Canada Cuisine to Try: Traditional Food Canada is Famous For

When you think of traditional Canadian cuisine, maple syrup is probably the first thing to come to mind. Right?

Well, there’s much more to Canadian food than maple syrup! In this guide, I’m sharing the best Canadian delicacies from coast to coast. You’ll discover that there’s much more to Canadian food than maple syrup and poutine.

From Canadian dishes in the Yukon to fresh seafood from the Maritimes, this guide will help you learn what food you must try on your next visit to Canada.

Find your favourite Canadian dish by reading on.

🍽 I recommend taking a food tour to try them all!

Top 5 Foods in Canada

You may recognize these national dishes that Canada is famous for. These are some of the most popular dishes to try when you visit Canada, and a common part of a Canuck diet.

Don’t miss out on an opportunity to try these 5 dishes when you visit!

1. Maple Syrup

It’s genuinely impossible to create a Canadian food guide without including maple syrup.

We’re known internationally for our maple syrup. In fact, there’s a common myth that our money smells like maple syrup!

Our use of maple syrup can be traced back before the European settlers arrived in Canada. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the European settlers noticed the Indigenous peoples of Canada using maple sap to create maple taffy and to sweeten dishes. From then on, it became a popular local sweetener.

Now, it is a common household item in Canada. It can go on your pancakes, in your muffins and even into your cocktails!

As kids, we used to go to maple syrup farms on school trips. Stereotypical Canadians like me even bake their salmon and carrots in it! Maple syrup is such a part of our culture that the maple leaf is our national symbol.

There’s really no way to describe the taste of maple syrup without the words “sweet” and “maple.” So, I’ll leave you to imagine it until you get to try the real stuff on your next visit to Canada.

You can buy maple syrup at any tourist shop in the country.

For variations of maple syrup, try maple sugar candies, maple cookies, maple fudge, and “tire d’érable sur la neige” (maple taffy on snow).

Maple taffy on snow is a treat most common in Ottawa and Quebec. The maple syrup is poured over sticks on ice and allowed to slightly harden. Then, you suck the thickened syrup like a lollipop.

It was my favourite treat as a kid when we went skating on Rideau Canal in Ottawa.

2. Poutine

Poutine is the best known dish in Canada. It comes from the Quebec region and boy do we all need to thank Quebec for this invention!

The dish is traditionally french fries covered in cheese curds and gravy. Some modern restaurants play with poutine, adding pulled pork, lobster, donair sauce, and anything else you can think of.

Poutine is the perfect food to have after a night out around Montreal or after a winter weekend in Toronto. The warmth of the gravy starts to melt the cheese curds into stringy, chewy deliciousness.

But not every Canadian loves poutine. In fact, I’m the only person in my family who enjoys it.

3. Peameal Bacon Sandwiches

Peameal bacon is so Canadian it is often known as “Canadian bacon.”

The name “peameal” came from the practice of rolling a cut of back bacon in ground yellow peas to preserve it for transport. Later, peameal bacon started being rolled in yellow cornmeal, giving it it’s characteristic yellow edge.

Peameal bacon sandwiches are the official food of Toronto. They consist of peameal with mustard (and sometimes honey) on a Kaiser roll. It is the perfect blend of salty, fatty and acidic.

Even when I was a vegetarian, I craved a good peameal bacon sandwich!

The best peameal sandwich comes from Carousel Bakery at the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto. Visit them on weekends while you shop for your fresh produce to snack on this Canadian delicacy.

4. Nanaimo Bars

Nanaimo bars are a treat I never really got into, but they are a Canadian classic.

These no-bake sweets are named for Nanaimo in B.C.

The bar has three layers: a coconut and wafer base, a custard centre and a chocolate top. (The coconut is the reason I wasn’t a fan.)

They’ve grown in popularity and can be found outside of B.C. now. They’re easy to make if you want to give them a shot, or head to a bakery for some premade goodies.

Now that I’ve become a fan of coconut, I love making them as a souvenir for friends when I go abroad.

5. Lobster Roll

Lobster rolls can be found on the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada. They’re made with cold lobster meat inside a hotdog-style bun. The meat is mixed with lemon juice, butter, salt and pepper. Some places change this recipe to add mayo or celery.

