Mexican$$saint-henriTue-Sun 11:30-21:00
Tacos Frida grills proper Mexico City-style tacos in Saint-Henri, Montreal, its al pastor carved off the trompo onto small corn tortillas made in house.
Order: Three al pastor tacos with pineapple and a fresh agua fresca.
Tip: Order by the taco and try a few fillings; the salsas on the counter do the heavy lifting.
Vietnamese$rosemontMon-Sun 10:00-21:00
Pho Tay Ho is the Petite-Patrie pho specialist in Montreal, ladling deeply spiced beef broth over rice noodles that locals rank among the city's best.
Order: A large pho tai with brisket and a side of Vietnamese coffee.
Tip: Cash is easiest and the broth is the point; skip the appetisers and order the big bowl.
Italian$$little-italyTue-Sun 11:00-22:00
Pizzeria Napoletana has fed Montreal's Little Italy since 1948, a cash-only, BYOB institution on Rue Dante turning out thin-crust pizza and hearty pasta.
Order: A thin-crust pizza and a plate of pasta, with a bottle of your own wine.
Tip: It is cash-only and bring-your-own-wine, with no reservations; arrive early to beat the queue.
New American$$$downtownMon-Sun 11:30-23:00
Deville Dinerbar is a glossy downtown Montreal diner, plating truffle-butter popcorn shrimp and spiked milkshakes under retro neon on Rue Stanley.
Order: The popcorn shrimp and a spiked milkshake to share.
Tip: It leans indulgent and photogenic; go for the milkshakes and fried starters, not restraint.
French bistro$$$saint-henriMon-Thu 17:30-23:00; Fri-Sun 09:30-23:00
Foiegwa is a neon-lit French-American diner in Saint-Henri, Montreal, plating steak frites, escargot and a cult double cheeseburger late into the night.
Order: The Foiegwa burger, or the escargots and steak frites.
Tip: Late-night weekends are the vibe; the burger and a martini is the classic order at the bar.
New American$$villerayTue-Sun 11:30-22:00
Chez Tousignant is a retro snack bar in Villeray, Montreal, upgrading the casse-croute with a griddled cheeseburger, steamed hot dogs and hand-cut fries.
Order: The cheeseburger with a side of fries and a maple milkshake.
Tip: It nails the diner classics with better ingredients; the burger and a shake is the whole point.