Top 10 Street Food You Must Try In Montreal, Canada

street food in montreal
Oishi
Oishi 
Published
| 4 min read

Montreal is known for its food. There are a number of restaurants in every corner of every street, serving different cuisines. The flavours and textures of the food prepared out of locally acquired produce are hard to beat. These yummy dishes are not just limited to the big restaurants but also available in food trucks. Food trucks are quite popular here in Montreal, and these do not compromise on the quality of the food and taste-wise they are strong rivals of the big restaurants. These food trucks serve all kinds of food, which are really unique and are delicious to no end. If you are wondering what kind of street food you should indulge yourselves in Montreal, then look no further. Read on to learn about the top street food you must try in Montreal, Canada.

1. Pâté chinois

Pâté chinois
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user TheSpooler used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Pâté chinois, translating to Chinese pie (although it is not a Chinese food at all), is a French-Canadian-style shepherd’s pie. It was a pretty common food among peasants, earlier, which has now gained popularity among the mass. It is a famous, and extremely cheap street food in Montreal today, loved by the locals. It comprises ground beef, corn, mashed potatoes, tomato sauce, to which is added some other simple spices to add to the flavour. You can try one of the yummiest pies at La Binerie Mont-Royal, which is an all-day breakfast and lunch counter.

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2. Grilled cheese sandwich

Grilled mac 'n cheese sandwich
Source: Photo by user Char used under CC BY-SA 2.0

You will find amazing grilled sandwiches across Montreal city. There are a number of eateries you can stop at, to enjoy grilled sandwiches, layered with chunks of luscious meat, veggies, cheese and then grilled to perfection with lots of butter. Several street food vendors and food trucks scattered around the city offer mouth-watering grilled sandwiches at places like the Platz Market, some of the best sandwich establishments or restaurants that you can try are SuWu, Lapin Pressé, and MLT DWN among others.

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3. Hotdog

Montreal steamie hotdog
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mindme used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Hotdogs are essentially street food or fast food. Montreal’s version of the classic hotdog, known as the steamie, comes with a steamed hot bun and a steamed sausage with lots of dressing on top, to add flavour to the otherwise bland hotdog. However, if you want a change in taste, then do try out the toasties, comprising toasted bun bread and Michigan dogs, which are served with a meat sauce using flavoured tomato puree as its base. Several food trucks, as well as tiny eateries, serve amazing hotdogs.

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4. Phoritto

beef breakfast burrito
Source: Photo by user stu_spivack used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Phoritto is a combination of the flavours of pho soup and burrito. Phoritto is a fusion of different cuisine such as Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and Mexican. Phoritto is beef cooked in a pho soup which gives off flavours as the likes of the meet in Vietnamese noodle soups. The beef is then stuffed into tortilla wraps with dressings comprising different types of vegetables, cheese, coleslaw, different sauces and the likes.

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Montreal Tour Guide

Rene Rangel Havaux

Rene Rangel Havaux

My name is Rene and after 22 years working in the clothing industry I decided to make a carrer change and do what I love and I do best: Receive, entertain and guide visitors trough beautiful Montreal, the Canadian cultural capital, that offers to its visitors more than 100 festivals every year, a great diversity of museums, outdoor activities, sports, markets, restaurantes, craft breweries , and a vibrant cosmopolitan way of living, among many other interesting things. I love travelling, ( have been to 40 different countries around the globe), people, food, architecture, cycling and history are my passions in life. Throughout all this years discovering the world, I have come to realize that the best way to really discover and understand any place is trough its local people. I love to receive clients as if they where my own family, always in a friendly and respectful manner and adapting my tours to their specific interest and needs. I have been told many times that what makes my tours so special, is my outgoing friendly and enthusiastic personality and my knowledge and passion for Montreal.

Montreal Tour Guide

Ruby Roy

Ruby Roy

5. Smoked meat sandwich

Smoked Meat Sandwich @ Schwartz's Deli @ Le Plateau @ Montréal
Source: Photo by user Guilhem Vellut used under CC BY 2.0

If you have had your share of grilled sandwich, then it is your turn to taste the smoked meat sandwich. Smoked meat sandwich is made up of beef brisket, which is salted and cured with numerous flavourful spices. This cured meat is then smoked and steamed. Preparing this requires some effort, and hence the taste is unbeatable. The smoked beef is then served in between rye bread slices with a dressing of mustard sauce.

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6. Hand-rolled churros

Hand-rolled churros
Source: Pxfuel

Several food trucks owned by well-known servers will serve you with warm and crisp-to-perfection fried churros in paper cones. These churros are cripsy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside They are first rolled by hand, then fried, and then rolled in sugar. This comes with a dollop of Nutella or some delicious caramel sauce (dulce de leche), grounded nuts and other forms of toppings, depending on the server. If you have a sweet tooth and are craving something sweet after some of the spicier dishes, then do try these special hand-rolled churros.

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7. Chicken pad Thai

Pad Thai
Source: Photo by user ljv used under CC BY-ND 2.0

Montreal is full of street-side joints that serve Pan Asian food. Pad Thai noodles is one such speciality. You will find pad Thai noodles served in vegetable and meat broths. There are a wide variety of Asian meals available throughout Montreal, both in big restaurants and in the street food joints and food trucks. Enjoy Thai curries in Montreal anywhere. It can be a treat during the winters. Piping hot flavourful broths during the chilling winter months can make such satisfying meals.

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8. Frozen fruit bars

Peach Sangria Popsicles | Annie's Eats
Source: Photo by user Annie used under CC BY-ND 2.0

Popsicles and frozen fruit bars are pretty commonly found in Montreal. These are basically ice candies, except they are relatively healthier. These are fruit pulps and juices frozen into bars that are served by several eateries and ice cream or dessert vendors all around. Irrespective or winter or summer months, enjoy a yummy frozen treat with family and children. Your kids are surely going to love it.

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9. Bagels

Bagels-Montreal-REAL
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Garyperlman used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

You must try out bagels from an authentic bagel shop to taste the best. Bagels are famous in Montreal. Here, the bagels are dense and sweet because the bagels are boiled in honey before they are baked crispy in a wood-burning oven. These are topped with black or white sesame seeds. These do not come with any other toppings usually, as these are sweet and dense enough to be eaten alone; however if you want, you get some cheese or other kinds of topping to add to your bagel.

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10. Poutine

Poutine
Source: Photo by user Quinn Dombrowski used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Poutine, french fries with some cheese cubes and brown gravy, is one of the most popular street foods in Montreal. Poutine has gone through several makeovers and transformations over the period, so that there are other ingredients like meat, vegetables and other gravies added to the basics, for a more innovative touch to the traditional poutine. Apart from food trucks, you can also try poutine at some of the best joints such as Paul Patates and LOV.

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Mighty indulgence in Montreal

Don’t think twice before indulging yourselves in the best of the options in food on the street! Cut out on the restaurants in Montreal. Street food is cheaper and yet you won’t miss out on the taste.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Oishi holds a fondness for poetry and music. Her passion for traveling is evident in the numerous articles she has authored for online magazines, covering topics such as women's empowerment,...Read more

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