Tucked inside the ground floor of a bleak apartment complex at the corner of du Fort and Maisonneuve, Bonjour Supermarché could easily be overlooked by passerby. But within its bodega dimensions the vibrant market strikes a winning formula of quality and affordability that makes homemade Chinese food accessible.
Three things make this grocer stand out. First, the range of products. Despite its tiny size, Bonjour offers an impressive breadth of items imported from China, Korea, and Japan. Alongside countless noodles, sauces, and dried goods, the aisles are lined with otherwise hard to find varieties of meat, seafood, tofu and produce. Items include thinly sliced lamb (perfect for hot pots), pork knuckle, chicken feet, dried shrimp, Szechuan pepper, Chinese broccoli, several varieties of fresh and dried mushroom, kelp, homemade kimchi, and dozens of snacks and beverages that I've yet to work through. Second, the prices. Just about everything sells for significantly less than at other neighborhood grocers. Random sampling: edamame ($2.49 for a bag), soft tofu ($1.69), enoki mushrooms ($1.69 for 300 g), large bag of dried noodles (the good stuff, not the instant stuff - $3.99), udon noodles ($0.69). Third, fresh items like pork buns and tea eggs are sold ready-to-eat. They also have pre-made dim sum and dumplings that can be taken home and steamed.

Put simply, Bonjour Supermarché is a compact and comprehensive grocery store with traditional and modern items from all over Asia. It's cheap, it's inviting, and it has everything you need to make great food at home.


Bonjour Supermarché
2070, boulevard De Maisonneuve Ouest
Montreal, QC H3H 1K8
(514) 904-1804

On the now run-down walk to the Atwater area on St. Catherine Street, there is one pleasant view in the midst of run-down buildings and old scaffolding, of an older women sitting in a cafe window rolling out thin pieces of lavash bread. The fresh made-to-order lavash bread only adds to the old-world charm of Avesta Cuisine Regionale.

Picks is the latest restaurant to jump on the bandwagon of burgers-turned-trendy with fresh, and homemade "fast-food." Located right around the corner from the Buns on St Catherine, Picks is a more, shall we say diverse? burger shop.

With M:BRGR, Buns Hamburger House, and now Picks it would be easy for a restaurant of the sort to blend in and become just another burger place, but in my opinion, Picks sits right in the middle between the upscale M:BRGR and the casual Buns. Picks boasts the classic burger, but with three varieties, as well as a few sandwiches, poutine, their own homemade version of a Pogo, called a Kogo (otherwise known as Corndog) and toppings to almost rival the extravagant list at M:BRGR. These things combined are quickly raising the bar of the burger world in Montreal.

Everywhere I go I am always check out storefronts and tiny back streets for a new restaurant, grocery store, or coffee shop so when I spotted the opening of a new Indian Restaurant in the place where an awful Mexican restaurant near where I live, you can only imagine my excitement. Thali is a new eat-in or take-out restaurant that opened last week on St Marc Street right above St. Catherine. The plain exterior and un-pretentious sign hides a hidden jewel in the vast arena of Indian restaurants in Montreal.

The big inviting window facing into the cozy interior of Fonduementale is comforting enough to make even the busiest person slow down and glance into this strictly fondue restaurant. The ones lucky enough to walk up the brick steps and into the Victorian home-turned-restaurant are in for a pleasant surprise. Fonduementale is a traditional restaurant, a rare find these days in a culinary world full of fads like fast food turned trendy and asian fusion cuisine.

Finding a good reliable burger joint can be as difficult as finding your match made in heaven. I think I'm still looking for the best around, but so far Buns on the corner of St Marc and St Catherine West is tiding me over.

The former used bookstore, turned late night burger joint, Buns Hamburger House has only four things on the menu: burgers, double burgers, fried potatoes, and soda. What else does a person need?

I've been to Buns a few times before in the warmer months, so I figured I'd stop in during the colder months. With only one person working the charcoal grill, and about four tables to sit at, you're going to have a slight wait for that burger, but in my opinion, it's worth it.