Falafel St. Jacques shines with affordable all-vegetarian Middle Eastern fare, and is considered by many as the best when it comes to the chickpea patties after which it’s named. But that’s not all the casual counter-service spot in Ville St-Pierre does well: Give its shiitake mushroom shish taouk and sabich (fried eggplant sandwich) a shot.

The intermingling of Spanish and Italian cultures in Argentina are what brothers Ari and Pablo Schor (both Liverpool House alum) sought to recreate in Verdun with their 2019 opening. With the pandemic, empanadas (fresh or frozen) with fillings like spinach and cheese, chorizo and potato, and beef and olive became their calling card, but with their dining room back in action, expect pastas, seasonal salads and seafoods, and some brilliantly braised meats and vegetables.

With over three-quarters of a century to its name, NDG landmark Chalet Bar-B-Q has won the hearts of multiple generations enamoured with its charcoal-broiled bird and its arguably unmatched gravy.

It’s no wonder effortlessly cool Elena has kept its place among the hottest dining destinations in the city four years after opening. Locals head to the St-Henri gathering spot for everything from a lunchtime hoagie and beer enjoyed on an easygoing backyard terrasse to a remarkable night out indulging in excellent natural wines and pristine pastas and pizzas — in a stunning dining room to boot.

Arguably one of the best casse-croûtes (Quebec-style diners) in the city, this iconic north-end haunt has just over 40 years under its belt. Open into the wee hours of the morning, diners can’t go wrong with the classics: two all-dressed steamé hot-dogs and a cheesy poutine.

Montreal’s oldest Caribbean restaurant continues to make soft, flaky roti every day, filling them up with delectable chickpea, goat, and chicken curries. Simple, cheap, oh so filling, and now with a second location in the West Island.

From the McArthur schnitzel sandwich to a tower of house-smoked salmon and bagels for two, it’s pretty much impossible to fumble when ordering at this St-Henri brunch-and-lunch haunt — and everyone knows it. So, if you’re planning to come on the weekend, factor in some lengthy wait times, but rest assured, you won’t regret it.

One of very few places to offer Malaysian or Singaporean food in the city, Satay Brothers has over the years evolved from a seasonal market stall founded by two brothers and their mom to a bustling destination-worthy restaurant on the Notre-Dame strip. Stellar peanut-sauced satays, steamed pork belly buns, shrimpy laksa, and coconut-topped rendang have propelled them to icon status on the city’s restaurant scene — with that original stand at the Atwater Market still very much in the picture.

Filipino food options are somewhat limited in the city, but Junior, out in Little Burgundy, has diners covered with many of the essentials. There’s pancit palabok, a quintessential shrimp noodle dish; lechon kawali, deep-fried pork belly; tender, braised beef done Caldereta style; and sizzling sisig — made with either minced milkfish or pork.

Expect long lines prompted by a strict no-reservations policy and cramped (though cozy) quarters at this indispensable Japanese spot. From sashimi, tuna belly, and okonomiyaki (a savoury Japanese pancake), to barbecued beef short ribs and 48-hour stewed pork, the menu is long, and totally worth the multiple trips downtown needed to explore it.

Upscale Syrian spot Damas is one of Montreal’s biggest comeback stories: After a fire gutted it in 2015, it was reborn in Outremont and became better than ever. Seven years later, and its spreads of mezzes and hefty char-grilled mains replete with sumac and Aleppo peppers are an almost guaranteed home run for any palate. Now with a sibling street food counter across the street.

There’s a reason why locals keep on coming back to Olive & Gourmando: It’s just that good. A small menu centres around sandwiches (the Cuban is a fave, and so is the grilled cheese) and other lunch fare like a savoury ricotta plate or a hearty soup of the day. There’s really no wrong move here, but if you can’t decide, why not pick up the restaurant’s cookbook and keep feasting at home?

Don’t be dissuaded by Kamúy’s placement in the heart of the (historically) tourist-heavy Quartier des Spectacles — it has the makings of an indispensable local favourite. From chef-owner Paul Toussaint (ex-Agrikol) comes a menu stacked with juicy griot, jerk-spiced chicken, and pillowy doumbrey (sweet potato dumplings).

This taqueria resides in Chinatown and has dinnerware to match. Opened seven years ago by partners from Mexico City and Monterrey, La Capital has in the time since cemented its reputation with some delicious carnitas tacos, easy-drinking cocktails, vegan options, and the recent addition of quesabirria, a tortilla stuffed with tender birria beef and sealed shut with melted cheese — served with a side cup of flavour-packed consommé.

