Poutine. Made up of the holy trinity of fries, cheese curds, and gravy, it might just be Quebec’s crowning culinary achievement — or at least its most beloved.
In recent decades, this casse-croûte classic has gone from local favourite to national staple, showing up on menus far beyond the borders of la belle province. Even the biggest North American burger chains have jumped on the poutine bandwagon, adding their own versions of the saucy treat to the menu (at least in Quebec locations).
So, I decided to put them to the test.
Over the past few weeks and months, I hit up five fast food spots and swapped the fries in my trio for poutine — for science, of course. Some were surprisingly decent, while others totally missed the mark.
Here’s how they stacked up, from worst to best.
Burger King
While the Whopper beats the Big Mac in my book, the same can’t be said for BK’s sides.
Al Sciola | MTL Blog
Burger King’s slogan might be “Have it your way,” but if that were true, I would’ve just stuck with the regular fries.
Visually, this was one of the better-looking poutines in the bunch — but that’s where the praise ends.
The cheese looked like classic cheddar curds, but there wasn’t a single squeak to be found. The gravy had more of a tomato flavour than a BBQ kick, and the fries were just… fine.
But hey, at least it was hot.
Overall score: 2/5
Harvey’s
Extra points for the massive portion size, Harvey’s.
Al Sciola | MTL Blog
As you can see, there’s a lot wrong with this picture.
The sauce somehow ended up underneath the bed of fries, while the cheese melted into an unappetizing puddle on top. Luckily, it tasted a little better than it looked.
That said, the sauce didn’t bring much to the table. It was basically just salty, flavourless gravy. And while most fast food joints use frozen fries, Harvey’s tasted especially frozen.
Overall score: 2.5/5
McDonald’s
Like most of their menu items, McDonald’s poutine is a dependable option that won’t leave you too disappointed.
Al Sciola | MTL Blog
I’ve had my issues with McDonald’s poutine in the past. So much so that I’ve consistently refused to order it for as long as I can remember.
However, since I was forced to revisit it for the sake of this article (you can’t do a fast food review without the golden arches), I was pleasantly surprised.
The cheese was real, unlike the stuff you’ll find on any of their burgers. And while the sauce wasn’t anything to write home about, the fries (as always) were stellar and definitely helped tie it together.
“Ba da ba ba bah…. I’m kind of liking it.”
Overall score: 3/5
Wendy’s
It may not look pretty, but Wendy’s does the job.
Al Sciola | MTL Blog
Wendy’s poutine made a pretty solid impression overall.
The cheese curds were the real deal, the sauce had a nice savoury flavour, and the fries held up well under the weight of it all.
My only real complaint would be the sauce’s consistency — it leaned a little too far into gelatinous territory, making the whole thing feel heavier than it needed to.
Still, a respectable effort.
Overall score: 3.5/5
A&W
I can honestly say that A&W has never let me down.
Al Sciola | MTL Blog
A&W is my go-to fast food chain (when there’s no Five Guys in sight). But even after all those late-night visits, I had never actually tried their poutine. Turns out, I was missing out.
The cheese curds were the real deal, the sauce packed a peppery punch that gave it some character, and the fries, with the skin left on, made it feel a little more homemade. Add in the generous portion size, and it easily takes the top spot on my poutine podium.
Overall score: 4/5
The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
