Montreal brims with casual Haitian joints dishing juicy morsels of marinated-braised-then-fried pork known as griot — and everyone has their favorite. A frill-free, family-run takeout spot by D’Iberville metro station on Jean-Talon East, Sissi & Paul occupies a place in the top tier. Alongside outstanding griot, the restaurant offers lambi (conch stew), kibi (ground meat fritters), and all the necessary, no-nonsense fixings like fried plantains, pikliz, and djon djon rice.

Combining a culinary approach that feels like fine dining with an atmosphere that’s casual and carefree, Hélicoptère has been capturing the best of both worlds since its launch in 2018. Prepare for an ever-changing menu of vibrant and creative plates marrying seasonal ingredients and international flavors, courtesy of chefs David Ollu and Marianne Lafleur. Recent highlights include a beef and cranberry tartare with mole and a dish combining endive, clementines, pistachios, and kosho. Don’t overlook adjoining coffee shop Hélico and nearby sibling bakery Aube, two essential stops on any Hochelaga pilgrimage.

In comparing the city’s leading bowls of pho, diners’ preferences vary wildly. For some, Ho Guom’s nourishing chicken and lemon leaf option is unmatched, as are the beefy varieties topped with heaps of bean sprouts and fragrant herbs. But regulars at this quietly adored BYOB in Villeray will tell you other Northern Vietnamese specialties really take center stage. Consider the savory grilled beef wrapped in betel leaf, the fried fish patties, or the Hanoi-style grilled pork, all served with vermicelli and greens. Add an avocado smoothie or an order of chè ba màu (three-color bean dessert) for a sweet finish

This Hochelaga hangout is the perfect after-dark counterpart to Mile End dépanneur-meets-sandwich-counter Le Pick Up. Since 2021, Resto-Bar Le Pick Up has been serving up laid-back vibes, blaring music, and some mean burgers in a rough-around-the-edges Ontario Street locale. A small menu delivers big flavors with must-try items like a juicy Nashville fried chicken sandwich, the ultimate crispy cilantro-garlic fries, and some killer house-made doughnuts. For drinking, there are some solid cocktails, natural wines, and beers from neighborhood brewers L’Espace Public. If you’re lucky enough to snag a burgundy booth on a Thursday, rejoice — it’s gin and oyster night.

Smash burger joints have been cropping up all around town, but this Villeray spot commands attention. A classic casse-croûte reimagined with some West Coast flair, the concept originated in 2015, when chef Michel Lim first started flipping burgers out of his garage for a Restaurant Day pop-up. Today, he and partner Michel Nguyen (the two are childhood friends and the minds behind La Belle Tonki) draw crowds to an eclectic space that blends hip-hop culture and movie posters with a retro diner aesthetic. MDMH impresses with perfectly pressed patties, crisply caramelized at the edges, while Lim’s thinly cut fries, cooked in beef tallow, star in poutine and the Ol’ Dirty Fries: a mishmash with cheese sauce, house burger sauce, pickles, and onions.

Paloma is homey in a way few other Montreal restaurants can be; that’s because it’s run by a father-daughter duo (Armand and Rosalie Forcherio) who channel their family’s Niçoise and Italian heritage into the space and onto the plate. A tightly curated, regularly rotating menu showcases dishes like calf’s brains with lemon butter, tripe in tomato sauce, spaghetti carbonara, and the Ouistiti Cake, a delightful combination of hazelnut praline, chocolate ganache, and almond cake. Inside, diners will find a space that — despite its minimalistic approach — emanates comfort and coziness.

Nestled on a quiet stretch of Saint-Denis, this contemporary Italian spot hits all the right notes, and then some. It’s serving up seemingly simple yet eye-opening appetizers (like fried fish in sugo crudo and melt-in-your-mouth beef carpaccio), along with devastatingly delicious pasta dishes and a primo selection of cocktails and desserts. After the restaurant relocated to larger digs, it’s slightly easier to nab a table, though — be warned — reservations still fill up fairly quickly. For takeout that won’t disappoint, be sure to try nearby Moccione Pizza, owned by the same team.