I love eating a lobster roll in the Maritimes, where the lobster is as fresh as can be. Try them at the Halifax Farmers Market when you visit.

Pair a buttery lobster roll with kettle chips or French fries. If you’re looking for a “healthier” option, try some coleslaw on the side.

But really, who needs to be healthy when they can be eating a lobster roll?

Canadian Snacks You Can’t Get Anywhere Else

If you’re looking for a unique Canadian souvenir to take to your friends, look no further! Canadian snacks are a traditional part of our culture that we’re WAY too proud of.

Someone once told me Canadian Kitkats are the best, and I’ve boasted about it for years since. Although, to be fair, they are way better than the American version for whatever reason.

Check out some of the unique Canadian snacks we’re famous for.

Chips

Canada is probably proudest of our ketchup chips as a unique snack. You’ll see them on every list of “unique Canadian snacks”. 

But did you know that there are three other flavours of chips you can only get in Canada? 

Try these four chips you can only get in Canada:

• Ketchup Chips
• All Dressed
• Dill Pickle
• Hickory Sticks

Ketchup chips have a red-tinge to them from the flavouring. They don’t actually taste like ketchup. They taste more like sweet vinegar from the mix of tomato powder, garlic, onion and spices on it.

All dressed chips are a mix of ketchup, salt, vinegar, BBQ, sour cream, onion and other ingredients. They’re basically every chip flavour rolled into one! (I probably should have guessed that fact from the name, but I’d never considered it.)

The chips taste a bit sweet with an acidic tinge at the end. It’s hard to describe, but they are really delicious!

Dill pickle chips don’t really taste like pickles, but they do have a tangy brine. You can find them from a variety of brands, usually in green packaging. 

Hickory sticks were my favourite at school pizza lunches.

They look like a shredded chip, dusted with a hickory BBQ flavour. The flavour isn’t as strong as BBQ chips and has a salty aftertaste. They’re messy and hard to eat since you can’t pick them up as easily as a chip, but they’re totally worth the stained fingertips!

Grab a bag of any of these chips for a grocery or convenience store to give them a try.

Chocolate & Candy

Like every other country, we have candy you can’t get anywhere else.

We’re known for having excellent chocolate bars. The ladies of My Favourite Murder often praise Canadian Kit Kats for being more delicious than those in the U.S. I’m not sure how true that is, but we’ll take it!

Other Canadian chocolates and candy to try are:

• Coffee Crisp
• Aero
• Crunchy
• Crispy Crunch
• Smarties
• Caramilk
• KitKat

• Rockets
• Glossettes

Ice Cream

We may be the True North, but we also like a cold ice cream cone!

Try out these Canadian ice cream companies and flavours to get a taste of the north, including the famous Moose Tracks ice cream that has taken the world by storm:

• Kawartha Dairy’s Moose Tracks Ice Cream
• Cows Creamery
• Tiger Tail
• Moonmist

National Food That’s Popular Across Canada

Not all Canadian delicacies are regional; some span the Canada cuisine culture.

Yes, they’re both donuts. No, Canada is not obsessed with donuts.

However, these two dishes have become the epitome of a “must try food” for visitors to Canada. Most of us Canadians eat them multiple times a year.

Beavertails

Before you get worried, no they aren’t actual tails from beavers!

Beavertails are a Canadian classic. They’re thin, fried sheets of dough that have grill marks matching the pattern on a beaver’s tail. They are usually sprinkled with sugar and then topped with any assortment of sweets.

I love Nutella and banana or cinnamon sugar on my beavertails.

“Beavertails” is also the name of the chain of stores that sells these treats. They opened in 1978 in Ottawa, Ontario.

You can now find them across Canada for a classic Canadian dessert.

Timbits

Canadians are obsessed with Tim Hortons. Even those that claim they don’t like it feel a sense of national pride for our chain that is now expanding outside of Canada.

The chain restaurant was started in Hamilton, Ontario by a famous hockey player named Tim Horton and Jim Charade.

