11 must-eat food in Montreal [from a local]

If you like to travel for food, then Montreal should be on your list!

Did you know that Montreal has the highest number of restaurants per Capita in Canada and the second in North America after New York? This foodie capital has many great choices from small local eateries to international chef celebrities. However, there are dishes that define the city’s identity, here are the most famous foods in Montréal. From iconic dishes rooted in Quebecois cuisine to delectable treats influenced by global flavours, Montreal presents a gastronomic adventure like no other.

These are the 11 iconic dishes that are a must-add to your Montréal itinerary!

1. Bagels

No food says Montreal more than Bagels. Sorry NYC, we have better bagels than you!

Montreal bagels are known for their distinct flavour, texture, and preparation methods. Unlike their New York counterparts, Montreal bagels are smaller, denser, sweeter, and have a larger hole in the center. They are both chewy in the interior and have a slightly crispy exterior. Sesame and poppy seeds are the most common toppings, although variations with other seeds or even cinnamon raisins are also popular.

As most of the food in Montreal, most dishes were brought by immigrants and Bagels and Smoked Meat are no different, they were brought in the late 19th century by Jewish Eastern Europeans, especially immigrants from Poland, who popularized their traditional food when they arrived in the new world. Montreal's bagel tradition began to take root in the early 20th century when Jewish bakeries started producing them.

Two major bakeries rival each other for the best bagel in the city, the Fairmount Bagel and Bagel St-Viateur. Both bagels are hand-rolled, blanched and baked in a wood-burning oven. The only difference is that St-Viateur’s bagels are blanched in honey water. Both institutions are located in the Mile-End. St-Viateur bagels are my personal favourites, especially the sea salt and rosemary ones.

You can savour the bagels by either eating it alone or with the classic cream cheese and smoked salmon or anything that you will like! Bagel St-Viateur has a Mont-Royal café that has indoor and outdoor seating so you can stop for lunch or brunch.

Near Fairmount Bagels, you will find the delicious Gnocchi counter at Drogheria Fine. Opened for more than 20 years, these gnocchis made with Nonna’s recipes are a Montreal staple.

 2. Smoked Meat

The second must-eat plate in Montreal is Smoked Meat and more particularly Smoked Meat sandwiches. The particularity of this meat is that it is salting and curing beef brisket with spices such as peppercorns, coriander, garlic, and mustard seeds before undergoing a slow smoking process. The brisket is left to rest for over a week to absorb the flavours, then it is hot-smoked and steamed to completion. The meat is characterized by its tender texture, robust seasoning, and distinctive smoky aroma. The dish is served in generous portions between slices of rye bread and is typically accompanied by tangy mustard, french fries and crunchy pickles. You can ask for different widths of the meat, from slim to thick, the thicker the juicier and fatter the meat will be.

Just like the bagels, the beloved deli classic traces its origins back to the early 20th century when Jewish immigrants brought their traditional meat curing and smoking techniques to Montreal's bustling neighbourhoods.

The city is full of eateries serving this juicy meat, however, the most renowned spot to get the meat is Schwartz's Deli. This iconic place opened in 1928 and has been playing a key role in the city’s history by being the subject of numerous documentaries, musicals and books. The downside of this place is that there is always a huge waiting line. Another good place to enjoy Smoked Meat is Ruben’s (located downtown). I personally like Ruben’s, it is a spacious restaurant with great choices.

If you want to dig deeper into the history of Jewish food in Montreal, one of my favourite podcasts, the Secret Life of Canada, did a whole episode about it. You can read more about it here.

3. Steamies

The city is full of fast-food eateries and steamies are their specialty. These parlours sell a Montreal-style hot dog, the sausages aren’t grilled or boiled, they are steamed, hence the name. The “All dressed” steamie is covered with cabbage, mustard, relish and onions, no ketchup served in soft, freshly steamed buns. Most of these eateries can be found near the nightlife spots along Saint-Laurent Boulevard or you can go to the famous Montreal Pool Room near Place des Arts. The steamies will help you get through the night. Or try Green Spot, a diner in the heart of the Saint-Henri neighbourhood that hasn’t changed since the ’60s.  

