San Francisco. She was actually the one who told me about the place and asked if I want to try it. I said the place looks interesting (and I saw the Black Sesame Latte and Ssuk Latte on the menu which I'm immediately sold on) so we went. We got there around 2:30 pm on a Saturday and the place was pretty full. But lucky for us, there was people leaving right when we got there so we immediately got a table and head to the counter to place our order. 

Later I found out, the person who took our order was the owner herself, Esther. We got to talking a little bit and she was super nice and friendly. She also gave us recommendations on which menu to order and we took her word for it and tried them. Here are what we ordered:

☕ Black Sesame Latte ($6) | 9/10

A very well-made Black Sesame Latte (and I’m a sucker for all things black sesame so super happy with this find). Not too sweet and comforting. Will definitely order again next time.

🍹 Raspberry Omija Soda ($6) | 9/10

Raspberry Cream, Omija

Very refreshing drink. The cream on top was delicious—not too thick and sweet—and complimented the raspberry soda really well. Could probably have that cream with any other drinks if I’m being honest

🥪 Umami Kimchi Panini ($16.5) | 9.5/10

Spicy Kimchi, Sweet Potato Mousse, Bacon, Corn Cheese, Herb Aioli, Salad/Chips

This is the panini that Esther recommended and I can see why she’s proud of this menu. This was our first time having a Kimchi Panini and we both agreed it was really good. Bursts of Korean flavors in every bite and super flavorful. It was very well executed, delicious and the portion was pretty generous too. Although maybe worth mentioning, it was a tad spicy for me who can’t really eat spicy food (that kimchi really had a pretty spicy kick for me) but it was fine for my sister who can.

By the time we finished our Kimchi Panini, we were fully stuffed which was a shame because honestly, I really wanted to try their Black Sesame Brownie. But maybe that’s just a sign for me to go back again next time. If you’re looking for a dessert cafe in San Francisco/Hayes Valley area with unique Korean flavors, this place is definitely worth trying. 

 

The Buoy

Address: 22 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Telephone: +14154169409
Hours: Everyday 11am-3pm

Instagram: @thebuoysf
Website: The Buoy

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Cloudfields

Cloudfields is an all-day brunch cafe/casual dining restaurant in Outram/Tiong Bahru area in Singapore that serves Asian fusion menu developed by a 1 Michelin-Starred chef, Chef Jason Tan. Their main dining room is decorated with wooden interior and an installation of (what I believe is) a modern take on clouds made out of interconnected slim metal pipes and fabric banners hanging on the ceiling. The structure is definitely unique and gives a nice little contrast between the more industrial cool vibes it exudes and the warmer wooden panels surrounding the space. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor areas with plenty of seatings around, making it a perfect place to wind down or catch up with friends over coffee or drinks and good food. 

Visited this place one month shy after it’s grand opening back in November 2025 because my Singaporean foodie friend suggested the place for our meetup when I was in town. Located on the second floor of Tan Boon Liat Building, the restaurant’s location is certainly unusual considering most of the tenants in that complex are design and furniture stores and it’s pretty out of the way of everything (imho). But I guess the nice interior of the place is somewhat a strong enough reason for people to make a trip to try their food (including me). 

Came here on a Saturday for brunch and the place wasn’t too busy when I got there around 11 am (at least for the outdoor area, the indoor area was pretty packed). I was running a little behind and my friend actually ordered for me while I was still on my way. By the time I got there, our orders came out not long after I was seated so service was pretty swift I’d say.

🍹 Morning Whisper (S$8) | 9/10

Zhejiang Green Tea, Osmanthus & Jasmine Flowers, Guava

Light and refreshing tea mix. Perfect for a hot weather. Love it. Also, on a side note, their drink menu is pretty extensive ranging from their coffee, unique signature tea mixes (8 options to be exact which I—as a non-coffee drinker—super appreciate and all of them actually looks interesting), juices, wine, sake to beer. An option for everybody. 

🍟 Cacio e Pepe Fries (S$18) | 8/10

Double-Fried, Potato Foam, Cracked Black Pepper, Pecorino Romano & Parmesan, Greek Honey

Nicely done fries and the portion was pretty generous. Although I didn’t really taste much of the Greek Honey (maybe I got the pieces without it).

🥐🥑 Croissant Avo (S$28)

Mashed Avocado, Toasted Croissant, House-Cured Parma Ham, Free-Range Eggs Sunny Side Up, Parmesan Snow

My friend ordered this and I didn’t try it, but she finished the whole thing and said it’s pretty good.

🍽️ Nori Clams Pasta (S$26) | 8.5/10

Little Neck Clams, White Wine, Kombu, Nori, Sous Vide Egg

The pasta was cooked al dente and nicely seasoned (not too heavy, not too salty, slightly on the lighter side). The sous vide egg also worked well with the pasta and added that extra creaminess to the overall dish after being mixed. I do wish they give a little bit more sauce though because I think the pasta kind of absorbed the sauce pretty quickly and it was a little dry when I ate it (or maybe I just didn’t eat quick enough since I was taking pictures first before I started eating). But overall, I enjoyed this dish. 

My friend and I sat on the outdoor area and the noise level wasn’t too bad. Although it got a bit hot at some point (but it was time for us to leave anyway so perfect timing I guess). Service was good and the staff was friendly. If you’re looking for an Asian fusion all-day brunch or dinner spot, you can give this place a try.

 

Cloudfields

Address: 313 Outram Rd, Level 2 Tan Boon Liat Building, Singapore 169073
Hours: Everyday 10am-10pm

Instagram: @lovecloudfields
Cloudfields Website

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