Timbits are donut holes branded by Tim Hortons. They come in half a dozen flavours. The classics are chocolate, old-fashioned, and honey-dipped. Recently, they’ve released jelly-filled Timbits that give me intense nostalgia.

Getting a box of timbits for a work meeting or a class party is a tradition in Canada. If you want to bribe someone to like you, give them a timbit!

Famous Canadian Drinks

These non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks can be found across Canada. They’re Canadian inventions, local brews, and a delicious way to drink your way through Canadian cuisine.

Double Double

Tim Hortons doesn’t just have our sweets; it also has our caffeine.

Ordering a coffee at Tim Hortons has a sort of secret code. A “double double” is a coffee with two milks and two sugars. Similarly, a “single single” is one of each. A “triple triple” is three of each.

I’m not sure if it actually speeds up ordering or is just a Canadian quirk.

Give it a shot when you pick up your morning coffee from Timmies.

To find out more secret codes in Canada, read my Guide to 100+ Canadian Slang.

London Fog

Although the fog is named after London, it was actually invented in Canada. This warm drink is the first tea latte I ever tried and immediately got me hooked.

Visit Second Cup or Starbucks to try this tea-based drink that’s a mix of earl grey tea, steamed milk, and vanilla syrup.

It’s the perfect drink to accompany your Canadian winter clothes in the cold season.

Blueberry Tea

Canada is home to some truly amazing blueberries. The tiny wild blueberries each summer are incredibly sweet, with a lovely tart finish. 

They’re so popular that they became a type of black tea in Canada. Now you can find blueberry teas along the East Coast to start your day with a kick of caffeine and the sweetness of the berries.

Canada Dry

I’ll confess ginger ale is my favourite type of soda. Apparently, it’s not a popular thing outside of Canada, but within our borders, it’s one of the best-selling drinks.

Canada Dry is the biggest brand that produces Canadian ginger ale. Try a can when you visit to see if it compares to yours at home!

Cream Soda

Oddly, cream soda was invented with a patent.  A Canadian man, James William Black of Berwick, Nova Scotia, filed a patent in 1886 to create an “ice-cream soda”. It went on to become the cream soda we now know and love.

Look for the pink soda cans in the grocery store to try some.

Caesar Cocktail

A Caesar is a cocktail that is very similar to a Bloody Mary. It is made with vodka, clamato juice (a mixture of clam and tomato juice), hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and served in a celery-salt rimmed glass. It is often garnished with a pickled bean or a celery stick, and served with a lemon wedge.

The drink was invented in Calgary and became hugely popular.

I know a number of people who drink it without the vodka. I find it too salty, but maybe you’ll love it!

Pair a Caesar with brunch on a patio for a true Canadian experience.

Read my Canadian cocktail recipe guide to find more Canadian drinks to try.

Ice Wine

Ice wine is a dessert wine, made when the grapes are left to freeze on the vine. This creates a sweeter wine with high acidity. The acidity keeps the wine refreshing, and the lower alcohol content means you can savour an extra one (or two) after dinner.

Canada is the world’s largest ice wine producer, although you can find it in Europe, Japan and the U.S. as well. We claim ice wine as Canadian since the first two sellers of ice wine were from Canada: Inniskillin in Ontario and Walter Hainle’s winery in British Columbia.

You’ll find ice wine at liquor stores and airport gift shops.

Canadian Whiskey

If you’re looking for harder liquor in Canada, look no further. Canada holds our whiskey in high esteem, with people having legitimate fights over which is better: Crown Royal or Canadian Club.

Why not do your own taste test to compare? 

Screech

I don’t recommend trying Screech unless you’re being “screeched in” in Newfoundland. 

Screech is a kind of rum sold in Newfoundland with 40% alcohol. Nowadays, the term usually refers to any cheap, high alcohol moonshine. It’s not very enjoyable to drink, so don’t make it a part of a nice night out.

Traditional Canadian Cuisine from the East Coast

Donair (NS)

Donair is an adapted version of the Middle Eastern doner kebab. It’s a pita filled with shaved meat (usually beef or lamb), tomatoes, onions and smothered in donair sauce. The meat warms the garlicky sauce, making it the perfect late-night comfort food (or hangover cure).

