Hwang Kum

Hwang Kum is a family-run Korean restaurant on Rue Sherbrooke Ouest in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, the neighbourhood with Montreal’s largest concentration of Korean businesses. Owners Jun Beom Lim and Young Ui Hong took over in 2004; Young creates the recipes while Jun runs the dining room. The small room seats about 30 people.

How to get there

The restaurant is on the NDG stretch of Sherbrooke Ouest. Villa-Maria metro station (orange line) is about a 15-minute walk; the 105 bus along Sherbrooke Ouest connects to Vendôme station and stops close by. The surrounding blocks are lined with Korean grocers, cafés and restaurants.

What to order

The bibimbap is often named among the best in the city. Try the galbi (marinated beef short ribs), kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) and haemul pajeon (seafood and green onion pancake). The menu also includes cold noodles, jeongol hot pots and specialities such as jokbal (braised pork trotters) and golbaengi (spicy whelk salad). Drinks include soju and makgeolli.

Atmosphere

Hwang Kum feels like a family kitchen: simple décor, attentive service and food that tastes homemade. It is well suited to small groups and families, and the generous banchan (side dishes) make every meal feel abundant.

Plan your visit

Hwang Kum is a small family restaurant, so it is best for groups of two to six. Call ahead if you are a larger party. The stretch of Rue Sherbrooke Ouest around it is home to Korean grocery stores, bakeries and cafés, which make a great walk before or after your meal. Notre-Dame-de-Grâce is a residential neighbourhood with a relaxed pace, and Monkland Village, with its shops and terraces, is a short walk north.

Good to know

• Address: 5908 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, Montréal, QC H4A 1X7
• Phone: 514-487-1712
• Getting there: Bus 105 on Sherbrooke Ouest, or about 15 minutes on foot from Villa-Maria metro
• Neighbourhood: Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG)
• Cuisine: Korean
• Budget: $$
• Best for: Comfort food, small groups, family dinners
• Tip: The room is small; call ahead for groups. Combine your visit with a walk along Sherbrooke Ouest, home to many Korean shops and cafés

Why it is on our list

Hwang Kum is a warm, reliable introduction to Korean home cooking in Montreal’s Korean community hub. Discover more of the city’s neighbourhoods in our neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guide.

Hours, menus and prices change often. Confirm opening hours and reservation policies directly with the restaurant before you go.