The best Montreal hot dogs and steamies

A casse-croûte reimagined by some of Montreal’s greatest restaurateurs, Stefano Faita and Michel Forgione, the hot dogs at Chez Tousignant are familiar in appearance but everything—from the dog to the bun—is made in house. Try the Tousignant dog topped with melted American cheese, bacon and pickle slices. By far the favourite in our books so far, they took a classic snack and style of restaurant and transformed it into something that respects tradition while turning it up a notch.

It may not be a traditional Québécois diner, but the quality here can’t be denied. The hot dog at Majestique is a sight to behold: A foot-long Gaspor pork hot dog in a sesame dotted Hof Kelsten bun, topped with red cabbage and apple slaw plus crispy fried shallots. It might be big enough for two, but really, you’ll want to hog one all to yourself. If you do end up being generous and split the dog, don’t skimp on Majestique’s fresh oysters and lists for vinos, developed enough to make this place easily stand amongst the best wine bars in Montreal.

Best known as a late-night spot for some of Montreal’s best poutine, Chez Claudette also serves up a great steamie. This no-frills dog is best served all-dressed and ordered alongside a classic Chez Claudette pile of fries, cheese curds and gravy. One of the better late night options on this list, they’re open 24 hours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, so feel free to wait until after last call to dig into their dogs.

You might spot their franchised locations in places like the Montreal-Trudeau Airport, but nothing beats a visit to the original Outremont location. A well-known spot in the world of the best delis in Montreal, die-hard fans flock here for the smoked meat just as much as they do for the dogs. Lester’s dog is grilled on the flat-top, served in a toasted bun and simply dressed in classic ballpark mustard.

Sure, you could get the classic hot dog at Chez Simon (A.K.A. the king of the smash burger) and be perfectly satisfied, but go for the one listed as “hot god” (typo intended) on the menu and you’ll get a special dog loaded with toppings like cheese, crispy-fried onion rings and pickled jalapeño. The “Coney god” isn’t a bearded lady with a halo—it’s a classic hot dog topped with meat sauce, chopped onion and mustard.

Nothing says Montreal hot dogs quite like Decarie Hot Dog. The all-dressed steamies here are served with slaw, chopped onions, mustard and relish—as is customary—so you know it’s the real deal. They’ve been slinging dogs this way since 1969. Decarie Hot Dog is a Ville Saint-Laurent classic, and worth the trek out of the core.

One of the most infamous steamies in town, the Montreal Pool Room is one of the few casse-croûtes credited for having one of the earliest known examples of the all-dressed steamie that is a Montreal hot dog. Opened in 1912, it’s the second oldest restaurant in town after Old Montreal’s own Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel (opened in 1754). Pool may no longer be played within its four walls, but they’re still serving a great dog more than a century later.

Home of the Julep, the iconic orange dome in the northern quarters of Côte-des-Neiges serves up more than its eponymous milky-orange delight. They also make a mean cheeseburger, delightfully crispy fries, and above all, a great hot dog. The hot dog is classic but it tastes especially good on a hot summer day when eaten leaning against the hood of your car, watching hotrod aficionados roll into the parking lot to show off their rides. Visiting here is simply one of the best things to do in Montreal.

Open since 1962, A.A.—a name that has nothing to do with Alcoholics Anonymous but with its owner André Annoussos—does hot dogs and they do them whatever way you like ‘em. Steamies, toasties, and a mean meat-sauce topped Michigan dog with chopped onions. It’s a casse-croûte classic and Saint-Henri staple, and if you don’t fancy a hot dog once you get there, try their poutine; it’s some of the best in town.

This Saint-Henri spot is a fan favourite greasy spoon for nursing a hangover. The greasy breakfasts and great poutine selections are always a strong choice, but those in the know go for the hot dogs. Open since 1947, the retro-cool diner has built up a reputation based on high-quality greasy spoon fare. Get the “special” which is topped with fries, and your nagging headache will thank you later.

A Pointe-Saint-Charles essential. Like many casse-croûtes, it’s the poutine and their more-than-a-century-old spruce beer recipe (an iconic Montreal food in its own right) that draws the crowds to this greasy spoon, but don’t miss your chance to get one of the best steamés in the city. This hole in the wall is run by snack bar royalty, a family that has been serving some of the best snacks since 1956, so it’s no wonder that locals in the area prefer to be fed by Paul Patates.