PSST: You get bonus points if you combine a lot of these dishes together. For example, you can have a bagel with smoked meat or smoked meat poutine or a steamie with a side of Poutine. You get the point

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4. Poutine

Ok, I admit, Poutine is not a dish that is originally from Montreal but it is a source of pride in the Quebec province. The national dish consists of French Fries, Gravy and Cheese Curds. Originally from Quebec’s center area (surrounding the cities of Drummondville and Warwick), it emerged in the 1950s. The exact origin of this hearty meal is unknown but we do know that it was quickly adopted by everyone in the province and in the rest of Canada. If you have tried Poutine elsewhere in Canada or abroad, you need to try it again here, chances are that it will be much better! A lot of restaurants serve poutine with sausages, smoked meat, and other ingredients, your imagination has no limits.

This deliciousness can be found in many restaurants across. However, La Banquise is the most popular place and it stays open 24/7, perfect for those midnight snacks or to help you with those extra craft beers ;) Ma Poule Mouillée is a Portuguese grill that offers mouthwatering poutine. It became very popular with visitors after it was featured in the Netflix show Somebody Feed Phil.

*Psst: If you have a limited time in the city or if you like food tours, I would recommend Secret Food Tours. They do a great tour of the Mile End neighbourhood and you get to eat most of the list in this article in just 3 hours!

5. La Binerie

If you are curious about traditional Québécois food then you should make a stop at La Binerie. This restaurant has been open since 1938 and their menu hasn’t changed much since then. La Binerie has remained a beloved institution in the heart of Montreal's Plateau-Mont-Royal neighbourhood for generations.

Some of the hearty recipes include Tourtière (a sort of meat pie usually served at Christmas), Pâté Chinois (a local version of shepherd’s pie), ham with maple, baked beans, known as "fèves au lard" in French, Pouding Chômeur (translates to "unemployed pudding" in English) which is a gooey yet delicious maple sponge cake. The restaurant also offers a big selection of poutine. If you don’t have time to visit the rest of the Quebec province, this is a great place to try the rest of the local gastronomy.

6. Gibeau Orange Julep

Probably the weirdest structure in Montreal, the Orange Julep is a big orange ball by the Décarie Expressway. This fast-food restaurant became one of the symbols of the city since the 1940s mainly because of its odd shape. Founded by Hermas Gibeau, the roadside eatery initially started as a drive-in restaurant, but over the years, it has evolved into a cherished gathering spot for locals and tourists alike.

The must-have in this eatery is the Orange Julep drink. The ingredients and the recipe of the drink are a mystery and they are secretly guarded by the restaurant. Some speculate that egg whites and milk are part of the formula, however, nobody knows for sure. One thing is sure is that it has freshly squeezed Sunkist oranges and it tastes like a melted Creamsicle. The place has some events like muscle car nights during the summer. The drink is a good side to a steamie, burger or poutine that you can enjoy on-site or in your car.

7. Brunch

Montrealers love to have brunch on Sunday mornings. While no fixed menu defines Montreal’s brunch style, eggs, roti (toast with butter), croutons, potatoes, fèves au lard (baked beans with maple syrup and bacon) and bacon are always present in the menus. The Beauty’s is a brunch place that has been open since 1942 and their breakfast Mish-Mash omelette is a must! However, to try some of the best brunches that the city has to offer, I will suggest trying one of this list like Arthurs Nosh Bar with its popular The McArthur sandwich — a crisp-fried chicken schnitzel. My personal favourite is La Bête à Pain in Griffintown and their avocado toast with their freshly baked bread. This bakery has multiple locations.

8.  Wilensky's

The legendary Wilensky’s has been open since 1932 in the heart of Mile End. The Jewish deli has the signature sandwich, the Wilensky Special, which is an egg bread with all-beef salami with all-beef baloney grilled with a hint of mustard. This great taste comes with some rules, the first is that cannot ask for the sandwich without yellow mustard and you cannot ask it to be sliced in half. The sandwiches are quite small so I suggest ordering two with a side pickle. The diner's interior hasn’t changed in decades with its vintage decor and old-fashioned lunch counter. Wilensky’s can be perfect for a light lunch.

