Portuguese chicken in Montréal

Unlike the little villages that pepper Montréal where one can find an abundance of local ethnic specialties – dragon’s beard candy and dim sum in Chinatown and fresh cannoli and pizza in little Italy, you can smell the grilling of Portuguese chicken from almost any corner of town.

Half Chicken Combo @ Rotisserie Romados // Half Grilled Chicken with Salad, French Fries and a Portuguese Roll with a side of Piri Piri Sauce. Sometimes the reality lives up to the hype. The chicken was excellent. Moist, smokey and spicy from the Piri Piri sauce. The fries were also very good, not greasy, crisp and seasoned with salt and pepper. The salad seemed like a throw away, but the acidity helped balance the chicken and fries. Wish we had fast food of this caliber back in New York. #rotisserieromados #portuguese #rotisserie #chicken #frenchfries #salad #roll #plateau #montroyal #montreal

Une photo publiée par Stephen Rose (@the_degustasian) le 28 Mai 2015 à 20h24 PDT

There are certain things that we Montrealers like to call our own; bagels, smoked meat, potholes, our European sophistication and now added to the list, Portuguese chicken. The greatest thing about Montréal’s Portuguese chicken is that you can find a spot in any neighborhood – the smell is distinctive – just follow your nose.

Ask any local where you can score some great chicken; more often than none, you’ll be pointed in the direction of Rôtisserie Romados (115 Rachel Street East) in Little Portugal.  This mainstay of Portuguese chicken has been perfuming the neighborhood with wood charcoal smoke for over 20 years.

On a good day, the line at Romados can reach out the door. If it’s a full chicken, half, quarter-leg, quarter-breast, no matter that fraction of a chicken floats your boat, their signature Portuguese piri piri (spicy) sauce will be offered, and the answer should always be yes.

Poulet portugais #chezdoval #portuguesefood #portuguesechicken

Une photo publiée par Élo Côté (@elo_music_side) le 9 Avril 2016 à 17h24 PDT

Sitting on a stoop or taken home and plated, for under ten clucks ($10), you’re walking out of there with a container full of chicken, a pile of  French fries and green stuff (salad) to make your mom happy. Other casual spots include Jano (3883 Saint-Laurent Boulevard), take out counter  Coco Rico (3907 Saint-Laurent Boulevard), Chez Doval (150 Marie-Anne Street East) as well as  Galo (1979 Graham Boulevard) – great family style eateries.

From the ultra-casual to fine dining, the frango scene in Montréal is diverse. Restaurant Helena (438 McGill Street) – headed by executive chef, Helena Loureiro (also of Portus Calle) serves a crispy cornish hen that sees a two-day brine, plated with traditional piri piri sauce and homemade seasoned potato chips. Inspired by her mother’s recipe, she puts her signature refinement on our famous Portuguese chicken.

Known for their famous seafood menu, Ferreira Café (1446 Peel Street) also serves their version of a classic Portuguese chicken. They offer a piri piri grilled Cornish hen served with organic green salad and homemade French fries. Ferreira Café recently announced their new venture of a grilled Portuguese chicken restaurant slated to open in May 2016 located in the heart of downtown Montréal.

If you’re looking for a place to eat, and find yourself in a random part of town, follow your nose, chances are you’ll find Portuguese chicken being grilled.

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