The Best Ribs in Montreal: Our suggestions
Tender, juicy, and slathered in a barbecue sauce that sticks to your fingers, ribs are the very definition of comfort food. Whether you like them deeply smoked, maple-lacquered, or kicked up with spices, Montreal is full of spots that have mastered the art of ribs. We’ve tracked down the best addresses to get your fingers good and messy.
“Côtes levées,” the Quebec term for pork spare ribs, are also called ribs in the United States or petites côtes in Belgium. Either way, they’re usually cuts of pork or beef ribs. These ribs come from the flank or back of the animal. Côtes levées can be roasted, grilled, fried, baked, braised, or smoked, but in most cases they’re boiled, marinated, then grilled on the barbecue or in the oven. You can then carefully remove the meat and surrounding fat before eating it. It’s a simple, accessible, and delicious dish. It’s also one that Quebecers savour with plenty of enthusiasm and appetite!
Here is a list of our favourite places where you can enjoy the best ribs in Montreal. To go with it, we invite you to also check out our list of the best fries in Montreal.
Special mentions:
Boucan: A Southern U.S.-style smokehouse serving excellent ribs and local specialties.
Diablos BBQ: Casual smokehouse specializing in Southern cuisine and smoked meats.
Aylwin BBQ: Barbecue located in the Atwater Market offering a range of American-style smoked meats.
Icehouse
IceHouse is neither fine dining nor fast food. It’s an in-between; an unpretentious place where you can eat very well without worrying about fat content. IceHouse serves up a delectable menu featuring a host of Tex-Mex inspired items. One of our favourites is the smoked and braised ribs in an amazing house BBQ sauce! They get your fingers dirty and are tasty. They’re great to eat on the restaurant’s terrace, accompanied by a pitcher of Bourbon lemonade.
Montréal
Mui Mui Montréal
Mui Mui is an excellent restaurant with Asian flavours located at the edge of Villeray and Parc-Extension. While the menu developed by the chef-owner does not reflect a traditional Asian cuisine in particular, it is a fusion of many Asian cuisines for a delicious and surprising explosion of flavours. Their ribs are glazed with soy, sugar and Gochujang, in a small dish format to share. A must-try!
Montréal
Satay Brothers
This restaurant on Notre-Dame Street West is one of the most popular in town. Montrealers flock here to eat classic Asian street food in a beautiful, lively setting. Satay Brothers’ reputation is built on the quality and authenticity of their menu and experience. And their wok-fried ribs, coated in a sweet, sticky sauce, are no exception!
Montréal
Jatoba
Located in downtown Montreal, Jatoba is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Montreal, with a truly unique decor! The place also has a lovely terrace, which is part of our guide of the nicest terraces in the city. On the kitchen side, chef Olivier Vigneault has created a wonderful Asian-inspired menu. The ribs are delicious: cooked with star anise and brown sugar are perfect!
Montréal
Biiru
Biiru means beer in Japanese. This Biirū, however, is an izakaya in the heart of downtown Montreal, serving good Japanese-inspired food in a lively atmosphere. On their menu, you can find Pōkuribu 2.0 absolutely delicious lacquered pork ribs.
Montréal
McKiernan Rôtisserie
McKiernan Luncheonette, on Rue Saint-Patrick near Boulevard Monk, is an address born out of the Joe Beef and Liverpool House world, with a more laid-back, comfort-driven formula. You come here for generous diner-style cooking, including some very good honey-garlic ribs that are tender and full of flavour.
Montréal
Aylwin
The little sister of the summer pop-up Aylwin BBQ, this spot has set up permanently inside the market, where the smoker still runs every day. The ribs here follow proper smokehouse tradition, tender and coated in a house-made barbecue sauce. They show up on the plate or stacked into a sandwich, all served in a laid-back diner setting that keeps the same spirit as the outdoor stand that came before it.
Montréal
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