Montreal hot dog facts for kids
All dressed steamé from the famous Montreal Pool Room
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| Alternative names | Steamé, stimé, steamies, steamy, toasté, toastés, toasty, vapeur |
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| Type | Hot dog |
| Place of origin | Canada |
| Region or state | Montreal |
The Montreal hot dog (also called a steamé) is a special kind of hot dog you can find in Montreal and other parts of Quebec, Canada. It's a popular fast food item served in restaurants and diners.
In Montreal, the buns used for these hot dogs are usually "top loading" buns. This means they open from the top, like a slot, instead of from the side. Montreal hot dogs are often smaller than other hot dogs. They are usually quite cheap, costing less than a dollar. Some popular brands for these hot dogs include Lesters, Lafleur's, and Glatt's.
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Where to Find Montreal Hot Dogs
For many years, from 1947 to 2011, street food carts were not allowed in Montreal. Because of this, many small "greasy spoon" restaurants opened up. These places are like classic Québécois casse-croute (snack bar) restaurants.
These snack bars serve more than just hot dogs. You can often find:
- Fresh-cut fries (called patates frites)
- Poutine (fries with cheese curds and gravy)
- Hamburgers
- Pogos (corn dogs)
- Hamburger steaks
- Greek dishes like souvlaki and gyro
- Pizza
- Smoked meat
Some well-known restaurant chains in Montreal that are famous for their hot dogs include La Belle Province, Valentine, and Lafleur Restaurants. The Montreal Pool Room is also a very old and famous independent restaurant that serves hot dogs.
The "steamie" hot dog has become very popular across Canada. It is now often chosen over traditional hot dogs. Special places called "wieneries" have opened up just to sell steamies.
Types of Montreal Hot Dogs
Montreal hot dogs come in a few main styles:
Steamie vs. Toasté
- Steamie: This is the most common type. It's cooked in a steamer, which makes the hot dog and bun very soft.
- Toasté: This hot dog is grilled or toasted until it's a bit crispy. Toastés are usually a little more expensive and not as popular as steamies.
How They Are Dressed
In Montreal, hot dogs are usually topped in one of three ways:
All-Dressed (Montreal Style)
This is the most popular way to have a hot dog, especially a "steamie." It comes with:
- Mustard
- Chopped onion
- Fresh coleslaw or plain chopped cabbage (called "choux" in French)
It's important to know that an "all-dressed" hot dog usually does NOT include ketchup. If you want ketchup, you need to ask for it specifically! Relish is also often available. However, in some of the oldest hot dog places, "all-dressed" traditionally meant without relish.
Michigan Hot Dog
This hot dog is topped with a special meat chili sauce or spaghetti sauce. You can also choose to have it with or without diced onions and mustard.
Supreme Hot Dog
This type of hot dog comes with cheese and bacon on top. This special variation was first created by Lafleur Restaurants.
