Poutine is one of the first things people think of when they think of Canada—especially Quebec and especially Montreal. It’s our beef and potatoes, so to speak.
Locals enjoy it, but because of poutine’s icon status, it’s exceedingly popular among tourists, too, and touristy eats can get pricey. I’m a cheapskate, but I still want to enjoy the occasional serving of fries, curds, and gravy. So, I set out on a quest to find Montreal’s cheapest poutine.
Some parameters: In my personal life, I am not a poutine purist. Pogos, onion rings, pulled pork—anything goes. But for the sake of this article, I will be comparing “classic” poutines—that is, french fries, cheese curds, and beef or mushroom gravy. I will be comparing the smallest non-side portion each restaurant offers. At some places, that’s small; at others, it’s regular, but it’s generally a respectable serving size all around.
Finally, for consistency’s sake, prices will be listed before tax or tip.
Part 1: The icons
First stop: La Belle Province
Price: 💸
Address: 1, rue Sainte-Catherine E., Montreal, QC
Named after its home – the beautiful province of Quebec – La Belle Province is a Quebec institution. Because of its hearty fare and opening hours, belpro is a Mecca for drunk students. A simple poutine at Belle Province’s Espace des Arts location ran me $9.95, before tax or tip. If you’re out late and you want poutine, Belle Province has got your back.
La Belle Province website
Next stop: La Banquise
Price: 💸
Address: 994, rue Rachel E., Montreal, QC
If you’ve ever been to Parc La Fontaine, you’ve probably seen La Banquise. More accurately, you’ve probably seen the massive crowd of people waiting to get in or receive their take-out orders from La Banquise.
There is almost always a line out the door, but the service is quick, the fries are crispy, and the prices are good. They serve up a great classic poutine, but they also have a number of different poutine dishes worth trying. Some are self-explanatory, like La Hot Dog. Others, like La Miam (the yum, for anglophones), are a little less obvious. At $9.95, this is one of my favourites on the list.
La Banquise website
Next: Chez Claudette
Price: 💸
Address: 351, av. Laurier E., Montreal, QC
Another Montreal institution, Chez Claudette has been there for me through thick and thin. The portions are large, and the restaurant is loaded with 20th century diner nostalgia. A “petite” poutine there will run you $9.95. I know a petite doesn’t sound like much food, but trust me – it’s plenty. If you want to make eye contact with a photo of Marilyn Monroe while you eat your dinner, Chez Claudette is your spot.
Chez Claudette Instagram page
Part 2: Reconsidering my mission
Everywhere I go, I see poutine that is just under $10 before tax. It haunts me. At this point in my writing, I’m questioning everything. It’s getting existential. I just want to find a classic poutine that isn’t $9.95.
Next up: Patati Patata
Price: 💸
Address: 4177, boul. Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC
$10. I can breathe easy now, even if it is five cents more expensive than the other poutines on the list so far. Patati Patata is a plateau classic, beloved for its poutine and severely underrated for its burgers. As with La Banquise, this spot usually has a line out the door. Also like La Banquise, it’s right near a large park, complete with picnic benches where you can enjoy your reasonably-priced poutine.
Patati Patata website
Dirty Dogs
Price: 💸
Address: 3685, boul. Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC
I’ve always thought it was bold to use the word “dirty” in the name of a restaurant. One look at the menu will tell you that their food is “dirty” the way that a sloppy joe is sloppy – in a delicious, comforting way. It was tough to stick with classic poutine here, but it’s worth doing: Dirty Dogs’ classic poutine is one of the best poutines on the list and it’s only $9.75.
Dirty Dogs Instagram
Gibeau Orange Julep
Price: 💸
Address: 7700, boul. Décarie, Montreal, QC
The Orange Julep is a rare fusion of poutine place and local landmark. The giant orb would be hard to forget, even if it didn’t serve poutine. Not only is the building itself a worthwhile destination, but their petite poutine is $9.59, which makes it the cheapest on the list so far. It may be a little out of the way for some, but poutine and orb is a great cheap afternoon and totally worth the trip.
Orange Julep website
Chez Tousignant
Price: 💸
Address: 6956, rue Drolet, Montreal, QC
Chez Tousignant is nicely located right by Jean Talon market, so you can get fresh local produce and then a cheap and hearty meal to balance out all of that healthy crap. At $9.50, this retro establishment has the third cheapest poutine on the list, and some of the best fast food in the city. Plus, you can wash down your meal with Chez Tousignant’s own house pop!
Chez Tousignant website
Paulo & Suzanne
Price: 💸
Address: 5501, boul. Gouin O., Montreal, QC
Honestly, I didn’t know that anybody made poutine under $9 anymore. At $8.99, Paulo et Suzanne’s poutine gets in just under the $9 mark. Turns out, Chez Claudette is not the only restaurant where you can make eye contact with Marilyn Monroe through your meal! Paulo et Suzanne is retro in decor, prices, and the fact that it’s cash only.
Paulo & Suzanne website
Our winner: Chez Ma Tante
Price: 💸
Address: 3180, rue Fleury E., Montreal, QC
Chez Ma Tante was the cheapest poutine I found in my search. Established 95 years ago, Chez Ma Tante is a legacy poutine spot. Not only is it a classic, but you can get a poutine for only $8.75 and as late as 4 a.m. Another cash-only spot, you can pay for your whole meal here, including tax, with a $10 bill. That’s a rare thing these days, and it feels pretty good.
Chez Ma Tante Instagram
Part 3: Acceptance
It turns out that many of Montreal’s poutine places are just as interested in a sub $10 poutine as I am. I may have permanently raised my blood pressure for nothing. But now you, dear reader, can skip directly to your cheap, delicious, poutine.
This article has been updated since it was originally published in August 2024.
