The Plateau needn’t get all the attention when it comes to Montreal’s informal and cheap Portuguese options. O Cantinho serves all the grilled classics of chicken and seafood, along with options like cod croquettes and mean grilled steak.

With one of the owners hailing from Canada’s own Magdalen Islands, this unassuming neighbourhood restaurant prides itself on knowing its seafood. While the mussels, scallops, shrimp, and squid all come recommended, consider the bife a cavalo, a classic dish of a sunny-side egg served on steak.

Mountainous chicken and seafood platters come highly recommended at this small Villeray spot, but if you really want to order up something classic, try Imperio’s carne de porco à alentejana: A mound of pork marinated in white wine and garlic, served up with salty clams.

One of the most beloved spots for rotisserie chicken (and its chorizo-chicken poutine) in Montreal, Ma Poule Mouillée has stolen the show since it first opened in 2013. It’s a perpetually popular restaurant; hungry patrons may have to wait in line before ordering their half-chicken with fries and a salad, but it’s worth it.

Having only been open for a little over two years, Aldea has quickly raised the bar in town for Portuguese fine dining. With a menu focused on the comforts of the countryside, coupled with private imports from the old country, it’s a family operation that’s been consistently worthy.

A restaurant with a more modern slant, Manuel Martins’ Spanish-Portuguese hybrid menu offers a lot of intriguing alternatives, from cold and hot tapas selections to steak with coffee sauce, scallops in saffron and sambuca, and tripe with beans.

Located so closely to Boca Iberica next door, Rotisserie Portugalia could be confused for its kitchen. But make no mistake, this hole in the wall’s the reason why the corner of Clark and Rachel smells of delicious chicken and pork all throughout the evening. Be warned of occasional slow service.

Old country décor and fine dining vibes are constant draw cards for this institution of over 40 years. The Mediterranean vibes are strong at this swanky spot, right down to its tiled walls. With large portions and convivial service, try Minhota’s evening table d’hôte menu for the best bang for your buck.

A classic supper club of a Portuguese restaurant since the early 1970s, Solmar’s one of the few establishments on this list that offers a full tasting menu — and it’s a reasonable $60. That gets a full sampling of all kinds of classic dishes from caldo verde to chorizo and grilled octopus.

There’s a lot to be said for classic tavernas serving Portuguese food, but just as much for the newer breed of fast casual restaurants like Campo. Run by the Ferreira Group, the food here is served quickly from a lunch counter but can still be coupled with the option of bottles of wine or Super Bock. A favourite for power lunches — or hangover lunches — downtown.

Among Montreal’s household names for Portuguese cuisine, Helena Loureiro sits at the top. The culinary skills at her eponymous restaurant is instantly recognizable, with plenty of seafood, and just as much meat — consider the rabbit stuffed with orange and duck.

It was big news when chef Helena Loureiro closed her first restaurant in the Plateau, Portus Calle, opting to open this revolving restaurant downtown instead. It’s been fertile ground for the chef to explore her roots, making intriguing dishes like Cornish hen stuffed with currants or a Portuguese bouillabaisse.

Carlos Costa is a skilled chef of the Montreal-Portuguese scene, having earned his chops at Jano in the Plateau for decades. Together with his wife and daughter, they opened a wholly new family restaurant in Lasalle in 2017, and it’s been pleasing neighbours ever since with spicy chicken.