The top poutine places in Toronto are the ultimate destinations for when you need to satisfy your craving for crispy fries smothered in rich, flavourful gravy and squeaky cheese curds. These places will not disappoint.
Fancy Franks
Sweet and tangy, the 'Fancy Schmancy' poutine is jam packed with flavours that make it difficult to put the fork down. Every ingredient and topping blends together perfectly leaving you satisfied. The poutine is topped with a gravy made in-house daily, and all poutines have a particular flavour for particular tastes. The Fancy Schmancy is topped with Korean beef ribs, grilled onions, squeaky curds, gravy scallions and for good measure, a fried egg. This is easily a go-to every time. Although the fried egg was at first odd to see, it became a natural fit in the dish. Full of delicious flavours, it's easy to see why the poutine here, including the Fancy Schmancy, is making a name for itself in the city.
NomNomNom Crepes Photo by Jim Bamboulis
NomNomNom Crepes
If you're used to walking past curb side shipping containers, then you may just happen to walk by one of the best poutine joints in Toronto. Located on Dundas St. West, just south of Kensington Market,NomNomNom Crepes is owned and operated by Marc, a young, energetic and friendly Montrealer who works in a confined, compact space, serving up both crepes and incredibly popular poutine. There's not much to this place. You step up, order and try to find a place to eat.The poutine here is the way Marc remembers it back home in Montreal. Traditional and authentic, but with a personal twist.'The Lumberjack' is among the most popular items on the menu.Ground beef, caramelized onions, sautéed onions and topped with crispy onions, gravy and squeaky cheese curds.For the price, you get a huge bang for your buck. If you decide to get The Lumberjack, make sure you're extra hungry. It's hard to finish it.
Leslieville Pumps
Leslieville Pumps
There really isn't anything else quite like Leslieville Pumps. It is a gas station, convenience store and restaurant all in one. This 24 hour, long-standing establishment in Leslieville has a vintage look and feel, with a staff that welcomes you in like they've known you forever.The potatoes used for the poutine at The Pumps are aged between eight to 17 weeks in order to achieve balance between the natural starch and the water content within the potato. Once ready, they are double blanched, flashed fried and tossed with The Pumps house-made herb salt mix.The Pumps prides itself with having rich, dark gravy made with beef jus from its smoker which runs 24 hours a day. The cheese curds come in the form of both white mozzarella and orange cheddar. Both melt over the fries, but the squeak is not lost.You can also opt for a Loaded Poutine, where you can add pulled pork, smoked beef brisket and hickory smoked chicken to your all-Canadian dish.
Beast Restaurant
Beast Restaurant
Located just off King St. W.,Beast Restaurant provides an intimate setting. It seats 30 inside and another dozen on its front patio. The restaurant itself has an eccentric, rustic yet modern and elegant feel. With only a handful of art pieces, the decor itself is minimalistic; the focus instead is centred on the dishes, which are prepared with as many local and in-season ingredients and by a staff willing to take risks that blow your expectations out of the water.The poutine and the garnishes at Beast change almost on the daily. Despite the constant change, it continues to be among the most popular items on the menu.The standard poutine here is not prepared with fries. Instead, it's done with French-style potato gnocchi.Beast has used moose, boar, rabbit, sturgeon, duck and even an octopus Bolognese sauce on top of the fried gnocchi. On this day, the poutine was topped with shredded lamb neck tikka masala.Goat yogurt mixed with spices including, turmeric and curry, topped with cheese curds, creme fraiche and scallions. Every flavour in the dish is balanced nicely and given its chance to shine. The dish itself is fairly heavy, but incredibly delicious. This isn't your traditional poutine.
Photo courtesy Smoke's Poutinerie
Smoke's Poutinerie
Smoke’s Poutinerie is the first of its kind in Toronto (and the world) to cater solely to poutine Offering over 20 different options for toppings and flavours, this poutinerie gives a twist on the traditional Quebec classic. One of their more popular poutines is the pulled pork, topped with real cheese curds, gravy and piled high on top ofYukon Gold fries that are hand-cut and custom seasoned and fried to be crispy yet moist on the inside.
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FAQs
It has long been associated with Quebec cuisine, and its rise in prominence has led to its growing popularity throughout the rest of Canada. Annual poutine celebrations occur in Montreal, Quebec City, and Drummondville, as well as Toronto, Ottawa, New Hampshire, and Chicago.
