Montréal runs on delis and casse-croûtes. They're where mornings begin over bottomless coffee, late nights end with gravy-smothered fries, and regulars slide into their favourite booth without even glancing at the menu. Forget small plates, impossible reservations, and edible flowers. Here, it's all about towering smoked meat sandwiches, generously loaded poutines, old-school burgers, overflowing submarines, and hearty brunch plates designed to cure the morning after.
The city's best delis and casse-croûtes range from beloved institutions and nostalgic time capsules to classic lunch counters and modern spots putting a fresh spin on the genre. Whether it's red vinyl booths, chrome counters, or more polished interiors, the formula remains the same: generous portions, comforting flavours, and satisfying food that never disappoints.
Yans Deli
5345 Rue Ferrier, Montreal, H4P 1M1
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Yan's takes deli classics, sharpens them up and has some fun. The pastrami is a must, but there's also a towering club with smoked turkey and beef bacon, a gooey tuna melt and brisket loaded with crispy and caramelized onions. Come evening, chopped liver and even caviar with mini latkes join the party.
Aylwin Deli
138 Avenue Atwater, Montreal, H4C 2H6
The barbecue pros at Aylwin have brought their smoke skills to the open air at this seasonal Atwater Market counter. Smoked meat is the headline act, whether piled onto a classic sandwich or tucked into a hot, cheesy Reuben, or the hearty slab of smoked brisket. Add fries, poutine and crunchy coleslaw, then grab some ribs or smoked salmon to take home.
Smoke Meat Pete
283, 1e Avenue, L'Île-Perrot, J7V 5A1
Come for the smoked meat, stay for the blues. Île Perrot's Smoke Meat Pete piles juicy brisket high on rye, with your choice of lean, medium or gloriously fatty meat. Go jumbo if hunger means business, then add a latke, fries, coleslaw and a pickle. The live music and lively roadhouse energy only make it taste better.
Tock's Meats & Pickles
7629A Rue St-Hubert, Montreal, H2R 2N7
Tock's is where serious sandwich cravings go to be satisfied. The Reuben stacks smoked meat, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and homemade Thousand Island dressing onto sourdough rye, while the classic keeps it simple with mustard. The menu rotates weekly, giving you an excellent excuse to keep coming back and see what's between the bread next.
Gerry's Delicatessen
3982 Rue Ontario E, Montreal, H1W 1S9
An HoMa fixture for more than 60 years, Gerry's is all about big portions and serious comfort. Think piled high smoked meat, juicy burgers, cheesy nachos, oven baked subs, pizza and wings. Add all day breakfasts, speedy service and screens showing the game, and you've got a neighbourhood classic that knows exactly what its regulars want.
La Binerie
4167 Rue Saint-Denis, Montreal, H2W 2M7
Serving Québécois comfort since 1938, La Binerie is the real deal. The famous baked beans are essential, but save room for tourtière, shepherd's pie, meatball stew, blood pudding and gloriously sticky pouding chômeur. Wrapped in warm maple wood and old school charm, it's a delicious crash course in Québec culinary tradition.
Beautys Luncheonette
93 Avenue du Mont-Royal O, Montreal, H2T 2S5
A Mile End icon since 1942, Beautys still delivers one of the city's most satisfying brunches. The legendary Mish Mash packs eggs with salami, hot dogs, onions and peppers, alongside crispy potatoes and a toasted bagel. Add stacked sandwiches, smoothies and grilled banana bread, all served in a perfectly preserved retro setting. And don't you dare sleep on the salads.
Jukebox Burgers
1749 Avenue Pierre-Péladeau, Laval, H7T 2Y5
Red booths, jukebox tunes and burgers that require both hands: Jukebox goes all in on retro diner fun. Buns are baked daily, AAA beef is ground in house and the poutines, hot dogs and mac and cheese arrive seriously loaded. Finish with a custom milkshake or towering slice of homemade cake.
Hawgs Deli
6795 Rue Jarry E, Montreal, H1P 1W6
You can't talk about smoked meat in Anjou without mentioning Hawgs Deli. It keeps things big, messy and satisfying. Come hungry for smoked meat, OTT poutines, homemade burgers, wings, ribs and the cheesy Monterey Jack chicken sandwich. The vibe is colourful, the beer is cold and the portions mean business.
Deville Dinerbar
1425 Rue Stanley, Montreal, H3A 1P4
Deville takes diner cravings and turns the dial way up: filet mignon with smoked wagyu butter, crispy A5 beef sandwiches and short rib mac and cheese take things out of the ordinary. Brunch is equally extra, with meringue topped pancakes and crème brûlée French toast, while cocktails keep the downtown dining room buzzing after dark.
