The Top Lunch Options in Downtown Montreal

No more bad chain food

by Tim Forster, Mallory Frayn, and Ashley Joseph Updated Mar 26, 2019, 10:00am EDT

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by Tim Forster, Mallory Frayn, and Ashley Joseph Updated Mar 26, 2019, 10:00am EDT

Dominion Square Tavern/Official

There’s no shortage of places to eat if you work downtown in Montreal, but wandering through the underground city with Tim Hortons and Thai Expresses at every turn, it can feel like there is a shortage of palatable options.

Instead, jump on an escalator, get yourself out of that never-ending labyrinth of food courts and into one of the options on this map. From dirt cheap take-out only sandwiches at Super Sandwich or beef noodle soup at Lan Zhou, to swanky menus at Bouillon Bilk or Toqué, this map covers options catering to plenty of tastes and price ranges. And every place here is open between (at least) noon and 2 p.m. weekdays.

If you’re in search of lunch away from downtown — especially in the Plateau and Little Italy — those suggestions live on another map.

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Bouillon Bilk

One of the city’s most essential restaurants also has an extremely reasonably priced lunch, featuring Québécois-ish plates such as scallops with cauliflower, shiitake, and brown butter, or ravioli with mushrooms, pecans, kale and Louis d’Or cheese. Don’t neglect to order dessert, choosing from a selection of mignardises, house-made cookies, cakes, or Québécois cheeses.

1595 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2X 2S9, Canada

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Omma

This downtown outpost of Mile End’s popular Korean spot is open for lunch Monday to Friday. Whether it’s bibimbap or bulgogi, it’s hard to go wrong with any of Omma’s savoury and spicy options.

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51 Rue Ontario O, Montréal, QC H2X 1Y8, Canada

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Nouilles de Lan Zhou

Hand-pulled noodles with beef broth soup are the go-to at this Chinatown fave. Pull up a table in their strangely laid-out dining room, right next to a picturesque escalator to the downstairs grocery store and throw down just $8 for a small (read: huge) bowl.

1006 Saint Laurent, Montreal, QC, Canada

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Brasserie T

Brasserie T’s kitchen churns out French classics like tartares, foie gras terrines, and steak frites on the daily, but not to be missed is their weekday lunch table d’hôte. For only $27 it offers a selection of appetizers and mains to fuel the remainder of your workday. Tartare (beef or salmon) and fries are a particularly good choice.

1425 rue Jeanne-Mance, Montreal, QC H2X 2J4, Canada

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Café Parvis

Pizza and salad are the foundations of lunch at Furco's next-door neighbour, Parvis. The menu rotates often but expect tasty not-quite-Italian creations such as jambon blanc with smoked tomato, eggplant, cheddar, mustard, and roquette.

433 Rue Mayor, Montréal, QC H3A 2K7, Canada

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La Finca

This quaint café on de Bleury doesn’t just do coffee and croissants, it also offers a streamlined selection of sandwiches, salads, and soups. From butter chicken pita to grilled cheese, potato salad. and peanut butter-banana toast, it’s global comfort food.

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1067 Rue de Bleury, Montréal, QC H2Z 1N1, Canada

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Jatoba

Refusing to be locked into one type of Asian cuisine, Jatoba does a range of plates from chicken curry with coconut milk to a selection of dumplings. Also, check out that lovely terrasse.

1184 Place Phillips, Montreal, QC H3B 3C8, Canada

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Maison Christian Faure (multiple locations)

Sweets are undoubtedly the focus at renowned pastry chef Christian Faure’s Montreal hub, but his team are good multitaskers: Faure’s “snacking chic” menu has a neat selection of sandwiches and quiches, and Faure also offers lunch boxes. Now with a second location on de Maisonneuve at Drummond.

355 Place Royale, Montreal, QC H2Y 2V3, Canada

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Café Pavé

Weekday lunch is, in fact, the only time you can gorge on something from Pavé’s myriad selection of sandwich formats. The selection is vast, from ciabatta cheesesteaks to “naanwiches” filled with pulled pork.

243 Rue Notre-Dame O, Montréal, QC H2Y 1T4, Canada

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Escondite (multiple locations)

With a mix of Mexican classics like al pastor and shrimp with chorizo, Escondite is one of the city’s brightest taco stars, but the ceviches and mango salad are sure bets, too. Now with a second location on Drummond Street.

1206 Avenue Union, Montréal, QC H3B 3A7, Canada

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Toqué

Dubbed the second-best restaurant in the country, Toqué’s dinner menu might cost a pretty penny and take several hours, but their lunch service offers an excellent experience at a lower cost — in both time and money. With plenty of à la carte options from duck tartare to confit trout, it’s ideal for fancy business lunches or just the chance to treat yourself.

