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13 of the Best and Brightest Bowl Foods in Montreal

A baker’s dozen of healthy, summery places to pick up poke or sample a smoothie bowl.

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Heartier than your average salad but healthier than the carb and fat-loaded fare Montreal is best known for, “bowls” have been gaining steam around town in all forms, from fishy Hawaiian poke bowls and vegetarian-friendly “Buddha” or grain bowls, to brunch joint staples like açaí and smoothie bowls. Bowls offer a solution for health-conscious folks who can’t stomach another plate of salad leaves (although if salad is your jam, there’s another guide for that over here).

Given the trendy nature of these bowls, the restaurants and cafes that serve them tend to prioritize aesthetics, both in terms of decor and the presentation of the bowls themselves, but never at the expense of flavour. Hawaii-inspired aesthetics are featured heavily in poke-focused spots like Aloha Espresso Bar, Honi Honi, Kamehameha, Le Poke Bar and Koa Lua, which all include fresh fish and colourful veg.

Be warned that some bowls don’t travel especially well, so these dishes may be best enjoyed in-person.

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Aux Vivres (multiple locations)

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This Montreal mainstay (with a second location in Westmount and a third in a Mile End office building) has been serving up vegan fare longer than most other places in town, and the three veg, seed, and soy protein-packed bowls on offer are highlights of its fun and fresh menu. Served on brown rice with tofu or tempeh, the Thai, dragon and Buddha bowls are so popular that the sauces used in each are available for do-it-yourself bowl-lovers at grocery stores throughout the city (as well as at the boutiques located inside both restaurant locations).

Belém Café & Yoga

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This tiny, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spot on St-Laurent is part-café, part-yoga studio. Food-wise, Belém is focused almost exclusively on its bowls — a wise decision given their deliciousness. Belém offers both cold, smoothie-style bowls and hot oat bowls, all of which feature protein- and fibre-heavy vegan ingredients like fruits and veggies (including açaí), nuts and seeds.

Kamehameha Snack-Bar

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With its millennial pink walls, hanging plants and quirky menu items (like the oft-Instagrammed taiyaki ice cream served in fish-shaped cones), Oahu surf culture-inspired snack bar Kamehameha is as much about aesthetics as it is about the food — but the food is still pretty good. There’s no need to choose between sweet and savoury at this Plateau spot, as they offer both poke and açaí bowls.

Aloha Espresso Bar

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This cute, casual cafe takes the Hawaiian theme and runs with it: Chow down on one of Aloha’s very green, very tasty poke bowls or sweet and healthy pataya or açaí bowls in the Old Montreal espresso bar’s colourful, wood-panelled surroundings. Coffee fans would be remiss not to follow their meal with a cup of Aloha’s Kona coffee, made from beans cultivated on the Big Island.

Just Pressed

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While freshly squeezed juices are the centrepiece at Just Pressed, this downtown juice ba also does a mean açai bowl, full of fresh fruit, granola, seeds, almond butter and maple syrup.

Venice (multiple locations)

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This mini-chain of Southern Californian-inspired restos (with four locations in the city) offers fish and tofu poke bowls alongside other summery menu items like tacos and avo toast, and the beachy vibes are evident throughout Venice’s bright, airy spaces. If you’re looking for something that packs a bit more punch, they also do hearty “power” bowls inspired by Indian, pan-Asian, Mediterranean, and Mexican flavours.

Koa Lua (multiple locations)

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This Hawaiian-inspired spot serves up its dishes with a side of kitsch: Koa Lua’s two restaurants are decked out with surfboard tables and walls full of Hawaiian memorabilia. Alongside the classic tuna and salmon options, you’ll also find bowls made with tofu, beef, shrimp and Spam, a popular ingredient in Hawaii.

I Sushi

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This casual, no frills sushi joint isn’t particularly well known among Montreal’s sushi aficionados, but for those in the know, I Sushi’s salmon poke bowls are a fan favourite. The downtown location and fast turnover time make it ideal for a quick lunchtime bite (or an easy grab-and-go meal).

Ryu (multiple locations)

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This sushi resto is known for its rolls, but Ryu’s lunchtime menu also offers some of the best poke bowls in the city, with one tuna, one veggie, and two salmon options. With three locations in Montreal (not counting airport options) and one in Laval, it’s quite an accessible poke fix.

Le Poke Shop

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As the name suggests, this Décarie eatery specializes in poke bowls, with “sushi burritos” available using the same ingredients. Each option involves a combination of protein, veggies and sauce, and the simple menu makes for a solid lunchtime treat.

Buddha-Station

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This take-out and delivery-only joint caters hungry and health-conscious professionals with its bowls and boxes, which include classic Hawaiian poke, veggie options, and breakfast bowls.

