Top 5 Poutines in Paris Tested by a Québécois
By Vincent Lagrange
6 min read
Updated: Feb. 1, 2026
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Poutine, this iconic Québec dish, is made with fresh house-cut fries, golden and lightly crispy, fresh cheese curds of the day that squeak between the teeth, all topped with a subtly salted brown gravy. It is the balance of these three ingredients that defines a good Québec poutine. Even though many Parisian spots serve poutine, only one truly stands out for its Québécois authenticity.
Here are five of the best places to enjoy a real poutine in Paris:
5th place – Hot Corner: Cheap halal poutine
Hot Corner is a small halal fast-food joint founded in 2019 at the corner of Jean Jaurès and Adolphe Mille streets. The owner is Tunisian, and the kitchen and service staff are Pakistani and Bangladeshi.
The menu offers five house-made poutine variations:
- The Original (house fries, gravy, poutine cheese)
- The Mexicaine (curry chicken, bell peppers, jalapeños)
- The Montagnard (chicken cutlet, bacon, raclette)
- The Fermière (breaded chicken, Boursin)
- The Raptor (ground beef, smoked beef, chorizo)
The “house fries” keep their skin. The “secret gravy” has a gelatinous texture and a subtly sweet taste. The “poutine cheese” melts to the point of becoming liquid in the gravy and forms thin strands when stretched. The use of quotation marks reflects the wording used on the menu, even if the reality on the plate does not quite match the description.
Even when ordered to eat in, the poutine is served in a closed container that creates condensation, leaving everything soggy. With the excess gravy, the three ingredients end up blending into a shapeless mass, far from what one expects from a good poutine.
- Price: €9.90 (Classic Poutine)
- Address: Hot Corner, 185 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris
Verdict (4/10): a late-night poutine best eaten after a few drinks, when judgment is no longer at its sharpest.
4th place – The Great Canadian Pub: Poutine on a patio facing the Seine
The Great Canadian Pub is a Canadian-themed sports pub founded in 2005 by two Canadian expats, Mark Belly from Ottawa and Daniel Henri from Montreal. Since November 2024, it has been owned by Jeremy Bown, an English businessman active in the restaurant industry.
The Vibe
The atmosphere is clearly sports-oriented. Large screens regularly show major games such as soccer, rugby, and hockey, with sound turned on if customers request it. The staff is young and international, and the playlists vary depending on who is working. The patio allows guests to sit in the sun with a view of the Seine, the bookstalls, and Île de la Cité.
The Poutine
Four poutines are offered:
- Classic
- Bacon
- Chicken
- Pulled pork
The fries are thin-cut, dry, and lack any real appeal. They are bought frozen and then cooked twice in sunflower oil.
The cheese curds, softened and warmed by the gravy, still remain slightly cold. They come from the Schmidhauser cheesemaker in Haute-Savoie. Delivered frozen, they are thawed in the refrigerator the day before and then kept chilled throughout the day's service.
The gravy is pale in color and thick in texture, and its flavor remains fairly bland. It is made from powdered beef stock. To finish, the poutine is topped with fresh parsley.
- Price: €15 (Classic Poutine)
- Address: The Great Canadian Pub, 25 Quai des Grands-Augustins, 75006 Paris
Verdict (6.5/10): the poutine has a few flaws, but it is still enjoyable with a good beer on the sunny patio.
3rd place – La Poutinerie: A French Reinterpretation of Poutine
La Poutinerie was founded in 2019 by Bastien Peronnet, a Frenchman who previously lived in Québec.
The Vibe
The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. The staff is young and French, and the music changes throughout the day, with jazz in the morning, bossa nova at lunchtime, and lounge electro in the evening. The founder's time in Québec is reflected in the interior décor, for example, a small Montreal Canadiens flag, a Québec license plate, and a vintage Olympic Stadium print.
The Poutine
The poutine served here does not claim to emulate the Québec recipe. On the contrary, it is presented as 100% French.
The menu offers ten poutine options:
- La Classique (classic)
- La Parisienne (ham)
- La Blonde (Cajun chicken)
- La Chum (chili con carne)
- La Gros Porc (pulled pork)
- La Pépette (breaded chicken)
- La Panafolle (Plant-based tenders)
- La Falafolle (falafel)
- La Mexigros (guacamole)
- La Spéciale du mois (new recipe)
The fries are thin-cut, a little dry, and lack personality, but they still do their job in a poutine. They come from a supplier in Picardy, who delivers them every two days in vacuum-sealed bags, already peeled and cut. They are then cooked in two oil baths made up of 80% sunflower oil and 20% olive oil.
Two types of cheese are used: a Savoyard cheese cut into cubes, which does not melt, and grated mozzarella, which stretches into long strands.