You’ll only find donair in Atlantic Canada, where it has now been voted the official food of Halifax, Nova Scotia. There are designated donair shops throughout the region, but to be sure to find one, head to Pizza Corner in Halifax.

Garlic Fingers (NS)

Garlic fingers are basically a garlic cheese pizza with a thin crust. They don’t have a tomato sauce base. Unlike a pizza, it is cut into strips or “fingers.”

Garlic fingers are common in Atlantic Canada. I learned about them at university and became completely hooked.

They are best dipped in donair sauce (a cold sauce of garlic, condensed milk, vinegar, and sugar). You can also have them with marinara sauce or add bacon bits on top.

We typically got them as a side to go with our pizza. 

Who needs salad when you can have garlic fingers?

Jiggs Dinner (NL)

In Newfoundland, a Sunday dinner is traditionally a “Jiggs dinner”. It comes from a comic strip where the main character was an irish immigrant named Jiggs who lived in America.

The meal consists of corned beef and cabbage, the favourite meal of the character.

Some people vary the meal to include salt beef that’s boiled with potatoes and root vegetables, served with boiled cabbage. It’s topped with a thin gravy from the cooking broth, cranberry sauce, and mustard pickles or pickled beets.

You typically end the meal with a figgy duff pudding. 

Digby Scallops (NS)

The East Coast of Canada produces some of the most incredible seafood in the world. One such item is the scallops in Digby, Nova Scotia.

These scallops are always fresh, plump, and incredibly tender when cooked.

You don’t have to go all the way to Digby to try them. You’ll find them across the eastern side of Canada.

Oysters (PEI)

You can get oysters from both Canadian coasts, but the small east coast oysters from PEI have always been a crowd stopper.

They’re best enjoyed in the maritimes with a $1 oyster happy hour. Serve them with cocktail sauce or a vinaigrette to bring out the brine in these delicious bits. 

Potatoes (PEI/NB)

PEI and New Brunswick have an odd rivalry: all over potatoes.

I’ve genuinely seen two of my friends fight over which province’s potatoes are better. We had to put them in separate corners to cool off before it got physical!

Do yourself a favour and try the different potatoes in Canada to see if you can tell the difference.

Cod Tongue (NL)

Cod tongues aren’t actually tongues. They’re a part of the fish meat that’s used in traditional Newfoundland cooking. Think of them more like cod nuggets or fish fingers, since that’s essentially what they are. 

Cod tongues are best enjoyed when they’re lightly battered and fried. 

Mussels (PEI)

Fresh East Coast mussels are a go to for any summer chef in Canada. They’re incredibly easy to cook and taste so yummy in a white wine or coconut curry sauce.

PEI produces my favourite mussels that aren’t as briney as the kind you find in New Zealand food.

Grab a few pounds and have a lovely Canadian supper!

Rappie Pie (NS/PEI)

Rappie pie is a savoury meat pie from Nova Scotia and PEI. This dish is made of grated potatoes for the shell, onion and potato mixed with a meat broth inside, and filled with either beef or chicken.

It’s a traditional Acadian dish that’s very hearty and super filling.

Toutons (NL)

Toutons are a traditional dish from Newfoundland and Labrador. It’s assumed that it was originally made from leftover bread dough that was then fried and served for breakfast.

We aren’t 100% sure on its origin, but it’s now a delicious Newfoundland tradition to have these fried pancake-like bread dough cakes with molasses and a side of bacon in the morning.

Figgy Duff (NL)

A figgy duff gets its name from the raisins inside that used to be called “figs”. This steamed pudding is similar to a British Spotted dick, where the recipe may have originated with the immigrants to Canada. 

The traditional pudding is made of flour, sugar, breadcrumbs, butter, and molasses. It is put in a pudding bag, wrapped in cheesecloth, and boiled alongside the vegetables cooking for a Jiggs Dinner. 

Ploye (Buckwheat Pancakes) (NB)

A ploye is a buckwheat pancake made in New Brunswick. It was commonly used to replace bread in these homes.

A real ploye is never flipped to be cooked on both sides.

