Hidden Gems: Madame Pang

I’ll be honest when I looked up Madame Pang online I had zero hope for this place. I love Asian cuisine in general and I don’t eat nearly enough dim sum as I should. Also, Madame Pang was the only restaurant opened really late at night and I figured it was best to get something light for dinner before heading off to bed.

I boarded the tram and disembarked at St. Catherine’s station, figuring out Google Maps and meandering down the long barely lit lantern-lit streets. On my way there I’d stop at about five different restaurants asking when they closed. Twenty minutes said the hostess at the first restaurant with olive green walls and wooden tables bathed in natural light. This was the perfect spot to have my last meal in Bordeaux I thought, but it was not meant to be.

Sulkenly, I made my way to the corner of Rue du Pas St Georges and Rue de Devise looking out at the closed ice cream parlor. I stared down the side street which really looked like alleyways trying to figure out where this place could be located. There were no neon lights pointing to the location, nor any huge signs with the restaurant’s name on it. I decided to take a right, down the alleyway of Rue de Devise intent on asking the woman I saw waiting to enter a house for help on finding this place. When I approached the woman for help I realized she was part of this oddly out of place tight group of people sitting on a porch enjoying their cigarettes, drinks and having an overall great time. Still unsure if this was Madame Pang’s or not I was drawn to the atmosphere of this place and wanted to go inside but I knew I had to find Madam Pang’s as well because I was hungry, I couldn’t face the disappointment of another restaurant closing up soon. So I asked “ou est Madame Pang?” and to my delight, they all pointed to the door behind them.

Turns out behind the doors was this speakeasy sort of bar space with relaxed seating for you and your friends to enjoy dim sum. The entire space was decked out with Asian art or motifs and in the background hip hop hits from the 90s early 2000s softly filled the room. Everyone from the raucous group of friends near the front door to the couple enjoying a night out at the bar was enjoying themselves in the cozy restaurant.

I found my own corner and proceeded to order what I considered would be small filling portions to only have 2 heaping portions of Ar Gou and Char Siu Bao arrive to my table freshly made and piping hot. I should know because I burned my tongue on the Ar Gous. The Char Siu Bao’s were my favorites. The bao was very fluffy and the pork filling left you wanting to fill up on more, they were that addictive.

I also ordered the Thai Punch drink simply because it was spicy. If you don’t like spicy foods do yourself a favor and don’t drop the hot pepper in the drink. If you love spicy drop it and crush it ( slightly) into the drink your senses will come alive.

Great food, atmosphere and open late in a city that shuts down at 10 pm Madame Pang is a can’t miss stop on your next trip to Bordeaux. I’m glad everywhere else was closed or I wouldn’t have been able to experience this place. I’m sad I was only able to go there once but I will return on my next trip to Bordeaux and enjoy this hidden gem once more.

As always Happy Travels and Eat Well!

KJ