Chouchou is a small eponymous bistro in Montreal’s Little Italy built around the cooking of chef Chouchou Jia, whose background moves between Chinese culinary traditions and the structure of French kitchens. Raised in Xinjiang and trained in Toronto before moving to Montreal, Jia developed their approach through years working in classical restaurants, including a formative stretch at Île Flottante.

The menu reflects that trajectory with dishes grounded in Chinese flavours and regional references, but plated and structured like bistro cooking. A Shanghai-style cold tofu preparation might appear as a refined tartare, while pork cheek marinated in char siu sauce is finished on charcoal and served with a rich hollandaise. The room, designed by Atelier Paradis, seats roughly 35 guests and keeps things compact and warm, with a natural wine list and a short cocktail program built to complement the food rather than compete with it.