Well respected by his peers and known to Montreal foodies, chef Hiroshi Kitano is still a “well-kept secret” for ordinary mortals.
The one who likes to cook alone in his restaurant on Avenue du Mont-Royal, Kitano Shokudo (formerly called Otto Bistro), is getting a little more exposure with the opening of Café Ohayo, in the neighboring premises.
To get this new project rolling, he teamed up with his loyal employee Samath Mom and hired a small team in the kitchen, led by chef Kohko Hasegawa, and at the helm of the Marzocco, the Cadillac of espresso machines. The two owners are coffee lovers and they serve beans from Yamabiko, an excellent microroaster established in Sutton.
It is in the most relaxed setting possible that you can comfort yourself with delicious westernized Japanese cuisine, from Wednesday to Sunday, during the day only.
There is a particularly rich tamago sando, in a toast version. The slice of toast is topped with ultra-creamy egg salad. It is possible to add salmon roe or ham to this wonder, as desired.
Much is said about Ohayo’s “shrimp burger” (meaning “good morning” in Japanese), which is less common than the fried chicken sandwich. But it’s the spicy vegan ramen in a creamy sesame sauce that’s the most warming at this time of year.
145, avenue du Mont-Royal Est, Montreal