5 of the best poutines you’ve gotta try in Quebec

Looking to take an early Fall trip? Looking to try some delicious new dishes you have never sampled? Well how about poutine? Now don’t give me that I’ve tried poutine already, because the question I have for you is, have you tried poutine in its place of origin and really, where it’s made best? That would be Québec by the way? Well, if the answer is no, then you’ve gotta head to these Quebec locations for 5 of the very best poutines.

According to macleans.ca, poutine was invented in 1957, when on a whim, a local Quebec trucker asked Fernand Lachance, a local cook, to place some cheese curds atop his helping of fries.  For those of you who have just emerged from a cave and have spent most of your lives in seclusion drawing on the walls of said cave, poutine is a dish consisting of fries, topped with the above-mentioned cheese curds, and of course gravy.

Seems simple enough, yes…but in the end the flavor combination is something out of this world and is most definitely explosive. Now…add some proteins to the mix, which is often done in Quebec, and you’ve got something way beyond the stratosphere for sure.

We’ll get into that in just a little bit…

Poutine has become a global dish by now and ever since its humble beginnings, but anyone who knows their food knows to sample the true essence of what poutine is, you need to go back to the source and the source for poutine is of course Quebec…and by Québec, I mean the province of Québec in Canada. And no, you won’t have to wear snow shoes on your feet and spend the night in an igloo.

In fact, we’re having a mild Fall in Montreal specifically, where yours truly is from, and you won’t have to go far for our first poutine choice, Guilty Eaters…

So without further ado…here are 5 of the absolute best poutine dishes you absolutely must try in Quebec

These are of course in no particular order; they are all amazing options, dear readers.

5. Rôtisseries Au Coq – Central Station /Montreal

So if you are heading to Montreal, which isn’t the capital city of Quebec but is certainly its main metropolis…you won’t have to go far, because these guys are cooking up a storm right there in the food court that borders the Via Rail train station.

Now they’ve been there for over two decades albeit under a different banner (we’ll get to that in just a second), but the owner, chef and cooking staff have remained the same and the passion they bring to the plate is way above the call of duty.

Now there are many Au Coq locations on the island of Montreal and in Quebec, but these guys here make a delicious poutine. The chain offers a General Tao poutine that is something quite special indeed and you should not miss out on this treat for sure.

Of course the restaurant is famous for its deliciously tender and juicy rotisserie chicken, which is also worth the trip, friends.

Their opening hours are from Monday to Friday from 11 am to 2 pm. No, not a large window, but you’d be surprised how many clients flood to the location in just that short time. So next time you’re in the city, make sure to stop by and try some poutine you’re not likely to forget.

4. Rôtisseries Fusée

There was no way I could compile a list of Quebec locations for the absolute best poutine without adding this franchise here…. The above owners of the Central Station Au Coq were once under the Fusée banner at Montreal’s central station but changed just after the turn of the decade.

There are also many other locations in Quebec. But the one I’d like to pinpoint here for its poutine is the one in St-Foy, Quebec.

Specifically located at 2900 Chem. des Quatre-Bourgeois #107, Québec, QC G1V 1Y4. From Thursday to Saturday they run from 11am to 9pm, and the rest of the week until 8pm.

Do yourselves a favor, though. If I were in your shoes, I’d ask for a regular poutine, but ask the kind chefs to top it with ‘sauce hot chicken,’ as a Brown Sauce is often commonly known in Québec…for a less sweet option, which is their regular BBQ sauce; this is used for the rotisserie chicken and for poutine.

The aforementioned brown sauce is used for their hot chicken sandwich (two slices of bread filled with roasted chicken and topped with gravy and peas—the perfect dish for a cold fall day.

The brown sauce gives you the edge in that search for the ultimate savory bite, and that taste will stay with you for years to come…perhaps until your next trip up there…which if you taste this poutine, that trip won’t be too far off.

3. La Banquise in Montreal

Ah, yet another location to sample the goods poutine-wise. Of course they also have an incredible assortment of microbrews if you’re into that. If you aren’t, no big deal, because you’ll still be able to get your ya yas from the grub, which is amazing; especially the poutine.

Located at 994 Rue Rachel East; don’t miss what one online reviewer called “the best poutine on earth.” Myself I’d say it’s top five for sure…neck and neck with these other locations.

2. Bellepro’s in DDO/Montreal

This is also a chain, but this location in particular will have you sampling many of the dishes they offer which ranges from Subs, cheeseburgers, hotdogs, smoked meat sandwiches on rye, and of course poutine, and asking for seconds.

Their poutine sauce and their fries are very special indeed and the portions are huge and very satisfying. The place is clean and the workers there are friendly and talkative.

Located at 3209 Sources Blvd, Dollard-Des Ormeaux, Quebec H9B 1Z6, and open from 11 am to 12 am.

1. Casse-Croute Chez Gaston

And yet another place is of course this little eatery here.

One online reviewer by the name of Anja Mracevic stated:

"“The best poutine I’ve ever had by far! Definitely you go here for quality of food and not to be babied and pampered by the staff. They are busy and move fast – if you’re non French speaking my suggestion is to start with “bonjour-hello – can I please have…” instead of trying to speak French…Luckily for me my husband is French speaking and ordered no problem but two people from Ottawa came in after us and bravely tried to order in French but the servers were impatient and short with them like I said, they’re busy and have lots of orders to handle in a small space…Definitely highly recommended just for quality alone!”"

I’d have to say, “well put, Anja and I would have to totally agree.”

Located at 332 Rue Dorchester, Québec, QC G1K 6A2. They’re open late…. Their hours of operation are as follows: Mondays to Wednesdays they’re open from 11 am to 11 pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 12 pm to 4 am! Yes, that’s AM…and on Sundays they’re open from 12-11 pm.

None of these places are that far to travel if you’re in the northeastern States…and all five are well worth the trip, dear readers. And heck, even if you’re in like San Diego…don’t say I haven’t awakened a beast of a craving for the best poutine on the planet.

If you’ve been to another location where the poutine was indeed banger, let us know dear readers.