Fresh-cut fries, warm gravy and cheese curds, oh my! Those are the three main ingredients of a classic Canadian dish: poutine. Originally a Quebecois dish, Poutine first appeared in rural Quebec snack bars in the 1950s. By the 1990s, it was widely popular across Canada. For years fast food chains have added it to their menus, while poutine chains and restaurants have popped up, making it a Canadian staple.
A study by LuckyDays shows which Canadian city has the best poutine in 2024, and surprisingly, it’s not in Quebec! They delved into reviews and prices based on metrics and ratings from top travel sites. The study also paid close attention to whether the restaurant is award-winning and offers gluten-free and vegan options to rank the top 10 Canadian cities with the best poutine.
Read on to find out which city has the best poutine in Canada, the least best, the cities with the best poutine restaurants, the top cities with the best dietary-inclusive restaurants and what other Canadian cities made the top 10 list.
Data was analyzed through the number of Tripadvisor reviews, the percentage of the reviews which were “very good” or “excellent” and the Tripadvisor price category of the restaurant. The final tables were created using a balanced ranking system.
Related: Love Poutine? Try These Air Fryer Cheese Curds With Gravy ASAP
Which Canadian city has the best poutine?
Vancouver ranks as the number one city serving the best poutine in the country. Vancity came on top scoring 82 out of 100. Poutine eaters were impressed with the balance of the amazing food quality, the variety of budgets available and the vegan and gluten-free inclusivity.
Montreal and Quebec City rank close behind as the second and third cities overall with the best poutine, scoring 76 and 65, respectively.
Montreal had a ton of fantastic reviews on TripAdvisor and had two out of the top three rated restaurants that served poutine, while Quebec City (although the home of poutine) fell short for its lack of inclusivity, where only 30 per cent of its restaurants cater for vegans and have gluten-free options.
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Which Canadian city has the least best poutine?
In the 10th spot is Calgary with the lowest poutine ranking. If you’re looking for vegan or gluten-free poutine here, the city only has 50 per cent dietary optional restaurants. In terms of the top poutine restaurants, Calgary didn’t make the list. Overall, the Stampede City fell short of having the best poutine, scoring 45 out of 100.
What are the top 10 Canadian cities with the best poutine?
Here are the cities in the top 10 for the best poutine in Canada:
- Vancouver
- Montreal
- Quebec City
- Halifax
- Toronto
- Ottawa
- Edmonton
- Winnipeg
- Hamilton
- Calgary
Where are the best poutine restaurants in Canada?
With Vancouver ranking as the top Canadian city with the best poutine, the West Coast town also has the best poutine restaurant in the country with three out of the top 10 rated restaurants. Here are the best restaurants in Canada to get poutine:
- Templeton Restaurant, Vancouver
- Gasper Brasserie, Montreal
- Modavie, Montreal
- La Buche, Quebec City
- The Old Triangle Irish Ale House, Halifax
- Buffet de l’Antiquaire, Quebec City
- Le Cafe du Monde, Quebec City
- 1640 Bistro, Quebec City
- Coast Restaurant, Vancouver
- Chamber, Vancouver
Related: Smoked Bone Marrow Poutine
What Canadian cities have the best poutine for vegan and gluten-free diets?
Halifax has the most inclusive restaurants that serve poutine if you’re vegan or gluten-free with a score of 80 per cent. If you’re looking for dairy-free poutine or a change to the traditional dish, this city has you covered. These are the Canadian cities with dietary inclusivity ranked from the highest score to the lowest:
- Halifax
- Vancouver
- Toronto
- Montreal
- Ottawa
- Edmonton
- Winnipeg
- Calgary
- Hamilton
- Quebec City
Craving some poutine? Try your hand at making some Kimchi Poutine, or this West Indian Chicken Curry Poutine.