Greenspot
3041 Rue Notre-Dame O, Montreal, H4C 1N9
Greenspot has looked much the same since 1947, with its red vinyl booths, a working jukebox and zero interest in changing with the times. And thank goodness for that. Slide into a booth for crispy fries, saucy poutine, thick pizza, hot dogs or breakfast at any hour. Simple, cheap and deeply satisfying.
Gibeau Orange Julep
7700 Boulevard Décarie, Montreal, H4P 2H4
You can't miss the giant orange, and you shouldn't miss what's inside. This Décarie landmark serves steamies, hand cut fries, poutine and burgers, best washed down with its famous creamy, vanilla kissed orange drink. Come summer, vintage cars fill the parking lot, turning dinner into a full blown Montréal ritual.
Deli Miami
3090 Rue Sherbrooke E, Montreal, H1W 1B5
Open 24 hours and gloriously over the top in the most charmingly shabby way, Deli Miami is ready for whatever you're craving, whenever you're craving it. The massive menu jumps from poutine and pizza to ribs, crêpes, eggs Benedict and loaded subs. Add neon, murals and a huge terrace, and subtlety is officially off the menu.
Reuben's Deli
Multiple locations
Downtown since 1976, Reuben's knows its way around a serious appetite. Smoked meat comes hand carved and piled high, burgers are stacked and Angus steaks are aged for 28 days. Go big with the one pound Big Bang sandwich, then somehow find room for a slice of strawberry cheesecake.
Pinnacle Wagyu
177 Rue St-Paul E, Montreal, H2Y 1G8
Pinnacle gives the humble deli sandwich a wagyu powered upgrade. The cheesesteak piles beef, seared vegetables, aioli and provolone onto bread, while the Cow Bano brings wagyu roast beef to the Cubano. Add animal-style or truffle-parmesan fries and bright fruit lemonades. Napkins are not optional.
Beaubien Deli
4023 Rue Beaubien E, Montreal, H1X 1H7
Red booths, colourful walls and an old school jukebox set the scene for pure snack bar nostalgia. Come for steamies, mustard and slaw burgers, saucy poutines, club sandwiches and all day breakfasts. Nothing is fancy and nothing needs to be. It's fast, filling comfort food that has kept regulars happy for decades.
Le Déli 440
3535 Route Laval O., Laval, H7P 5G9
Inside Marché Public 440, this family run deli has been slicing smoked meat since 1990. Choose it lean, medium or fatty, then get it stuffed into a sandwich, piled onto poutine or packed up by the pound. House smoked salmon, deli meats and crunchy dill pickles sweeten the deal.
Green Stop
6150 Boulevard Monk, Montreal, H4E 3H6
One of Ville Émard's best kept secrets, Green Stop delivers classic diner comfort without the fuss. Slide into a booth for eggs with your choice of meat, piping hot poutine, juicy burgers or a made to order sub. The portions are generous, the welcome is warm and regulars know the drill.
Décarie Hot Dog
953 Boulevard Décarie, Montreal, H4L 3M3
Since 1969, this Saint Laurent counter has proved that simple food done right is hard to beat. Steamies come topped with homemade slaw, fries are hand cut daily and poutine is drenched in house sauce. Even the hand painted menu, typos and all, refuses to change. Nor should it.
Nouveau Système Beaubien
323 Rue Beaubien E, Montreal, H2S 1R9
This lively neighbourhood deli has spent more than 35 years feeding serious appetites. The sprawling menu covers saucy poutines, triple decker clubs, Chinese dishes, charcoal grilled meats, pasta and hand sliced smoked meat. Grab a beer, watch the game and dig in. Chances are, the owner will stop by for a chat.
Resto Hollywood Deli
6045 Boulevard Henri-Bourassa E, Montreal, H1G 2V2
Hollywood Deli keeps Montréal Nord families well fed with big breakfasts, homemade pizzas and generously stacked club sandwiches. The extras seal the deal: a warming glass of Metaxa, a treat for the kids and something sweet to finish. Even when the place is packed, service stays fast and the plates keep coming.
Lesters Deli
1057 Avenue Bernard, Montreal, H2V 1V1
An Outremont institution since 1951, Lesters keeps the spotlight firmly on hand carved Montréal smoked meat. The classic sandwich is king, but the club with fries and a dill pickle, rye tuna melt, all beef hot dog and smoked meat poutine have loyal followings of their own. No reinvention required.
Still hungry? Check out the full range of delis and diners available across Montreal.
