Where to eat a good carbonara in Montreal?
A cult dish if ever there was one, carbonara is one of those recipes everyone thinks they know—yet few restaurants truly dare to make it by the book. Born in Rome, the original pasta alla carbonara is disarmingly simple: pasta (traditionally rigatoni or spaghetti), crispy guanciale, egg yolks, Pecorino Romano, and plenty of freshly cracked black pepper. Nothing more. No cream, no garlic, no onions. The sauce comes together off the heat, through the emulsion of eggs, cheese, and pasta cooking water, coating the noodles without ever turning into scrambled eggs.
While carbonara looms large in the collective imagination, an authentic version remains surprisingly rare on local menus. Too risky, too technical, too purist—perhaps. Temperature control, the quality of the guanciale (often swapped for pancetta), the balance between richness and saltiness: every detail matters, and there’s little room for error.
That said, Montreal (and Quebec more broadly) loves to play with the classics—and carbonara is no exception. You’ll find French-inspired riffs with subtle additions, or boldly reimagined versions with Asian influences, where eggs meet miso or even udon noodles. Sometimes irreverent, often delicious, these takes prove just how much of a blank canvas this dish can be for chefs.
For this list, we wanted to gather the very best carbonaras, in every sense of the word: those that honor Roman tradition to the letter, and those that draw inspiration from it to create something new. Because in the end, whether orthodox or adventurous, carbonara remains a deeply comforting, crowd-pleasing dish—and when it’s done right, absolutely unforgettable. Bon appétit!
Special mention: If carbonara is available at Pasta Pooks, jump on it. These are among our favorite pasta dishes ever.
Stellina
Among the best fresh pasta in Montreal, Stellina masters carbonara in its most classic form. Guanciale, egg yolks, Pecorino Romano, and black pepper come together in a perfectly creamy sauce, served with well-coated rigatoni in just the right proportion.
Montréal
Knuckles
Knuckles is the neighborhood spot on Jarry we love for a cozy, no-frills dinner. The restaurant excels at playfully reinventing classics—think Pizza Pocket–style panzerotti or a “Big Wac” beef tartare inspired by the Big Mac. True to its fun-loving spirit, Knuckles offers a corn-inspired take on carbonara: linguine, corn sauce, Pecorino, and fermented chili for a twist that’s as surprising as it is successful.
Montréal
Kitano Shokudo
Kitano Shokudo is one of our favorite Japanese addresses in the city. Their Uni Carbonara is ultra-decadent: Asian noodles coated in a rich, creamy sauce and generously topped with uni. An unexpectedly delicious combination.
Montréal
Il Miglio (Time Out Market)
At Il Miglio, you go for well-made pasta, and their carbonara is no exception. Authentic, silky, and generous, it pays faithful homage to Rome, without shortcuts or frills. Their carbonara is also available at their RoyalMount location.
Montréal
Rendez-Vous Pointe-Claire
Located in Pointe-Claire, Rendez-Vous offers European-inspired cuisine that highlights exceptional local and imported products. Their carbonara sticks closely to the original recipe (guanciale, egg yolk, black pepper, and Pecorino) and is served with bucatini—a pasta shape we’re particularly fond of. We also love ordering it with their house-made focaccia, just to make sure not a drop of sauce is left behind.
Pointe-Claire
Ichigo Ichie Izakaya
We’re far from traditional carbonara here, but Ichigo Ichie’s udon carbonara is downright delicious. Udon noodles, bacon, scallions, sesame, onsen egg, and cheese: a fully embraced reinterpretation that might raise an eyebrow among nonnas, but one we wholeheartedly encourage you to try.
Montréal
Restaurant nozy
Another Japanese favorite, recently relocated to Little Italy. While seafood is usually the main draw here, the more creative dishes on the menu are also well worth exploring. Nozy offers a carbonara-style udon topped with grilled bacon—rich, comforting, and perfectly aligned with their bold yet precise approach.
Montréal
La Spada
In Saint-Henri, La Spada specializes in the great Roman classics. Even if it’s not always on the menu, their carbonara is sometimes available as a special upon request—and unsurprisingly, it’s absolutely delicious.
Montréal
Bistro Amerigo
If it’s available, Amerigo’s carbonara is not to be missed. Like all of their pasta dishes, it’s a classic, well-executed version that’s always worth asking your server about.
Montréal
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Photography by Scott Usheroff