The poutine gravy is truly one of a kind. At the bottom of a pot, butter is sautéed with onions and garlic, then spices (cumin and paprika), ketchup, and white wine are added. Dehydrated beef stock, mixed with water beforehand, is then incorporated into the mixture, which is left to simmer, stirred from time to time.
- Price: €10 (Classic Poutine)
- Address: La Poutinerie, 49 rue d'Enghien, 75010 Paris
Verdict (8/10): the creativity stands out, and the spirit of Québec poutine remains, even though it has been adapted to French tastes.
2rd place – The Moose: Poutine at Paris's oldest Canadian pub
The Moose is a Canadian sports pub founded in 1999 by Michael Kennedy, an Australian born to Irish parents, who remains the owner to this day. Poutine has been served there since 2000, making it one of the very first restaurants in France to feature it on the menu.
The Vibe
The atmosphere is relaxed. The staff is young and mostly anglophone but able to speak French. Music ranges from pop-rap to indie rock, and sports channels play on television screens with the sound turned down. However, the space is narrow and fairly dark. It has brick walls, and aside from the entrance, there are no windows.
The Poutine
The menu offers eleven different poutines:
- Classic
- Chef's poutine
- Smoked bacon
- Pulled pork
- Barbacoa beef cheek
- Marinated chicken
- Chorizo
- Shiitake
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Vegan shiitake
The fries are thick and hearty, with all the flavor of real potatoes. They are cut medium-thick with the skin on using a Robot-Coupe, then cooked in two baths of sunflower oil.
The cheese curds become soft and melty in the poutine. Purchased frozen from the Schmidhauser cheesemaker, they are left at room temperature for 24 hours to thaw, then used within 72 hours.
The gravy is dark in color and has a pleasant salty flavor. It is made from a powdered base, a blend of beef and chicken, mixed with hot water and thickened with cornstarch.
- Price: €14 (Classic Poutine)
- Address: The Moose, 16 rue des Quatre Vents, 75006 Paris
Verdict (8.5/10): the poutine is very tasty, and anyone who loves stretchy cheese will be pleased. However, it is not an authentic Québec poutine, since the curds do not squeak.
1st place – The Canadian Embassy Pub: A true Québec poutine in Paris
The Canadian Embassy Pub is a Canadian-themed sports pub founded in 2015 by Pascal Genest, a Québécois who remains the owner to this day.
The Vibe
The bar mainly attracts an English-speaking clientele, notably from nearby hotels such as Le Méridien, just next door, and the Hyatt Regency, directly across the street. The servers are young and come from a variety of countries. The music played ranges from country to classic rock. Various sports games are shown with the sound turned down on large screens throughout the bar. Audio is turned on only for major games or PSG matches.
The Poutine
Four poutines are offered:
- Classic
- Pulled pork
- Mexican (pulled pork, guacamole, and jalapeños)
- Bacon Lover's Poutine (crispy bacon)
The fries are bistro-style, nicely crispy and perfectly seasoned. The potatoes are hand-cut with the skin on using a manual cutter, then cooked twice in palm oil.
The cheese curds are slightly cold and grainy, but they do not melt in the poutine, just as they should. They arrive frozen directly from Québec and are kept in the freezer, then moved to the refrigerator the day before service to thaw.
The gravy is pleasantly salty and well balanced. It is made from powdered beef stock mixed with water, thickened with cornstarch, and combined with other ingredients. To finish, the poutine is topped with finely chopped chives.
- Price: €15 (Classic Poutine)
- Address: The Canadian Embassy Pub, 71 boulevard Gouvion-Saint-Cyr, 75017 Paris
Verdict (9.2/10): the most authentically Québec poutine in all of Paris.
Map of the best poutines in Paris
To make it easier to find your way, this map brings together the five poutine spots featured in this Paris ranking.
Conclusion
In Paris, there are currently five places where you can eat poutine. For an authentically Québécois version, head to The Canadian Embassy Pub. For a 100% French take with an original menu, go to La Poutinerie. Fans of a sports-bar atmosphere will feel at home at The Moose, one of the pioneers of poutine in France, while The Great Canadian Pub offers a terrace overlooking the Seine. Finally, for a quick and affordable poutine, stop by Hot Corner.
It is worth noting that the Paris poutine scene has changed significantly in recent years, with the closure of three establishments: La Maison de la Poutine (2017–2023), Québecium (2019–2024), and Lady Poutine (2019–2024).
FAQs
Should You Tip in Paris?
In Paris, as in the rest of France, the rule is simple: no, tipping is not mandatory. Service is already included in the bill. You'll even see it written clearly at the bottom of your receipt: “Prix net – service compris.” Whether you're at a café, a bar, or a restaurant, paying the exact amount is the social norm, and no one will judge you if you leave nothing.