Mandy's (multiple locations)

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Known for colourful, creative salads, this local chain is a natural adoptee of the grain bowl trend, with five filling options available for those who prefer their greens with a substantial helping of carbs. With seven locations throughout Montreal, Mandy’s is a reliable but busy midday takeaway spot.

Honi Honi

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Bringing poke to the residents of Verdun, Honi Honi offers a range of bowls and allows the option for patrons to build their own bowls from the list of proteins, veggies, garnishes, and sauces. Yet another Hawaiian-inspired spot, Honi Honi is a cute, casual joint that’s further away from the bustle of downtown than most bowl vendors.

Aux Vivres (multiple locations)

This Montreal mainstay (with a second location in Westmount and a third in a Mile End office building) has been serving up vegan fare longer than most other places in town, and the three veg, seed, and soy protein-packed bowls on offer are highlights of its fun and fresh menu. Served on brown rice with tofu or tempeh, the Thai, dragon and Buddha bowls are so popular that the sauces used in each are available for do-it-yourself bowl-lovers at grocery stores throughout the city (as well as at the boutiques located inside both restaurant locations).

Belém Café & Yoga

This tiny, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spot on St-Laurent is part-café, part-yoga studio. Food-wise, Belém is focused almost exclusively on its bowls — a wise decision given their deliciousness. Belém offers both cold, smoothie-style bowls and hot oat bowls, all of which feature protein- and fibre-heavy vegan ingredients like fruits and veggies (including açaí), nuts and seeds.

Kamehameha Snack-Bar

With its millennial pink walls, hanging plants and quirky menu items (like the oft-Instagrammed taiyaki ice cream served in fish-shaped cones), Oahu surf culture-inspired snack bar Kamehameha is as much about aesthetics as it is about the food — but the food is still pretty good. There’s no need to choose between sweet and savoury at this Plateau spot, as they offer both poke and açaí bowls.

Aloha Espresso Bar

This cute, casual cafe takes the Hawaiian theme and runs with it: Chow down on one of Aloha’s very green, very tasty poke bowls or sweet and healthy pataya or açaí bowls in the Old Montreal espresso bar’s colourful, wood-panelled surroundings. Coffee fans would be remiss not to follow their meal with a cup of Aloha’s Kona coffee, made from beans cultivated on the Big Island.

Just Pressed

While freshly squeezed juices are the centrepiece at Just Pressed, this downtown juice ba also does a mean açai bowl, full of fresh fruit, granola, seeds, almond butter and maple syrup.

Venice (multiple locations)

This mini-chain of Southern Californian-inspired restos (with four locations in the city) offers fish and tofu poke bowls alongside other summery menu items like tacos and avo toast, and the beachy vibes are evident throughout Venice’s bright, airy spaces. If you’re looking for something that packs a bit more punch, they also do hearty “power” bowls inspired by Indian, pan-Asian, Mediterranean, and Mexican flavours.

Koa Lua (multiple locations)

This Hawaiian-inspired spot serves up its dishes with a side of kitsch: Koa Lua’s two restaurants are decked out with surfboard tables and walls full of Hawaiian memorabilia. Alongside the classic tuna and salmon options, you’ll also find bowls made with tofu, beef, shrimp and Spam, a popular ingredient in Hawaii.

I Sushi

This casual, no frills sushi joint isn’t particularly well known among Montreal’s sushi aficionados, but for those in the know, I Sushi’s salmon poke bowls are a fan favourite. The downtown location and fast turnover time make it ideal for a quick lunchtime bite (or an easy grab-and-go meal).

Ryu (multiple locations)

This sushi resto is known for its rolls, but Ryu’s lunchtime menu also offers some of the best poke bowls in the city, with one tuna, one veggie, and two salmon options. With three locations in Montreal (not counting airport options) and one in Laval, it’s quite an accessible poke fix.

Le Poke Shop

As the name suggests, this Décarie eatery specializes in poke bowls, with “sushi burritos” available using the same ingredients. Each option involves a combination of protein, veggies and sauce, and the simple menu makes for a solid lunchtime treat.

Buddha-Station

This take-out and delivery-only joint caters hungry and health-conscious professionals with its bowls and boxes, which include classic Hawaiian poke, veggie options, and breakfast bowls.

Mandy's (multiple locations)

Known for colourful, creative salads, this local chain is a natural adoptee of the grain bowl trend, with five filling options available for those who prefer their greens with a substantial helping of carbs. With seven locations throughout Montreal, Mandy’s is a reliable but busy midday takeaway spot.

Honi Honi

Bringing poke to the residents of Verdun, Honi Honi offers a range of bowls and allows the option for patrons to build their own bowls from the list of proteins, veggies, garnishes, and sauces. Yet another Hawaiian-inspired spot, Honi Honi is a cute, casual joint that’s further away from the bustle of downtown than most bowl vendors.