The Best Fries in Montreal: Our favourite addresses

Fries from restaurant Sumac

The “fry” is a potato cut into sticks and cooked in animal fat or vegetable oil. Some say it was born on a bridge in Paris, others on the banks of the Meuse in Belgium. Emblematic in both countries, its history is still a mystery. According to the French historian Madeleine Ferriere “The French fry is a daughter of street food. That’s why it is difficult to establish her birth certificate”.

In the end, not really knowing its origins has created several legends around the fry. For the French, the French fry also called “pomme frite pont Neuf” would have been invented by street vendors on the oldest bridge in Paris after the Revolution of 1789. “They offered fried food, hot chestnuts and slices of fried potato”, says Madeleine Ferrière. For the Belgians, it was born in Namur, where locals would fish and fry their catch. But in the middle of the 17th century, during a hard winter, the river froze and the inhabitants chose instead fry fish-shaped potatoes (according to Pierre Leclerc).

In the end, no matter where the French fry comes from, the important thing is that it’s been adopted. And here in Quebec, we are just as fond of this fried potato. It accompanies our steaks and burgers, it shines in our poutines, and satisfies our cravings accompanied by our condiments of choice.

The addresses on this list present amazing french fries! Even if we love the ones offered by la Belle Province and other chains, the addresses on this list present the best fries from independent Montreal restaurants. 

Bon appétit!

Joe Beef

Joe Beef is one of our city’s must-visit restaurants, but it’s also home to some of the best fries in Montreal. Chef Marc-Olivier Frappier and his team prepare semi-peeled Île d’Orléans potatoes, fried in beef fat and seasoned with garlic butter, parmesan and salt, and served with spicy mayonnaise. The result is true decadence. If you haven’t tried them, this is one to put on your to-do list!  photos by Alison Slattery

2491 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest
Montréal

Mesón

Mesón is a Spanish restaurant in the neighbourhood of Villeray. Chef Marie-Fleur St-Pierre and her team prepare scrumptious French fries cooked in marrow that you must try. The restaurant also offers amazing patatas bravas on their brunch menu. The design of the space is both elegant and casual and the service friendly and charming. A visit here will remind you of the traditional cuisine of this richly flavoured country that knows how to handle a potato.

345 Rue Villeray
Montréal

Sumac

Sumac continues to be one of our favourite spots in town for a great bite at an affordable price. The restaurant offers the most generous portion sizes in an elegant and modest setting, and their fries are exceptional. The Sumac Fries and the Hummus Fries with hummus, tahini and s’rug are both a must try. And to accompany your fries, be sure to also try their chicken shawarma – one of our favourites in town. Photos Alison Slattery

3618 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest
Montréal

Chez Ma Tante

Chez Ma Tante Patate is a lovely restaurant on Fleury Street East has been open for about 90 (!) years and remains just as delicious. While a little out of the way, this restaurant is nevertheless a landmark in town for lovers of good traditional Quebecois fries. Open every day, you can enjoy some of the best fries in town, all day long starting at 9:30 am. Photos Chez Ma Tante Patate

3180 Rue Fleury Est
Montréal

Chez Tousignant

Chez Tousignant is a snack bar that offers some of the best Quebecois fast food in town, and definitely some of the best fries. The establishment wanted to compete with fast food chains by offering more fresh, delicious and improved versions of the classics, and it has been very, very successful! Chez Tousignant offers a superb 50’s-60’s diner decor where you can enjoy Quebecois potatoes, cut daily. The restaurant passes more than 1000kg of potatoes per week the place is so popular! We don’t need any more evidence to prove how good it is. Photos Julie Perreault

6956 Rue Drolet
Montréal

Le Majestique

If we’re often talking about the bar Le Majestique, it’s because we have a real soft spot for the place. In a kitsch decor just right, the place is almost always crowded with festive gourmands and also offers some of the best fries in town. Chef Dominic Lalonde and his team prepare the fries, which are served up hot until 2am every day! Blanched and then fried to order, the fries achieve such a delicious taste thanks to the chef’s secret seasoning. Photos by Alison Slattery

4105 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
Montréal

Restaurant Paulo & Suzanne

Paulo et Suzanne is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, right next to Sacré-Coeur Hospital. For more than 30 years, the house has been offering some of the best fries in the city. All-day lunches, poutines and burgers are what this neighbourhood restaurant is known for, and we can confirm that the fries are excellent. The service is charming, the portions of fries very generous and the prices modest. Photos Alison Slattery

5501 Boulevard Gouin Ouest
Montréal

Chalet Bar-B-Q

Chalet BBQ is a Montreal classic that has been around since 1944 and in our opinion, offers some of the best fries in Montreal. Over the years, the establishment has built a reputation for its chicken, but its fresh potato fries, prepared in the classic way, are just as excellent. The period decor also adds to the charm of the experience. This place is iconic.  Photos anchoviesanonymous

