Petit Poisson Dumpling: gourmet dumpling shop on the Main

If you are familiar with dumplings, skip straight to the next paragraph; if you have never heard of them, dumplings are the Eastern answer to the Italian ravioli (or rather it’s the other way around): delicious little pouches of dough filled with minced meat or vegetables, generally served steamed or pan-fried. The Chinese claim them as their own, as do the Koreans and most other Asian countries. Go figure.

First established on Sainte-Catherine West, Petit Poisson Dumpling now has a second address on the Main, at the corner of Bagg to be precise. In its very small storefront, one or two very focused cooks are busy hand-crafting every dumpling to-order. First comes the paper thin rice flour dough, cut out in little circles which are then filled by hand with your choice of filling. The dumplings are then placed in bamboo steamers before being handed to the cook.

A generous selection of dumplings

All dumplings at Petit Poisson Dumpling are offered cooked in two ways: either steamed in lovely bamboo steamers or pan-fried. In both cases, happiness is complete.

The variety of dumplings offered by this modest establishment is truly impressive: pork and chives, chicken and mushrooms, lamb and coriander, beef and onion, chives, egg and shrimp, to name just a few. There are also intriguing very dark dumplings made with cuttlefish ink. Several combo options should allow everyone to find their happiness here. For lunch, the midday specials already have many followers. A serving of 12 (fried) or 10 (steamed) dumplings is enough to comfort anyone. In case of a very big appetite, precede it with a bowl of chicken wonton soup and a seaweed salad. We strongly suggest eating with friends and sharing a few different selections, both pan-fried and steamed.

A not-to-be-missed address

The dumplings here are so good that it would be a shame to pass by this discreet address without noticing it; Petit Poisson Dumpling is modestly located in a basement, but at the bottom of a few steps, it benefits from a bright homemade decor with a large mural and some very colourful works hanging on the walls, including a reproduction of Tintin’s “The Blue Lotus.” The furniture is functional and sturdy, but the mouthwatering smells emanating from the open kitchen quickly distract us, adding to the generally cheerful and animated atmosphere.

The service, provided by Anna and Ivy, is very kind, and — especially if your Mandarin, Wu, or Cantonese are lacking — you really appreciate that the staff makes commendable efforts to serve you in the official language of your choice in Canada.

Happy discovery!

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Mikael Lebleu

Last update: January 17, 2024

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