The classic poutine delivers thick cut French fries and cheese curds covered in gravy, but Montreal’s rich cultural diversity couldn’t let this dish stay simple for long. Montreal restaurants are showcasing their creativity and allowing cultural influences to flourish by reinventing the classic poutine. Where can you find the most bizarre and yet delicious poutine creations? Here’s a list of our favourites.
The Poutiflette Poutine from Broue Pub Bouhaha
This poutine is influenced by Quebec produce and cuisine. Lard, caramelized onions, leeks, creamy gravy, cheese curds, and melted local cheese create a unique poutine that isn’t often seen in restaurants. Pair this with a cold beer and a Habs’ hockey game and you are set for a good night.
5860 Avenue de Lorimier, Montréal, QC H2G 2N9
(514) 271-7571
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- Photo: Instagram user @cliffpavlovic
Poutine with foie gras from Au Pied de Cochon
Montreal is known for Au Pied de Cochon and its creative chef, Martin Picard, who likes to precariously balance on the line between madness and brilliance. Chef Picard is definitely a lover of foie gras, so it is no surprise that he created a gourmet poutine with foie gras.
536 Avenue Duluth Est, Montréal, QC H2L 1A9
(514) 281-1114
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- Photo: Instagram user @youthworkermechanic
The Hangover Burger from Burger Bar Crescent
Yes, a burger made the poutine list, but it is not just any burger. This AAA beef patty with caramelized onions, a fried egg, American cheese, bacon, truffle oil, and is topped with, you guessed it, poutine! This burger won the People’s Choice Award for Best Burger during Burger Week in Montreal. This poutine is delicious enough to cure any hangover and satisfy your poutine craving.
1465 Rue Crescent, Montréal, QC H3G 2B2
(514) 903-5575
Petite Poutine Lola from Lola Rosa Parc
This creative vegetarian poutine proves that innovative poutines are not just for carnivores. Made with mushroom and black bean gravy over sweet potato and Yukon gold potato fries with cheese curds, this dish demonstrates that you can enjoy a Montreal favorite and still respect your dietary preferences.
4581 Avenue du Parc, Montréal, QC H2V 4E4
(514) 843-5652
Lobster Poutine from Garde Manger
Not only was the lobster poutine part of Chuck Hughes’ victory battle on Iron Chef: America against Iron Chef Bobby Flay, but it is a favorite at Hughes’ restaurant, Garde Manger. This poutine has a generous portion of lobster, homemade fries, cheese curds, and lobster gravy to complete the dish.
408 Rue Saint François Xavier, Montreal, QC H2Y 2S9
(514) 678-5044
Royal Poutine from Royal Phoenix Cantine
This dish has the potential to be heavy and meaty, but a sweet surprise balances out the flavours wonderfully. Pulled pork is the main component of the dish, but Royal Phoenix Bar has paired it with red cabbage and green apple coleslaw to make the poutine lighter and sweeter.
5788 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1A5
(514) 658-1622
Butter Chicken Poutine from Poutine Centrale
Poutine has gone Indian and there is no turning back. This poutine includes chicken, Indian spices, onions and is covered in Indian buttery gravy. If you are craving Thai food that night, try their Thai poutine made with coconut milk, coriander, and chicken.
3971, Rue Hochelaga, Montréal, QC H1W 1K2
(514) 507-9494
6707 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2S 3C8
(438) 383-4445
General Tao Chicken Poutine from Sesame
Gourmet Asian restaurants are also delving into the poutine buzz that has captured Montreal. Cheese curds, French fries, and General Tao chicken fuse Quebec and Asian cuisines together perfectly. This slightly spicy poutine can also be made vegetarian friendly by substituting the chicken with tofu.
380 St Jacques St W, Montreal, QC H2Y 1S1
(514) 439-4576
The Californian from Mange-Moi
Mange-Moi has proven that poutines do not always have to be super fattening with this slightly healthier option. The Californian is made with chicken, avocado, and corn. This refreshing dish is perfect for the summer.
35 Rue Saint Dominique, Montreal, QC H2T 1N4
(438) 383-3355
La Fameuse from Lucky’s Truck
Montreal’s food trucks serve everything from lobster rolls to crepes and, of course, poutine. Lucky’s Truck’s poutine is not the traditional mess we have all grown to love. This food truck has created a gourmet duck poutine. You can still look sophisticated as you order your poutine with duck confit in a foie gras and red wine sauce over homemade French fries with Boivin cheese curds from a food truck. Just don’t be surprised if its rich flavour has you stalking the truck’s whereabouts on Twitter.
