Archie MontroseIt’s almost impossible to resist the mouthwatering aroma of perfectly crispy fries smothered in rich gravy and topped with squeaky cheese curds. We’d argue that you already found yourself salivating at the thought of indulging in a plate of poutine.
Lucky for you, we gave in to our cravings and went on a journey to find the best poutine in Vancouver, and we got ’em right here for you to try.
Vancouver’s Best Poutine
Poutine is one of the most beloved and iconic Canadian dishes, and Vancouver is no exception when it comes to serving up delicious variations of this comfort food.
That’s why we selected these restaurants based on the criteria below. We’ve assessed them based on the quality, taste, and authenticity of their poutine.
1. La Belle Patate
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Quality | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Fries Texture | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Freshness | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Taste | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Gravy Flavor | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Seasoning | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Portion Size | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Accompaniments | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
This casual Canadian joint in Davie Street keep the doors open late, dishing out poutine, steamies, smoked meat, and even Spruce beer. When we heard that, we were like, no need to say anything else, we’re on our way!
You see, La Belle Patate is all about making authentic Québécois cuisine. They’re dead serious about it, serving up more than 40 different types of poutine, which to us sounded like a challenge, so we’ve dropped by numerous times to taste each of ’em.
The “Original Way” is the way to go if it’s your first time trying this Canadian dish. But if you’re looking to spice up your poutine, we suggest you go for the one with smoked meat, as it’s so yummy and filling.
Our favorite, out of all of ’em, is the hotdog poutine, which included generous pieces of hotdogs. The fries were very crispy under the copious amount of gravy, and there were lots of squeaky cheese curds—they’re what really ties the whole thing together.
In addition, they have plenty of other accompaniments such as smoked meat, ground beef, and bacon, and for all our vegetarian folks out there, you can add in green pepper, mushrooms, and onions on your poutine.
La Belle Patate definitely has one of the best poutine in Vancouver. They have awesome food, crispy fries, fun wall art, and the vibes overall are just welcoming and appetizing.
Pros
- 40 different types of poutine
- Wide variety of accompaniments
Cons
- Some complaints about gravy flavor
Customer Reviews
Delicious and authentic poutine
“A must for visitors (like us from Colorado) and locals alike. If you want delicious, authentic poutine look no further…”
-Jaemi M.
Full of accompaniments
“Got a large smoked meat poutine, which was full of cubes of soft, juicy meat chunks. Got a photo of us taken and a Red Champagne for being the first customers of 2023!”
-Alexander M.
2. Mean Poutine
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Quality | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Fries Texture | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Freshness | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Taste | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Gravy Flavor | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Seasoning | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Portion Size | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Accompaniments | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
In 2011, Mean Poutine started out as a humble restaurant in downtown Vancouver. Fast forward, and they’ve expanded, setting up shop not just in New Westminster but in Ontario as well.
They’ve been dishing out Québécois poutine with a dash of West Coast cuisine. Looking at their menu, we clearly see the west coast influence as they serve poutine with toppings like Philly cheese steak, cheeseburger, and Southern BBQ.
Poutines here are as customizable as they get. They have a ‘Build Your Own’ option where you can pick your toppings. We loved that they had vegetarian options, as well as room for extra cheese, gravy, sauce, or green onions.
Out of all of them, our top pick is the ‘Mean Supreme’. This one has certified Angus roast beef and double-smoked bacon mixed in – our mouths were watering way before we took our first bite.
Although the fries were not as crispy as we’d like, the roast beef was tender, and the bacon added a savory flavor that blended well with the gravy. Plus points for the generous amount of cheese curds!
If you’ve still got some space left, you absolutely have to dive into their hotdogs. The ‘Smokie Dog’ and the ‘Chicago Dog’ – they’re totally worth loosening that belt a notch or two for.
Pros
- Authentic poutine with west coast flavors
- Has a ‘Build Your Own’ option
Cons
- Fries were not as crispy
Customer Reviews
Really good poutine
“SO GOOD!! I’ve been looking for some really good poutine in Vancouver and I think I found the best place yet.”
-Avery C.
Hot, crisp and tasty
“Hot, crisp and tasty! I was totally satisfied. Simply the best pouting in the city!.”
-Pavel B.
3. Fritz European Fry House
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Quality | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Fries Texture | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Freshness | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Taste | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Gravy Flavor | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Seasoning | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Portion Size | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Accompaniments | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Fritz European Fry House is all about poutine and hotdogs, but they’re all about those crispy fries too. And we can vouch for it—the fries here are seriously crispy!