This snug La Petite-Patrie establishment takes the form of a small neighborhood bistro, yet exudes the warmth and flavors of North Africa. Aptly named Darna, translating to “home” in Arabic, it wears an effortless ambience: rattan light fixtures, an array of mismatched picture frames, pillow-lined seating. Dig into comforting dishes like saffron-spiced chicken tagine, fried brussel sprouts with puffed barley, herby falafel with house pickles, and carrot cake with cardamom labneh for dessert. Open for Moroccan brunches on weekends, too.

Many of the city’s fine dining, French-leaning, market-driven restaurants could earn a spot among Montreal’s top culinary destinations, but this raucous Plaza St-Hubert restaurant from Charles-Antoine Crête and Cheryl Johnson stands out for its whimsy. Dishes manage to be elegant and complex without being too serious, like foie gras terrine with apples, eel, and crabapple caramel, or trout tartare with squash, pickled garlic flowers, and a peach-pepper sauce. Cap off what is sure to be a memorable evening with Montréal Plaza’s trademark Crispy Fruit, a light dessert of berries, white chocolate mousse, sorbet, and slivers of dacquoise.

Perennially packed, Mon Lapin is one of the hottest tables around, especially after earning the No. 1 spot on the Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list in 2023. The menu changes frequently, following the whims of chefs Marc-Olivier Frappier and Jessica Noël, but dependably spotlights farm-fresh veggies and seasonal seafood, including favorite items like the Croque-Pétoncle (a crisp scallop sandwich), leek conservas with chips, and a ​layered buckwheat cake. Reservations are strongly recommended.

This casual Thai curry shop swung open its doors in Little Italy back in 2017 and has been making diners swoon with its deep, spicy flavors ever since. Get the fried chicken wings with sweet chile sauce. Get the fiery pad kaprao with sauteed pork and fried egg. Get the heaping serving of shrimp pad thai. Get whatever curry is on rotation at the moment. Get whatever you want because, really, every dish is a winner. Whether you’re hoping to dig into your meal at a booth with friends, perched solo on a stool by the window, or to go, this spot has you covered. For a more formal, wine bar-esque experience, head to sister spot Pichai on St-Hubert Street.

The quarter- or half-chicken plates — doused in spicy piri piri and served with a mountain of well-seasoned fries and a token salad — are the standard play at Portuguese grill Ma Poule Mouillée — though the poutine, bulked up with chicken, grilled chouriço, and São Jorge cheese, has achieved icon status. Some well-coordinated counter service ensures the wait isn’t too long, even if the queue of hungry locals and tourists often spills out the door and around the corner.

The crew behind Lawrence and Boucherie Lawrence found a sweet spot in 2016 with this easygoing, day-to-night cafe/wine bar. Larrys is open for an English-style breakfast at 9 a.m. all week (except Mondays), slinging scones with jam and clotted cream, roasted tomatoes, and a spectacular breakfast sandwich. Come nightfall, it’s all about the breadcrumb-topped mackerel spaghetti, albacore ceviche, beef tartare, and lovely seasonal veggie plates — and, of course, the wine. No reservations. No tipping.

Formerly known as Otto Bistro, this Japanese bistro in the Plateau neighborhood stands out for its mastery of raw fish (think sashimi, chirashi, nigiri, and maguro don), mazemen (brothless ramen with toppings like duck confit and burrata), and a variety of other finely tuned dishes from chef Hiroshi Kitano. A nondescript Mont-Royal Avenue spot with high tables and bar seating, Kitano Shokudo creates the kind of low-key and intimate atmosphere perfect for a casual date or a solo dining session.

