Canadians have long been famous for our poutine, and for good reason! Whether you keep your poutine simple with cheese curds and gravy, or deck it out with lobster, foie gras, or sweet potatoes, or even take the vegan poutine route, there is truly a poutine for everyone!
One of the trademarks of Canada is our signature dish called poutine. No matter where you go in Canada, a plate of warm flowing gravy and melted curd cheese showered over fries can be found close by. If you’re vegan or lactose intolerant, not to worry. There are tons of poutineries in Canada that offer vegan and vegetarian-friendly poutine! But where are the 8 places with the best poutine in Canada? Pack your bags for a poutine road trip, because we made it a point to find restaurants throughout the country to sample some of the best poutine in Canada.
Best Poutine in Canada
1. Le Roy Jucep, Quebec
While there is some controversy over who actually invented poutine, this restaurant claims to have been the first. Established in 1964, Le Roy Jucep has had quite some time to perfect its recipe, and now has an entire menu dedicated to the dish with 24 options to choose from. You read that correctly – a whole 24! You can stick to the classic or you can branch out to more exotic options like Putin Oktoberfest, Mexican Poutine, or even Vegetarian Poutine. The restaurant is located in Drummondville, Quebec and is open Sunday to Thursday from 6:30 a.m. to midnight and 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Best Poutine to Try in Montreal, Canada
2. Ma Poule Mouillée
This restaurant may have less history than Le Roy Jucep, but they easily made our list of 8 places with the best poutine in Canada. They are known for their generous portions, and the cherry on top is that you won’t be charged an arm and a leg for a delicious meal. They serve a variation of the classic dish that they call a Portuguese Poutine, which is served with sao jorge cheese, grilled chicken, and chorizo, giving a European flair to the Canadian classic. The restaurant is located in Montreal, and certainly won’t disappoint as a spot for the best poutine in Canada!
Search Flights to Montreal3. Garde Manger
Another Montreal-based poutine joint, this restaurant offers much more than just poutine, but that doesn’t mean they’ve watered down their recipe. It is quite a bit fancier than most pop-in poutine stops, but the cozy atmosphere and high-end plating make it well worth the stop. The crowning glory of their poutine? They’ve included lobster with all of the other deliciousness. If you’re looking for comfort food, this is the spot! They are open until 11 p.m. every day.
4. La Banquise
This poutine restaurant located in the Plateau near downtown Montreal has only one location but is well worth the trip. They offer the most variety of any diner on this list of places with the best poutine in Canada – over 31 poutine options, to be exact! How can one person possibly choose from so many options? Well, if you really get stuck, La Banquise has a separate list of specialties that are guaranteed to be a showstopper. You can also swap out the classic cheese and gravy sauce for other options, so your whole plate is customizable. Be sure to try the Veganomane poutine if you are looking for a delicious vegan poutine. Just be prepared for the food baby that will inevitably be present post-meal. If that’s not enough to convince you, here are more reasons to explore the food scene in Montreal.
More of the Best Poutine in Canada
5. Belgian Fries
While Quebec is the hometown of poutine, this Vancouver poutine shop more than earns its spot on our list of places with the best poutine in Canada. The menu offers a lot of variety, including several vegetarian options. Go for the classic hot potatoes with gravy and cheese curds, or go wild with vegetarian, veggie chili, or yam. For carnivores, the restaurant offers poutine with chicken kebab, buttered chicken, beef steak, meat chili, and beef brisket to name a few. Is your mouth watering yet?
Search Flights to Vancouver6. La Belle Patate
It’s no wonder this restaurant chose to name themselves “the beautiful potato.” One look and you’ll be in love, one taste and you’ll be in poutine heaven. The fries are double cooked to ensure that extra crisp and are loaded up with fresh squeaky curd cheese. The snack is generally associated with Quebec, but if you’re dying to get your hands on it without booking a flight, we’re happy to say this restaurant has been very accommodating. You can order a pile of poutine from one of their chain locations in Esquimalt, Vancouver, or Canmore.
Search Flights to Canada7. Nom Nom Nom Poutine
One of the hottest spots right now to try the best poutine in Toronto, Nom Nom Nom Poutine gets every detail about the art of poutine right. The cheese is the proper curd cheese, the gravy isn’t overdone and the fries are crispy. They offer everything from a duck confit poutine (yes, you read that correctly) to the classic regular poutine. Toppings can all be ordered and added so extras, so there’s a little something for everyone. Nom Nom Nom is located on Dundas Street in Toronto by the popular Kensington Market. There’s outdoor seating available next to the food truck for you to enjoy your little plate of heaven.
Best Vegan Poutine in Canada
8. Vegan Rapide, Montreal
For vegans and lactose intolerant people alike, I have good news – there is a poutinerie that specializes in vegan food, including vegan poutine! At Vegan Rapide, you can choose from four different vegan poutine options. Vegan Rapide doesn’t exclusively sell poutine and also offers a variety of other vegan foods, but rest assured – their poutine does not disappoint! While less traditional than other places on this list, Vegan Rapide is definitely a top contender on our list of 8 best places to try poutine in Canada. Want more tips for travelling as a vegan? We’ve got you covered.
As you can see, there is a poutine for everybody in Canada. From vegan poutine to lobster poutine, to a more classic poutine, there is bound to be the perfect poutine for you at one of our favourite Canadian poutine spots. We hope you enjoyed this road trip across the 8 places with some of the best poutine in Canada!
