The 38 Essential Restaurants in Montreal

"Smash burger joints have been cropping up all around town, but this Villeray spot commands attention. A classic casse-croûte reimagined with some West Coast flair, the concept originated in 2015, when chef Michel Lim first started flipping burgers out of his garage for a Restaurant Day pop-up. Today, he and partner Michel Nguyen (the two are childhood friends and the minds behind La Belle Tonki) draw crowds to an eclectic space that blends hip-hop culture and movie posters with a retro diner aesthetic. MDMH impresses with perfectly pressed patties, crisply caramelized at the edges, while Lim’s thinly cut fries, cooked in beef tallow, star in poutine and the Ol’ Dirty Fries: a mishmash with cheese sauce, house burger sauce, pickles, and onions." - Valerie Silva