Since 2018, this charming Outremont hideaway has wielded coastal Catalan flavors with such aplomb that diners may forget they’re in Montreal. These days, chef Juan Lopez Luna increasingly infuses his Mediterranean cooking with his Mexican roots, including nixtamalizing corn in house. The restaurant applies the new focus to its seafood-centric nine-course tasting menu, which also brims with organic vegetables, alongside an equally transportive wine list curated by Luna’s partner (in business and life), Lindsay Brennan. On Sunday nights, the duo hosts guest chefs for a collaborative taco omakase experience. If snagging a table at Alma proves challenging, fear not; sibling wine bar Tinc Set more than satisfies with tapas and Barcelona-style roasted chicken just next door.

Founders opened L’Express on Saint-Denis in 1980 to cater to the area’s theater crowd, serving dependable French fare in a black-and-white-tiled dining room at nearly all hours. The bistro par excellence remains largely unchanged, and seats at the bar are more coveted than ever. Under chef Jean-François Vachon, who has helmed the kitchen since 2016, L’Express continues to uphold the classics with house standards like pistachio-speckled chicken liver pate, steak frites with shallot butter, and veal kidneys in mustard sauce.

This casual Venezuelan eatery excels at the traditional stuffed cornbread known as arepa. Arepera’s are filled with your choice from a (borderline overwhelming) array of beef, chicken, pork, fish, and veggie options, joined with fixings like avocado and plantains. You’ll also find empanadas, cassava fries, and pabellón, stewed and shredded beef served with rice and black beans. With a roomy Plateau locale, a menu that’s entirely gluten-free, and vegan choices available, it’s a no-brainer for a quick catch-up among friends with diverse dietary restrictions.

This taqueria thrives in Chinatown and has dinnerware to match the neighborhood. Opened in 2015 by partners from Mexico City and Monterrey, La Capital has cemented its reputation with some satisfying carnitas tacos, easy-drinking cocktails made with privately imported mezcal, and vegan options (such as a soy chorizo and potato quesadilla). Its quesabirria — a tortilla filled with tender beef, sealed shut with melted cheese, and served with a side of flavorful consomé — is a must. Service is friendly and swift, ensuring that even when there’s a queue, the wait won’t be excessively long.

Chinatown’s leading Hong Kong-style diner and barbecue joint is run by the Ku brothers, second-generation owners, in Saint-Urbain’s Place du Quartier. Since taking over from their father, they’ve made some tasty additions, like fried chicken, chile-garlic wontons, and daily specials like cumin lamb skewers with cajun yogurt sauce (along with some sweet merch). But the time-honored char siu pork, crispy roast pork, and roast duck served with an unforgettable ginger-scallion sauce remain the headliners.

When it comes to the hallmarks of French brasserie dining, Place Carmin has it all taken care of. Think deviled egg canapes crowned with caviar, foie gras terrine with fruit compote, luxe seafood platters for two, and sirloin steak with Bernaise sauce. Leave room for dessert because award-winning pastry chef Léa Godin Beauchemin delivers: creme caramel, creme brulee, profiteroles, a Paris-brest made with hazelnuts and sea buckthorn fruit. A luminous space with warm woods and leathers, it is the latest from the creators of Quartier Latin stalwarts Bouillon Bilk and Le Cadet.

This Italian spot tucked between Griffintown condo towers buzzes with activity day and night, seven days a week, thanks to a devoted following. Stepping inside, you’ll understand why: The spritzes flow freely, the energy is lively and carefree, and the food is just that good. For dinner, don’t miss the lemony branzino crudo with pine nuts and a glorious bomba puree, the Caesar salad with crispy pancetta and taralli breadcrumbs, or the pesto bucatini, a classic brought to new heights. During the day, it’s all about the Italian schiacciate sandwiches: fluffy focaccia stuffed with cured meats and ingredients like truffle honey and artichoke spread.

