It’s not surprising if you’re visiting Montreal and you find yourself hankering for a hotdog. Hotdog is actually one of the more iconic Montreal treats, and the denizens of that city take hotdogs seriously. In fact, Montreal residents tend to judge the quality of the various diners in town by the quality of their hotdogs.
You can get hotdogs in Montreal in one of two basic ways. You can get them as toasties, which means the meat was fried on the flattop, and then placed in the bun. Or you can go with steamies, meaning the hotdog was steamed before you get the usual toppings of relish, mustard, cabbage, and onions. Whatever way you get your hotdogs, you don’t usually have to shell out the big bucks.
But where should you go in Montreal if you want the best hotdogs? Here are some recommendations:
Majestique
This may not be a traditional Quebecois diner, but no one’s doubting the quality of the food here, especially the hotdogs. Their most popular hotdog treat is quite impressive. You have the Hof Kelsten bun dotted with sesame seeds, in which you have the foot-long Gaspor pork hot dog. This is then topped with apple slaw, red cabbage, and crispy fried shallots.
This is theoretically enough for two people, but it’s delicious enough that many diners want the whole thing for themselves. But you really should just share it, so you can make space for the other treats available at the Majestique restaurant. You can then try out the fresh oysters here, along with the fantastic wine list.
Chez Tousignant
The snack bar (“casse-croûte”) is an essential part of Quebecois culture. But Chez Tousignant is a casse-croûte that’s the brainchild of Stefano Faita and Michel Forgione. These are 2 of the most respected restaurateurs of Montreal, so you know you’re in for a treat.
In this place, every component of their hotdog is made in-house. That’s everything from the bun to the hotdog, along with all the toppings. Their most popular hotdog treat is the Tousignant hotdog, which they top with bacon, pickle slices, and melted American cheese. It seems like a classic snack that’s been truly upgraded.
Lester’s
This is one of the best delis in Montreal, and it’s famous for both their smoked meat along with their hotdogs. Fans come here for the basic Lester’s hotdog, which they grill on a flattop. They then served it on a toasted bun, and then dressed in the traditional ballpark mustard.
Yes, it sounds simple and overly basic, but the taste is just marvelous. It’s a terrific comfort food that just relaxes you as it fills you up.
Valentine
This is a franchise restaurant brand, with plenty of locations throughout the country and 5 locations in just Montreal. Here, the focus is on providing superior comfort food, which is why the place is famous for its poutines, burgers, smoked meat, and breakfast menu (view full Valentine menu here). You come here to just sit back and relax, and you can really do that with their hotdog offerings.
Their basic hotdog comes steamed, then topped with onions, pickles, and mustard. But they do have plenty of other versions, including the chicken strips hotdog, the Michigan hotdog, and the ever-popular bacon & cheese hotdog. Whichever version you get, it’s just great.
Chez Claudette
This is famous for its excellent poutine, which entices droves of bar hoppers during the late nighttime hours. But during the day (and also at night), its steamed hotdogs also spend some time in the limelight. They offer a no-fuss, no-frills hotdog, but you can get it all-dressed and served along with a side order of the legendary Chez Claudette fries, plus gravy and cheese curds.
The place is open 24 hours on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, but you don’t have to go drinking first to have a great hotdog here.
Montreal Pool Room
Visitors no longer play pool here, but it’s still the place to get the classic Montreal steamed hotdog. In fact, this is one of the first places in Montreal to offer all-dressed steamed hotdogs, back when it opened in 1912. More than a hundred years later, the fame of its hotdogs hasn’t lessened one bit.
Décarie Hot Dogs
This is a classic place in Ville Saint-Laurent, and it sure is worth the trip. They’ve been serving their fantastic hotdogs the same way ever since the place opened in 1969. You get their all-dressed steamed hotdogs with all the usual Montreal suspects: relish, mustard, chopped onions, and slaw. It’s just how hotdogs ought to be.
Greenspot
This is actually a famous place where you can go to relieve your hangovers, as they offer fantastic breakfasts and poutines. But the real Greenspot insiders know that the hotdogs here are just absolutely terrific. It’s actually the main reason why the place is so highly regarded.