Churros Montreal: Not just an empty promise photo: Joseph Yarmush

In our own belle ville we have Churros Montreal, known for the eponymous treats as well as empanadas. It's a small, Uruguayan, family-run store (cute kids, too) with a few tables for loiterers, and they do a brisk take-out.

You could even get a steak, but we were in a snacky mood, with the kinds of holes in our stomachs that waited to be filled by empanadas then churros.

The empanadas are plumped to the max with meat, spinach or cheese. The skin is warty from deep-frying. Each Latin-American country has their version of empanadas, the owner explained. Because Uruguay has a lot of cattle, the meat empanadas have a higher proportion of meat in them compared to Chilean empanadas (which Montrealers are used to thanks to La Chileneta), which contain more onion and hard-boiled egg. These Uruguayan babies are stuffed with beef, a little seasoning and specked with some chopped egg. They have a thin wrapper, making them less bready. The chicken is packed with tasty shredded meat, the vegetarian with loads of spinach.

As we ate them, we watched the Miss Universe Venezuela pageant on the TV in the corner, drawing comparisons between the improbable gravity-defying breasts and the round taut empanadas. Below the, ahem, boob tube was a set of bongo drums for the owner to practice on between tending to the food.

For dessert, on to the churros, which are about six inches long and ribbed for a satisfying maximum ratio of crisp surface to pastry mass. The churro is extruded from a churreria, deep fried, then lies in wait until you declare your filling preference, chocolate or dulce de leche caramel. A hole is made in the churro by slipping it onto a prong, and then it's filled with sweet goo. Dense rather than airy, they fulfill you rather than give empty promise.

Upon a bite of a chocolate one, an enthusiast ordered a dozen to take back to his family. "It can't get better than that," he said. Another declared them "the diametric opposite to Krispy Kreme." Gringo chain, go home.

Churros Montreal also sells fare from the south. My tea-drinking pal was delighted to pick up a bag of maté tea for a good price. "When I've seen this in health food stores it's like nine bucks for a tiny bag," she exclaimed. "Here it's half that for so much more."

Churros Montreal

7497 St-Hubert; 271-6006

Empanadas: $1.75 each

Churros: $1 each, a dozen for $9

 
 

		Write your comment on this article!