Do they eat poutine in Toronto? ›
Poutine—a Canadian classic, a Québécois cuisine, and the dish you cannot miss out on in Toronto.
What does poutine mean in French? ›
“Poutine” is not a metropolitan French word . In Quebec, “poutine” is a dish made of French fries and grated cheese. The word comes from the English “pudding” or “ put in” according to different sources. As a proper noun , it's the French spelling of the English written form of “Putin”, the Russian president.
What is poutine called in America? ›
In the United States, some restaurants of New York and New Jersey propose their own mix of fries, gravy and cheese, called « Disco Fries ». In Latin America, we can enjoy a poutine on the isolated beach of Zipolite island in Mexico.
Why do Canadians eat poutine? ›
Some Canadians express ambivalence toward the dish and its connotations. It has been suggested that poutine's humble beginnings in rural snack bars, truck stops, and food trucks, and its use of cheese curds—which are often considered a typically small-town indulgence—make it indicative of working-class culture.
Who eats the most poutine in the world? ›
IN 2012 HE SMASHED BACK 19.5 POUNDS OF POUTINE IN JUST 10 MINUTES – WORLD RECORD #1, IN 2013 HE MOVED THE DIAL TO A SHOCKING 24 POUNDS AND IN 2016 RAISED THE BAR TO NEVER BEFORE SEEN HEIGHTS WITH 25.5 POUNDS OF POUTINE! FAST FORWARD TO 2019, A MILESTONE YEAR FOR JOEY AND SMOKE'S POUTINERIE.
What does Canadian poutine taste like? ›
So what does this combination of fries, gravy and cheese taste like? No surprise here, but it's delicious! The french fries provide crispness and saltiness—two must-haves for any savory snack. The cheese is mellow and creamy.
What is the slang word for poutine? ›
Some assert that "poutine" is related to the English word "pudding," but a more popular etymology is that it's from a Quebecois slang word meaning "mess." The dish has in recent years been making inroads on American menus.
Is poutine healthy? ›
Poutine is a dish that originated in Canada and typically consists of French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. While it is a tasty comfort food, it is generally considered to be high in calories, fat, and sodium, making it a less healthy choice compared to some other fast foods or dishes.
What is Canada's national dish? ›
What is Poutine? Poutine is Canada's national dish, which usually consists of french fries topped with cheese curds and hot gravy.
(Raw or unpasteurized milk is banned in the United States, but luckily, cheese curds are 100 percent legal!) Once added, good bacteria called starter cultures and an enzyme called rennet begin to curdle the milk, with no trace of the sneaky ingredient found in shredded cheese.
What cheese squeaks in poutine? ›
Ideally, fresh cheddar curds. This is not the same thing as cheddar cheese, it is the first step of making cheddar, just after coagulating from milk. They are best when they are extremely fresh, so they squeak when you chew them.
What is the best cheese for poutine? ›
Gravy: Use a store-bought can of beef gravy or make your own at home. Fries: Russet potatoes work well for French fries, as they're extra starchy. Cheese curds: Cheese curds are key for authentic poutine. However, if you like, you can use shredded mozzarella cheese.
Is poutine everywhere in Canada? ›
Poutine is the definitive Canadian comfort food. It is a dish of French fries and cheese curds topped with a brown beef gravy. It emerged in Quebec, Canada in the late 1950s, and and was widely popularized across Canada in the 1990s. Poutine may be found everywhere in Canada from fast food chains to top restaurants.
When was poutine popular in Canada? ›
Poutine is a Québécois dish made of fresh-cut french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. It first appeared in 1950s rural Quebecsnack bars. It was widely popularized across Canada and beyond in the 1990s.
Is Montreal known for poutine? ›
There's no better place in Canada to try an authentic poutine than in Quebec – that's because it was created here! A short two-hour drive outside of Montreal, in Warwick, Quebec, is where poutine was born.
What percentage of Canadians eat poutine? ›
poll has found. In the online survey of a representative national sample, 82% of Canadians say they would “definitely” or “probably” eat poutine, up five points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in October 2021. Poutine is particularly popular among Canadians aged 35-to-54 (84%) and aged 18-to-34 (82%).
