Best Food In Canada: Iconic Dishes You Must Try

An image of a Canadian breakfast in a Canadian restaurant, which is looking very delicious.

Canada’s surroundings are just as varied and beautiful as the best food in Canada. It is true that Canada is a beautiful place, with its stunning high mountains and calm lakes that tourists love to see. But is that the only reason you should go to Canada? Not at all! The delicious Canadian food that people all over the world love is also a big draw. This culinary journey lets both foodies and travellers discover the unique and creative tastes that make up Canadian cuisine. Each bite is a celebration of creativity and cultural blend.

10 Best Food In Canada

Here are 10 of the best food in Canada that you should try on your trip to help you on your way to finding good food. We think you’ll be able to try them all in one trip!:

1. Poutine

Poutine, which is composed of fries, cheese curds, gravy, stuffing and cranberry sauce.

Photo: Safyrr / Wikimedia Commons

Poutine, which is probably the most popular street food in Canada, is the best comfort food ever. This unusual culinary combination originated in Quebec and consists of french fries topped with cheese curds and smeared with gravy. The English word “pudding,” which means a mix of things, is where the word “poutine” comes from. In Quebec, the word “poutine” used to mean “mess” before it came to mean this famous dish. The classic form of poutine is served at a lot of chain restaurants. Also, different kinds can be found in different parts of the country.

Best Restaurant: Le Banquise, Montreal
Timings: 24*7

2. Bannock

 An image of freshly baked delicious bannock bread, the best food in Canada.

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One more traditional Canadian dish is bannock. These are round, flat pieces of bread that look like pancakes. Bannock comes from the Native people who lived in Canada in the past. It comes in many shapes, sizes, and toppings. In some places, the food is called “fry bread.” Even though the recipe comes from Scotland, many of the native people in Canada used it. I

Best Restaurant: Kekuli Café Coffee- Merritt
Timings: 8 AM – 4 PM (Saturday and Sunday), 7 AM – 5 PM (Monday to Friday)

3. Butter Tarts

An image of Classic Butter Tarts with sweet gooey filling in a golden flaky pastry shell.

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Next are butter tarts, a well-known dessert in Canada. They’re a sweet treat made of a small tart with gooey syrup inside. Many of them have dried fruit or nuts, like pecans or raisins, in the middle. The buttery, flaky crust and sweet, sticky filling make a taste you will never forget. Since butter tarts are sold all over Canada, you should have many chances to try this dish. Ontario celebrates a Butter Tart Festival yearly because the dessert is so famous. Bakers from all over the world bring their butter pies to this event every year.

Best Restaurant: Wanda’s Pie in the Sky, Toronto
Timings: 10 AM – 6 PM (Sunday to Thursday), 10 AM – 7 PM (Friday to Saturday)

4. Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich

 An Image of Golden, chewy Montréal-style bagels, the best street food in Canada.

Photo: Garyperlman / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

Even though pastrami and BBQ from the South receive all the glory, the Montreal smoked meat sandwich is the best non-veg food in Canada. Beef brisket is seasoned with salt and kosher-style deli spices like mustard and coriander to make this delicious meat. If you’re hungry and looking for something delicious then give this sandwich a try. If you are visiting Montreal, you must stop by Schwartz’s, the oldest deli in Canada, to sample their delicious smoked meat dish.

Best Restaurant: Schwartz’s Deli, Montreal
Timings: 10 AM – 11 PM (Sunday to Thursday), 10 AM – 12 PM (Friday and Saturday)

5. Split Pea Soup

 An image of a warm bowl of thick and creamy delicious split pea soup served with bread.

Photo: Kari Sullivan / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

Canadian cuisine is renowned for its flavourful soups. Originating from Quebec, split pea soup generally consists of peas, pork, and herbs combined to create a rich, creamy and utterly delicious dish. A serving of this will sustain you during the harsh Canadian winters! A bowl of soup is the best way to relax and stay warm. It’s often served with doughboys, which are big dumplings that you can use to scoop up the tasty soup. There is no better match.

Best Restaurant: Aux Anciens Canadiens, Quebec City
Timings: 12 PM – 10.30 PM

6. Nanaimo Bars

Nanaimo Bars with a creamy custard layer, chocolate topping, and crumbly base.

Photo: Craig Dugas / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

Canada’s national dessert is the Nanaimo bar. The bar is named after the city of Nanaimo in British Columbia and doesn’t need to be baked. The crust tastes like coconut, the filling is soft yellow custard, and the top is chocolate frosting. These rich, no-bake bars are perfect for people who like sweets. They are simple to make and can be found in most shops and cafés across Canada. Hearthstone Artisan Bakery makes the tastiest standard Nanaimo bars and some original spin-offs for people who like to try new things. Locals highly recommend it.

