Sure, the lakes and stuff are nice. And we hear there are some pretty cool mountains too. But let’s not kid ourselves, the real reason you’re thinking of visiting Canada is for the EPIC Canadian food you’ve heard so much about.
But it’s not just about the poutine. Okay, quite a lot of it’s about the poutine. But there are loads of other amazing Canadian dishes you need to try. To help you on your quest, we’ve put together a handy checklist of the best traditional Canadian foods to try. It will be hard to pack all 17 into one trip, but we believe in you!
The 17 Best Canadian Foods You Need To Try
1. Poutine
First stop in Canada: Poutine ? @shannondidwhat
Few Canadian dishes are as world-renowned as the glorious creation known as poutine. Crispy fries, squeaky cheese curds and rich gravy all combine to create the meal of dreams, and this French Canadian food is so popular that it can now be found all around the world. The classic version is great on its own, but toppings like pulled pork, bacon and smoked meat really knock it out of the park – and at an average price of £3.50, it won’t break the bank either.
2. Bannock
You can’t beat bannock and bacon cooked over the fire @torebergengen
Delicious and versatile, bannock is a simple bread that was once a key staple in the diets of Canada’s Aboriginal people. Modern takes on bannock include baked versions (which are heavy/dense) and fried versions (which are crispy and fluffy on the inside). In recent years, bannock has seen a surge in popularity, with new twists and variations popping up in bakeries and cafes nationwide – you have to try it!
3. Butter tarts
Baked some delicious Canadian butter tarts @karyne.villeneuve
Butter tarts are so simple, but oh so good. They’re made by taking flaky pastry shells and filling them with a butter, sugar and egg filling. This is traditional Canadian food at its best, and you’ll be craving these long after you’ve left the country.
4. Nova Scotian Lobster Rolls
Can’t resist these lobster rolls Neil Conway
Canada is a massive country, with spectacular seafood from coast to coast. Not-to-be-missed experiences include Atlantic and Pacific salmon, smoked salmon, arctic char, and of course, East Coast lobsters. Nova Scotian lobster rolls are a Canadian favourite.
5. Montreal-style Bagels
The best bagels in Canada from St. Viateur! @newna__o0o
Montreal’s bagels are the unsung heroes of great Canadian food. Sweeter, denser and thinner than their NYC counterparts, Montreal bagels are baked in wood fire ovens and are often covered in poppy or sesame seeds. The two heavyweights in the Montreal bagel game are St. Viateur and Fairmount Bagel, both of which (we can confirm) are amazing.
6. Saskatoon berry pie
Mmm Saskatoon berry pie with ice cream @prairieberries.sk
The Saskatoon berry is often described as having a sweet and almondy flavour, which makes it an ideal candidate for the perfect pie. Truly, a slice of this will change your life. It’s no wonder the city of Saskatoon was actually named after it, rather than the other way around.
7. Montreal-style Smoked Meat
Schwartz’s smoked meat sandwich with some tasty sides is @eatingwithchu
Similar to pastrami, Montreal’s smoked meat is the heavenly result of beef brisket salted and cured for a week with a range of spices, before being smoked and steamed to perfection. It’s usually served in a rye bread sandwich smeared with tangy yellow mustard, but you’ll also see it as a topping for poutine. The smoked meat sandwiches from Schwartz’s Deli have earned worldwide recognition, with some die-hards considering it to be one of the best restaurants in Canada.
The only way to know is to try it for yourself!
8. Peameal Bacon
Berry pie and juicy peameal bacon @cool.notcool
This special Canadian twist on bacon is made from lean boneless pork loin, which is trimmed, wet-cured and then rolled in cornmeal, giving it its distinctive yellow crust. It’s juicier than American-style bacon, but also leaner and, some might say, more delicious.
9. Beavertails
A Nutella and banana Beavertail – a must have in Canada @shalssh
Imagine a slab of delicious, deep-fried dough, covered in a variety of toppings like Nutella, Reese’s Pieces, peanut butter and more. While it’s not exactly a traditional Canadian food, beavertails are gooey, crispy and a taste of true perfection. No visit to Canada is complete without one!
