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Dragon's Beard Candy
Categories: Food Desserts Food Specialty Food Candy Stores Desserts, Candy Stores [Edit]
52, Rue De La Gauchetiere OuestMontréal, QC H2Z 1C1
(514) 529-4601
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 pm - 7 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
25 reviews for Dragon's Beard Candy
Review Highlights
24 reviews in English
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Review from Apple C.
5/25/2012
I have never seen candy like this before so the concept and taste is unique to me. When I was watching them make the candy, it put me in a slight trance of relaxation. I'm weird. The price wasn't too bad but . The best part? They don't touch your money. You have to place it under a towel and then you have to take your change. The whole concept of the candy making and change giving was new to me and definitely something I won't forget. Plus, the story behind dragon beard candy is very interesting.
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Review from Leah B.
5/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
I never would have found this place if it wasn't for yelp.
I was in montreal and looking for something sweet to eat.
This is a tiny street faceing business that only sells one thing: DRAGON'S BEARD CANDY. You have to try this atleast once in your life. It's the weirdest thing.
My husband and I got 1 piece each (it was like $2). They're tiny little things (enough for one bite). The spun sugar starts to melt in your mouth and becomes a sticky, chewy concoction. Warning: the spun sugar will flake off and get everywhere, but it brushes away easily.
We laughed at eachtoher as we made faces due to the interesting techture and chewy expressions we were making.
I was hoping for something more chocolatey but I'm glad I still tried it. I doubt I'll find anything else like it in the near future. -
Review from Seb A.
1/25/2012
Being one of the only establishments in Chinablock that offers vegan fare (namely, the Dragon's Beard candy), I'm a frequent patron here when showing people around this great neighbourhood. I consider this tiny little place a staple - nay, an icon - of Montreal now. Every local has heard of this place and if they haven't, they're missing out.
The counter usually has a couple of dozen loonies and toonies sitting on it to give back as change on a whim when you pay for something. It's unbelievably novel (to me, anyway), amusing, and efficient.
You can watch them make the candy which is a hypnotizing process. Every time I've gone, they've been friendly and seemingly excited about the candy-making process as well as the candy itself. The candy itself is delightful. It melts on your tongue, and tastes like nothing you've tasted before (unless you're a candy hobbyist, maybe). It has happened before, however, where I've bought a box of stale-ish candies that were a little harder than they should have been, but I was still satisfied when ingesting them. It's only $4 for a box of 6. Not exactly pricey.
Dragon's Beard Candy is definitely worth trying out if you're in the neighbourhood. -
Review from Melanie S.
5/23/2012
I'm spoiled by this place for bubble tea now. The taro was like liquid candy awesomeness. I also tried the dragon's beard candy which is the weirdest thing I've ever had but yummy. I wasn't used to how trusting they were with cash transactions. They keep coins out so you can grab the change you need back since they can't touch it. (they're making the candy in front of you). It just wouldn't work in NY, lol.
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Review from Lauren M.
8/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Dragon's Beard Candy is a tiny kiosk in Chinatown that sells one single kind of unique Chinese candy - "Dragon's beard" (obviously) you can try a single piece for 75 cents.
3 stars just for the novelty factor. Candy is not good. Not surprisingly, considering Asian desserts and sweets in general tend to be not great.
The candy itself looks like a white gauze-like substance, sort of like something you would tape over a scabby knee to stop it from bleeding. There are peanuts and sugar inside, which fall out everywhere when you try to bite it. -
Review from Clare L.
8/14/2011 1 photo
The other day my new Yelp friend Gabriel O. had reviewed the Dragon's beard candy, and as I was walking by Chinatown, I couldn't resist!!
I got the owner (aka Maestro) to do the whole demo thing for me and I happily bought a box of 6 which was $4. I have always been fascinated by the whole creation but almost as fascinating was his math skills. I could have rehearsed the schpeel like 2000 times, but I would still need cue cards to remember all the numbers.
He was nice enough to ask us to take a video of it, and we obliged, and will post on youtube for him. It was delicious as always, and we happily went on our sugar high way after polishing it off! -
Review from Gabriel O.
Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC
8/11/2011
I was first introduced to Dragon's Beard Candy when I was taking cooking lessons nearby and they brought us on a tour of China Town. I was a little hesitant to try it at first, but with a little encouragement, I decided to buy a box.
Open your mouth and let it rest on your tongue until it melts! It's a little pricy at $6 a box I believe, but I make sure to buy it anytime I pass by.
I'm still stunned by how thin they can string the dough, but they're definitely doing something right, because I've introduced at least 5 people to it. -
Review from Jeff O.
7/27/2011
First time I've seen these angel hair sweet treats being made anywhere. It was fine, but Chinatown overall, for someone from Queens NY, isn't even endearing. The area is a bit touristy, so I just wanted to get in and get out. I'm glad I went, I won't be back when I come to Montreal again.
I did like the money system, where the money is laid out on the counter, and you take your own change. This is so the chef does not have to touch money, I suppose.Listed in: Canada!
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Review from Cat N.
12/26/2011
I love that you can find stuff like this in Montreal. The lady makes the candy in front of you and it melts when you put it in your mouth. It's so tedious and she loves making it because I dont think I saw her complain or put on a nasty face when I visited. She smiles and talk to her customers. The candy is stringy and wrapped around peanut and sugar. so cheap and delicious!!!
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Review from Helen L.
11/17/2010 1 photo
I have been to Montreal TWICE and after discovering this place the first time, I kept going back! It's this tiny little place in Chinatown that has this famous "Dragon beard candy", which I actually have never tried because I am OBSESSED with what I call "egg crates", and this place is one place of the few (at least I've never found them in Boston where I live) that have them!
Egg crates, as I call them, are these waffle-pancake-like thing but it's shaped like egg crates and each tiny "egg" shape, is soft and yummy! It's almost like a more delicious waffle that is soft on the inside. It cost $4 Candian per egg crate, but you will eat it fast!!! You tear off each egg piece and eat it while hot, and it's amaaazing!!
The woman who helped me was REALLY nice and you usually have to wait about 10 minutes for them because they make them fresh right there.
SO AWESOME! -
Review from katie j.
10/6/2010
So difficult to find places that sell dragon beard candy nowadays. I loved these treats when I was a child. Crushed peanuts and coconut in a cocoon of finely spun sugar. Visiting this little stand brought many memories of running around Chinatown malls in Vancouver and LA high on the sugary dragon goodness.
Thought it was a little pricey relative to what I'd recently seen in NYC Chinatown (CAD $4 vs USD $3 for a box of six), but not a big deal considering these treasures are so rare to come across! -
Review from Coty S.
5/29/2010 2 photos
I absolutely adore this little candy window shop. Life would be great if there were more street hawker type open front shops like this in the world. Where you can walk around and sample the best that all the vendors have to offer as small eats.
They also have cookie-like items, but the star of the show is the Dragon Beard Candy. The outside of the candy is like a sticky sugar pulled beard dusted in powdered sugar, the inside is filled with ground peanut, sugar, and sesame seeds. It is like the most delicious Butterfinger in the world. I think a box of the stuff is around $4 CAD, but it is totally worth the experience.
The candy is made fresh before your eyes, and the candy-maker is normally the only person working at the time. So, you put your $1 or $2 coins down on the table in front of them and take a container of candy. I think it is a great system. My Mandarin is better than my French, so you will find me on this street when I am in town.Listed in: Downtown Montreal
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Review from Lisa K.
9/15/2011
I definitely didn't realize how unusual this candy is when I was in college. Overall it's not my absolute favorite candy but the novelty makes it totally worth it. I think it's good either chewed or melted in the mouth, but somehow I always end up with peanut chunks in my windpipe.
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Review from Cathy B.
8/18/2008 3 photos
I've never heard of dragon beard candy until I saw Johnny Chin's stand in Montreal's Chinatown. Since then every time I've visited Montreal I've made sure to pick up a box of six (or more if I have the cash!). Just in case you're unfamiliar with dragon beard candy, they are bite sized treats made of spun sugar dough wrapped around ground peanuts, chocolate, coconut and sesame. You can say its more of a pastry than a candy.