Click here to see where you might find Lucky’s truck
(514)299-7731
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- Photo: Instagram user @lilvania
Pouzza Dog from Dirty Dogs
What happens when you combine two fast food classics? You get the Pouzza Dog. Enjoy a hotdog with, you guessed it, poutine as the topping! The hotdog engineers at Dirty Dogs decided to reverse the classic sausage poutine: a toasted hotdog bun houses a sausage with fries, cheese curds, and gravy. This is what dreams are made of! The Pouzza Dog was only available for a limited time, but we think they will (read: should) bring it back due to popular demand!
25 Avenue du Mont-Royal Est, Montreal, Quebec H2T
(514)508-3647
T-Rex from La Banquise
La Banquise is a Montreal poutinerie power house. Almost every Montrealer has paid a visit, especially after a night of partying. La Banquise has 30 different types of poutines; they have something for everyone. The T-Rex demonstrates the most blatant disregard for clean eating which is why we love it! Pieces of steak, pepperoni, bacon, and hot dogs smothered in gravy over fries with cheese curds make up this artery-clogging dish. That Homer Simpson drooling sound you just made is precisely the reason you must go there, now.
994 Rue Rachel Est, Montréal, QC H2J 2J3
(514) 525-2415
The Breakfast Poutine from Fabergé Restaurant
The best part of waking up is not Folgers in your cup; it’s a poutine on your plate. Made with homemade fries, cheese curds, caramelized peppers and onions, drowned in hollandaise sauce and topped with an egg, Fabergé’s poutine will turn you into a regular. The best part? You add add pulled pork, bacon, ham or sausage to your breakfast poutine.
25 Avenue Fairmount Ouest, Montreal, QC H2T 2L9
(514) 903-6649
Triple Pork Poutine from Smoke’s Poutinerie
Smoke’s has many dishes: steak fajita, nacho grande, veggie deluxe, and bacon cheeseburger. Guess what? All these menu items are poutine dishes. Their Triple Pork poutine, however, is not for the faint of heart. Made with chipotle pulled pork, Italian sausages, and double smoked bacon, this is sure to delight the fat kid inside all of us. Please start your diet the following day.
Their location on Bishop Street has closed with the promise of a brand new location. Check out their website for updates.
(514) 419-4744
Cabane Poutines from Chez Claudette
Chez Claudette has many deliciously unique poutines. La Cabane pays homage to Quebec’s traditional sugar shacks and is made with ingredients you would typically find there. Sausages, ham, bacon, lard, gravy and maple syrup fuse many Quebecois staples into one cohesive dish. Chez Claudette’s menu has 35 different tantalizing poutines to choose from so it would be pretty difficult to make a bad decision.
351 Laurier Avenue East, Montreal, QC H2T 1G7
(514) 279-5173
The Zeus from Poutineville
On the list of establishments trying to make the humble poutine a gourmet dish, Poutineville finds itself prominently up there. The Filet Mignon poutine and The Godfather poutine with roasted red peppers and eggplant are Poutineville favorites. Most recently, they added The Zeus to their menu. This Greek inspired dish is made with gyro, red onions, tomatoes, feta cheese, and cheese curds and is smothered in a red wine sauce. Although it is new to the menu, it is fair to assume that the powerful Greek god is here to stay.
1348 Rue Beaubien Est, Montréal, QC H2G 3A7
(514) 544-8800
1365 Rue Ontario Est, Montréal, QC H2L 1S1
(514) 419-5444
99 Place Charles-Le Moyne, Longueuil, QC J4K 4Y9
(450) 332-9977
Mexican Poutine from Ma-Am-M Bolduc
Ma-Am-M Bolduc has a good variety of poutines to choose from, but their Mexican Poutine has an enticing Tex-Mex flavor that will have you wanting more. Ground beef, jalapenos, peppers, onions, and cheddar cheese may not seem like they belong in a poutine, but don’t knock it ‘till you try it.
4351 Avenue de Lorimier, Montreal, H2H 2B3
(514) 527-3884
Kheema Poutine from Rasoi
Rasoi’s Indian fusion cuisine has taken the poutine and transformed it. They’ve taken a Quebecois classic poutine and added green peas, Indian spiced ground beef to French fries, gravy and cheese curds, making it worthy of being on this list.
3459 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, QC H4C 1P3
(514) 544-9866
Rebel Poutine from Rebel Brasserie Urbaine
No meal is complete without dessert and this poutine dessert is mouth watering. Slices of pineapple “French fries” are accompanied by cheesecake “cheese curds” with caramel sauce “gravy” slathered on top. This poutine is a must. How often do you see a dessert poutine on a menu?
1470 Rue Sainte-Catherine Est, Montreal, QC H2L 2J1
(514) 529-9624
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- Photo: Instagram user @truebluechick
Please note there are hundreds of incredibly innovative poutines in Montreal. If your favorite creative poutine is not on the list, tell us about it in the comments section below. No traditional gravy and cheese curds poutines allowed; think outside the box!