10. Split Pea Soup
Classic Canadian comfort food – split pea soup
Ah, comfort food at its finest. With Québécois origins, split pea soup is traditionally composed of peas, pork and herbs blended together for pure, creamy deliciousness. A bowl of this will get you through the tough Canadian winters!
11. Tire d’érable sur la neige
Maple Taffy ? Canada’s original delicious treat @kbeedeng
It truly does not get more Canadian than tire d’érable (or maple taffy). This sugary sweet candy is prepared by pouring boiling maple syrup over snow, where the cold causes it to immediately harden. You’re then meant to roll it up with a popsicle stick and enjoy immediately. The result is a rich maple flavour, with a soft, gooey texture – the dessert of dreams!
12. Ketchup Chips
Ketchup chips: a staple of Canadian care packages
Craving a snack? There are plenty of chip flavours that can only be found in Canada! Many Canadians are die-hard devotees to the Ruffles all-dressed chip, which offers a bit of everything – from tomato and onion to salt, vinegar, sour cream and BBQ. Ketchup chips and dill pickle chips are also mega popular flavours native to the Canadian junk food scene.
Unsurprisingly, there are speciality flavours like poutine and, of course, the inexplicably addictive Hickory Sticks – thin strips of potato with a mild BBQ flavour.
13. Nanaimo Bars
These Nanaimo bars look heavenly
Named after the British Columbian city of Nanaimo, these three layered slices of heaven require no baking and are comprised of a crumb base layer, custard and a thin layer of chocolate on top, which gives the bar a perfect crunch.
14. Pouding chômeur
Cheap and tasty goodness
Literally translated to “the unemployment pudding”, this French Canadian dessert was created during the Great Depression, which makes it one of the more traditional Canadian foods on the list. It’s proof that less is more, with a few basic ingredients combined to make a delicious, comforting dessert still loved by Canadians all over the country. Made up of cake batter topped with hot syrup, the end result is a deliciously sweet treat that cures all woes.
15. Caesar Cocktail
The amazing Checkmate Caesar at the Score on Davie
The Caesar is Canada’s national cocktail. Made of vodka, clamato juice, Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce, the Canadian take on the Bloody Mary makes the absolute best brunch companion. Recently, restaurants and bars have stepped up their garnish game to include more than the traditional celery salt rim and celery stalk to include the likes of an entire roast chicken, burgers, hot dogs, sliders, onion rings and more (aka the Checkmate Caesar at the Score on Davie in Vancouver).
16. Tourtière
A delicious tourtière and house made chai
If it’s hearty fare you’re after, look no further than the French Canadian tourtière, a savoury meat pie commonly eaten during the holidays (but is popular year round). Recipes vary regionally and by family, but pork, veal, beef and game are popular choices of meat to fill the pie.
17. Game Meat
Moose taco salad – don’t knock it til you’ve tried it
Depending on where you are in the country, game meat may feature heavily. Though not as common in big cities, the likes of venison, caribou and moose are often used as the main meat in certain meals. There are even moose tacos!
So tell me, what’s your favourite Canadian food? Are there any classic Canadian dishes we missed? Let us know in the comments!
Keep reading: ⬇️
🌟 Ultimate guide to backpacking Canada
🌟 Best places to visit in Canada
🌟 18 of the best Canadian desserts
Amazing I’m hungry now 😄
same
and that is why i am a proud canadian
My French Canadian grandmother served a spaghetti dish made with breakfast sausage, baked and served at breakfast. She pronounced it “SIGANOOG”. Know of anything like it?
i am starving right now
same
What about Tiger Tiger icecream?
Lol beavertails are delicious
Wanna try them all!
ohhhh now i really want to go home and eat nuttella
nice I’m really hungry now
I’m a Canadian, but I only know about 5
Hi Cacey,
That’s funny, I’m Canadian as well and had no idea that a couple of these were from Canada either! There’s nothing better than a warm piece of Saskatoon berry pie 😍
Thanks for commenting!
Eric
hiiii Eric im also from Canada and I also love the Saskatoon berry pie too.
Hello! To the Canadians, i was wondering if these dishes were accurate. Are these popular unique meals in Canada?
Or any other suggestions are welcome!
I am visiting Canada in a few weeks and would love to try the classic/unique to your country meals.
