Since its opening last summer, Château Maneki has attracted crowds in Villeray near the Metropolitan highway with a unique experience combining kitsch decor and a Japanese-inspired menu.
Posted yesterday at 4:00 p.m.
Partners Kevin Lee, Michael Chan, Mandy Zeng and Michael Tran are friends from Louis-Riel high school. The quartet is also behind the Maneki Comptoir Asiat’ (more focused on classic Asian dishes), which opened in 2017 on rue Hochelaga.
It took them more than three years to renovate and obtain the required permits to give another life to an old creamery on Boulevard Crémazie, adorned with pastel-colored turrets, taking inspiration from the Orange Julep. When it opened last summer, you could only eat outside or in your car.
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
New on the menu: Maneki dogs, which reinvent hot dogs and tacos. This one is also inspired by Hawaii with Spam.
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
The specialty of Château Maneki: pressed and flambéed sushi
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
We love tiki mugs.
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
A small staircase allows employees to carry dishes from the small kitchen upstairs, while customers take another staircase outside.
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-But now Maneki Castle is nothing more than a snack bar. A charming dining room opened at the beginning of January above the kitchen and it is best to reserve to have one of the approximately 20 seats there. The tight space makes us feel like we’re in a secret Tokyo haunt with a bright bar, lounge music and pink velvet benches. “We are in a 400 square foot room, so we had to be creative,” says Kevin Lee, who highlights the contribution of designer Nicholas Sangaré.
Other new features: a liquor license and additions to the menu. Flambéed tuna skewers (yakitori type) and vegetable starters, including Japanese coleslaw and peeled cherry tomatoes marinated in dashi. Not to mention five varieties of Maneki Dogs, a revisited version in the form of hot dog sushi or tacos, including one with Spam designed following a trip to Hawaii. A stay in Italy inspired a tasty matcha tiramisu.
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
The benches and decor are in shades of pink and gray.
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Let’s say that Château Maneki does not go unnoticed on Boulevard Crémazie.
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Signature dishes – to share or… not! – there remain the pressed and flambéed sushi (the one with shrimp will particularly please young and old). We also enjoy tartars and domburi-type rice dishes (salmon, eel, tuna) and it’s difficult to resist the non-alcoholic cocktails served in tiki cups shaped like a frog or pig.
“Our goal is to be unique with dishes that you can’t find elsewhere,” Kevin Lee couldn’t sum up better. He and his team will strive to continually offer new customer experiences. “We’re having fun!” »
740, boulevard Crémazie Est, Montreal
Visit the Château Maneki website
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