Montreal is a city for foodies. It has the highest number of restaurants in Canada and the second-highest in North America, after New York. Such statistics are good evidence of the diversity of its gastronomic offerings. The city also hosts a lot of food, beer, and other special events related to food. This foodies guide to Montreal is necessary to enjoy all that Montreal offers.
If you’ve never traveled to Canada before, you may not know that Montreal is the food capital of Canada. The natives of Montreal are very proud of their classic food and love to express their excitement about it to everyone.
This Montreal food guide will get you acquainted with the local dishes of Montreal and the foodies neighborhoods where you can check-in. This content is for tourists looking for a food lovers guide to Montreal. Foodies
Before moving further look at The Ultimate Montreal Food Guide For Foodies
Guide to Montreal: Classic Dishes You Shouldn’t Miss Eating in Montreal
Montreal has its traditional cuisine. These are some Montreal popular dishes. Your trip to Montreal is not complete without these delicious foods.
- Smoked meat
You cannot travel to Montreal without trying smoked meat. Most restaurants in Montreal have smoked meat on their menu, but Schwartz Deli is the most famous place to eat it.
Montreal-style smoked meat is eaten as a sandwich. Slices of brisket dipped in a delicious yellow mustard sauce are placed between Rogen’s bread and served on a table next to fried potatoes, cabbage salad, and pickles in front of your eyes!
- Bagels
Every Montrealer has an opinion on whether Fairmount or St-Viateur bagel sandwiches are better! These two bagel shops are in the Mile End area of Montreal, and you will rarely find a group of Montrealers who agree on which shop is the best! Eat this delicious Montreal sandwich at Fairmount or St-Viateur and judge for yourself.
The Beagles sandwich may not be unique to Montreal, and many people may ask what the difference is with the New York Beagles! The secret of Montreal is in the process of baking bagel bread. In Montreal, the dough is boiled in water sweetened with honey and then cooked in a wood-burning oven.
- Foie Gras
The European and French roots of Montreal have influenced Montreal cuisine, and many of the dishes are inspired by this background. Chef Foie Gras, which means fatty liver in French, is no exception.
This dish, which is considered an expensive and luxurious French dish, is served separately and along with other dishes as a flavor and appetizer. The Au Pied de Cochon and Joe Beef restaurants in Montreal are the most famous places that wonderfully offer this food.
- Steamed Hot Dog
Hot dog! The Montreal Hotdog is a special dish for most people who grew up in Montreal. One food that Montrealers like is the steamed hotdog known as “Steamies.” Try the steamies at the French restaurant Casse-croute or other places like La Belle Province and Lafleur.
Montrealers eat their hotdog sandwiches withmustard sauce, relish sauce, onions, and sauerkraut. If you want ketchup, you have to ask the restaurant.
- Poutine
This post cannot be complete without the presence of this food item on the shopping list. The Poutine food that Montrealers love is French fries, topped with gravy—a sauce made from meat broth—and pieces of cheese.
At first glance, it may seem a little strange to you, but if you try it, you will become a customer! Visit La Banquise to eat the best poutine with the most variety.
Food Guides to Montreal: Important Neighborhood for Foodies
- Plateau Mont-Royal
Plateau Mont-Royal is one of the working-class and French-speaking neighborhoods of Montreal. It has been considered one of Montreal’s most stylish and modern neighborhoods for years. The architecture of this neighborhood is more diverse than in other neighborhoods in Montreal. The residents of Plateau Mont-Royal are mostly young people and students.
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The shops, restaurants, and coffee shops in this neighborhood are stylish and have a great variety. Plateau Mont-Royal hosts Quartier-Perse and Tehran Restaurant (for delicious Persian cuisine). Other popular restaurants in the neighborhood are Modavie (for French dishes) and Schwartz’s (for smoked meat sandwiches). Jean-Talon, the popular market in Montreal is also in this neighborhood.
- Mile End
Mile End is part of the northwestern Plateau Mont-Royal neighborhood. It is located next to the Plateau Mont-Royal Quarter and the emblematic Mont-Royal Park. This neighborhood is one of Montreal’s multinational neighborhoods and has been cataloged by the locals as the bohemian or the Irish neighborhood of the city.
Most Milesians speak French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. It hosts the Greek and Jewish communities and a large number of local artists.
Mile End is perfect for walking around and discovering its colorful houses and multiple dining options. This neighborhood hosts the two most famous bagel spots in Montreal: Fairmount Bagel on Fairmount West Avenue and St-Viateur Bagel on St-Viateur Street. The bagel, along with the smoked meat sandwich and poutine, is Montreal’s gastronomic icon.
Furthermore, this area is also well known for its local and independent coffee culture and bohemian little cafes. Olympic Coffee, Cafe Myriade, Butterplume, and Art Cafe are some of the best spots. Kem Coba is one of the best ice cream places for duce lovers in Montreal. Its original flavors change frequently. You will see people waiting in lines during the summer in the city. It’s worth it.
- Chinatown Montreal
Chinatown or Chinatown Montreal is a neighborhood where Asian culture is concentrated and is represented mainly by its architecture and gastronomy. Chinatown Montreal is one of those preferred by tourists for its gastronomic excellence.
You can know that you are in Chinatown by spotting the two “paifang” and their guardian lions, which are a traditional style of Chinese architectural arch. The main avenue of Chinatown is the Boulevard Saint Laurent.
Chinatown Montreal has many Asian, Vietnamese, and Chinese restaurants and spice shops, and is also home to much of Montreal’s Asian community. There are also some Dim Sum restaurants, where famous light Chinese food is usually served with tea. Visitors frequent the Chinatown shopping area for imported goods from mainland China or Vietnam, which are difficult to find elsewhere in the city.