Churros Montreal The Best!! Great Churros and Empanadas     Churros Montreal is great place in winter time!!!!! I just went this January and I love the cheese and ham "empanadas" and the "Churrros" they offer! In addition, I had i wonderful time at their place, Alejando, the Owner is very easy going and funny man! By the way he plays the drums very well !!!! hehehe However, I have to say that they do not offer a nice Spanish Cafe! I missed it! Overall is a great place I think, good price! you should go and visit ! See yeeaaaaa!
Federico Picerno		February 7th, 2007
empanadas     Im glad to heard that you are doing great on your business keep it up and lots of success on all furure plans. Iam a chilean friend IM not angry with your comment that you make regarding our empanadas but please do not compare your with our that's kind of rude comment to display on your website not all the chilean people make empanadas filled mostley with onions thas not true I can prove it to you perhave where you lived is like that so please dont give bad reputation to our chilean product cause our chilean empanadas are very well know worldwide and you should know it my pal it isnt only your product or the argetine product the best in latin america our too are great and so are other latin america contries so think about what you wrote and change those line of comparing your product with our everything else is great and good luck to you
Rene Lombardo		November 28th, 2004
Forget low-carb, think delicious     For those of you who are on a low-carb diet, this place is not for you but for the rest of us, this is great. At this place you can indulge in the delights of the Latin culture. First stop and have a couple of empanadas--- the meats ones are great. I liked that it was packed with beef. They have vegetarian ones as well. Once you have had your fill of empanadas, get ready for dessert--- churros. The churros filled with dulce de leche caramel were delicious. Everything was so good, I took a few empanadas and churros to go. At that price, I had to.
Ryan Lobo		August 11th, 2004
Comments from down South     Writing from Argentina I'm surprised to find all these churro fans in Mtl. Now it's winter here and we all manage the cold by indulging in churros dunked in hot chocolate. We also have churros filled with dulce de leche, and others covered in chocolate (or combine both things and you'll have a BOMB!) As for empanadas, and answering to a previous comment, you must know that vegetarians here have a wide variety of empanadas: cheese and onion, cheese tomato and basil (mmhhh!), spinach and sauce bechamel, cheese and corn, cheese, champignons and sherry, etc etc etc and anything you wish to fill them with. Just roll the dough, cut it round, put whatever you want inside, close it and put it in the oven! Cheers,
Moira Pérez	{8 votes}	June 9th, 2004
Empanada=Yummy     I never heard of this restaurant until now and I just love empanada and this restaurant delivers it with good taste. I should defiantly go to this restaurant because it sounds like a sure hit and all the other comments posted give this restaurant high praise. The meals at Churros restaurant are very reasonable and you can't get a better deal at any other restaurant and if you do you have my blessing. The prices in this restaurant is just unbelievable and I now I know which restaurant I'm going too next week. I'd better go before they change their prices when all the customers begin rolling in because of this article makes it look like the best place to dine at in Montreal.
Carmela Sicurella	{8 votes}	June 6th, 2004
The real deal...with Churros and empanadas.     Well all is good when poeple tell a story, but they forget the only country that has not only the best empanadas and churros but even more variety in foods. Argentinian Empanadas, churros, milanesas, asado, gizos, etc. We have the a couple of shops here in Montreal that offer all kinds of Argentinian delicaties. Like El Tangito on St-Zotique that have the best milanesas, El Nappo on Charland off Papineau they have the best pan de miga in the city among other foods. For those that want to try the best Argetinian foods, are welcome to try these places. And of course you can find churros in Churros Montreal. I have been to all these places and trust me, it's gooooood!!! Try them.
Ruben Varela	{19 votes}	June 5th, 2004
Ummmm. empanadas     So glad to find another place to get me my dose of empanadas. I love the beefs ones and these sound so good. Also the fact they have churros is wonderful. Can't wait to stop by and with a price like that I can buy in bulk!!!
Ezra Braznell	{6 votes}	June 4th, 2004
CHURROS MONTREAL: homespun latin goodness     First off, this is one of those culinary moments when you really shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. By this, I obviously mean the accompanying photo of the swarthy fellow with the droopy eyes who looks like he's auditioning for the role of "Mel" in the latin remake of "ALICE". Truly A bad picture to spotlight a great place. What, was it really that hard to take a COMPLIMENTARY picture of the food without making it look like a total dive? Ok, now that that's over with... This place rocks! And no, I don't mean that in a "it's a great place that you really ought to visit when you have time" kind of way. No, I mean "go now and tell your friends!" I'm talking about affordable meals served in large protions without all of that 'nouveau' chic that's been the bane of so many latin restaurants recently. You know what I mean, it looks latin, it smells latin but somehow the portions are smaller and certain key ingredients have been substituted to accomodate more demure appetites. Think tofu hell. This is the real deal. This is no Carlos and Pepe's. This is the food your doctor secretly eats while he's telling you to eat more salads and fiber. Just trust me on this. Go. Eat. Be merry. Repeat at will.
Pedro Eggers	{23 votes}	June 4th, 2004
Spinach Empanadas     I first had churros while living in Denver, a city with a very high Latino population. They are definitely yummy, although I don't indulge very often. I guess it is nice to know that the option is available if I feel like I am in the mood for churros! Thanks to the diversity of food available in Montreal. I'm definitely more intrigued by the spinach empanada. I've found "traditional" Mexican cuisine to be a bit heavy on the meat, and most empanadas are made with meat to my knowledge, so I think it is great that there is a vegetarian option. The portions sound very generous. Sounds like something I might try in the future, since my husband would be able to get his ample fix of beef and I could have some of that yummy spinach!!
Heather Jackson	{4 votes}	June 4th, 2004
Pass me a churro and empanada     This places sounds great. Can't wait to stop and get a few empanadas and churros. They are so delicious and this places sounds so good. Don't bother to try the churros at Costco they are not that good. The churros with dulche de leche caramel sounds scrumptious. Must get there as soon as possible and the price sounds right.
Selena Lobo	{4 votes}	June 3rd, 2004
I'll be visiting, but Shhh, don't tell!     Wow! My mouth is watering after having read this article. Even though I'm on a diet, I think I'll be sneaking into this great sounding restaurant to satisfy a craving or two. Who doesn't love fried doughey goodness! And, who doesn't love cheap fried food? That brings me to another point; I wonder what the whole low-carb craze is doing to the restaurant business. I'm sure beyond a doubt that it has prompted many menus to offer low-carb choices. I hope it hasn't negatively effected specialty restaurants like Churros Montreal, since they're known for their unique foods as opposed to their variety. So, next time I'm feeling a craving come along, feeling a little naughty, and have a few bucks in my pocket, I'll be passing by.
Jessica McGillis	{2 votes}	June 11th, 2004

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