An intimate dining room and savvy wine service set the tone for some seriously delicious Southern Italian fare at Nora Gray, a gem located at the crossroads of downtown, Little Burgundy, and Griffintown. Open since 2011 and bolstered by two acclaimed sister spots (Elena and Gia), it remains a top contender thanks to its thoughtful approach to pasta. Anolini stuffed with rutabaga in a chicken reduction; ricotta gnocchi with burnt seared leek, parsnips, and Jerusalem artichoke chips; and other dishes seamlessly intertwine tradition with seasonal twists. Venture into the antipasti for potato schiacciata and beef carpaccio, or look to the secondi for offerings like seared scallops, pork chop, and bavette.

This reliable counter-service restaurant delivers some of Montreal’s very best shawarma, falafel, chicken, and beef kofta. Copious platters fill the menu, which also features some seriously delectable spreads (hummus, baba ghanoush, muhammara, labneh) and salads (spicy carrots, green cabbage, salade cuite). This Saint-Henri spot from ​​Raquel Zagury and David Bloom demands a slot on every Montreal food itinerary. Open Monday to Friday.

The industrial Saint-Henri portrayed in Gabrielle Roy’s 1945 novel Bonheur d’Occasion (The Tin Flute) has, for the most part, faded into history, but this establishment, which borrows its name, feels rooted in the neighborhood of today. A newcomer to Notre-Dame Street’s culinary scene and dubbed one of Canada’s Best New Restaurants by Air Canada’s EnRoute, it is the brainchild of chef Philippe Gauthier, previously of Bouillon Bilk and Butterblume. Expect a menu composed of fresh, seasonal ingredients, with recent dishes including raw swordfish with kohlrabi and trout caviar, leeks with walnuts and bleu d’Elizabeth, and guinea fowl with root veggies, alongside a highly praised maple mille-feuille made with clover cream.

Note: Valerie Silva was on the nomination panel for the 2023 Canada’s Best New Restaurants list.

It’s virtually impossible to fumble when ordering breakfast, brunch, or lunch at this Saint-Henri “nosh bar” — and everyone knows it. Perennially busy, Arthurs puts its stamp on Jewish deli classics, with raved-over schnitzel sandwiches, cloud-like syrniki (cottage cheese pancakes), a comprehensive latke smorgasbord, and towers of house-smoked salmon and bagels with all the accoutrements. Weekend brunch brings must-tries like Moroccan toast (poached egg, eggplant, spiced chickpeas, and tahini on challah) and the Grand Slam (crispy fried chicken, beef bacon, fried eggs, syrniki, and maple syrup). Arthurs doesn’t take reservations, so factor in some lengthy wait times; you won’t regret it.

It was a big deal for Montreal’s NDG neighborhood when a crew of young restaurateurs launched this buzzy wine bar on Sherbrooke Street West. Since 2021, they’ve been plating food that effortlessly adapts to the seasons and weaves a medley of flavors from around the world. Think: chicken liver pate with pistachios, apples, and brioche; cacio e pepe roasted cauliflower; or swordfish with yuzu aioli and fennel salad. The drinks match the vibe, with a rotating selection of natural wines that keeps things fresh and some well-executed cocktails — like a martini inspired by caprese salad — served from behind a deep-green marble counter.

With this 2019 opening in Verdun, brothers Ari and Pablo Schor sought to recreate the delicious confluence of Spanish and Italian immigrant cultures from their native Argentina, complete with a few nods to their Jewish roots, too. Slip away from Promenade Wellington into Beba’s snug dining room for bright, seasonal seafood and salads, brilliantly boiled and braised meats and vegetables, and some lovely pasta dishes. Make sure to kick off the meal with whatever empanada is on offer and some potato knishes topped with caviar.

In a sprawling loft lined with wooden tables and string lights, McKiernan churns out hearty and heart-warming foods with understated refinement. Born from a tie-up between the Joe Beef crew and Derek Dammann (of now-closed Maison Publique), it’s a staple for rotisserie chicken and oversized schnitzels, but don’t overlook the pasta, sides, sweets, and daily specials. The vodka rosé rigatoni, Brussels sprouts with almonds and blue cheese, and seasonal doughnuts — like a recent tiramisu creation — are also much-loved at this Côte-Saint-Paul establishment.