Flamme du Sichuan: Bold, Generous Sichuan Cooking on Bishop

Some restaurants quietly soften their recipes to please everyone. Flamme du Sichuan does the opposite. On Bishop Street, a few steps from Concordia University, this address has quickly become one of the most compelling places in Montreal to dig into real Sichuan cooking, the kind where chili and Sichuan pepper sit right at the centre of the experience, no apologies made.

Red Lanterns, but Quiet Enough to Talk

You get the spirit of the place the moment you push the door open. Red lanterns, glowing signs and small details nod to the busy back-streets of certain Chinese cities, warm without feeling cluttered. But unlike those bustling streets, Flamme du Sichuan stays fairly calm, the kind of room where you can actually hear each other across the table. It’s comfortable and roomy, which makes it a natural fit for groups: this is a spot where you order a pile of dishes, set them down in the middle of the table and share in a gang. Portions are gigantic, and the prices stay gentle considering just how much food lands in front of you.

Where Chili and Sichuan Pepper Run the Table

The menu leans hard into Sichuan classics. The mountain-style laziji stands out for its balance between the crunch of the chicken and the depth of the spices. The fish in golden broth, fragrant with pickled chilies and pickled vegetables, plays its heat against a welcome jolt of acidity. If you’re chasing something bolder still, the dry-fried meats and the rabbit with pickled chilies show off the richness and depth the region is known for. This is a serious destination when you want to eat properly spicy.

Even the Vegetables Get the Same Care

The greens here are treated with as much attention as the mains. The pea shoots sautéed with garlic and the dishes built around green chilies are proof that Sichuan cooking is about far more than its heat level. And because not everyone arrives with the same tolerance, several dishes can be dialled up or down in spice depending on who’s around the table.

Generous, full of flavour and built to be shared, the plates at Flamme du Sichuan stay true to the spirit of a real Sichuan meal. It’s an excellent place to get to know the full complexity of a cuisine that reaches well beyond the simple fire of its chilies.

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Alison Slattery

Updated on June 04, 2026

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