This little Szechuanese/Taiwanese restaurant is one of my favourite Asian restaurants in Montréal. Asian food can either be delicate and subtle (think Japanese or Cantonese) or a firework of complex spices and tastes that will knock your socks off. Gia Ba falls in the latter category and does it very well.
Even though the menu contains some classic Cantonese dishes, it is the Szechuanese dishes that stand out for us. Our favourites include the green beans (crispy and full of flavour), the decadent and silky Yu Xiang eggplant, the cumin chicken, spare ribs and the Brussels sprouts (I usually dislike Brussels sprouts but this restaurant uses a 3-steps cooking technique that turns it in a delicious crispy and sweet and spicy dish, almost like if they were candied). In the appetizers, the mushrooms or cucumbers with nuts in a spicy home sauce are delicious and the hot and sour soup is one of the best I had. Their version of the classic general Tao chicken (in delicate and crispy panko) is one of the best I ever had, at par with l'Orchidée de Chine. There are also a few interesting Taiwanese dishes on the menu.
The decor is simple and modern, and the owners Andy and Debbie are very friendly and hospitable.