So Many Restaurants!
This section could easily be its own book. I've narrowed it down to a few of my favorites places, in no particular order.
La Capital Tacos
A Mexican restaurant in the middle of Chinatown! I love their Al Pastor tacos. If you're really hungry, try a Quesabirria. Get the consomé to dip it in, and a side of Papas Veneno.
📍1096 St Laurent Blvd (Chinatown)
Ma Poule Mouillée
You will be hypnotized by the delicious smell as you near this Portuguese rotisserie. Try their unique poutine, featuring roast chicken and chorizo. Grab a pastel de nata or two with your order and go eat in the Parc Lafontaine across the street for a great lunch.
📍969 Rachel St E (Plateau Mont-Royal)
Le Boucan Smokehouse
Back ribs, brisket, smoked chicken, pulled pork. The works. They also make great drinks, including a maple-syrup Old Fashioned topped with maple smoke. Their 5 Napkin burger lives up to its name!
📍1886 Notre-Dame St W (Griffintown)
L'Express
L'Express is an absolute love letter to French cuisine and a Montréal classic. I highly recommend making a reservation as it's always very busy. Once you get to the desserts, you might want to split with a friend. The portions are unusually large on those!
📍3927 Saint Denis St (Plateau Mont-Royal)
Stash Café
Traditional Polish cuisine in an intimate, welcoming setting. Whenever I go there, it feels like I'm eating a nice home-cooked meal. I hope you like sour cream because almost everything comes with a side of it!
📍200 Saint-Paul St W (Old Port)
Le Rose-Marie
Italian cuisine, showcasing local ingredients. The menu changes often and it's easy to share plates. They have a cozy rooftop terrasse. It's a bit out of the way but well worth the trip.
📍1550 Rue Fullum (Centre-Sud)
Au Petit Extra
An enduring standout of the Centre-Sud neighborhood, this cute French bistro has charm in spades. Classic recipes executed with care, on a budget that won't break the bank. The staff is friendly and makes great suggestions. They have wine pairings to go with each item on the menu, from the starters to the desserts.
📍1690 Ontario St E (Centre-Sud)
Tri Express
Fantastic sushi spot with an eclectic décor and chill vibes. I recommend you get the "Menu à partager, Option 2" for a great time. It's a multi-course experience. Sashimi followed by tartars, then by two services of maki rolls. They have a nice selection of saké and natural wines as well.
📍1650 Laurier Ave E (Plateau Mont-Royal)
Yokato Yokabai / Ichigo Ichie Izakaya
A ramen shop and a full-fledged izakaya under the same roof! It's hard to beat the comfort of a big bowl of tonkotsu ramen with a side of karaage chicken.
📍4185 Drolet St (Plateau Mont-Royal)
Pho Thanh Long
My favorite Vietnamese restaurant. The soup is fantastic, but I always end up getting the number 26: rice vermicelli with grilled pork and imperial rolls.
📍103 St Catherine St E (Quartier des Spectacles)
Patati-Patata
Whether it's the middle of the afternoon or late at night, their cheeseburgers and delicious poutine will be there waiting for you. The original (and tiny!) location is on the corner of St-Laurent and Rachel. They've opened a second restaurant at the Jean-Talon market and it might be easier to find a seat there. The food is excellent at both!
📍4177 St Laurent Blvd (Plateau Mont-Royal)