After that, you can wander around the Mile-End, by far one of the coolest and the hipster headquarters of Montreal. If you still have space in your stomach, do go for ice cream at Kem-Coba, you will not regret it. They offer Asian-inspired ice cream flavours and always have a huge line but the wait is worth it.

9. Multicultural Food

Montreal is one of the most multicultural cities in Canada and most of the immigrants have brought their traditional food to the Montreal foodie scene. Montreal offers a kaleidoscope of flavours and aromas that reflect the city's rich cultural mosaic. You cannot visit the city without tasting Portuguese roasted chicken near the Plateau neighbourhood, having delicious cannolis in Little Italy or trying Shish Taouk. For dessert, don’t forget to try Dragon Beard Candy at Chinatown. This sweet counter has been open since 1991. Of course, due to the French heritage and the increasingly high number of French people moving to Montreal, we have delicious pastries, Croissants, and Pain au Chocolat in many of the bakeries that are as good as in France.

10. Hot Chicken

The Hot Chicken dish is a plate that is a little weird, in my opinion, but I think I’m not alone. It is a chicken sandwich with a LOT of gravy and peas. Like most of Quebec's traditional food, it does reflect the hardships that the Quebecois lived for many centuries.

Chalet Bar-B-Q offers this sandwich with other chicken-related plates. The NDG rotisserie has been open since 1944.

11. Maple Syrup & Sugar Pie

Maple trees are ubiquitous in all of Canada; in fact, the maple leaf is proudly displayed in the Canadian flag. The tree is not only beautiful in the fall season with all the colours but it is also the source of delicious maple syrup. The syrup was appropriated from the Indigenous peoples in Canada and the sugaring season became an essential part of Quebec’s culture. Basically, everything with maple syrup tastes even better but sugar pie is a must-have! You can find it in several places but Rustique’s bakery is my favourite and their pies are always made the day off. Rustique is in the same neighbourhood as Green Spot (check #3), Saint Henri, another cool place to hang out in Montreal.

Iconic Montreal restaurants (Bonus)

If you are looking for iconic Montreal restaurants, then you have the famous Joe Beef which gained international acclaim for its innovative menu items. It's often considered one of the top dining destinations in the city and has received numerous awards and accolades within the culinary world. Their Lobster Spaghetti is one of the most popular options.

If you are looking for good Steak Frites and fine dining, then L’Express should be on your list. It opened in 1980 on rue Saint-Denis and the Chicken Liver Pâté is a must-try on the menu.

Chef Martin' Picard’s Au Pied de Cochon is another essential restaurant culinary style characterized by his bold and indulgent dishes, often featuring foie gras, pork, and other decadent ingredients. The chef emphasizes the use of local, seasonal ingredients and traditional Quebecois flavours. The restaurant offers a foie gras poutine which is very popular. If fast food is your thing, then we have our own local chain called Dic Ann’s.

So which of these iconic dishes in Montreal are you going to try first? 

Practical tips for Montreal

LANGUAGE

French and English are the official languages of Canada. The Quebec province (where Montreal and Quebec are located) has only French as an official language. Worry not, English is spoken by most of the service staff, however, don’t expect that everyone will be fluent in English. Don’t worry if your French is a little rusty, however, people do appreciate it if you go the extra mile to speak a little French. You don’t speak any French? No worries, you can at least learn a few words like Merci (thank you) and Bonjour (Hello).

CURRENCY

The currency is the Canadian Dollar, the sign is $. The dollar can be easily found abroad at any currency exchange office. Credit and debit cards are accepted everywhere.

TIPPING

It is customary to tip around 15% of the final price. If you are horrible at math like me, you can sum the 2 taxes and it will give you a ballpark amount of what you have to tip. Not mandatory but tipping house cleaners at the hotel is a nice gesture.

Psst: Planning your trip to Montreal? We’ve got a few other posts you’ll want to take a look at!

• A guide to the best Montreal breweries

• Discover Montreal like a local

• The only Montreal 3-day itinerary you need

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BRB acknowledges that Montreal is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodian of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtià:ke/Montréal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples.

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Disclaimer: We enjoyed the Secret tour as guests. A big thank you! All opinions are my own

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