No matter the time of day or what you’re up to, there’s just something about a Toronto hot dog that hits the spot. It’s cheap, filling, and easy to grab if you’re wandering the downtown core.

And with the Blue Jays’ season opener just a few weeks ago, I’m planning on eating my fair share of hot dogs like a true fan.

But not all hot dogs are equal, and, while on a recent trip to Montreal, I couldn’t resist trying the city’s famed “steamie” to see how this rival dish compares to our beloved sidewalk weiner.

In Toronto, you can pretty much grab a hot dog anywhere, whether it’s from one of the 170 street vendors with self-serve classic toppings like ketchup, mustard, and onions, or from restaurants like Fancy Franks, WVRST, and Woofdawg, serving gourmet versions with toppings like apple fennel slaw and brown butter honey mustard.

In Montreal, however, it is the steamie — a hot dog that’s steamed in water, not grilled — that reigns supreme, though they are a bit harder to come by than a hot dog stand in Toronto.

After putting my faith in the hands of the good folks on Reddit, I ended up visiting what many consider the ultimate steamie destination: Montreal Pool Room. It’s a gritty, no frills spot that’s been serving simple comfort food since 1912. 

montreal pool roomA single hot dog there costs $2.89 and comes with your choice of sauerkraut or onions and relish with mustard. Given how insatiable my appetite was at the time, I ordered a bunch of each. 

By comparison, hot dogs in Toronto can cost a bit more. Some street vendors, like the one at the corner of St. George and Bloor, charge over $5 for a hot dog and $6 for a sausage.

I also discovered that in Montreal, the dog’s not the only thing getting steamed, but the bun, too. With everything being steamed, I noticed the texture was light, practically fluffy, juicy, but not soggy. The meat, supplied by Lester’s Deli nearby, is slimmer compared to the size of a Toronto weiner.

steamieI truly hate to admit this (and please don’t come at me in the comments, I beg), but I think I prefer the Montreal buns simply because they’re fresher and fluffier. More often than not, when I order a to-go dog in Toronto, it’s wrapped in a dry, sometimes flaky bun that just kills the vibe.

Munching on three of these steamies was the perfect mid-day snack. Everything went down so well, and now I can see why some people like to shove 100 or so of these down their throats for competitive consumption.

If you ever find yourself in Montreal but not a fan of the steamed version, you can request your hot dog grilled instead, though it comes with an extra small charge.

But so what if Toronto doesn’t steam its hot dogs? There are still a ton of spots where a perfectly grilled one really hits home. Vendors must be thrilled that, with spring around the corner, their sizzling dogs will once again be flying off the carts.

I’m standing firm on my final votes, based on meat, bread, flavour and texture (because what else matters when it comes to a hot dog?). In the end, both cities do their dogs right — just in different ways.

Final verdict?

Montreal steamie: 8.5/10

Toronto hot dog: 8.2/10