Dat Aliis: Vietnamese street-food experience in Montreal

Dat Aliis is the new Vietnamese counter that opened in November 2020 on Beaubien Street. It is a first adventure for the owners Élie Brisebois, Quang Truong, and Nguyen Hong Hoa. Long-time friends, Élie and Quang each had hopes to run a restaurant one day. The stars aligned in 2020 when Quang’s mother spotted a space for rent where Rosemont meets Little Italy. Dat Aliis went from a dream to a very concrete project overnight. About two months later, the space was furnished, and the menu was decided.

Pleasure and freshness

The concept here is to recreate a Vietnamese street-food experience as faithfully as possible. The name of the establishment reflects the owners’ intentions, as Dat Aliis is the Latin name of Dalat, the hometown of Quang Truong and Nguyen Hong Hoa. This name means “to offer pleasure to some and freshness to others”. This philosophy is at the heart of all the dishes made in house. The goal is to share the pleasure of eating healthy and cooking fresh food. There are no dairy products in the recipes, and the menu offers a variety of vegan and gluten-free options. The owners even plan to establish a hydroponic system to grow their herbs on site. It doesn’t get much more local than this!

Mom-approved staples

On the menu, we find the staple dishes of Vietnamese cuisine: bánh mì, spring rolls, salads, and bowls of vermicelli, with several protein options: lemongrass chicken, roasted pork, shrimp, and seasoned tofu (particularly popular with customers). Quang develops the recipes, but they have to be approved by his mother before they can appear on the menu. The menu is not expected to change anytime soon, but additions are planned for 2021. The goal is to put forward dishes that are easy to transport, and their focus is on take-out and delivery. Despite opening in the middle of a pandemic, this was the owners’ initial plan.

Even though the counter is already very popular, the owners do not plan to turn to table service in the near future. The space still has a dozen seats where customers can eventually savour their meal. What we like about Dat Aliis is the owners’ desire to create a bond with their customers based on shared values through food, as Élie Brisebois points out. “We love the authenticity of the flavours and the fact that we make people aware of their food. We put well-being first, and we share our customers’ values.”

Don’t be fooled; behind the minimalist appearance of Dat Aliis lies a clever formula… and a winning one.

Written by Marc-Antoine Ranger
Photography by Dat Aliis

Last update: September 20, 2022

Make a suggestion