You serve it with butter, maple syrup, and sugar.

Blueberry Grunt (Atlantic Canada)

I first heard of this dessert in a Canadian crossword and had to investigate.

A “grunt” is a term for a cobbler-like dessert. It is a dish of fruit covered in dough dumplings and baked (or cooked in a pot atop the stove).

In Eastern Canada, a grunt is traditionally made with blueberries as the fruit. Ergo, a blueberry grunt!

Baking the blueberries really brings out their flavor, and turns the grunt a lovely purple colour.

I’m dying to make my own blueberry grunt (mostly so I can eat the entire thing).

Popular Canadian Dishes from Quebec

Tourtiere

Tourtière comes from Quebec. It is made with minced meat of some kind and potatoes. There aren’t really any rules as to what goes in it. Toss in whatever meat is local and mix it with potatoes. The crust is always a flaky shortcrust pastry that soaks up the aroma of the meat inside.

The name “tourtière” refers to the tourtiere vessel that is used to slow cook the deep dish pie.

In Acadia (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island), the dish is known as a pâté à la viande. It is often made with chicken, hare or beef in this area.

Either version of this hearty pie will warm you to your toes on a cold day.

Montreal-Style Bagels

What is Canadian about a bagel, you may ask? The way it’s made!

Montreal bagels are always baked in a wood-fired oven. They have a larger hole than other bagels and are thinner, denser and sweeter. The bagels are boiled in honey-sweetened water before they are baked.

The most popular varieties are poppy seed and sesame seed.

Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe brought the bagel to Canada. It is unclear who was the first to bake them in Montreal, but soon there were numerous shops selling this specialty. (And numerous customers devouring them!)

The shops have spread, and you can now find Montreal bagels across Canada. The best ones are still in Montreal, but Ottawa has some pretty good contenders!

To be honest, these bagels are one of the main reasons that I think Montreal wins in the Montreal vs. Toronto debate.

Montreal Smoked Meat

It’s unclear if Montreal smoked meat actually started in Montreal, or even in Canada. But that doesn’t stop it from being a true Canadian food!

Montreal smoked meat is similar to pastrami, but it’s less sweet. It is cured in savory seasonings and made with a brisket cut of meat. The brisket is marinated for over a week, then is hot smoked and steamed until it’s ready to be enjoyed.

The traditional way to enjoy Montreal smoked meat is to throw it on a sandwich of rye bread and yellow mustard.

It’s a messy, delicious sandwich that you can find across the country; however, the best ones are still in Quebec.

Yellow Pea Soup

Yellow pea soup is a split pea soup made of yellow split peas, ham hock, vegetables, and thyme. It’s one of the most popular dishes in winter in Quebec.

It is said that the soup originated with Samuel de Champlain’s ships from France where they used the dried ingredients on board to create the dish. As the inhabitants began to farm, they got fresher ingredients to add to the soups.

Oka Cheese

With all of our dairy farming, it’s no wonder we have a famous cheese!

Oka cheese comes from a town in Quebec called “oka.” Monks created the cheese at Montreal’s agricultural school after coming to Canada from France.

The cheese is firm with an orange rind. Oka has a nutty flavour that melts on your tongue. It’s a great addition to any cheese board or picnic basket.

You can find oka cheese at any cheese store in Canada. 

Tarte au Sucre

This sugar pie originated due to the poverty of the Quebec farmers. When they arrived, they couldn’t afford sugar, so maple syrup became their only sweetener. 

The tarte au sucre originated in France, but in Canada this sugar pie is made with maple, making it a slightly darker colour, like a pecan pie.

Try this maple sugar pie if you’re ready for an intense sugar rush!

Grandperes

Grandperes is a dish of fried maple dough dumplings that originated in the sugar shacks of Quebec. The buttermilk dumplings are boiled in a mixture of maple syrup and water. As the dumplings cook, the starch turns the sweet water into a thick sauce.

It’s best served topped with toasted nuts and whipped cream. 

It’s unclear why these are named with the French word for grandfather. Maybe it was a way of calling him sweet?

