Poutine is a dish loved by all. And I am not at all an exception. Picture this- This popular dish is served with crispy French fries covered in hot, spicy, flavorful gravy and cheese curds. Oooh! Yummy.
I must say that Canada takes a lot of pride in representing this rooted Canadian cuisine. That’s because if you ever visit there, you will find this dish in every nook and corner.
So, let’s talk about Ottawa this time. If you are visiting Ottawa and Dying to have some delicious poutines; you will get that. But to make sure you get the best experience I have listed the best spots in the city where you are sure to get the best poutine that will satiate your gut as well as your heart.
1. Smoke’s Poutinerie Ottawa
The very popular food joint in Canada, Smoke’s Poutinerie, without a doubt, serves the tastiest poutine. Here, the fries are hand-cut and the signature gravy of this place is to die for! The authentic traditional poutine is served with their signature gravy and cheese curds from Quebec, whereas the veggie poutine is served with a delicious vegetable gravy.
What sets this place apart is the fact that you can customize your poutine according to your meat preference by ordering beef, pork, or chicken poutine, as well as adding toppings as per your liking.
2. OCCO Kitchen
Next, I must tell you about the Occo Kitchen. It’s a fast food joint serving delicious burgers and tacos along with flavoursome poutines. The basic poutine served with hand-chipped Yukon, hot beef gravy, and lots of cheese curds is highly recommended by the locals. Also, the best thing is that all their ingredients are locally sourced and everything is made fresh from scratch in the kitchen.
I would recommend that you try out the Newfoundland dressing that is served with the poutine; I am sure your taste buds will thank you. Plus, they have plenty of drink options as well to try out with the poutines.
The Canada Hustle team talked to Caio Bersot, Editor at Rank-It.ca, about things that make poutine such a beloved dish in Canada. Here is what he said:
“Canadians love poutine because it is the perfect match to the country’s climate and kitchen favourites.
Poutines combine multiple textures and flavours. They are gooey, salty, comforting, and filling yet not heavy.
There’s an interesting simplicity with poutine. It’s something that you often go to eat with friends and collect good memories. But if you try to do it at home, it often goes wrong, because it is not at all that simple.
The combination of versatility (there are hundreds of different poutine flavours!) with the right amount of fat, salt, sugar, and acidity, makes poutine a perfect comfort food for Canadian winters.”
3. The Great Canadian Poutinerie
This restaurant serves authentic and classic poutines along with other dishes infused with poutine. It is a vegetarian-friendly restaurant and comes with a long list of poutine choices.
You must try the Butter Chicken Poutine here, which also happens to be gluten-free. The Pulled Pork Poutine, served with crispy fries, generous hot gravy, and fresh cheese curds, is also highly recommended by customers.
4. Sasha’s Poutine
If you are at the Byward Market after a night of heavy drinking, and you are craving some good poutine, Sasha’s Poutine comes to your rescue! Although the price of this joint is a bit on the higher end, the quality is fantastic.
The poutine gravy is cooked to perfection and the fries are crisp and fresh, served with the hot piping gravy. Plus, the restaurant also offers many different toppings to choose from! Besides serving delicious poutines, the restaurant also serves ice creams, hot dogs, and sausages, along with drinks and frappes.
5. 3 Brothers Shawarma & Poutine
Are you a shawarma fan and want to try some chicken shawarma poutine? I would recommend you visit this restaurant. It’s hands down the best option to satisfy your cravings. The ambience of this restaurant is lovely, and the staff is extremely friendly and warm. Besides poutine, this joint also serves garlic potatoes, sandwiches, and different meats.
Catherine Rall, Certified Nutritionist, Happy V, talked to the Canada Hustle team about poutine’s popularity in Canada. Here is an excerpt from the interview:
“What’s not to love about poutine? French fries, cheese, and gravy are a delicious combination that’s loaded with carbohydrates and fats. They’ll help keep you warm during long winters, and they’re easy to make with simple ingredients no matter where you live.
While purists may balk at making changes to this dish, you can make it much more nutritious by adding fresh vegetables like green onions or substituting more fibrous sweet potatoes instead of traditional russets.”
6. The Works
The Works has three restaurant outlets all over Ottawa and is a favourite among locals. They serve the poutine with a little twist, which makes it extra tempting, and their popular tag, “Not so Routine Poutine,” describes it all.
Their basic poutine is called the “Chez Guy,” and the must-try poutine is “The Longhorn,” served with a rack of meat and topped with BBQ sauce. You must also try the “Get Baked“ which is served with bacon add-ons, green onions, and sour cream and is undoubtedly very unique. Another highly recommended item on the menu is the “Poutini Martini,” which is made of crispy breaded onion rings.
7. Elgin Street Diner
Elgin Steet Diner serves a combination of classic dinner, breakfast, and casual eats. The highlight is that their menu features seven varieties of poutine, so you have a pretty long list of options to choose from!
- As a poutine lover, you can’t skip their Montreal Smoked Meat Poutine.
- And if you are a spice lover like me, do try out their Chili Poutine which is topped with delicious chilli gravy.
- Moreover, if you are fond of cheese, try their Four Cheese Poutine which is served with four different kinds of cheese including mozzarella, cheddar, Swiss, and St. Albert cheese curds.
8. The Koven
The Koven is a great metal bar and a cool spot to try out some local beers and authentic poutines. The service, ambience, and quality of the poutine, as well as other dishes, are first class and the heavy metal music is just the cherry on top.
And one thing to my surprise there that I will tell you too. The list of poutines is executed with different interesting names making the place even more inviting and attractive.
- Try their “Municipal Waste Poutine“ which is made with bacon, ground beef, and sausage.
- The “Cannibal Corpse Poutine,” made with mushrooms, sauteed onions, roasted red peppers, and green peppers, is also worth trying.
9. S&G Fries and Burgers
Now, not everyone is a fan of fusion poutines. I have seen that many people just prefer plain classic poutines. So if you are like that, you must visit S&G Fries and Burgers. It is one of the fast food joints serving good quality poutines when it comes to classic poutines. The potatoes are perfectly fried, the gravy is hot and tasty, and the cheese curds are served in double layers.
Moreover, the setup of this joint is just like that of a food truck, and you can enjoy your poutine here without it burning a hole in your pocket.
10. Lou Fast Food
Lou Fast Food is a family-owned food truck business with excellent menu options, and the portions they serve are quite filling. The poutines here are freshly made and delicious; also, the staff are friendly, and the service is quick.
11. Pure Kitchen
Here is some great news for vegans: Pure Kitchen serves the best vegan poutines in the city! They have two outlets in Westboro and Centretown, and they serve delectable, rich vegan poutines. Their vegan poutines are unique as they are topped with tofu curd or cashew cheese instead of cheese curds. Also, the poutines are served with lip-smacking mushroom gravy, which is a total must-try.
12. Alice’s Village Café
Last but not least, Alice’s Village Café is a great place for you to enjoy a casual meal. Besides serving appetizing poutines, they also serve paninis, coffee, drinks, homemade soups, and breakfast items.
The ambience is warm and cozy, with an array of menu options to choose from, and they also have vegan and gluten-free options. The Classic Poutine and Pulled Pork Poutine are an excellent delight to try out at this café.
Well, that concludes the list! I can assure you that these restaurants and fast food joints will not disappoint you when it comes to poutine, so you must try out at least a couple of them based on your preference and convenience! Here is a map to help you reach these spots easily –
Last Updated on May 19, 2024 by Saket
