Saint-Léonard’s Fringale food festival is back for its second edition

Saint-Léonard is home to over 15,000 families, 70% of whom are immigrants from countries like Algeria, Haiti, Morocco, and Vietnam—with a strong Italian community shaping much of its identity. Despite this cultural wealth, the area remains off-radar for many Montrealers.

It’s that mix—of people, plates, and shared neighbourhood rituals—that inspired Fringale, the food festival returning this August for its second edition. Organized by the SDC Jean-Talon Est (the area’s local thoroughfare’s Société de développement commercial which dates back to 2008), the festival brings together 20 local restaurants and cafés along the stretch, each offering two exclusive dishes that speak to their roots and their creativity.

The rules are simple: Everything’s $8 or less, and every stop is a chance to discover something you won’t find on delivery apps or influencer roundups: It's one massive unique neighbourhood tour served in many, many bites and steps.

What’s new for 2025

This year’s edition runs from August 28 to 30 with an even tighter focus on quality, accessibility, and community. Each restaurant is serving up two specialties, many of them created exclusively for the event.

Pick up a stamp card at any participating location and collect stamps as you go. Fill up six, and you’ll be entered into a prize draw for a Nintendo Switch 2, complete with Mario Kart World, Zelda, Hogwarts Legacy, and a set of racing wheels. It’s a small incentive for a big appetite.

And while you’re snacking, drop by the Zone Fringale in front of Pâtisserie Italia (5496 Jean-Talon Est), where live music, a collective mural, and roving performers will animate the street. Expect DJs, street performers, and free treats popping up along Jean-Talon Est on the following days and times:

• Thursday & Friday: 5 PM to 7 PM
• Saturday: 4 PM to 7 PM

It’s part terrasse, part block party, and completely free.

“What we cook always tells a little about where we come from,” says Tania, owner of Pâtisserie Italia. “For the festival, I wanted to revisit recipes from my family. Through these flavours, I’m sharing a piece of our story—and our neighbourhood.”

What (and where) to eat at Fringale 2025

Italian Specialties

• Café Buongiorno: Mini bombolini au Nutella®, Caffè Crema Misu
• Pâtisserie Italia: Pistachio-filled sfogliatella, Fried pizza
• La Bella Italiana: Mushroom arancini, Nonna-style meatballs
• Les Aliments Pastadoro: Mini arancini balls, Margherita panzerotti

Asian Flavours

• Sushi Suki: Onigiri, Green tea–melon–red bean coconut drink
• Thanh Thảo: Chicken wontons, Crispy rice-flour bánh bột chiên
• Takashi: Salmon tartare “Sushi Lover” combo, Veggie imperial rolls
• Phở Khánh Hoà: BBQ pork meatball skewers, Chicken imperial rolls
• Ut Kia: Grilled chicken bao, Fried bananas
• Poké Station: Popcorn shrimp with Bang Bang sauce, Appetizer platter

Maghreb & Turkish Dishes

• Algrillades: Stuffed sardines, Bourek
• Café Chez Amel: Virgin mojito, Nutella crêpe
• Poissonnerie Espadon: Fried calamari, Fried shrimp
• Boulangerie Castel: Pistachio Paris-Brest, Hazelnut cream croissant
• Le Bosphore: Çiğ köfte wrap, Icli köfte (kebbe)

Latin American & Haitian Bites

• Tostadito: Colombian empanadas, Passionfruit artisanal ice cream
• Marché Pupuseria David: Salvadoran corn tamales, Mexican-style tamales
• Mon Épicerie Mexicaine: Chamoyada, Concha
• ÉpicesKay: Griot plate, Grilled chicken
• Le Grand Goût: Lobster mac & cheese, Lobster-filled plantain cups

A taste of the real Saint-Léonard

It's one thing to plan a food crawl, but it's another for that food crawl to offer a close and honest look into how a neighbourhood feeds itself: How locals can walk into cafés where the owner knows everyone’s name, but also how you can discover your next favourite Vietnamese skewer joint next to a Turkish bakery next to a Haitian griot counter.

You can come for the stamp card, but you should stay for the conversation.

Admission is free. Activities are free. The food is cheap.

It's worth the trip.

All the details you need for Fringale 2025

📍 Jean-Talon Est, Saint-Léonard

📅 August 28–30

🎟️ Free entry | $8 or less per dish

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