Top 5 poutine in Toronto
Published October 29, 2024 at 4:32 pm
Poutine may have been invented in Montreal, but Toronto has some truly great takes on the messy dish. It’s a go-to in the wee hours of the morning after a night out with its stick-to-your-ribs combination of salty fries, squeaky cheese curds and rich gravy.
It can come with any range of creative toppings, but the hallmarks of a truly great poutine are ultra crispy fries, squeaky cheese curds that melt down into a stretchy goo, and a deliciously seasoned gravy. The quality of the toppings goes a long way too when it comes to meats and other more outrageous options.
Some poutine in Toronto even comes topped with pierogies, fried eggs, Nashville hot chicken, Montreal smoked meat and almost anything else you can dream up. So go on, get out there and try some of Toronto’s top poutine.
The fries are just as creative as the burgers at this casual restaurant on John Street. All their poutine is made using double-fried hand cut fries, fresh cheese curds and veggie gravy.
Their Nashville Hot Poutine is especially popular, topped with popcorn chicken and fiery Nashville hot oil, plus some slaw and pickles for cooling crunch.
You can’t go wrong with their traditional poutine either, or if you’re looking for something a little more outside of the box, BFF regularly serves up a rotating poutine and loaded fries option like K-Melt Poutine with bulgogi gravy and burnt end caramelized onions or fries topped with shredded beef bourguignon and horseradish creme fraiche.
4 – Fancy Franks
All poutine is made using fresh cut fries at this hot dog joint with locations on College Street and in North York, and the curds are always super squeaky yet somehow also extremely stretchy and melty, if an iconic cheese pull is what you’re after. They also offer huge portions.
Just like their hot dogs, this place serves poutine in all kinds of creative styles with different toppings. Pork fans can go for an option topped with ground chorizo and bacon, breakfast lovers can try a poutine topped with bacon and two fried eggs, and the Chicken Supreme is topped with crispy chicken, grilled onions and a special creamy sauce.
3 – Rosie’s
If you like your poutine with crinkle cut fries, this smash burger spot on Queen West has got you covered.
The ridges of the fries cradle the thick gravy, and this poutine is absolutely loaded up with the biggest cheese curds. It’s great as an accompaniment to the burgers and chicken sandwiches on the menu at Rosie’s, but it also makes for a fantastically filling snack on its own.
2 – Beerbistro
Those who like beer with their poutine can head to this pub in the Financial District area that slings a great selection of suds while also serving up a mean poutine.
Their Belgian frites are a specialty, blanched in beef tallow and duck fat for a super crispy, snappy fry that’s full of rich flavour. The cheese curds are always nice and melty, and the gravy is savoury and full-bodied. Poutine options at Beerbistro include pulled pork, beer braised beef, and even duck and mushroom.
For years, this humble shack at Dundas and Bathurst has been serving up a tight menu of only a few poutine options that are undeniably some of the best in town.
The portions are big, the fries are very crispy and well seasoned, the gravy is good enough to drink and the cheese curds are huge and squeaky. Notably, you can double the cheese curds on any poutine, and they even offer a triple cheese poutine.
Aside from traditional, double cheese and triple cheese, poutine options on the menu are bacon, smoked meat, jerk chicken, pulled pork and “Super Dog” topped with sliced hot dogs. The smoked meat poutine is nicely smoky and peppery with a generous portion of thinly sliced, fatty meat on top.
