The temperature is dropping, the Habs are back on TV and the fry oil is hot: it is officially poutine season. If you are hunting for the best poutine in Montreal, here are eight spots worth the gravy stains, from a 24-hour Plateau institution to a foie gras splurge and a few old-school diners that have been at it for generations.
Quick refresher: poutine was born in the Centre-du-Québec region in the late 1950s, and towns like Warwick and Drummondville still argue over who did it first, according to the Wikipedia entry on the dish. The formula is simple (fries, squeaky fresh cheese curds, brown gravy), which is exactly why the details matter.
The best poutine in Montreal: 8 spots to try
1. La Banquise (Plateau-Mont-Royal)
Open since 1968 and open 24 hours, La Banquise at 994 Rachel Street East is the default answer for a reason. The poutine menu runs past 30 varieties, from La Classique to La Reggae (ground beef, guacamole, tomatoes and hot peppers), L’Obélix with smoked meat, and two vegan options, La Véganomane and L’Ovni.
Trivia from La Banquise’s history page: firefighter Pierre Barsalou opened it in May 1968 as a small crèmerie, and poutine only joined the menu in the early 1980s. Today there is also a poutine of the month, a breakfast menu and 24/7 delivery through Uber Eats.
2. Ma Poule Mouillée (Plateau-Mont-Royal)
Right across the street from La Banquise, this Portuguese rotisserie does a poutine with São Jorge cheese, grilled chicken and chouriço, as noted by Tourisme Montréal. It is a good pick when you want something a little different from the classic.
3. Au Pied de Cochon (Plateau-Mont-Royal)
The splurge. Au Pied de Cochon at 536 Duluth Avenue East is known for its foie gras poutine: fries cooked in rendered duck fat, squeaky curds, a generous lobe of foie gras and a duck liver gravy. The restaurant currently lists dinner service Wednesday to Sunday, 5 to 10 p.m., so plan (and book) ahead.
4. Poutineville (four Montreal locations)
Poutineville is the build-your-own option: choose your fries, cheese, meats, vegetables and gravy. Its signature La Poutineville combines hand-smashed fried potatoes, cheese curds, mozzarella, braised beef and red wine gravy. There are Montreal locations on Beaubien, Bishop, Ontario and Parc.
5. Paul Patates (Pointe-Saint-Charles)
A true neighbourhood diner at 760 Charlevoix Street. Grab a counter seat, watch the kitchen and order a classic poutine with a bottle of their famous spruce beer. It is about as Montreal as a Tuesday lunch gets.
6. Montreal Pool Room (The Main)
A greasy-spoon institution on Saint-Laurent Boulevard (1217 St-Laurent) for more than a century, the Pool Room is best known for its steamies, but the poutine holds its own. Perfect for a late snack after a show in the Quartier des spectacles.
7. Gibeau Orange Julep (Décarie)
You can’t miss the giant orange at 7700 Décarie Boulevard. The drive-in has been serving for more than 80 years, and a classic poutine with a frothy Orange Julep is a rite of passage.
8. Campo at Time Out Market
Downtown and need a quick fix? Campo, the Portuguese chicken counter at Time Out Market in the Eaton Centre, lists a chicken poutine alongside its grilled chicken on the market’s menu page.
Bonus: a smoked meat poutine on The Main
Can’t choose between smoked meat and poutine? Schwartz’s, at 3895 Saint-Laurent Boulevard, lists a Poutine à la Schwartz’s at $15.95 on its sit-down menu (prices subject to change), with a Black Cherry soda to wash it down. The deli takes no reservations, so expect a wait at peak hours.
Watching the game? Our list of bars to watch the Canadiens pairs fries and gravy with a big screen.
Tips for your poutine crawl
- Fresh curds are everything: they should squeak. Order at busy spots where curds turn over fast.
- Eat it on site. Poutine does not travel well, and soggy fries are a crime.
- Going late? La Banquise is your 24-hour safety net.
- Pair it with something local: spruce beer at Paul Patates, an Orange Julep on Décarie.
Hungry for more comfort food? Check out our guide to the best steak frites in Montreal, our best pizza in Montreal list, and everything else in our Food section. Bon appétit!
Mark your calendar: Tourisme Montréal notes that Poutine Week takes over menus every February. Until then, see what’s on in Montreal this week and plan your crawl around it.
More on MTL365
- This Week in Montreal (Oct. 26–Nov. 1): Rocky Horror, Nosferatu With Live Organ, Les Grands Ballets and the Last Nights of Gardens of Light
- Weekend Recap: Habs Win the Heritage Classic, Als Finish 14-4, and a Tough Week for CF Montréal
- Montreal Municipal Strike: What’s Affected This Week, Plus 5 Stories to Know
- More Montreal food on MTL365
Photo: Antonydstevens / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Sources: Tourisme Montréal, Tourisme Montréal (foodies), La Banquise, Au Pied de Cochon, Wikipedia, Time Out Market Montréal, La Banquise (histoire), Schwartz’s
