Poutine has always aroused the passion of Quebeckers. Its origin is shrouded in a never-ending debate: did poutine originate from Victoriaville or Drummondville?

So when Ford asked us to go on a road trip to Côte-Nord in an Escape with the fabulous Pamela from Savoir Faire Abroad, our first inclination was to list the greatest spots to have poutine along route 138.

As your devoted Ford blog team, we would gladly trudge through the harshest snowstorms, wrestle bears and revert to dial-up for you. So we were more than willing to make the ultimate sacrifice and eat 7 poutines in 5 days, just to offer you a top 5 list of poutine restaurants en route to Côte-Nord. Because, you know, life is too short to have so-so poutine! Here are our 5 favourite spots.

Cassis Mona Filles

We have to thank Pamela for showing us this must-try poutine located at l’Île d’Orléans. Known for its crème de cassis and its amazing terrace view, this place is a not-so-hidden gem of the region. We fell in love with the duck poutine: a perfect mix of crispy fries, savoury duck, fresh arugula, cheese curds and a delicious cassis wine sauce. We’re certain that even the pickiest critic will enjoy it.

Poutine at Cassis Mona  Filles

Casse-Croûte chez Ginette

Spotted in the gorgeous village of St. Irénée, the Casse-Croûte chez Ginette is the perfect place to make a food stop before boarding the ferry to Tadoussac. Facing the city beach, this tiny family restaurant has an incredible view of the St. Lawrence River. The friendly and welcoming team served us the best traditional poutine of our trip: crisp-to-perfection fries, rich gravy and fresh squeaky cheese curds. From now on, it will be a mandatory stop when enjoying a great moment in Charlevoix.

Traditional poutine at Casse-Croûte chez Ginette

Le Petit Régal

When driving through the village of Les Escoumins, you must stop at Le Petit Régal (French only) to enjoy a Galvaude on the terrace; it’s a poutine variation featuring shredded chicken and green peas. Facing the bay Les Escoumins, you’ll have a gorgeous view during the evening with the full moon (if you’re lucky!) and the illuminated cross near the water. However, if you ask to go outside to eat and your waitress strongly suggests you stay, you’d be wise to heed her advice! You’ll spare yourself the trouble of bathing in calamine lotion afterwards! #TrueStory

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Casse-Croûte du Pêcheur

We couldn’t drive along Route 138 without stopping by the most unusual yet unique restaurant of the region: Le Casse-Croûte du Pêcheur (French only). With its gigantic lobster cage look-alike dining room and its dairy bar settled into a nearly life-sized lighthouse, this place will be talked about for years to come. We enjoyed having our poutine while sitting on the beautiful terrace facing the river. However, the best part of it was its fresh crab guédille! Which is not that surprising considering this restaurant is right by the Sept-Îles port, which is famous for its fresh seafood.

The scenic Casse-Croûte du Pêcheur!

Casse-Croûte Sylvie Talbot

When we stopped at Maison de la Chicoutai (French only) located at Rivière-au-Tonnerre (the perfect spot to find a gourmet souvenir), we saw the Casse-Croûte Sylvie Talbot, sitting on the other side of the road. At first glance, this looks like a regular casse-croûte restaurant: traditional menu, picnic tables, etc. However, its huge selection of poutines and cheerful staff make it a great place to stop. Of course, the poutine is good, but we fell in love with the homemade, generously topped hamburgers!

Casse-Croûte Sylvie Talbot

When it comes to poutine, everybody has different tastes. Which is your favourite poutine? Classic? Galvaude? And where do you eat it when the craving strikes? Let us know by leaving your comment below or on our Facebook page. And don’t forget: wherever your travels take you, simply saying “I’m hungry” to your SYNC system will lead you to the closest poutine restaurant near you!