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ChineseDowntown
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.
TryHand-pulled noodle soup
TipOne big beef soup and a plate of dumplings feeds two for the price of a downtown sandwich.
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ChineseDowntown
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.
TrySoup dumplings
TipA single dozen is a filling meal; split two orders across the table to try more fillings for less.
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IndianParc Extension
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.
TryIndian thali
TipBring your own beer from the depanneur and split several curries; the bill stays tiny even when you overorder.
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VietnameseRosemont
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.
TryPho
TipA large tai bowl plus a Vietnamese coffee is a complete meal for the price of a downtown lunch.
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MexicanSaint Henri
Tacos Frida keeps its Mexico City-style tacos cheap in Saint-Henri, Montreal, with house corn tortillas and grilled fillings at a few dollars apiece.
TryStreet tacos
TipThree or four tacos makes a filling, low-cost meal; load up at the free salsa bar to stretch it further.
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PortuguesePlateau
Ma Poule Mouillee delivers a big plate of charcoal Portuguese chicken and fries for cheap on Rue Rachel in Montreal, a filling Plateau meal on a small budget.
TryPortuguese chicken
TipA half chicken feeds one generously; the chicken poutine is the indulgent-but-still-cheap upgrade.