It’s recommended to try the dumplings in any of the neighborhood restaurants. During lobster season, Chinatown Montreal’s restaurants are so crowded that it can be difficult to get a seat without a reservation.
- Old Montreal
Vieux-Montreal, or Old Montreal, is the most historic neighborhood in Montreal, and it is one of the most visited tourist areas. A walk through Vieux Montreal is phenomenal; the architecture of its buildings is European and some of its streets are cobblestone.
The gastronomy of Vieux Montreal provides a range of options. Venice Mtl is a quirky spot for California-style fare. Restaurant L’Original is perfect for those who like Quebec games and seafood. You can visit the Polish restaurant, Stash Cafe, for a delicious menu and live piano music.
Other places to eat in Old Montreal include Restaurant Bonaparte, Garde Manger, and Barocco. L’Uisine de Spaghetti is ideal for those who love to eat pasta and salads. Ristorante Quattro is recommended for those who love to eat Italian cuisine in a relaxed setting.
- Downtown Montreal
Downtown Montreal has a mix of buildings, skyscrapers, and shops, among which you can walk, ride a bike, or drive. It is the modern part of Montreal and a neighborhood where visitors and locals converge every day, 24 hours a day. International food restaurants, bars, and cafes are found in several of the streets of Downtown Montreal, the most important being Crescent Street and Peel Street.
- Little Italy
Little Italy is one of Montreal’s gastronomic neighborhoods with a lot of Italian restaurants since immigrants from Italy are concentrated there. This neighborhood was previously a working-class neighborhood but has recently undergone a gentrification process that has now made it a chic neighborhood in Montreal.
Its name comes from the novel and series “La Petite Patrie” by the Canadian author Claude Jasmin, which tells the daily life of a typical family that lived in the sector during the years 1946 and 1948 after the war.
You cannot miss the opportunity to visit any of the Little Italy Italian food restaurants, such as Napoletana Pizzeria on Dante Street, Corneli Restaurant on Boulevard Saint Laurent, Gem on Dante Street, and Bottega Restaurant on Rue Saint Zotique.
Little Italy is not only about Italian foods; you will find restaurants serving typical foods from the south of the United States, such as The Triple Crown Dinette, where they serve fried chicken, corn, butter bread, and macaroni and cheese.
Most of the restaurants in this neighborhood are of the “apportez votre vin” type, which means that you can go with your bottle of wine to eat. At night, you can have a few beers in the crowded bars: Vice versa, and Birras, Boulevard Saint Laurent.
If you would like to add nachos to the beer, then it is better to go to Nacho Libre on Beaubien Est. Jean-Talon is one of the three most important municipal markets is in Little Italy. Jean-Talon has an excellent offer of local and imported vegetables and fruits, as well as flowers, organic meats, and cheeses. Around the market are bakeries like the famous Première Moisson and some other restaurants.
All the cheese and delicatessen shops are of high quality. If you are a lover of Italian food, be sure to try the Pastificio, where you can find homemade pasta. The Jean-Talon is a must-see for those touring the city of Montreal.
- The Village
The Village is Montreal’s gay neighborhood. Montreal’s Gay Quarter is located next to the Quartier Latin, another neighborhood with a lot of nightlife. It is famous for being a fun place for everyone, regardless of your preferences.
It was previously a neighborhood of poor working people, but from 1970 it began to be occupied by the gay community of Montreal, driven by the arrival of gay businesses that moved from some nearby areas.
The Gay Neighborhood begins to receive economic support from the state, which also initiates a campaign of promotion and tolerance toward gay life in Montreal. Today, the Village is a lively, vibrant, and fun neighborhood, becoming an emblematic tourist attraction in Montreal.
In The Village, there is a B&B (Bed and breakfast) offer that is highly recommended by travelers who love this style of lodging. The truth is that they are characterized by their welcoming and splendid attention.
Some examples of the establishments offering the service are Maison Des Jardins B&B, Pomerol Lodge, and Bed and Breakfast du Village BBV. •
Food Trucks in Montreal
Montreal is a city with a world-renowned street food culture. Street food stalls, fast food, and finger food are open during the summer, giving people the opportunity to enjoy delicious food during city tours!
For health reasons, Montreal’s street food was banned in Canada in 1947. Although many attempts were made to lift it, food trucks returned to the streets in 2013.
trucks offer “street food” at special events organized by city wards. They can be seen at sporting, cultural, and social events as well as at promotional events. They occupy sites temporarily and move from site to site during the season.
Read this article we wrote: 51 Food Hacks That Will Change The Way You Cook
If you are a fan of street food, there is only one thing to remember, and that is to check out the Street Food Montréal website. This site is constantly updated with information on everything related to Montreal street food. There is also a detailed map that is updated daily with information about the location of your favorite food trucks at any given time on this website.
Mainly because this culinary arena is enlivened by immigrant populations, street food is always changing. It starts with soft corn tortoises and tacos, the most popular pork tacos with pickled carrots and coriander, just like the Mexican streets, or Arabic falafels with tabloid salads, all the way to greasy burgers with chili and chocolate master puff!
Food Delivery in Montreal
If you are a busy diner in Montreal, several food delivery services will deliver food to your doorstep. There are two categories of food delivery services: local food apps and multinational food companies.
Local food apps are relatively cheaper than multinational food delivery companies. Many food delivery hack experts and food hacks lovers apply this hack to pay less for delivery in Montreal. Some of the local food apps to try are eezly, UEats, and a lot more.
We hope that this foodies guide to Montreal will help you enjoy all of Montreal’s gastronomic offerings. Please leave a comment if you have any questions.
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