Among the city’s older poutine purveyors, Ahuntsic’s Chez Ma Tante is as reliable as they come (read: they do not skimp on the curds). Eat yours — with the requisite order of two steamés — on the picnic tables outside, or take them to go after ordering at the drive through.

Hochelaga’s casse-croûte of choice has a poutine worthy of the trek out east. Like La Pataterie itself, its take is decidedly fuss-free — just as many would argue this dish should be.

International twists on the Quebec diner dish are aplenty in the city — and one of the most beloved sees griot (pork cubes that have been braised and then fried) mixed in. This Haitian haunt, in Villeray, does it particularly well.

Up north in Cartierville lies Paulo & Suzanne — and while Paulo never existed and Suzanne has moved on, the diner still dishes up all-day breakfast and a much-loved poutine, morning to night.

Those in the know skip La Banquise and head slightly north to old-school casse-croûte Chez Claudette — it’s cheaper, less crowded, and arguable even tastier.

Officially, it's a Portuguese rotisserie chicken haunt, but since opening in 2013, Ma Poule Mouillée has developed a devoted following for its poutine laden with chicken, chouriço, São Jorge cheese, and a special house sauce. Be warned: Even the "small" portion is quite large, and the line-ups frequently rival those at La Banquise across the street.

Martin Picard's twist on the poutine involves a hunk of foie gras on top. It has, over time, become a pilgrimage-worthy dish — and is often credited with expanding poutine’s culinary reputation beyond that of local diner fare.

This compact, corner snack bar is as reliable as they come in Montreal. Its twist on the classic poutine uses skinny fries and puts a lone olive on top. Now with a second location at the Jean-Talon Market.

More than a century old, Montreal Pool Room hasn't had pool tables for many years, but it still serves a great poutine in the Red Light District (even if it moved across the street back in 2010). Try a steamé while you're at it.

You can debate the culinary merit of Orange Julep's poutine, but there's no zanier or more iconic place to get your grease on in Montreal.

From Formica surfaces to out-of-order tabletop jukeboxes, this St-Henri fixture has mercifully changed little over the decades — and the same goes for its quintessential poutine.

Once rough-and-tumble, Pointe-St-Charles is certainly changing, but the neighbourhood still has Paul Patates, a casse-croûte dishing homemade spruce beer, steamés, and an archetypal poutine.

Pierrette Patates serves a style of poutine undiluted by food trends: Expect the classic blue-collar Québécois food in a part of Verdun not yet totally overrun by gentrification.

Smoked Meat Pete may be known for its namesake offering, but the poutine is another reason to make it out west to Île-Perrot. Have it done classic or topped with smoked meat — there’s no wrong choice.