Middle Eastern$downtownMon-Sun 11:00-24:00
Boustan is a downtown Montreal institution for cheap, garlicky shawarma, its Rue Crescent counter feeding students and night owls well past midnight.
Try: Shawarma pita
Tip: The Aladin potato pita is the cult order and barely dents a tenner; extra toum is free and essential.
Vegan$mile-endMon-Sun 11:00-21:00
La Panthere Verte serves quick, cheap vegan falafel pitas and bowls across Montreal, a reliable meat-free lunch for well under fifteen dollars in Mile End.
Try: Falafel pita
Tip: The falafel pita with green sauce is the value pick; bowls cost a little more but feed you longer.
Chinese$$downtownMon-Sun 11:00-21:00
Nouilles de Lan Zhou fills a table for cheap in Montreal's Chinatown, its hand-pulled beef noodle soup one of the best-value hot bowls in the city.
Try: Hand-pulled noodle soup
Tip: One big beef soup and a plate of dumplings feeds two for the price of a downtown sandwich.
Chinese$$downtownMon-Sun 11:00-21:30
Qing Hua is a bargain in Montreal's Chinatown, a dozen hand-folded soup dumplings landing well under fifteen dollars and easily enough for a full lunch.
Try: Soup dumplings
Tip: A single dozen is a filling meal; split two orders across the table to try more fillings for less.
Indian$$parc-extensionMon-Sat 11:00-22:00; Sun 11:00-21:00
Bombay Mahal is Parc-Extension's cheapest serious feast in Montreal, a BYOB canteen where fiery curries and thalis stay well under twenty dollars a head.
Try: Indian thali
Tip: Bring your own beer from the depanneur and split several curries; the bill stays tiny even when you overorder.
Vietnamese$rosemontMon-Sun 10:00-21:00
Pho Tay Ho ladles deeply spiced beef pho for under fifteen dollars in Petite-Patrie, Montreal, a warming, filling bowl that locals rate among the city's best.
Try: Pho
Tip: A large tai bowl plus a Vietnamese coffee is a complete meal for the price of a downtown lunch.