900 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montréal, QC H2Z 2B2, Canada

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Stash Café

The stone walls and wooden fixtures help Stash to blend in with the Old Montreal tourist traps but with one difference: Stash is worth your time. Tuck into hearty Polish plates including pierogies, kielbasa and stuffed cabbage rolls, with plenty of vodka to help for a tipsy return to the office.

200 rue Saint-Paul Ouest, Montreal, QC H2Y 1Z9, Canada

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Super Sandwich

A hidden gem for McGill students, Super Sandwich churns out deli sandwiches at light speed from an unlikely dépanneur beneath a condo building. The chicken salad is at the expensive end of a dirt cheap menu, and with creamy, herby goodness on a warm mini-baguette, you'll power through the workday.

1115 Rue Sherbrooke O, Montréal, QC H3A 1H3, Canada

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Foodchain

From the people behind Montréal Plaza and Hof Kelsten comes this upstart salad place sidesteps the customizable lettuce-and-toppings approach in favour of carefully thought-out creations that consist mainly of shredded, chopped and julienned vegetables. Don’t skip the pain magique, a flaky pastry made with caramelized onions, cheese and herbs.

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1212 Avenue McGill College, Montréal, QC H3B 4J8, Canada

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Olive et Gourmando

Debatably the toughest lunchtime table in the city, O&G's sandwich, salad and viennoiserie prices may have crept up over the years but the crowds keep on coming. Try the “Poached egg on your face” panini or Cuban sandwich and you’ll immediately understand why.

351 Rue Saint-Paul O, Montréal, QC H2Y 2A7, Canada

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Le Taj

Montreal’s upscale Indian mainstay is tucked away on rue Stanley, just off Sherbrooke. Le Taj’s weekday lunch buffets are ever-popular with the McGill community and surrounding office buildings. Fill up on endless amounts of butter chicken and chicken tikka masala, along with plenty of naan bread for sopping up sauces.

2077 Rue Stanley, Montréal, QC H3A 1R7, Canada

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Dominion Square Tavern

Housed in the former digs of a historic tavern that dates back to 1927, Dominion Square Tavern retains much of its old-timey charm and has been a mainstay for the business crowd for years. Expect comforting British classics like Welsh rarebit and bangers and mash, plus excellent mussels and fries in a cider-bacon broth.

1243 Rue Metcalfe, Montréal, QC H3B 2V5, Canada

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Campo

The full Plateau Portuguese roast chicken experience, but downtown. It’s the first fast-casual venture from the people behind the wildly popular Ferreira Café and Taverne F.

1108 Boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest, Montreal, QC H3A 1M7, Canada

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Maison Boulud

If you’re looking to splurge, Maison Boulud is the place to do it. There’s no midday deal to be had here but the Ritz-Carlton’s in-house hotel has plenty of decadent options that will make you feel extra fancy, such as black truffle taglierini or a house burger with smoked pork belly and morbier cheese.

1228 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, Montréal, QC H3G 1H6, Canada

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Joe's Panini

While possibly a controversial inclusion due to its absolutely-no-frills approach (check those alternating caps on the sign), Joe's is half the price and twice as good as anything in a nearby food court. The spicy chicken is an undeniable hit.

1404 rue Drummond, Montreal, QC H3B 1K1, Canada

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Mandy's

Westmount’s reigning salad queens also have this downtown location, plus an even fancier one over in Old Montreal. Go for photogenic mixes of veg, dressing, meat (if you desire) and toppers like crispy noodles or tempura onions. Salads here aren’t cheap but are exceedingly well-crafted.

2067 Crescent, Montreal, QC, Canada

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Beatrice

Few dining rooms are as enchanting as that of this long-time Golden Square Mile favourite formerly known as Bice. The $25 table d’hôte lunch menu is also one of the best deals in the area, complete with appetizer, main course, and dessert. Try the homemade cavatelli or veal scaloppini.

1504 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, Montréal, QC H3G 1L3, Canada

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Ganadara

Arrive early or risk standing in a line full of Concordia students to get soulful and cheap Korean eats from bibimbap to jigae stews. Ganadara also has less-traditional comfort food versions of many dishes, which incorporate melted piles of cheese.

1862 Boul de Maisonneuve O, Montreal, QC, Canada

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Bouillon Bilk

1595 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2X 2S9, Canada

One of the city’s most essential restaurants also has an extremely reasonably priced lunch, featuring Québécois-ish plates such as scallops with cauliflower, shiitake, and brown butter, or ravioli with mushrooms, pecans, kale and Louis d’Or cheese. Don’t neglect to order dessert, choosing from a selection of mignardises, house-made cookies, cakes, or Québécois cheeses.