Why is it so different from North America?
To really understand the contrast with Canada or the United States, it helps to look at Quebec, where I'm from. There, waitstaff rely on customers' generosity because their base salary is lower than the general minimum wage.
- In France: A server earns a fixed salary (generally between €1,850 and €2,750 per month).
- In Quebec: Customers are expected to tip between 15% and 20%. A server can therefore earn a similar income to France, or even more, depending on their attitude, the type of establishment, how busy it is, and even the employee's appearance.
So if you find that Parisian waiters sometimes seem a bit less warm, especially when they're overwhelmed by tourists in the middle of summer, keep in mind that they have nothing to gain financially from putting on extra smiles.
How should you tip if you loved the service?
If you had a great experience and want to thank the staff, here are the two “French-style” ways to do it:
- Rounding up: On an €18 bill, hand over a €20 note and simply say, “Keep the change.”
- Leaving it on the table: Leave a few coins or a bill on the table before you go. The server will collect it when clearing the table.
Unlike in North America, card payment terminals in France do not allow you to add a tip percentage. If you want to leave something extra, it's best to carry a bit of cash.
Where Can You Find Quebec Products in Paris?
There are no stores in Paris dedicated exclusively to Quebec products. That said, it is absolutely possible to find certain specific items.
Maple syrup
You can find real maple syrup in almost all gourmet food shops and supermarkets in Paris, including Carrefour, Monoprix, E.Leclerc, Auchan, Franprix, and Intermarché.
For higher-end options, La Grande Épicerie de Paris offers organic maple syrups under several brands (William Scott, Soul of Canada, and Terre de Pépites). The store has two locations:
- Saint-Germain-des-Prés area: 38 rue de Sèvres (Sèvres-Babylone metro).
- Passy / Trocadéro area: 80 rue de Passy (Passy metro).
Beers and spirits
For craft beer fans, some Parisian bottle shops carry a selection of imported Quebec beers. For example, at La Binouze (72 rue Marguerite-de-Rochechouart), a beer shop, you can find beers from Dieu du Ciel! and Le Trou du Diable, available to drink on site or to take away.
When it comes to spirits, La Maison du Whisky also carries several Quebec products, such as Sortilège, Tomahawk maple whisky liqueur, KM12 boreal gin, Romeo's Gin, and NORD ice cider. Their Paris locations are:
- Saint-Augustin / Madeleine area: 20 rue d'Anjou.
- Étienne-Marcel / Sentier area: 11 rue Tiquetonne.
- Odéon / Saint-Germain-des-Prés area: 6 carrefour de l'Odéon.
Ordering online
For a wider selection (poutine kits, maple products, rare spirits), the most efficient option remains specialized online stores. They usually deliver within 24 to 48 hours anywhere in France:
- Du Québec et d'Ailleurs – Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, Charente-Maritime, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Kanata – Locqueltas, Morbihan, Brittany
- Saveurs à l'érable – Sète, Hérault, Occitanie
- Produit Canadien – Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany
- Planet'Bison – Dampierre-sur-Salon, Haute-Saône, Bourgogne–Franche-Comté
- Les Trésors d'Érable – Argonay, Haute-Savoie, Auvergne–Rhône-Alpes
Finally, if Quebec flavors appeal to you, several Canadian sports pubs and specialty restaurants also serve poutine. Here is my selection of the 5 best spots where to eat real poutine in Paris.
Where Can You Find a Sports Bar in Paris to Watch the NHL?
Paris has three Canadian-themed sports pubs. In each of them, the decor leaves no doubt: NHL jerseys on the walls, hockey memorabilia, and a clearly North American atmosphere.
The three must-visit spots
- The Moose: 16 rue des Quatre-Vents (Odéon metro)
- The Great Canadian Pub: 25 quai des Grands-Augustins (Saint-Michel / Odéon metro)
- The Canadian Embassy Pub: 71 boulevard Gouvion-Saint-Cyr (Porte de Clichy metro)
Watching hockey live
All of these venues are equipped with large screens and broadcast sports continuously thanks to professional sports channel subscriptions. In theory, that means watching NHL games in Paris is possible.
In practice, it's a bit more complicated. The time difference is a real challenge. For example, Paris is six hours ahead of Montreal: a Montreal Canadiens game starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Bell Centre kicks off at 1:30 a.m. here. That said, you can always ask the staff to put an NHL game on one of the screens.
In this context, The Moose remains the best option. Since it closes at 3 a.m., it's the most realistic choice for night owls hoping to watch an NHL game live.
As a bonus, you'll also find a Quebec classic there: poutine, which pairs perfectly with a hockey game. All three pubs are also among the best places to eat poutine in Paris.
