The biggest suprise I found in Montpellier is the availablity and the quality of Asian food. Of course, it can’t be compared to the Vancouver/Toronto level, but in this town very remote from the rest of Asia, I had a pleasant Wonton Noodle Soup and a Pork Spring Roll in this place called
- Shanghai Fast Food
- 13, Rue du Verdun 04 67 92 07 58
Yesterday, my classmate Carrie and I wandered around the street and found a very “sympathique” (I had to use this french word that means nothing in English!) takeout Thai places. Things are measured in 100g, and I ordered a 100g of Pad Thai and another 100 g of the rice vermicelli. It was divine! Very good quality in that place, aibiet the service was a bit chaotic.Tomorrow would be my first time driving in France on the Autoroute! It would not be as exciting as the Autobahn, but still I am driving in Europe!
- Grasse
- Nice
- Monaco
- Aix-en-Provence
- Marseilles [Bouillabaisse]
Highlights for Bouillabaisse!It’s all started with my first love at Provence Marinaside in Yaletown, Vancouver. Since my first tasting of Bouillabaisse (a tomato stew with fresh seafood and herbs cooked in the Provençal style), my passion for seafood has only grown stronger by the day. Marseilles is the Mecca of Bouillabaisse. This 30€ Bouillabaisse is complimented with a lovely terrace at Le Mérou Bleu on rue St-Saëns. (1)
Restaurant tasting calendar:
- Nov 20 - Dec 8: Montpellier
- Nov 24 - 26: Sete, Carcassonne, Toulouse
- Dec 1 (Friday)
- Dec 2 (Saturday)
- Dec 3 (Sunday)
- Dec 4 (Monday)
- Dec 9 - 16: Paris
- Dec 12 - 14: Barcelona
- Dec 21: Depart Paris for Vancouver.
Stay tune for more updates. If you have any suggestions for restaurants in region, feel free to send me a message.
montpellier and asian food?
no way. at least not in the described restaurant.
Shanghai Fast Food
13, Rue du Verdun 04 67 92 07 58
i did not try another place.
just last weekend(22/3/2007) i went there with two friends to get s/th to eat.
we ordered a variety of pork, beef and vegetarian rolls. also had thailandais rice, noodles and another kind of rice. the main plates included beef, chicken and another dish i can´t remember the name of.
first of all. the whole “restaurant” is build up on microwaves! the food is stored cold. only the rolls are fried over and over again, but still not long enough to be even close to hot.
but obviously microwave power is not well developed in france: the described dishes were not even close to hot either! how can that be? if they´d be having these machines since two hours i´d agree that can happen. eversthing else has got to be pure desinteres in customers appreciation.
this has got to be the worst place I have eaten in for a long time. I even felt a little sick hours later.
besides the cold food facts, the did not - even though we do speak french - offer us the ususally complimentary bottle of plain water to go along with our meal, which was btw by far not priced cheaply @ around 30 Euro altogether.
The tase as far as existent is below anything i´d consider food. it was basic at best (an i have just been to asia 2 month ago… so i know what i am saying).
the place itself is simple and adhers to the lowest standards you might feel safe to eat.
the non existent fresh air system had the smoke from many cigarettes get straight to our food in no time.
I CANNOT recommend going there. maybe get a drink. or in the summer you might even consider buying food and going outside, since the food might heat up from the sun….
if you think that is sarcastic, go there and you will find it exactly as described.
still montpellier is a nice city. enjoy the time there and rather get a pizza or anything else.
best.
thanks notreally.
Well, I lived in Vancouver for 10 years and am very accustomed to high quality Asian food.
Your points are well taken. I feel sorry about your experience. That Shanghai Fast Food place on 13, Rue du Verdun was a bit of a surprise for me. I was not expecting to have any asian food there. It serves me as a small comfort meal of home living many miles away.
Most non-expensive asian foods in the south of France are not going to be like Asia in general. They are usually premade foods, with Har Guo, Siu Mai, Spring Rolls, Rice Vermicelli, and beef and chicken. And it’s heated up when you order.
One of the better Asian food I had is in Nice, not too far away from the Boulevard Jean Medicine. Take a look at the pic here:
The water jug in that Shanghai Fast Food place is right under the cashier. It’s a bit hidden and you need to ask them (en francaise). Hopefully you manage to find other great food in Montpellier. They have:
- great crepe at Chez Faye on Grand rue Jean Moulin
- homestyle soup, sandwich, and dessert lunch combo on rue l’University.