Dirty Dogs is all about abundance and decadence. What may take the format of an ordinary hot dog is anything but here, like a bacon and cheese-stuffed sausage covered in mac ‘n’cheese. For the truly decadent, try their luxuriant and super-premium-deluxe option that’s covered with slices of wagyu beef, foie gras and gold leaf. At 500 bucks a pop, it’s opulence defined.

La Belle Province is not only the slogan of Quebec, it’s also a key case-croûte chain of the province. The 50’s kitsch décor is nostalgic, but it’s the consistent delivery of foodstuffs like their hot dogs that makes ‘Belle Pro’ one of the greats. You can’t argue with any one of their hot dog-based combos when paying a visit.

One of the last bastions of a pre-gentrified Verdun, Pierrette Patates is a good old-fashioned blue collar snack bar. From subs to pizza and poutine, it’s all good, and you can rest assured that the quality extends to the phenomenal hot dogs. Either get the classic Montreal option or prepare for some gut-busting with their Michigan dogs—if diner food slathered in meat sauce sounds like a good time, consider their ‘Michigos’ as well, pogos topped with sauce.

Chien Chaud Victoire does two things and they do them well: Hot dogs and fries. While nothing much to look at—their current food court-style setup is nothing like the former glory of its now-closed standalone address—their 30 years of hot dog-based service makes them a Montreal classic. Chien Chaud Victoire (formerly Victory Hot Dog) is a testament to how far a good dog can take you with a cheap and tasty fuel for the masses.

A late-night Plateau staple open since 1963, there’s an all-dressed dog waiting for you, whether you come here day or night. Less than 10 bucks gets you a drink, two hot dogs (steamed or fried) and fries, all of which might just be the best deal in the neighbourhood. You might be tempted to pick from other options on their prix-fixe menu when dining in, but the dogs are where it’s at.

One of Quebec’s most beloved chains for hot dogs since 1951, Lafleur was originally a business set up to generate extra income for a family farm. Now the restaurants—and there are a lot of locations to pick from, each as consistent as the last—are synonymous with cheap, good hot dogs. Hats off to the family for continuing to make the hot dog a cherished part of Quebecois culture.

This old school Villeray casse-croûte is so legit and delish it does honour to the type of small-town diners the province is known for. Its fries are sweet and floppy, as they should be, and the toastés and steamés are perfection: grilled and served up in a buttered and griddled bun, or boiled and plopped in a steamed bun—picture the texture of a bao bun. Beware this place is only open for breakfast and lunch.

Known for its Chilean style empanadas, this Plateau spot serves up a completo that’s the ultimate in satisfaction. This hearty-sized wiener is served in a tender bun stuffed to the gills with guacamole, tomatoes, onion and a zigzag of mayo. Order it to go and enjoy it in the conveniently placed square next door, to soak up the atmosphere of the graffiti walls all around you.

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You might encounter a lineup at this Mexican street food counter on Rue St-Hubert, but it’s worth waiting and it moves fast. Relive your memories of Puerto Vallarta seaside shacks (just us?) with their hot dog topped with bacon, jalapeño, onion, mustard, ketchup and mayo. Pair it with a side of Doritesquites: a Doritos bag fully loaded with salsa, elote corn and parmesan, served with a fork.

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You’ll feel like you’re on vacation on the terrasse of Paolo et Suzanne, an archetypal all-night casse-croûte in Cartierville that’s been slinging dogs since 1980. Everything is on-point here, from the renowned poutines (the perfect hangover-avoider at 3 am) to the high-stacked hamburgers. The hot dogs come three ways: toasté, toasté with cheese, and Michigan (topped with meat sauce).

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The gyro may draw the crowds, but those in the know fill up on expertly crafted fast food fare at this Villeray eatery. Their burgers, fries and hot dogs are made maybe not with love (that’d be pushing it), but with both attention and talent. Plus the guys behind the counter are a laugh. (Don’t get them started on the topic of relish).

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A bar with a brilliant kitchen is always a blessing. Sip your way silly at the good looking, comfortable Taverne Atlantic on Parc Avenue in Mile Ex, and when you’ve worked up an appetite, go ham—or sausage, rather. Their dogs come Euro style (fancy kielbasa with bacon-flecked kraut, pickle, horseradish and mustard), curry style (homemade curry sausage, not really a hot dog at all) or veggie, where the sausage is in fact a grilled, marinated carrot.

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The biggest selling point of the most famous Plateau all-nighter La Banquise is the poutine, which is extra special when topped with chopped hot dog rounds. But they also serve hot dogs per se: either straight-up classic, or veggie. Now you know where to go when the bars close and you crave wiener!

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