Orléans Food Spot Review - Golden Fries

Let's start with something that needs to be said out loud: Orléans is criminally underserved when it comes to food trucks. For a community of its size: one of the largest suburban areas in the entire Ottawa region, the east end is practically a food truck desert. Whether it's trucks that are permanently stationed or visiting vendors making the trek out from the city's core, Orléans residents are too often left out of the street food conversation entirely. It's a shame, and something the local food scene has needed to address for years. That's exactly what makes Golden Fries such a welcome presence.

The truck: a vibrant, eye-catching golden-yellow trailer that you simply cannot miss, is set up in the parking lot of a Metro grocery store on St-Joseph Boulevard. It's a practical, accessible location that sees solid foot traffic, and the setup itself is well thought out. There are two service windows clearly marked for ordering and pickup, a fold-out counter ledge for staging your order, and even a few picnic tables with a matching orange umbrella off to the side so you can sit down and dig in right there. It's casual, unpretentious, and cheerful, exactly what a food truck experience should feel like. The whole truck is wrapped in their signature gold branding with theatrical marquee-style signage, and it really pops. This is a business that takes its identity and branding seriously.

Don't let the "fries" in the name fool you. Golden Fries is running a surprisingly expansive menu for a food trailer. On the savoury side, you've got hot dogs (including a Whistle Dog loaded with cheddar and bacon), Italian sausage, a pogo, a crispy chicken burger, a veggie burger, a classic 5oz hamburger, and the behemoth Hungryman Burger featuring two 1/3 lb patties with double cheese and double bacon. There's also a Chicken Parm Sandwich, battered and deep fried chicken with marinara, melted cheese curds, on a garlic butter toasted bun, and a Fish 'N' Chips plate featuring an 8oz beer-battered haddock fillet with fresh cut fries, tartar sauce, and lemon wedges.

But the real star of the show is the poutine lineup, and it's extensive. The Classic Poutine anchors the menu. Fresh cut fries layered twice with St-Albert cheese curds and gravy, and from there things get creative. You can go with the Crispy Chicken Poutine (topped with fried popcorn chicken), the Boot Kickin' Poutine (fried chicken, banana peppers, jalapeños, and crispy jalapeño chips with a secret spicy sauce), the Big Max Poutine (ground beef, diced onions, pickles, secret sauce, and sesame seeds), the Deep Fried Curd Poutine (battered and fried St-Albert cheese curds on top), and the award-winning Bacon Ranch Supreme, which took first place at the London Poutine Fest, and features deep fried curds, bacon, ranch, and green onions. There's also a Vegan Poutine with vegan curds and gravy for plant-based eaters.

Sides include onion rings, sweet potato fries with spicy mayo, and deep fried cheese curds served with marinara for dipping. Everything is available in combos with a regular fry and drink, and you can upgrade the fry to a poutine for a few dollars more. Portions come in Small, Regular, Large, and Family sizes. Pricing is fair and competitive for the Ottawa market.

We ordered the Classic Poutine in the large size, and it delivered. The fries were thick-cut, golden, and crispy on the outside with a proper fluffy interior. They held up remarkably well under the gravy, which is no small feat; soggy fries are the death knell of a poutine and that was simply not an issue here. The St-Albert cheese curds were abundant, fresh, and had that satisfying squeak that tells you they're the real deal. The gravy was rich and well-seasoned without being overwhelming or masking the flavour of everything underneath it.

This was excellent poutine. Some of the best we've had in Ottawa, no doubt about it. The balance between the three elements: fries, curds, gravy, was impressive, and the quality of the St-Albert curds in particular elevated the whole dish. It's the kind of poutine that reminds you why the classic version doesn't need to be complicated to be exceptional.

One thing worth flagging for anyone planning a visit with a group: the large size is more than enough for three people. We're not exaggerating. It's a generous, heaping portion that will absolutely surprise you. If you're two people who aren't enormous eaters, you might want to share a large between you and complement it with a side. Order accordingly.

🍟 Classic Poutine: 4.5 / 5

⭐️ 4.5 stars out of 5

Golden Fries is the real deal. It's a well-run, well-branded, quality-focused food truck that has clearly earned its reputation as the some of the best poutine in Ottawa, a title proudly displayed on the rear of the trailer. The Classic Poutine alone is worth the trip, and the breadth of the menu means there's genuinely something for everyone, including vegetarians and vegans.

What makes it even more meaningful is the context. Orléans has been wanting for exactly this kind of local food truck staple for far too long. The east end deserves a vibrant street food scene just as much as any other part of the city, and Golden Fries is doing its part to fill that gap. We can only hope more trucks, whether local to the area or visiting from elsewhere in Ottawa, start making the drive east on a regular basis.

In the meantime, if you're in Orléans and you haven't stopped at Golden Fries yet, fix that immediately.