We absolutely loved the wide selection of sauces they have available—garlic, BBQ, ketchup, curry, wasabi, parmesan, peanut, and even mango chutney. It was quite exciting to discover how each of them complemented the fries.
But the mango chutney was definitely a nice surprise. It was super flavorful and refreshing. We think it’s safe to say that this sauce has enhanced the flavors of our poutine immensely.
They also have quite the lineup of poutine toppings too, like MTL smoked meat, marinated chicken, beef chili, crumbled bacon, and even vegan cheese.
This place stays open late, and it’s one of those spots where you go for a late-night snack or drink. So consider dropping by Fritz European Fry House, as they serve some of the best poutine in Vancouver.
Pros
- Wide selection of sauces
- Long store hours
Cons
- Food packaging could be improved
Customer Reviews
Variety of toppings
“Great little stop for amazing poutine! The best I’ve had! They also sell poutine with different meat options as toppings, and they offer Montreal style steamie hot dogs! .”
-Melissa L.
Delicious gravy and wide selection of toppings and sauces
“No fuss! You want poutine, they deliver. A wide selection of toppings and sauces. Delicious gravy for sure.”
-Linh B.
4. Belgian Fries
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Fries Texture | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Freshness | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Taste | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Gravy Flavor | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Seasoning | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Portion Size | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Accompaniments | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Since 1998, this joint on Commercial Drive has served Belgian-style fries and Canadian comfort food. Belgian Fries is the kind of place that double-fries their fries, and that’s a clear sign they know how to nail those crispy spuds.
Belgian Fries has 15 unique poutines on their menu, sprinkled with authentic cheddar cheese curds from Quebec. They have poutines with smoked meats, grilled chorizo, fried bacon, butter chicken, and, of course, the classic poutine.
We happened to stop by this place for brunch and were surprised to see that they’ve got a “Sunny Side Up” poutine on their menu. This dish is topped with bacon and a sunny side up egg, which we thought was unique.
You have to try the “Divine Poutine” here. It’s filled with tender, roasted pulled pork, and it’s got quite a fancy presentation. If you’re looking to try something a little spicy, we say go for the “Merguez”, with homemade Tunisian spicy lamb sausages.
It’s just a bummer that they don’t serve drinks here. But hey, if you came here for the poutine, you definitely will get your fill. Also, you may want to try some of their burgers and hotdogs.
Pros
- Serves 15 unique poutines
- Extensive food menu
Cons
- No drinks available
Customer Reviews
Generous portions
“One of the best poutine we tried in Vancouver. Nice burger too. Big portion and we were so full.”
-Archer F.
Amazing poutine
“Amazing poutine! We tried a couple of the mayo dips and they were tasty…”
-Zo W.
5. Six Acres
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Quality | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Fries Texture | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Freshness | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Taste | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Gravy Flavor | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Seasoning | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Portion Size | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Accompaniments | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Six Acres strikes a balance between fancy and classic. You walk in, and you’re welcomed by an elegant wooden interior, red-bricked walls, a chandelier on top, and a nice bar that gives off that British pub vibe.
Your poutine arrives on a wooden plate, and you’ve got a variety of toppings to choose from. Beyond the usuals like smoked meats and veggies, they even offer up wine-cured chorizo as a topping, which we found to be quite the standout choice.
Now, they’re a bit stingy with the gravy (as we’re used to our fries drowning in it), but we appreciate that their dishes are all quite flavorful. The beef brisket and crispy prosciutto were delightful, but the roasted chicken was the best for our taste.
We also loved that they use gluten-free gravy and vegan cheese, as it allows for a wider range of dietary preferences to be accommodated. Additionally, we appreciate that they go the extra mile to make their dishes presentable.
They carefully place each ingredient, creating a visually appealing presentation. If you’re in the mood for something fancy, we recommend making a beeline for Six Acres. They serve up some seriously tasty and beautifully presented poutines.
Pros
- Visually-appealing dish presentation
- Can accommodate a wide range of dietary preferences
Cons
- Relatively higher prices
Customer Reviews
Great vibe, interior, and poutine
“The poutine, the scotch egg and the BBQ pulled pork were all great! I love the vibe and interior of this place. Exposed brick gets me every time.”
-Steven W.
Yummy and well-priced
“Walk in to great vibes and cool decor. Varied and yummy drink selection. I had the poutine, bison salad, and sundae – all were delicious and relatively well-priced for what you get.”
-Cassie A.
FAQs about Poutine in Vancouver
Now that you know where to head to score delicious poutine, why not keep going and explore Vancouver’s diverse food scene? Here we’ve got a few related articles that can help you expand your culinary adventures.
