Review: A Taste of La Poutinerie at Epcot

On a fairly recent visit to Epcot, we stopped by the newer La Poutinerie to try traditional poutine. I say “fairly recent” because this visit was from mid-August, and I’m a little late getting it out. However, I felt I had a good reason to wait. Before I wrote this review of La Poutinerie, I wanted to see if Epcot’s poutine compared to what you would truly get in Canada. Since we had a 12-day Rocky Mountaineer trip through the Canadian Rockies in early October, I knew I would have a chance to try an order or two of legit poutine. I can now say I’ve had both, and I was somewhat surprised by the outcome. But before I spoil everything, let’s backtrack.

the entrance to La Poutinerie at Epcot, formerly Refreshment Port

La Poutinerie opened at Epcot in early July. It replaced the former Refreshment Port, which also served poutine. Air Canada hosts the new location at the edge of Epcot’s Canada Pavilion. A good deal of effort went into the new location’s landscape and thematic elements. You’ll find a variety of Canadian flowers and semblances surrounding the walk-up eatery. The area is charming and feels very Canadian.

signage from the Air Canada sponsor of La Poutinerie

the sign for the quick service La Poutinerie at Epcot

The Authentic Poutine at La Poutinerie

I’ll be honest. Before our big adventure, I didn’t know much about Canada beyond what I learned through my research writing about the Canada Pavilion in the World Showcase. Now I can say it’s truly a remarkable country, with beauty that far surpassed my wildest imagination. As for poutine, we only encountered traditional poutine on our visit to Canada, the Quebec version below. The La Poutinerie at Epcot is actually home to two options:

Québec: L’Authentique: French Fries, Cheese Curds, Brown Gravy
Montréal: Viande Fumée: French Fries, Cheese Curds, Smoked Meat, Pickles, Mustard Gravy

We asked about the Montreal version during our time in Alberta and were surprised to find no one was familiar with the extra mustard, pickles, and smoked meat toppings. So I’m guessing you would have to visit Quebec to try it. For this review, we’ll stick with the authentic version.

a sign that offers the history of poutine fries

Here’s an order of the Québec: L’Authentique from La Poutinerie at Epcot. The fries were high-quality, and while I can’t guarantee it, they appear to be hand-cut. They are far better than the average order of fries you would get at a standard quick-service location. They were smothered in brown gravy and soft, white cheese curds.

holding an order of La Poutinerie fries up at Epcot

When I first received this order, I was impressed by the size and thought I couldn’t possibly eat it all. Well, they were tasty, and while they are definitely shareable, you’re probably better off ordering your own. That is, unless you truly just want a little bite. Before I knew it, I had eaten nearly the entire order of poutine.

Now, do they hold up to a traditional poutine you might order in Canada? Yes, based on what we tried, I can say there was virtually no difference between Epcot’s version of poutine and what we ordered in the charming town of Jasper. Of course, we are just talking French fries, brown gravy, and white cheese curds. That’s probably pretty hard to mess up, right?

a closeup of authentic Quebec Poutine fries (vertical crop)

Final Thoughts

Overall, Epcot’s La Poutinerie is a great addition to the World Showcase. If you’re looking for a warm, filling, and tasty snack, you can’t go wrong here. It’s the perfect stop on a foodie tour throughout the park.

For more we’ve tried, check out our review of Pecos Bill at Magic Kingdom. We tried the churro loops, fries, and a new burger. We had lunch at Space 220 a few months back, and enjoyed it much more than I expected. For those details, see our review of Space 220 at Epcot. Other recent dining experiences include our updated review of dinner at Kona Cafe, and our review of Geo-82 at Epcot. You might also like to preview our entire list of Disney World Restaurant Reviews.

To learn more about the resorts, see our guide to the Disney World Hotels. You might also like our overview of dining at Disney World. Need to know how to get around? Our beginner’s guide to transportation at Disney World is one of our top resources.

For touring the parks, see our Disney World Rides and Attractions guide. It links to attraction guides for all four theme parks. If you’re just getting started, you might like our Disney World Vacation Planning Guide. It brings together the resources you need to plan your visit. Check back with ResortsGal.com for more updates.