Poutine in Toronto is the stuff Canadian dreams are made of. We can't seem to get enough of these oozing piles of fries, gravy, and cheese (or something like it), and even more so when they're covered in something decadent and unconventional.
Here are my picks for the top poutine in Toronto by neighbourhood.
Annex
The loaded poutine at Scotty Bons on Blooris technically on a menu of sides but it's really like a main dish.Fries are buried under a mountain of your choice of protein and toppings and slathered inhouse jerk gravy and shredded cheese.
Dzo Viet Eatery puts a Vietnamese twist on poutine. Photo by Hector Vasquez.
Baldwin Village
The poutine at Vietnamese joint Dzo Viet Eatery is nothing like your classic take on the dish. Here they combine what you love about pho and poutine and bring them together making one deliciously epic menu item.
Beaches
Feel like an absolute beast by devouring two whole pounds of hand-cut fries from Hogtown Smoke smothered in three types of cheeses, pepper gravy and pulled pork.
Bloordale Village
WhileBrock Sandwich may be known for their handheld offerings you shouldn't pass up the chance to dig into their classic take on a poutine. They also make a truffle version if you want to take things up a notch.
Chinatown
Before Smoke's Poutinerie came around, was late-night Toronto poutine really a thing? Here it’s loaded fries all day, every day with a massive and experimental menu that’s creative enough to please any drunkard hankering for fries.
Poutine at The Bullger makes for the perfect side dish. Photo by Hector Vasquez.
Danforth
The perfect side to any burger at The Bullger is their classic poutine. It's just fries, cheese curds and gravy and it's available in either a small or large.
Danforth East
You'll find seven different takes on poutine at Retro Burger. They serve it up classic as well as ones topped with crispy fried chicken and shaved steak.
Distillery District
The coqauvinpoutine at Cluny is meant to be a dish to share but after one bite you likely won't want to. It featuresred wine braised chicken, sautéed mushroom and bacon along with Quebec cheese curds.
Dundas West
You’ll find some of the most authentic Quebecois poutine coming out of NomNomNom Poutine, the longtime fave at Market 707. Homemade cheese curds, gravy from Quebec, and options to throw on some Montreal smoked meat —yum.
Lady Marmalade's poutine is a the breakfast of champions. Photo by Hector Vasquez.
East Chinatown
Lady Marmalade is a popularall-daybrunchspot that serves some ofToronto’s bestbreakfast poutine. Home fries are topped withcheese curds andyour choice of miso gravy or hollandaise.
East York
If you're looking for the perfect pairingto your sandwich at Knuckle Sandwich opt for the classic poutine side.
It's all about the cheese pulls at Burgers n' Fries Forever. Photo by Hector Vasquez.
Entertainment District
Ottawa-based burger and fry jointBurgers n’ Fries Forever makes one mean poutine. Hand-cut fries get topped with squeaky, chunky St. Albert’s curds and a good helping of silky veggie gravy.
Etobico*ke
The go-to burger joint Woody’s Burgers offers their thick Yukon fries with grilled jalapenos, cheese curds, and pulled pork — making for a gravy-doused accompaniment to a hulking burger.
Financial District
The Belgian fries at Beerbistroareknown city-wide for a reason: their menu of poutine includes the Mad Cow, with fries blanched in beef tallow and duck fat and toppings like beef cheek, blue cheese and duck confit.
A must-try at Pita Boss is theirshawarma poutine. Photo by Hector Vasquez.
High Park
Pita Boss is your destination forshawarma poutine. Fries are topped withfinely chopped shawarma meat,shredded mozzarella and covered in a tasty veggie gravy.
Kensington Market
Who needs chips when you can get decked out poutinewithfried fish instead. Fresco’s Fish and Chips offers three styles of poutine with cheddar cheese curds, and even has the option to go vegan and gluten-free.
Leslieville
One of the best in the game, Leslieville Pumps serves up hand-cut fries and Ontario curds doused in gravy and smoker-jus. Load them up with pulled pork, beef brisket or baked beans.
Little Italy
A side dish that can't be missed at Happy Burger is their waffle fries poutine. Their heavenly waffle fries are covered in cheese burds and slathered in gravy.
Poutine is a colourful affair at The Enchanted Poutinerie. Photo by Hector Vasquez.
North York
The Enchanted Poutinerieis notorious for their psychedelic Insta-worthy"Unicorn Poutine" topped with rainbow curds and gravy. They also do more traditional takes on the dish as well.
Ossington
Arguably one of the best menu items at Oddseoul is their squash poutine. The unique take hasJapanese curry gravy, Ontario cheese curds, kimchi, and pickled ginger.
The poutine at Matt's Burger Lab is unlike anything you've ever had before. Photo by Hector Vasquez.
Parkdale
Matt's Burger Lab is a Toronto destination for over-the-topburgers and fries. Try theMatt's Poutine whichis topped with the owner's favourite toppings: cheese curds, ground beef, pickled jalapeno, gravy, and an unexpected twist of house mustard that adds an extra kick.
Riverside
Burger joint Riverside Burgers has two poutine offerings on the menu. They do a classic take as well as their Palmer Poutine which has the addition of caramelized onions and bacon.
Queen West
Bergham is a chainhailing from Quebec so of coursethere has to be poutine on the menu. A stand-out is their merguez poutine with brown sauce, cheese curds, and four chopped up pieces of theNorthwest African sausage.
SumiLicious doesn't skimp on the toppings. Photo by Hector Vasquez.
Scarborough
SumiLicious deals in Montreal smoked meat and they don't skimp on it when it comes to crafting their poutine. Piles of it go on fries and gets smothered with cheese curds and gravy.
St. Clair West
It’s fried stuff galore at Sea Witch Fish and Chips, where you can get your poutine with real cheese curds and tasty gravy to alongside your battered fish.
Stockyards District
Popular chain Philthy Philly's has over 20 different kinds of poutines on offer. Keep it simple with their Original or opt for something wild like their Pizza with pepperoni, tomato sauce, mozzarella and your choice of veggies.
Upper Beaches
If you're looking for a non-traditional take on poutine opt for The Poutine Supreme at No Bull Burgers. Fries are covered in cheese cruds and gravy along with chopped up bacon, sour cream and chives.
Slab Burgers can be found near Charles &Bay and their menu goes beyond just burgers. They have a whole menu of special poutines including their Hotter Than Hell which has crispy onions, crushed tortilla chips, jalapenos, banana peppers and habanero sauce.
Rudy keeps things simple when it comes to their poutine. Photo by Hector Vasquez.
Just like the rest of the menu, Rudy keeps things simple when it comes to their poutine. Chunky fries are topped with squeaky cheese curds and gravy.
Go big or go home at Holy Chuck Burgers. Aside from their epic menu of burgers, this spot also offers poutine with squeaky Quebec cheese curds andbeef gravy.
Lead photo by Fareen Karim at Leslieville Pumps. With files from Tanya Mok.
