The Best Fries in Montreal: Our favourite addresses
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Montreal
