Damas is one of Montreal’s biggest comeback stories: After a fire gutted it in 2015, it was reborn in Outremont and became better than ever. Seven years later, and its spreads of mezzes and hefty char-grilled mains replete with Syrian flavours of sumac and Aleppo peppers are an almost guaranteed winner for any palate.
Check out Damas
Korean based fusion BAR right in the center of Montreal Downtown. Cool stop for Korean fare including bulgogi nachos, chicken wings & sashimi, with hip ceiling decor.
Check out Ganadara Bar
With Casa Kaizen, Nopalito, and the forthcoming Bvrger, chef-owner Christian Manuel Ventura Alattore is on a serious roll, but it’s his first vegan venture, the pioneering Sushi Momo, that remains most at the forefront of Montreal’s dining scene. Its colourful vegan rolls are so beloved by locals that they’re often cited as among the city’s best sushi — despite the notable absence of, well, real fish.
Check out Sushi Momo
This Venezuelan eatery specializes in the stuffed corn bread pockets known as arepas. Theirs are filled with your choice from a borderline overwhelming array of fish, veggie, and meat options. Since 2018, a move to a far more capacious locale has meant much shorter wait times — when dining rooms are open.
Check out Arepera
Arguably one of the best poutine purveyors in Montreal, this iconic north-end haunt has just over 40 years under its belt. Open 24 hours a day, diners can’t go wrong with the classics — and its “extreme chicken grilled cheese” and popcorn chicken poutine are also known to be worthwhile picks.
Check out Restaurant Paulo & Suzanne
The question of where to get the best pho in town can be a polarizing one, but many have pledged their allegiance to this Côte-des-Neiges mainstay, where giant bowls of rice noodles and raw beef in spiced broth with mounds of basil and bean sprouts are sure to satisfy.
Check out Pho Lien
Looking for famed Montreal smoked meat that isn’t Schwartz’s? Head to Snowdon instead for a deli that’s been open since 1942 and still within the same family. Snowdon Deli’s status as an iconic Montreal food destination is based on more than just doing smoked meat on rye with mustard: Grab anything from matzo ball soup to latkes, knishes, or blintzes.
Check out Snowdon Deli
Montreal’s culinary scene has a number of well-known icons: smoked meat sandwiches, bagels, and poutine — dishes tourists won’t leave the city without trying. Alongside them are the imports, foods from different cultures (Haitian and Portuguese, for example), which have all carved out space in the city’s food scene — not to mention less internationally-renowned home-grown creations, like Dic Ann’s burgers or the Orange Julep, and some younger icons like Arthurs and Le Pick Up.
Each week, we attempt to render 7 Montreal’s food scenes in list form, compiling the city’s unique institutions that make this city such a standout place to eat. Bon appétit!
As much as we love to share our food discoveries, we always welcome others to share their thoughts and pictures with us too!
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