This Chinatown nook has been luring passersby with cooks skillfully pulling noodles in its front window for years. The fresh Lanzhou-style noodles are the staple, with beef slices in a deeply flavoured broth, but other menu items like its seasoned edamame and Dandan noodles also fare very well.

Kyoto native and chef Junichi Ikematsu has been carefully crafting morsels of raw fish on rice at his eponymously named Mile End sushi restaurant for over 16 years. It’s a staple for upscale Japanese dining in the city, and since 2020, is joined by neighbouring grab-and-go counter and grocery outlet Ôkini, stocked with everything from onigiri and sake to ceramics and sauces.

This Mile End deli lunch counter is as classic as they come. Montrealers and tourists flock to 90-year-old Wilensky’s for one thing: The Special, a signature sandwich, that layers beef salami and bologna, cheese (optional) and mustard (mandatory), all in a grilled, pressed roll.

This casual Venezuelan eatery specializes in the stuffed corn bread pockets known as arepas. Theirs are filled with your choice from a borderline overwhelming array of beef, chicken, pork, fish, and veggie options. In 2018, Arepera moved to a far more capacious Plateau locale — meaning shorter wait times for on-site dining.

Pioneers of “picnic in the park” summer takeout, this well-established, wicker basket-dispensing Mile-Ex haunt is known for its delicious Southern comfort classics. Chef Colin Perry’s crisp fried chicken, satiating macaroni and cheese, and rotation of flaky, buttery dessert pies are not to be missed.

It may not have been in business for decades, but Chez Tousignant is as good as a Quebec casse-croûte gets. Opt for a poutine with thick-cut fries, squeaky cheese curds, and rich gravy, with a house-made hot-dog or cheeseburger in a potato bun and with a secret sauce that brings it all up a notch.

There’s no decisive answer to the question of who serves Montreal’s best pho, but Pho Tay Ho is undoubtedly among the highest-ranked bowls of the Vietnamese noodle soup in the city. Technically falling within the boundaries of Little Italy, this family-run spot slings a broth that’s chicken- rather than beef-based — and it’s packed with flavour.

From the team that brought us standout Little Italy curry shop Pumpui comes this St-Hubert Street newcomer also spotlighting Thai flavours, but in a more formal, wine bar-esque setting. Pichai’s menu focuses on Isaan grilled meats and salads, including options like laab dok kalaam (a spicy cauliflower dish), gai yang (a grilled half chicken with tamarind sauce) and sai krok isan (a rice-fermented Berkshire sausage). A Thai tea-infused tiramisu, attractive wine list, and daily specials round out the offering at Eater Montreal’s 2021 Restaurant of the Year.

Montreal is loaded with splurge-worthy, fit-for-a-special-occasion restaurants — and Antonin Mousseau-Rivard’s Village tasting menu operation is a frontrunner in the category. During the pandemic, he was forced to close down slightly more casual Le Petit Mousso next door, but that just means all the attention is now on the fine dining original, celebrated for its simultaneously playful and immaculate approach to Quebec ingredients.

No guide to Montreal’s diverse food scene would be complete without at least one North African destination. Darna Bistroquet, tucked into La Petite-Patrie, is a newer arrival, but its exceptionally warm service, homey space, and delicious Moroccan fare have proven to be a winning combination.

Prominent Montreal chef Derek Dammann is an ardent advocate of a Canada-wide culinary identity. His cookbook, True North, is all about it — and his popular Plateau gastropub is where he’s known to bring it all home, with hearty flesh and root dishes from local terroirs.

Montreal is brimming with casual Haitian spots dishing succulent cubes of marinated-braised-then-fried pork (aka, griot) — and everyone has committed to a favourite. Sissi & Paul may be a low-key, frill-free haunt out by D’Iberville metro station, but its grub occupies a space in the top tier.

Tucked over in the ever-developing Technopole Angus, Hoogan & Beaufort brings a distinctly local feel to its offering. Under chef and owner Marc-Andre Jetté’s watch, mushrooms, beets, turnips, and more all make appearances, often helping to showcase catches from the province’s lakes and land.

With a culinary approach that feels fine dining, but is more casual in setting and price, Hélicoptère has been checking boxes left and right since opening in 2018. Expect a menu of colourful, creative plates spotlighting plenty of seasonal fare from chef David Ollu, and don’t overlook adjoining sibling coffee shop Hélico Café around the corner — a necessary spot on any Hochelaga pilgrimage.