Thanks!
Hi Tammy,
I’m from Calgary, Alberta and can confirm that these are accurate! Certain dishes are more popular in some parts of Canada than others but you’ll definitely find poutine everywhere you go. Other dishes, such as bannock, aren’t as easily found but have deep roots in Canadian history.
I hope you enjoy your time in Canada,
Eric
I grew up in Manitoba but now live in Vancouver. I have a friend out here who is of Cree descent, and she frequently makes me bannock and pemmican ( a sort of dried jerky using game meat and berries). Always takes me back to my childhood. All of these dishes are truly Canadian but as Eric said some are more regional than others. Split pea soup is common not only in Quebec but also in areas with a large Metis population, like Manitoba.
Long story short. For the most part, there is no Canadian food. When was the last time you saw a Canadian restaurant that’s not in Canada??
Hi Tom,
Thanks for your comment. It’s true that “Canadian food” is essentially a mix of foods from other cultures; however, these are foods that are not generally found outside of Canada, that have become ingrained within Canadian tradition, or have a long standing history in the country.
Best,
Eric
Now, after reading the article I found the images are more interesting felt like eating them all, cocktail and smoked beef looks very delicious thanks for the share
I want to live in Canada
it is good
this is awesome im so hungry now
Some people sound a little harsh. Bordering on rude. While there may not be Canadian restaurants around the World, there are definitely items only f/s, in Canada.
I was born and raised in Canada and left to marry at 27.
I have the following shipped, as these items are not sold in the USA. I have loved in 6 States
* fudgee-o cookies
* A&W gravy
* Swiss Chalet gravy
* ketchup chips. Can now get dill pickle. In 2003 I was pregnant and craved them.
A variety of candy and chocolate bars
* Strepsils
Etc
what about a nova scotia donair?
These also sound delicious!
I camped with a friend in a tent near Green Lake, Saskatchewan for several weeks in 1978. Free-range cattle shared the property. We bought matches, lard and flour in large quantities and made bannock every day. Cow dung was our fuel.The actual campfire was a bit stinky but the bannock delicious. It is a traditional rural Canadian dish.
Wow, that’s a hardcore travel memory!
👌🏽👍
nova Scotia is the best
This is Delicious It Makes Me Feel Amazed OF All The Food I Really Really Want To Go To Canada Now😘😗🤣😂😁🤗😉😅✌✋✌🤞
Poutine is fantastic I was in Montreal for 3 months and every week we had poutine un real fantastic food in canada i have been to canada 59 times Ontario winsor Toronto and montreal i love canada is the realist country the people are easy going thay speek french the beef old venia molson and labess blue i love canada Steven shopnick.
I´ll be traveling to Toronto next year, is any advice of what shoud I eat there?
I can’t believe you didn’t mention our national dish, Kraft dinner 🙂
Hmmm, tell us more??
Hugo, yes I’ve got some suggestions.
First “California Sandwiches” there’s only one and they make the best white veal and peppers sandwiches . The kitchen has 6 old Italian women all dressed in black so you know they’ve cooked a sandwich or two over the years. Prepare for line-up and fast ordering. Buy a Brio pop for true Canadian Italianess. The best Vietnamese pho go to the Saigon Palace at University and Spadina. The best steaks are at The Tulip restaurant on Queen St in the East end (great, but not cheap. expect line-up, don’t eat lunch, seriously!) Excellent Greek food can be found on the Danforth. Toronto has three distinct China town and also has a Caribbean sector, great roti. To both eat and shop go to the St. Lawrence Market and has a peameal bacon on a bun!! For a completely eceltic affair try “the beaches”. There are also food trucks and carts that are highly regulated and very clean (it is Canada after all). In the middle of the I of T’s St George’s campus there are loads of cheap carts and trucks. Fresh and student cheap.
Hope you have fun!!
PS: You MUST visit Toronto Island, a large playground island ten minutes off shore by ferry. Take a picnic and head to the East of the island where some people still have old houses from when you could live in the island. 😊
John Russel. With cut-up hotdogs and Ketchup. Also don’t forget the other national dish, grilled cheese sandwiches!! Rich folk cuisine😁