On the road to Quebec's canteens: 20 must-see addresses

Warning: The content of this article may tempt you to seek out a lobster roll, a home fries, or a double cheeseburger. With the official arrival of summer comes the return of cafeterias to the vacation trail!

From Abitibi-Témiscamingue to the Eastern Townships and the North Shore, we offer a selection of snacks that have become classics among locals and travelers alike. Our list doesn't claim to be comprehensive: consider it a simple appetizer.

In no particular order, here are 20 canteens to try in Quebec this summer:

1. The Roulotte Beauparlant , Shawinigan, Mauricie

Montreal and several cities in Quebec banned potato carts around 1947, but Shawinigan kept them. For over 80 years, not a year has gone by without locals being able to place an order at the window of one of the city's two historic horse-drawn carts, which once offered bags of fries for a few cents. In Shawinigan's local culture, however, you have to choose: either go to the "curly" potato cart or the "straight" potato cart. Two similar options, but with different tastes: ideally, it's best to try both to determine if you're "team straight" or "team straight."

314, 5th ^Pointe Street / 712, 5th ^Pointe Street

2. Le Roy Jucep , Drummondville, Centre-du-Québec

We'll never know who really invented poutine, the Laughing Lutin in Warwick or the Roy Jucep in Drummondville, since versions vary. But, without a doubt, Roy Jucep was one of the first places in Quebec to serve this now-classic dish, back in the 1960s. In fact, in November 1998, the canteen registered the trademark "Inventor of Poutine" with the relevant authorities.

It is said that at the time, Roy Jucep suggested serving his fries with brown gravy. Then, some customers began asking to add fresh, local cheese curds, also available at the restaurant, to their fries. This is how the great story of poutine began.

Today, the place still boasts a retro decor and, outside, you can easily see the parking lots for the old drive-thru.

1050 Saint-Joseph Boulevard

3. La Cantine Bernard , Sainte-Madeleine, Montérégie

In Montérégie, Cantine Bernard, once a small shack, has been attracting customers for over 60 years. Perhaps thanks to its potatoes, peeled and cut on-site, and its poutine, which many consider the best in the region.

1400 Laurier Boulevard

4. The Fisherman’s Snack Bar , Sept-Îles, North Shore

On the North Shore, it's impossible to miss this immense lobster trap that serves as a dining room. At Casse-Croûte du pêcheur, you can enjoy poutines, fries, and burgers, as well as seafood specialties like fried calamari, fritters, and guédilles.

4, rue Maltais

5. The River Iris , Saint-Sulpice, Lanaudière

Thirty minutes from Montreal, a small purple shack catches the eye of those who take Chemin du Roy: it's the Iris du fleuve, in Saint-Sulpice. Open since 1962, the canteen offers the classics, but also fish and chips, club sandwiches, and guédilles... which can be enjoyed at the (purple) picnic tables right next to the river.

472 Notre-Dame Street

6. At Ben's we're s'bour la bédaine , Granby, Eastern Townships (Estrie)

It all began in 1950 with Bernard "Ben" Dubé, who opened his potato truck at the age of 19. More than 70 years later, the huge neon sign on Highway 112 depicting a man enjoying a hot dog continues to draw crowds. At Ben's, just like back then, the potatoes are peeled by hand, and the employees wear red and white striped uniforms to serve fries, onion rings, poutine, hamburgers, and pogos.

599 Main Street

7. Potato Mallette , Beauharnois, Montérégie

Located west of Montreal, this canteen started out in a barn in Saint-Étienne-de-Beauharnois before moving to Saint-Laurent Street, where it still is today. Since 1956, three generations have been serving customers the highly praised specialties of this place. Among other things, you can order the famous "pain-pouts," a poutine served in a hot dog bun, perfect for takeout.

41 Saint-Laurent Street

8. Coastal Canteen , Saint-Fabien, Bas-Saint-Laurent

Opened in July 2020, chef Colombe St-Pierre's Cantine Côtière just won the award for "Best Canteen" at the seventh annual Lauriers de la Gastronomie Québécoise gala. People line up to enjoy her reinvented classics, like the Nordic guédille or the hot dog with smoked meat sausage, to name a few. Outside the snack bar, you'll find a courtyard with picnic tables to enjoy your (generous) meal, as well as a bar stocked with Quebec products.

100, Route 132

9. Chez Chantal , La Malbaie, Charlevoix

You won't miss this little pink shack located near the river and the railway, in the charming Pointe-au-Pic area. In addition to snack classics like poutine, hot dogs, burgers, and soft serve, you'll also find their famous lobster rolls and poutines. Enjoy them before or after a stroll along the dock!

95, Quai Street

10. La Pataterie Hulloise , Gatineau (Hull), Outaouais

Established in 1982, La Pataterie Hulloise is legendary in the Gatineau region. It serves foodies from all over the province seven days a week, from morning to night. Poutine, burgers, BLT sandwiches, hot dogs, and, of course, delicious, golden-brown homemade fries are all prepared with the most locally sourced ingredients possible. With its yellow and blue facade, it's impossible to miss.