Best Restaurant: Hearthstone Artisan Bakery, Nanaimo
Timings: 8 AM – 5 PM (Tuesday to Saturday)
Price: Approximately CAD 4–7 per bar

7. Tourtière

 A savoury meat pie with a golden crust and spiced filling, the best food in Canada.

Photo: Roland Tanglao / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

Both the dish and the pot it is made in are called tourtéire. In Canada, different parts of the country make their version of Tourtéire, using different flavours each time. This meat pie, which is usually served during the holidays, has a double crust of savoury, flaky dough. In Quebec, where it is most famous, it is mainly made with pork, beef, or veal spiced with cinnamon and cloves. Around Acadia, it’s usually made with pork and is baked in smaller pieces called Petits Cochons, which means “Little Pigs.”

Best Restaurant: L’Antiquaire Buffet, Quebec City
Timings: 6 AM – 9 PM

8. Bloody Caesars

Bloody Caesars with vodka, clamato juice, spices, and a salted rim garnish.

Photo: AirIntake / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

The Caesar dates back to 1969, when mixologist Walter Chell invented it at a Calgary restaurant. Bartenders utilise vodka, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, and Clamato juice for the cocktail. This beverage is an essential component of Canada Day festivities and Sunday brunches. The Caeser, a Canadian version of the Bloody Mary, features a garnish of poached prawns and a well-seasoned rim. Caesar-inspired drinks are the nation’s most popular and a must-try while visiting, with over 350 million sold annually.

Best Restaurant: Caesar’s Steak House & Lounge, Calgary
Timings: 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM (Monday to Thursday)

9. Saskatoon Berry Pie

 An image of Saskatoon berry pie with a flaky crust and sweet, vibrant berry filling.

Photo: Elsie Hui / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

Pie is always a good choice, especially in the summer when fruits are in season. A fruit with the same name as the city is at the heart of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan’s favourite dessert. Saskatoon berries are used in this and it is not-too-sweet dessert. They look like blueberries and taste a bit like apples. The pie is a good choice for lighter sweets because it tastes fruity and nutty. Nothing compares to enjoying a slice of fresh Saskatoon berry pie made with seasonal ingredients from a farmers’ market on a sunny summer day.

Best Restaurant: The Berry Barn, Saskatoon
Timings: 11 AM – 4 PM (Monday to Friday) and 10 AM–7 PM (Saturday and Sunday)

10. Maple Syrup

A glass bottle of rich, amber, golden-brown maple syrup to put on pancakes, waffles etc.

Photo: piviso / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only

Maple syrup is the most famous and delicious Canadian dish! It’s no surprise that Canada is famous for its maple syrup. All over the country, where there are millions of maple trees, the maple syrup business does very well. People in the area put this on pancakes, waffles, French toast, and other foods to make them taste sweeter. Experiencing maple syrup from its origin is quite an unforgettable experience. Fortunately, there are several ways to try the mouthwatering delicacy anywhere your Canadian trip takes you.

Best Restaurant: Sugar Moon Farm, Nova Scotia
Timings: 10 AM – 3 PM (Saturday and Sunday)

From French-inspired Quebec cuisine to fresh Atlantic seafood, the best food in Canada offers a wide variety of cuisines in cities like Toronto and Vancouver. Every location has its own stories and tastes. Are you prepared to discover the culinary marvels of Canada? For unique offers on airfare, lodging, and culinary excursions to Canada’s most popular destinations, plan a trip with TripXL.

Cover Photo: Steve Wrzeszczynski / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only

Frequently Asked Questions

Toronto, Ontario has by far one of the most varied food scenes in Canada. Comfort food, wood-fired cooking, farm-to-table food, and veganism are just a few of the current food trends.
Maple syrup is a staple in desserts, breakfast dishes, and savoury recipes, reflecting Canada’s rich culinary traditions.
Canadians typically serve pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and roast turkey on Thanksgiving. Christmas is a time for cranberry sauce, roasted meats, and, in Quebec, tourtière.
In Canada, traditional items used in Indigenous cuisine include seafood like salmon, wild rice, bannock, and wild animals like bison and caribou. Many Indigenous foods are made with age-old methods like pit-cooking, smoking, and drying.
Seafood such as Atlantic lobster, Pacific salmon, halibut, oysters, and Arctic char are popular in Canada's coastal regions. Fresh seafood meals are particularly well-known in East Coast locations like Halifax.

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