Once the doors open a line is quickly formed with people gathering to order. So be there early, and make sure you speak up! Everything is made to order. He sets up his work station right outside his shop entrance and performs a sort of show as he makes each individual candy.
One of the special perks of the Dragon Beard Candy shop is that it is run completely by him and his family. So don't be surprised if you see his son and daughter helping out in the rush!
They offer other items on their menu such as bubble tea and egg rolls / balls, etc. But the item of choice is the dragon beard candy.
If there's one reason to come to Montreal this is it because it's pretty difficult to find these candies stateside. -
Review from Jean-Arellia T.
6/28/2009
Where has this been all my life!?!?
The delicate cotton candy like tendrils melt in your mouth! It really is akin to fine hair, but sweet and sugary; and a surprising pairing with the nuts.
I have to hunt it down in the bay! -
Review from Debbie P.
2/27/2010 1 photo
This is the only place I know left in North America that makes the dragon beard candy.
For those who don't know what dbc is... it's this fine sugar candy that is made kind of like pasta in a sense... the candy is strung and strung over and over again until it's a super fine weave then strung together with a sugar, peanut and salt mixture inside.
It's the Chinese version of cotton candy, but much tastier... -
Review from Jennie C.
7/14/2011
I'm from Taiwan and didn't know about this thing until I went to Montreal! Very cool sweet, made right in front of your eyes. The pulled sugar strands melt in your mouth, and the sweet cruchy peanuts and sesame seeds add another layer of flavor and texture. Since it's mostly sugar, this is a sweet dessert. Even a dessert fiend like me can only take one at a time. But certainly worth seeking out! (And it's cheap!)
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Review from soy y.
4/28/2009
yelp + 10!
I never would have thought to look for this place if I hadn't seen this review first.
This place is very unique and the candy is really good! We brought a bunch back for presents and I might end up eating it all... My friends better make an effort to see me sometime soon!
Very friendly too! -
Review from Lalaine V.
7/20/2011
Located in the Quartier Chinois it's easy to walk past the shop if you're not paying attention. We actually had to backtrack. The store isn't big and when you go inside there's not much room to move around either. The lady inside was cool and explained to us how the candy was made "by turning sugar dough into fine sugar threads, which are wrapped around ground peanuts, sesame, coconut, and chocolate." Sounded delicious but was it good? After forking over CAD$3.00 we each got one piece and per her instructions shoved the whole thing in our mouth. Don't do that unless you have bottled water nearby because your throat will feel like it's closing up and the more you chew the peanuts will turn to butter. It was sweet and chocolate-y. Pretty good. I'm glad we tried it.
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Review from Jason F.
7/7/2011
Somewhat inexpensive, very unique sweets served out of an awesome storefront. I guess this candy is rare but probably because it's only average. Dig it.
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Review from Jeff G.
12/14/2010
Hoping to experience this tomorrow. Just wanted to post their hours for Yelpers. Open from noon to "about 7:30pm"
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Review from K K.
1/4/2010
I wanted to review this when Yelp CA opened its' doors, but I didnt since it's not really a "location" I could find. It's pretty tasty stuff that melts in your mouth, and I've never seen it anywhere else other than Montreal's Chinatown. Worth a try if you're in chinatown.
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Review from Rovaira D.
11/29/2010
Wanting to find something cool to buy friends on our recent trip to Montreal, we went on an adventure looking for these "dragon ball z" candies. Well, the adventure was super short lived as it's incredibly easy to find (take the Orange Line to the Place D'Arms stop and it's about a block or so away); however, the stand was cute and the candy itself was not bad. Keep in mind, I'm not a big candy girl, and I doubt I'll be having another, but it's a unique gift to bring home.
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Review from Amber D.
9/9/2010
Dragon beard candy is a treat worth trying, for sure! It looks like cotton candy, but has more of a taffy-like texture. The owner advised letting it melt in my mouth, but I could help chewing on it - which works out, because I do love chewy snacks!
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