FAQ
Who is the head chef?
Michel Lim is a chef with a unique background, passionate about food from all origins and the stories behind them. Born to Cambodian parents and raised in the Saint-Michel neighborhood of Montreal, he was exposed to many cultures, which he embraced through his curiosity and friendships. In his teens, Michel discovered hip-hop dance, and to this day, he is a prominent figure in the Canadian hip-hop scene. It was through this art form that Michel learned the importance of finding and developing his identity.
As a food lover and natural gatherer, Michel enjoyed cooking a variety of dishes from different cultures to share with friends. In 2014, he decided to take his passion for cooking to the next level and created a pop-up restaurant called MangeDansMonHood, a nod to his neighborhood, Saint-Michel. The success of this event was a turning point in his life, leading Michel to become a food entrepreneur. A few years later, he became the chef-owner of his restaurant, La Belle Tonki, where he develops fusion dishes and funky creations rooted in his heritage and reflective of his creativity. He also runs the snack bar MangeDansMonHood, a reference to his pop-ups!
What La Belle Tonki's mission?
We truly want everyone to be happy. To make that happen, changes in the industry are necessary, and we’re not afraid to take action!
- Provide financial well-being to our employees, ensuring they have access to benefits like those at other companies.
- Maintain a positive atmosphere. Life’s too short to waste on bad vibes!
- Shift the way customers view the restaurant industry and its employees. It’s a passion-driven profession!
- Change perceptions of Asian cuisine—there’s so much more to it than what’s typically offered on the market.
- Evolve the restaurant industry with new ways of doing things and treating people.
What is La Belle Tonki’s vision?
Here’s what we picture when we close our eyes:
- A place where everyone feels at home, where everyone talks to each other (staff, customers, suppliers). Treating everyone like a guest in our house.
- People seeing Asian cuisine in a new light, always amazed to discover something new with us.
- A place that reflects Montreal’s diversity and becomes a must-visit destination. A place where people come to experience the food, drinks, staff, and vibe.
What are you doing for the environment?
We live in a world of overconsumption, and the current crisis doesn’t encourage waste reduction. Many people order online, and lots of containers aren’t compostable, ending up in the trash. We compost! Do you?
Do you have a container return program?
When you accumulate containers from five meals, we’ll give you two free spring rolls with your next order by mentioning it in the comments.
- Only containers provided by our restaurant are accepted.
- Containers must be clean.
- We will verify your eligibility before including the spring rolls.
- We’ll rewash the containers in a dishwasher.
- Return the containers in a sanitized bag.
- On-site return only.
About containers, straws, and utensils:
- We make sure to use only compostable or recyclable utensils.
- We don’t automatically provide utensils with every takeout order. You need to ask for them.
- We charge a small fee for utensils.
- For our pho soups, we don’t automatically include a clear plastic bag for bean sprouts or plastic containers for sauces like other places. You need to ask for them.
- Bean sprouts are placed directly in the box.
- We sell bottles of sauces so customers can have them on hand at all times.
- We maximize the use of plastic containers by reusing them as much as possible before recycling.
- We encourage our customers to do the same.
- We don’t provide straws for cocktails or other drinks.
If you mention that you’ll bring your own containers, please arrive early so we can take and use them. We reserve the right to prioritize smooth restaurant operations, so we may not always be able to accommodate or may need to use our containers instead.
Why aren’t you open more hours?
Providing top-quality food requires time and expertise to ensure the best quality for you. It’s not as easy as hiring just anyone for the job. We truly care about the quality of our food and service, as well as our quality of life—we’re both family men.
What comes with a pho?
All our pho soups are served with lime, Thai basil, onions, green onions, cilantro, and bean sprouts.
Is the poutine good?
Our poutines have won the “Best Poutine” award at Poutine Week three times—in 2019, 2021, and 2023. So, our poutine isn’t just good, it’s incredible!
Why don’t you use homemade fries?
We tried it for a short time, but the flavors didn’t do justice to our creations. It also makes us stand out from other diners.
Why are so many dishes spicy?
Just like in Asia, dishes are often spicy. We try to stay true to the original flavors without altering them too much. Eat it regularly, and you’ll gradually get used to it!
Do you take reservations?
It’s first come, first served, unless you’re a group of six or more. We recommend arriving before 6 PM or after 8 PM to avoid peak hours. Otherwise, we have a good reminder system and can text you when a spot opens up!
