Your 2018 guide to Montréal's food trucks and street food
Montréal’s food truck season is officially open! The great food truck project of Montréal is now in its 5th year and going strong. What started as a pilot project and a handful of food trucks parked in nine different locations in the city centre in 2013 has blossomed into one of the city’s most anticipated summer activities.
If you’re out and about taking in the sights and sounds of Montréal in the summer, here’s everything you need to know about street eats and food trucks.
Starting April 1 and running until October 31, a variety of food trucks will rotate among predetermined locations in Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Ville-Marie and Outremont.
You can find a line-up of the awesome trucks and mobile vendors you can expect this summer rotating around the city-designated spots.
Food truck festivals
Summers in Montréal are synonymous with festivals, and what’s a festival without food? Luckily, some of the food trucks listed above will be making an appearance during the city’s most happening street festivals to help you celebrate in true foodie style.
First Fridays
The largest food truck gathering in North America happens on the first Friday of every month at the Esplanade Financière Sun Life at the Olympic Park from 4 pm to 11 pm. Whether you’re craving tacos, lobster rolls, burgers, homemade pogoes, grilled cheese, ice cream or donuts, the menu options are endless and will satiate your appetite. This year, the SAQ Bistro offers up a terrace where you can sit, relax, and taste delightful cocktails and Québec products. You can also enjoy live music by renowned bands and DJs in a warm and inviting atmosphere that’s fun for all ages. Free entrance.
Platz Market
Platz Market is a block party in partnership with Alexandraplatz Bar and Cuisine de Rue Montréal. A number of food trucks gather and an outdoor dining room is deployed. The event brings together local vendors, DJs and delicious fun food. Mark your calendars for this year’s dates: June 30, July 28 and August 25.
BOUFFONS!MTL
BOUFFONS!MTL is a food festival that takes place in tandem with the Just for Laughs Festival. Celebrating their 4th year, from July 18 to 29, wander through the temporary culinary village on the corner of Sainte-Catherine and de Bleury Streets, right in the heart of Quartier des Spectacles.
Les Mercredis Pique-Niques
Every Wednesday from June 13 until September 19, Tolhurst Park on Fleury Street West hosts a picnic! From 5 pm to 9 pm, three food trucks are available for you to enjoy a meal under the stars. Live music, games and activities are also on site for the whole family to experience. A list of which trucks will be on site for any specific week is found on their website.
Rockland Centre Food Trucks
While Rockland Centre is busy renovating their food court this summer, two food trucks, Gras Dur and Jerry’s, are parked by the SAQ entrance and busy serving food to shoppers. When the new eating hall is ready this fall, two spaces will be allocated to food truck operators, changing up every three months to offer Rockland customers a variety of fun dishes year-round.
MacFest (July 24 to 29) / PoutineFest (July 31 to August 5) / RibFest (September 13 to 16)
Old Montréal’s Quai Jacques Cartier will be the stage for many calorie-dense festivals this summer. If you’re a fan of gooey mac n cheese, delectable poutines or sticky ribs, then the Old Port is your port of call all summer long. Microbreweries, renowned chefs, DJs, music, food trucks, family activities and more will be part of all these Grand Food Fests.
For more info on Montréal’s street food, head to the Cuisine de rue website here.
Festival YUL EAT
YUL EAT is celebrating its 5th anniversary from September 10 to 16, 2018. On the menu this year: food and alcohol tastings, culinary demos and workshops, an outdoor market, masterclasses in restaurant kitchens, special events and more. Some big names will be present: Antonin Mousseau-Rivard (Le Mousso), Martin Juneau, Emma Cardarelli (Nora Gray, Elena), David McMillan, Derrick Reinhardt, Derek Dammann (McKiernan), Jonathan Lapierre-Réhayem (ITHQ Restaurant) and more. Others will be added in the coming weeks.
Mayssam Samaha, blogger
Mayssam Samaha is a food and travel writer and blogger. She travels the world in search of the next culinary discovery. From Iceland to South Africa, she’s already visited over 30 countries and there’s nothing she enjoys more than wandering around a farmers’ market in a foreign city.
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