Pudding Chomeur or “Unemployment Pudding”

Pudding Chomeur reflects the poverty in Canada during the Great Depression. The female factory workers developed this regional dessert, which is essentially a basic cake batter with hot syrup poured into it before baking. When the cake cooks, the liquid settles on the bottom, creating a sort of “upside down cake” with a caramelized side.

It’s best made with maple syrup.

Iconic Canadian Food from Ontario

Hawaiian Pizza

Did you know Hawaiian pizza actually started in Chatham, Ontario?

That’s right! We’re at fault for introducing pineapple on pizza.

In 1962 a Greek-Canadian created the dish at his restaurant. He named it “Hawaiian” after the brand of canned pineapples he used.

You can now find this pizza around the world.

McIntosh Apple

I didn’t know these apples were traditionally from Canada, but it makes sense now why we have so many.

McIntosh apples are a red and green skinned apple with a tart flavour that’s sometimes a bit sour. John McIntosh discovered the apple in 1835 on his farm in Upper Canada.

Nowadays, the apple can be found across Canada.

Go apple picking in Canada to try some for yourself!

Butter Tarts

How does the rest of the world not have butter tarts?

These were one of my favourite treats growing up (only if they didn’t have raisins!).

Butter tarts are a sweet tart filled with butter, sugar, syrup and egg. You bake them until the filling crystalizes, then you eat enough to send you into a sugar coma! I prefer them at room temperature, so the insides are a bit wobbly, but they can also be eaten cold.

Top them with pecans for an extra crunch or get them filled with raisins.

They are similar to pies from many other areas, like the U.S. pecan pie or the British treacle tart. However, butter tarts are unique to Canada. They were prominent in pioneer cooking in the English-speaking provinces. The first butter tart recipe was published in Barrie, Ontario in the 1900s.

Persian Rolls (Thunder Bay)

Thunder Bay is home to these pink rolls that pair perfectly with a morning coffee.

Stop by to try a Persian Roll: a cinnamon roll topped with a strawberry icing.

You won’t find them anywhere else in Canada!

Typical Canadian Cuisine from the Prairies

Lentils (SK)

Canada is the largest producer of lentils in the world! 95% of our lentils come from Saskatchewan.

Try them in a vegan shepherd’s pie or a delicious lentil soup while you’re in Canada.

Saskatoon Berries (SK)

People often assume that this berry is named after Saskatoon, a major city in the province of Saskatchewan. Actually, the city is named after the berry!

The berry was named by the native Cree people of the region. The Cree have long eaten the Saskatoon berry in fresh or dried form. They also added it to pemmican: a traditional aboriginal dried meat bar.

Nowadays, the berry is popular in pies, jams, alcohol and as a dried sweetener in snack foods like trail mix.

I’ve never actually had a Saskatoon berry, but I’m told they are sweet with a slightly nutty taste.

They can be hard to find outside of the prairies. If you see some, make sure to take the opportunity to try them.

Flapper Pie (Manitoba)

Flapper pie is a dessert from the Prairies (Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan). I’ve actually never tried it before, but I think it sounds so delicious. It is most popular in Manitoba, which makes me want to go to Manitoba as soon as possible!

The pie is made with a graham cracker crust, topped with a creamy vanilla custard and a layer of meringue or whipped cream.

It was named for the flappers of the 1920s. Initially, the pie was often referred to as a “graham cracker pie” due to the crust, but somewhere along the way the branding changed, and I think the pie has thrived because of it.

Look out for this pie during your time in Canada (and let me know how it is!).

Food That Originated in Canada from British Columbia

Salmon

Salmon is one of the most popular fish to eat in Canada. You’ll find cedar plank salmon, maple baked salmon, and even candied salmon for sale around the country.

Some of the best salmon comes from British Columbia, where the salmon can grow larger in the wide streams.

Be sure to try smoked or baked salmon in Canada.

BC Roll

Sushi might not be Canadian, but this roll is. BC has a large Asian population who have developed a special roll that blends their heritage with their new home.

A BC roll is filled with salmon, cucumber, cream cheese, and topped with BBQ salmon. 

Spot Prawns

Spot prawns are the largest species of shrimp on the West Coast of Canada. BC loves them so much that they have a Spot Prawn festival every year.

