Algeria · CAF
Algeria Is in the World Cup. The 3 Best Algerian Restaurants in Montreal.
Three group games. Three Algerian tables. From a Saint-Léonard kitchen to a Prince-Arthur Berbère room, where Montreal eats when Les Fennecs play their first World Cup since 2014.
Published
Algeria qualified for the 2026 World Cup, their first appearance since 2014. Les Fennecs lost narrowly to Germany in the round of sixteen that year. Twelve years out is enough time for a full generation to grow up without seeing the team on the biggest stage. The 2026 squad has captain Riyad Mahrez at 33 and past 100 caps, a midfield that is finally settled, and coach Vladimir Petković steering the project since February 2024 after the former Switzerland manager took the bench. Group J pulls Algeria against Argentina, Austria, and Jordan. The opener against the defending champions in Kansas City is the hardest possible start. Group survival is the realistic goal. Anything beyond is a story.
Montreal's Algerian community is one of the largest Maghreb populations in Quebec. The diaspora has settled in Saint-Léonard, Villeray, Saint-Michel, and pockets of the Plateau. The cooking is one of the most under-covered cuisines in the city. Couscous BYOW rooms, family kitchens, halal markets, mint tea served correctly. The community gathers around the World Cup the way it gathers around Eid.
These three rooms cover the spread. Lahlou for the proper Saint-Léonard family dinner. Au Coin Berbère for the BYOW Plateau night that lands intimate. Menthe et Couscous for the Saturday with the bigger crowd and the belly-dance soundtrack. The bread will be warm. The mint tea will be high-poured.
Three group games. Three Algerian tables. Pick one per match.
The three picks
Resto Maison Lahlou
Saint-Léonard · 5983 Rue Jean-Talon E, Saint-Léonard, QC H1S 1M5, Canada
Algerian family cooking on Jean-Talon Est in Saint-Léonard, where the couscous comes out generous and the merguez is grilled with conviction. The room is bright and busy at dinner, calmer at lunch. The bread is warm. The harissa is the bottle on every table. Walk-in friendly for lunch, book ahead for weekend dinners. The mint tea is poured properly.
Au Coin Berbère
Plateau · 166 Rue Prince-Arthur E, Montréal, QC H2X 1B7, Canada
Berbère couscous and tagine specialist on Prince-Arthur, the kind of small Plateau room where the regulars sit at the same table every Friday. Lamb couscous is the classic order. Tagine d'agneau aux pruneaux falls off the bone. BYOW. The room is intimate. Bring a bottle, leave full, walk Prince-Arthur after.
Menthe et Couscous
Quartier Latin · 361 Rue Émery, Montréal, QC H2X 1J2, Canada
Algerian-Tunisian crossover in the Quartier Latin, with a menu that runs from couscous royal to seafood tagines and a room that builds toward belly-dance Saturdays. BYOW. The lamb shank tagine is the slow order. Salads come big. Bread is warm. The vibe lands somewhere between family dinner and a celebration.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Algerian Montrealers actually eat?
The Algerian community is one of the largest Maghreb populations in Quebec, concentrated in Saint-Léonard, Villeray, Saint-Michel, and pockets of the Plateau. The food has gathered along Jean-Talon Est, Prince-Arthur, and around the BYOW couscous belt downtown.
What should I order on a first visit?
Couscous royal with merguez, lamb, and chicken, a tagine of lamb with prunes or olives, brik à l'œuf, and Algerian mint tea. Bring a bottle if the room is BYOW.
Where to watch Algeria play during the 2026 World Cup?
Algerian match days will fill cafés in Saint-Léonard and Saint-Michel. The Plateau couscous spots will have screens. Avenue du Parc and Jean-Talon Est cafés are the gathering points. Match days during big wins bring flags to the sidewalks.
When did Algeria last qualify for the World Cup?
Algeria last played in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where they reached the round of sixteen and lost narrowly to Germany. Twelve years out is a long stretch. The 2026 squad is the first time in over a decade that Les Fennecs feel like a complete team again.