Hot food for cold days in Montréal
When winter temperatures plunge in Montréal, there's nothing better than warming up with a bowl of steaming soup, a spicy curry or a bubbling cheese fondue. The city's diverse food scene offers plenty of ways to beat the cold, from Vietnamese pho to Indonesian laksa, Thai curries, or Sichuan specialties. Whether you're craving something spicy, hearty or soul-warming, here are some of the best dishes and restaurants in Montréal to seek out on a cold winter day.
Cheese fondue at Restaurant La Raclette
Who doesn’t crave a cheese-laden meal when the temperature plummets? Dive into Restaurant La Raclette’s cheese and charcuteries fondue or share one of their pierrades (Hot stone grill & cheese melter). It’s probably best to walk home after this meal.
1059 Gilford Street
Southeast Asian laksa lemak soup at Satay Brothers
The Satay Brothers have garnered a cult following among Montrealers. Their Saint-Henri restaurant is like no other in Montréal and a must-visit, especially for their laksa soup, a sweet and spicy Indonesian specialty made with coconut milk and chili and served with noodles, fish cakes, shrimp and quail egg.
3721 Notre Dame Street West
Vietnamese Pho at Pho Tay Ho
One of the best ways to warm up on a cold Montréal day is with a steaming bowl of pho and any pho you choose at popular no-frills restaurant Pho Tay Ho will do. The broth here is slowly simmered for hours to develop a deep, rich flavour before being served with a generous helping of noodles, fresh herbs and toppings. Add a little sriracha for an extra kick.
6414 Saint-Denis Street
Japanese ramen soup at Yokato Yokabai
Rich tonkutsu ramen with a pork bone broth that’s simmered for 12 hours is the specialty at Yokato Yokabai. Choose your broth (tonkutsu or any of the 3 other options), saltiness level, noodle thickness, add pork, chicken, or veggies and top it with any garnishes and extras that you like.
4185 Drolet Street
Mexican pozole at La Tamalera
Traditional Mexican pozole soup is made with cacahuazintle, an heirloom variety of maize with large, white kernels, and pork and topped with cabbage, radish, lettuce, onion, chili and herbs, mainly oregano. It’s so hearty that it’s guaranteed to warm you up! Get it at La Tamalera.
226 Fairmount Avenue West
Curry at Pumpui
This Petite-Patrie Thai-inspired curry counter is the perfect fuss-free remedy to any cold day. A handful of curries and specialty dishes are available every day, but the Thai green curry is one of our favourites. Pumpui is also vegetarian friendly.
83 Saint-Zotique Street East
Onion soup at Gus
The epic onion soup at beloved neighbourhood Restaurant Gus is made with guajillo pepper, red beer, pork hock, cheddar, ancho powder and avocado. Legend has it that it’s on the menu as long as the Montréal Canadiens puck is on the ice. It’s a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs soup that you will be more than happy to dig into when it’s freezing out.
38 Beaubien Street East
Bibimbap at Omma
Nothing beats a steaming (literally) serving of Korean bibimbap to soothe the cold-weather blues. Omma, one of the best Korean restaurants in Montréal, has a loyal following of food lovers who crave their traditional cuisine. Their bibimbaps are the very definition of comfort food. Top yours with beef or chicken bulgogi, tofu, spicy shrimp or beef tartare and don’t forget to order extra kimchi.
51 Ontario Street West
Weekly thali at Le Super Qualité
This colourful Indian snack bar is one of the most charming restaurants in town. Order the generous thali of the week and tuck into a heaping serving of rice accompanied by a series of wonderfully flavoured and perfectly spiced dishes to nibble on. Le Super Qualité also serves a vegetarian version of their weekly thali.
1211 Bélanger Street
Sichuan noodles at Nouilles Sauvette
For a quick, satisfying noodle fix on a cold Montréal day, head to Nouilles Sauvette, a takeout noodle counter in Little Italy. The project of chef Anita Feng, formerly of the beloved J’ai Feng, serves generous portions of chewy rice noodles tossed in two, flavour-packed sauces—ginger and scallion or sesame and peanut. Served piping hot in Chinese takeout boxes, these noodles deliver plenty of comfort and heat, with no fuss.
43 Beaubien East Street
Matzo ball soup at Snowdon Deli
The bowl of golden-hued broth with one oversized matzoh ball may not look very sexy but it is one of the most comforting and soul warming meal on a cold winter’s night. Snowdon Deli has been the place to go for Jewish specialties since 1946. Their matzoh ball soup is legendary, with a rich chicken broth and a homemade matzoh ball that’s both delicate and filling.