The prawns are best known for their sweet flavour and firm texture. You can find them in BC’s local restaurants during fishing season. 

Date Squares or “Matrimonial Cake”

It’s unclear why date squares are known as matrimonial cakes in BC. Some say it’s because the two separate layers are united by the dates, symbolizing two individuals courting. Others say that the contrast of smooth and rough textures symbolizes the difficult and easy times of marriage. Others think it was handed out at weddings and single women placed them under their pillows to dream of a husband.

You can make date squares yourself or buy them from most bakeries in Canada. They have a paste of ground dates in the middle with an oat-flour biscuit on the top and the bottom.

Traditional Canadian Food from the Northern Territories

Sourdough Bread (YU)

People from the Yukon are often known as “sourdough” people. It became a nickname for anyone who spent the winter north of the Arctic Circle because they had to protect their sourdough starter during these cold months by keeping it close to their body.

Nowadays, the bread is a famed part of Yukon culture.

Be sure to try a slice when you’re up north!

Arctic Char (NWT)

Arctic char is a cold-water fish that’s similar to rainbow trout in taste and texture. It has pink skin like salmon, but is less meaty.

The fish are typically caught in the Northwest Territories and should be tried while you’re in the area.

Indigenous Canadian Foods 

Game Meat

The Indigenous peoples of Canada were a mix of hunters and fishers. The hunters primarily subsisted on game meat, like bison, caribou, and venison.

To this day, Canada has a tradition of game meats that continue to be made in high end restaurants and off the beaten path destinations.

Pemmican

Pemmican is a dried meat bar, typically made from game meat, that the Indigenous peoples ate while migrating across Canada.

The meat is ground into a powder, then mixed with 1 part melted fat and 1 part berries. 

It’s difficult to find now, as jerky is a much easier and much more widely produced alternative.

Bannock

Canadian bannock isn’t quite the same as the type you’ll find in Ireland.

Bannock was a form of bread that was a staple in the diet of early settlers in Canada. The dough is shaped into a flat cake, made with flour, lard, salt, water, and sometimes baking powder.

Most Indigenous communities in Canada have some form of bannock that they subsist on. The Inuit call it palauga. Mi’kmaq have luskinikn. Ojibwa have ba’wezhiganag.

Baked Beans in Maple Syrup

Baked beans with maple syrup was an invention from the Indigenous tribes of Canada. Since maple syrup was their only sweetener, they’d use that to sweeten their baked beans.

Now you can get maple beans as a breakfast item in Canada.

Other Popular Canadian Food To Try

• Swiss Chalet – A Canadian chain of rotisserie chicken that features an amazing gravy.
• Canadian Pizza – A style of pizza with mushrooms, cheese, bacon, pepperoni, and tomato sauce.
• Bagged Milk – A unique Canadian way of storing milk.
• Mustard – We make some delicious mustard from the plants in the Prairies. Try some local varieties.
• Kraft Dinner – KD is actually the most popular food in Canada. This mac and cheese brand is a childhood and university favourite.

Canadian Cuisine FAQs

🍽 I recommend taking a food tour to try them all!

Closing Thoughts on Canadian Cuisine

Canada’s food culture isn’t widely appreciated around the world. We’re often reduced to maple syrup and Tim Hortons, without an appreciation for the vast influences across our country.

I hope this guide helped you learn a little more about traditional foods in Canada, the differences in cuisine across the country, and the Indigenous roots of many of our dishes.

For more amazing Canadian cuisines, check out a local food tour when you visit Canada. These are some of my favourites:

---

I Think You’ll Love These Posts:

• Muskoka: Canada’s Cottage Country Capital
• 10 Pros and Cons of Living in Canada
• Visit the Highest Tides in the World at Hopewell Rocks Before It’s Too Late
• Best Places to See Tulips in Ottawa at the Canadian Tulip Festival
• Where to Stay in Ottawa: A Guide to the Best Neighbourhoods
• Where to Eat in Toronto: For All Budgets
• Must Try New Zealand Food: A Comprehensive Guide

Pin this for later!