1595 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2X 2S9, Canada

Visit Website

Omma

51 Rue Ontario O, Montréal, QC H2X 1Y8, Canada

This downtown outpost of Mile End’s popular Korean spot is open for lunch Monday to Friday. Whether it’s bibimbap or bulgogi, it’s hard to go wrong with any of Omma’s savoury and spicy options.

Open in Google Maps

51 Rue Ontario O, Montréal, QC H2X 1Y8, Canada

Visit Website

Nouilles de Lan Zhou

1006 Saint Laurent, Montreal, QC, Canada

Hand-pulled noodles with beef broth soup are the go-to at this Chinatown fave. Pull up a table in their strangely laid-out dining room, right next to a picturesque escalator to the downstairs grocery store and throw down just $8 for a small (read: huge) bowl.

1006 Saint Laurent, Montreal, QC, Canada

Visit Website

Brasserie T

1425 rue Jeanne-Mance, Montreal, QC H2X 2J4, Canada

Brasserie T’s kitchen churns out French classics like tartares, foie gras terrines, and steak frites on the daily, but not to be missed is their weekday lunch table d’hôte. For only $27 it offers a selection of appetizers and mains to fuel the remainder of your workday. Tartare (beef or salmon) and fries are a particularly good choice.

1425 rue Jeanne-Mance, Montreal, QC H2X 2J4, Canada

Visit Website

Café Parvis

433 Rue Mayor, Montréal, QC H3A 2K7, Canada

Pizza and salad are the foundations of lunch at Furco's next-door neighbour, Parvis. The menu rotates often but expect tasty not-quite-Italian creations such as jambon blanc with smoked tomato, eggplant, cheddar, mustard, and roquette.

433 Rue Mayor, Montréal, QC H3A 2K7, Canada

Visit Website

La Finca

1067 Rue de Bleury, Montréal, QC H2Z 1N1, Canada

This quaint café on de Bleury doesn’t just do coffee and croissants, it also offers a streamlined selection of sandwiches, salads, and soups. From butter chicken pita to grilled cheese, potato salad. and peanut butter-banana toast, it’s global comfort food.

Open in Google Maps

1067 Rue de Bleury, Montréal, QC H2Z 1N1, Canada

Visit Website

Jatoba

1184 Place Phillips, Montreal, QC H3B 3C8, Canada

Refusing to be locked into one type of Asian cuisine, Jatoba does a range of plates from chicken curry with coconut milk to a selection of dumplings. Also, check out that lovely terrasse.

1184 Place Phillips, Montreal, QC H3B 3C8, Canada

Visit Website

Maison Christian Faure (multiple locations)

355 Place Royale, Montreal, QC H2Y 2V3, Canada

Sweets are undoubtedly the focus at renowned pastry chef Christian Faure’s Montreal hub, but his team are good multitaskers: Faure’s “snacking chic” menu has a neat selection of sandwiches and quiches, and Faure also offers lunch boxes. Now with a second location on de Maisonneuve at Drummond.

355 Place Royale, Montreal, QC H2Y 2V3, Canada

Visit Website

Café Pavé

243 Rue Notre-Dame O, Montréal, QC H2Y 1T4, Canada

Weekday lunch is, in fact, the only time you can gorge on something from Pavé’s myriad selection of sandwich formats. The selection is vast, from ciabatta cheesesteaks to “naanwiches” filled with pulled pork.

243 Rue Notre-Dame O, Montréal, QC H2Y 1T4, Canada

Visit Website

Escondite (multiple locations)

1206 Avenue Union, Montréal, QC H3B 3A7, Canada

With a mix of Mexican classics like al pastor and shrimp with chorizo, Escondite is one of the city’s brightest taco stars, but the ceviches and mango salad are sure bets, too. Now with a second location on Drummond Street.

1206 Avenue Union, Montréal, QC H3B 3A7, Canada

Visit Website

Toqué

900 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montréal, QC H2Z 2B2, Canada

Dubbed the second-best restaurant in the country, Toqué’s dinner menu might cost a pretty penny and take several hours, but their lunch service offers an excellent experience at a lower cost — in both time and money. With plenty of à la carte options from duck tartare to confit trout, it’s ideal for fancy business lunches or just the chance to treat yourself.

900 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montréal, QC H2Z 2B2, Canada

Visit Website

Stash Café

200 rue Saint-Paul Ouest, Montreal, QC H2Y 1Z9, Canada

The stone walls and wooden fixtures help Stash to blend in with the Old Montreal tourist traps but with one difference: Stash is worth your time. Tuck into hearty Polish plates including pierogies, kielbasa and stuffed cabbage rolls, with plenty of vodka to help for a tipsy return to the office.

200 rue Saint-Paul Ouest, Montreal, QC H2Y 1Z9, Canada

Visit Website