5265 Décarie Boulevard
Maultasche at Butterblume
This sweet Mile End address has been a hit since day one. Butterblume’s minimalist décor, light filled dining room, market fresh cuisine (don’t skip their sourdough bread!) and wonderful wine list are all a delight, but we often head there for their pork and spinach “maultasche” ravioli, German meat filled dumplings served in a comforting, aromatic chicken dashi with confit onion and parsley oil.
5836 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Sizzling trio at Kyomi
Restaurant Kyomi is characterized by fresh Asian fusion cuisine, impeccable service, and an upscale, exotic atmosphere. It’s not just a place to enjoy exceptional cuisine, it is a unique destination to celebrate the big and small moments in life. Enjoy their "sizzling trio" on a cold day, which includes beef, chicken, and jumbo shrimp served on top of vegetables and rice, all topped with a teriyaki sauce.
7660 Newman Boulevard
Fattet mawzat at KazaMaza
Levantine restaurant KazaMaza has occupied the same space on Park Avenue for over a decade and has become a staple in the neighbourhood for its consistently good food and its lively ambiance. Fattet is a traditional layered dish with crispy pita, yogurt, tahini and nuts. Their fattet mawzat is served with a fall-off-the-bone lamb shank and rice on the side.
4629 Park Avenue
Fried beef at Flamme du Sichuan
Downtown Montréal hot spot Flamme du Sichuan offers bold, authentic Sichuan cuisine inspired by the vibrant street-food traditions of Chengdu. Expect fiery, numbing flavors from most dishes on their menu. The fried pulled beef with Sichuan pepper and red chilli is especially tasty, so is the crispy tofu with spicy Sichuan sauce.
1419 Bishop Street
Chicken soup with house-made raviolini at Rôtisserie La Lune
Sometimes, all you need on a cold winter day is a bowl of homemade chicken soup. At Rôtisserie La Lune, the comforting classic gets an Italian-inspired touch with a flavourful chicken broth slowly simmered for hours, slow-cooked vegetables, rotisserie chicken, and tiny homemade raviolini made fresh every day. Reminiscent of the traditional Italian brodo, this soul-warming soup is reason enough to go out on a cold Montréal day.
391 Saint-Zotique Street East
Turkish manti at Avesta
These tiny Turkish dumplings are the ultimate comfort food on a cold winter day. At Avesta, they're handmade in the restaurant, filled with seasoned ground beef and served with a generous dollop of thick, garlicky yogurt, red pepper sauce and a drizzle of melted butter. A traditional Turkish comfort food, manti are especially satisfying when the temperatures drop.
2077 Sainte-Catherine Street West
Bouillabaisse at Le Pois Penché
A steaming bowl of bouillabaisse is a wonderful way to warm up on a chilly day. Le Pois Penché's take on the classic French seafood stew is generously filled with scallops, mussels, shrimp, salmon and the catch of the day. A taste of the Mediterranean in the heart of downtown Montréal, it's a comforting celebration of seafood that's perfect for winter.
1230 De Maisonneuve Boulevard West
Tomato soup and grilled cheese at September
Few things are as comforting as the classic combination of tomato soup and grilled cheese. At September, this beloved pairing makes for a particularly satisfying lunch or brunch on a cold Montréal day. Dip a gooey, golden grilled cheese sandwich into a bowl of rich, creamy tomato soup for the kind of simple, nostalgic comfort food that never goes out of style.
2471 Notre-Dame Street West
Salmon pot-au-feu at Leméac
A French classic gets a seafood twist at Leméac, where the traditional pot-au-feu is reimagined with salmon and fleur de sel. This warming dish is a lovely alternative to the usual winter stews, bringing together the comforting simplicity of a French broth-based preparation and the delicate flavour of salmon. It's the perfect comfort for a leisurely meal on a chilly day.
1045 Laurier Avenue West
Duck fesenjoon at BOUS
For a taste of Persian comfort food, head downtown to BOUS for its duck fesenjoon. This traditional Iranian stew combines walnuts and pomegranate in a rich, deeply flavoured sauce that slowly simmers for hours, balancing earthy nuttiness with a distinctive sweet-and-sour tang. Served with tender duck confit and a side of saffron-scented rice, BOUS's contemporary take on this beloved Persian dish is a warming and memorable way to explore Iranian cuisine in Montréal.
1310 Sherbrooke Street West
Mayssam Samaha
Mayssam Samaha is a food and travel writer and blogger and the founder behind the blog Will Travel for Food. She travels the world in search of the next culinary discovery. From Iceland to South Africa, she’s already visited over 36 countries and there’s nothing she enjoys more than wandering around a farmers’ market in a foreign city. She is also the founder of the SAISONS intimate dinner series highlighting Québec products and chefs.