311, boulevard Saint-Joseph

11. Sainte-Flavie Canteen , Sainte-Flavie, Gaspésie

At the gateway to the Gaspé Peninsula, right by the sea, this snack bar is a must-visit for many travelers. Open for over 20 years, the place is renowned for its crab, shrimp, or lobster rolls, poutines, and club sandwiches. No matter your choice, prepare yourself for a generous portion of seafood. And keep your eyes peeled if you're feeling a bit like a groupie: on its Facebook page, the business claims to have seen many celebrities over the years.

479, sea road

12. Snack bar at Micheline's , in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Quebec

Whether you're looking for a delicious poutine, a hot dog, or the famous Interburger, a cheeseburger with onion rings and cheese curds, you'll find something to delight you on the Casse-croûte Chez Micheline menu.

225, Route 138

13. At Morasse , Rouyn-Noranda, Abitibi-Témiscamingue

It's not the only canteen to claim it, but Chez Morasse claims to serve the "best poutine in the world"! Its loyal customers probably agree, especially those who have been coming since it opened in 1969. The menu includes chip shop classics and around twenty "creative poutines," which can be enjoyed until late at night.

110, ^9th Street

14. At Mag Fine Cantine , Sainte-Famille, Île d’Orléans, Quebec

Two years ago, this snack bar went completely viral on social media when entrepreneur and influencer Olivier Primeau declared that it made one of the best poutines in Quebec. Its success isn't new: it was already serving potato classics on Île d'Orléans 65 years ago! That said, as Tastet reports, it was new owners in 2018, then in 2020, who made it the "fine" canteen it is today by enhancing the menu with gourmet items. Among the now unbeatable classics: lobster rolls.

Chez Mag now has two other locations, in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, in Kamouraska, and in Baie-Saint-Paul, in Charlevoix.

2460 Royal Road, Sainte-Famille

15. Cap Dauphin Fish Shack , Grosse-Île, Magdalen Islands

Its location, right on the Grosse-Île wharf, near the Cap Dauphin Fishermen's Cooperative's seafood processing plant, makes this snack bar particularly special. Needless to say, the dishes here are prepared with fresh, local produce! On the menu: lobster rolls, breaded scallops, fish and chips, and a seafood chowder, which deserves a special mention. The Fish Shack has its own terrace, from which you can sometimes watch the fishermen and their catches arrive.

51 Shore Road, Grosse-Île

16. Le Connaisseur Snack Bar , Tadoussac, North Shore

Located at the top of the "côte du ferry," this potato caravan has been welcoming regulars and passersby since 1966. Its motto? Authenticity, simplicity, and passion for the job. Today, Le Connaisseur takes the form of a pretty red and white food truck , with a terrace and a restaurant area nearby. The canteen claims to rely only on fresh ingredients, just like in its beginnings. It offers burgers, fries, and milkshakes, as well as more original options like "poutine pogo" or "cheeseburger pizza." A must-visit address if you're passing through Tadou'!

452, Bateau-Passeur Street, Tadoussac

17. Gibeau Orange Julep , Montreal

It's to Mr. Hermas Gibeau that we owe the existence of this iconic Montreal snack bar in the shape of a giant orange. More precisely, the orange drink he invented in 1932, which led him to create multiple points of sale (in the shape of small oranges!) and then to open his first drive-thru restaurant in the late 1940s. The snack bar we know today has existed since 1964 and still serves the famous Orange Julep juice alongside hot dogs, pogos, poutines, burgers, and other classics. You can also go there for lunch.

7700 Décarie Boulevard

18.Boivin Canteen , La Baie, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean

This snack bar has two major advantages: it features the famous Squick Squick cheese from the renowned Boivin brand, which dates back to 1939, and it offers beautiful views of the Saguenay Fjord. Also worth trying on the menu: the homemade poutine, as well as the fried cheese curds. Cantine Boivin also doubles as an ice cream shop, and a second location is located in Arvida.

1113 Victoria Street

19. The Potato Shack , Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Quebec

Leave Route 138 and take a detour to Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges to discover the delights of Shack à Patates, located in the heart of the village. This gourmet snack bar, born in its current form in 2021, serves high-quality burgers, hot dogs, and poutines, as well as fried pickles, bao buns , and pizzas. You can also order a glass of wine, cider, a microbrewery beer, or even a good old Labatt 50.

3380 Royal Avenue

20. At Gérard's French Fries , Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, Laurentians

Like many of Quebec's favorite snack bars, Chez Gérard began as a simple potato stand. That was in 1958, at the very spot where it stands today, on Chemin Oka. While its look has changed a lot, its kitchen still prepares lunchtime favorites, ranging from fries to Michigan hot dogs, burgers, and poutines. Chez Gérard now has three other locations in the Laurentians: in Saint-Eustache, Mirabel, and Brownsburg-Chatham.

3904, Oka Road