5456 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Montréal

L'Express

L’Express is a Montreal staple for its menu, décor and outstanding French brasserie service. You come here for a comforting meal and, like the rest of the menu, while the fries don’t change, their quality always remains the same. The fries here are classic and prepared with a lot of love: fried twice in peanut oil to perfection. Throughout the room, the atmosphere is buzzing for an enjoyable dining experience. Photos Alison Slattery

3927 Rue Saint-Denis
Montréal

Leméac

Leméac is one of the best French restaurants in Montreal and an address that we love. The restaurant offers excellent fries, cooked just the way you would find them in France: sliced thin and fried twice, and the result is always very good. In an elegant and classic decor, you can enjoy some of the best fries in Montreal. We recommend the bar to get the most out of the experience! Photos Jimmy Hamelin

1045 Avenue Laurier Ouest
Montréal

Patati Patata Friterie de Luxe

Patati-Patata is a charming “luxury chip-house” on Saint-Laurent Boulevard. Don’t let the small size of the place fool you, they serve excellent fries. The cosy address serves up exceptionally tasty fries, in modest portions. The atmosphere is always lively, the service very friendly, and you can order to go! Photos Alison Slattery

4177 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
Montréal

Uniburger

Uniburger brings fast food back to what it should be: fresh, well-made and served – you guessed it – fast. The establishment offers a French fry sliced thinner than most fries on this list, but not quite matchstick. We really like the simplicity and quality of Uniburger’s fries; twice cooked in peanut oil, they are very good. Also note that the restaurant delivers every day of the week. Photos Uniburger and Behind the Food

2001 Rue Saint-Denis
Montréal

Greenspot Restaurant - Smoked Meat - Breakfast - Burgers

Greenspot is a Montreal institution that has been open since 1947! The place offers simple and satisfying fast food done well. You step back in time upon entering Greenspot: old-fashioned 50s retro decor that fill us with nostalgia. In sum, we really this “spot”, and think their fries are delicious. Photo Alison Slattery

3041 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest
Montréal

Paul Patates

Open since 1958, Paul Patates is an institution in the Pointe-Saint-Charles borough. Here, the keywords are freshness and quality. Among its excellent snack dishes, one comes to Paul Patates especially to enjoy its excellent homemade pataterie-style fries, which are very tasty. Photos Alison Slattery

760 Rue Charlevoix
Montréal

Isle de Garde - Brasserie

Isle de Garde is a fantastic craft brewery and a perfect spot to enjoy a great beer and a good bite in the Petite Patrie. In their unpretentious space – or outside on their terrace – you can enjoy excellent accompaniments with your brew, like their delicious fries served with truffle oil mayonnaise! Isle de Garde

1039 Rue Beaubien Est
Montréal

BAR ST-DENIS

Bar St-Denis is much more than just a bar on the busy street of the same name. For owners Emily and David, their space is a kind of refuge for the people of the neighbourhood to come and enjoy a good meal, a good drink and a good time. Their fries are among our favourites in town! Photos Alison Slattery

6966 Rue Saint-Denis
Montréal

Brasserie Harricana / Restaurant & Boutique

In their beautiful and spacious location on the border of Little Italy and Mile-Ex, la Brasserie Harricana has something to please nearly everyone. In fact, it is on our list of the most beautiful bars in Montreal. Among their array of comfort food dishes, we love their addictive sweet and salty fries served with homemade mayonnaise. Photos Alison Slattery

95 Rue Jean-Talon Ouest
Montréal

Falafel Yoni

Falafel Yoni on St-Viateur Street West makes amazing Israeli falafels. Their concept is to offer falafel with authentic and traditional Middle Eastern flavors, and their delicious fries serve as the perfect accompaniment! Photos Alison Slattery

54 Rue Saint-Viateur Ouest
Montréal

Renoir Restaurant

Renoir is the chic and delicious restaurant of the Sofitel Montreal Le Carré Doré hotel, in the heart of downtown, and is a fantastic address. If you want to enjoy a gourmet menu in a quiet atmosphere, this is the place for you, and of course, their fries are a delight. Photos Renoir

1155 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Montréal

Ma Poule Mouillée

Ma Poule Mouillée opened in 2013 at the corner of Rachel and Boyer, and has since become one of Montreal’s best “chicken counter/take-out” style Portuguese restaurants. Here you can enjoy their amazing fries, which serve as the base for one of the best poutines in town, or the ideal side for their sandwiches and chicken dishes.

969 Rachel Street East
Montreal
See on map

Photography by  Alison Slattery



From the magazine