Canadian Food and Drink

The world over, people come together over food and drink. In Canada, it's no different. While we might not be famous for fine dining, we’ve got plenty of beloved dishes that blend comfort, creativity, and multicultural flavours. From savoury bites to sweet treats, here’s a taste of some iconic Canadian food and drink you’ll definitely want to try.

Poutine
Let’s start with a national treasure: poutine. Born in Quebec and now beloved natio
nwide, this hearty dish features crispy French fries smothered in gravy and topped with fresh cheese curds that squeak when you bite them. It’s the ultimate comfort food, perfect after a hockey game, a night out, or frankly, anytime at all.

Montreal Smoked Meat
Montreal's answer to pastrami, this seasoned and smoked beef brisket is sliced thin and piled high on rye bread, usually with a smear of yellow mustard. Served warm, juicy it’s a deli favourite that’s gained international attention.

Butter Tarts
Small in size but big in flavour, butter tarts are a Canadian baking tradition. These flaky pastries are filled with a gooey mix of butter, sugar, and eggs - and whether or not you like raisins in them is a hotly debated topic. Either way, they’re rich, satisfying, and perfect with a cup of tea.

Timbits
No road trip or office meeting in Canada is complete without a box of Timbits. These bite-sized doughnut holes from Tim Hortons come in a variety of flavours from honey dip to chocolate glazed. They're poppable, shareable, and dangerously addictive.

Photo by Nadine Primeau on Unsplash

Maple Syrup
It wouldn’t be a list of Canadian foods without maple syrup. More than just a topping for pancakes, it’s a national symbol and a serious source of pride. Canadians drizzle it on bacon, bake it into pies, stir it into cocktails, and even boil it on snow to make maple taffy - a sticky winter treat rolled onto a stick and eaten straight off the snowbank.

Tourtière
This savoury meat pie is a staple in French Canadian households, especially during the holidays. Filled with seasoned minced pork, beef, or wild game and baked into a buttery crust, tourtière is rich, spiced, and steeped in tradition. It’s the kind of dish that's perfect for those cold winter nights. 

Photo by Gilario Guevara

Caesar Cocktail
 Invented in Calgary in 1969, this spicy cocktail is made with vodka, Clamato juice (tomato and clam), Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and finished with a celery-salt rim. It’s uniquely Canadian, a little weird, and, I'm told, totally delicious .

Caribou Cocktail
A traditional French Canadian winter drink, the Caribou is a mix of red wine (or port), whisky, and maple syrup, served warm or cold. It's especially popular during Quebec’s winter carnivals and outdoor festivals. It’s strong, sweet, and will warm you from the inside out.

Nanaimo Bars
These rich, no-bake dessert bars come from Nanaimo, British Columbia. They feature three decadent layers: a chocolate-coconut crumb base, a custard-flavoured buttercream middle, and a smooth chocolate topping. Sweet, satisfying, and found at every bake sale or holiday table, Nanaimo bars are a beloved classic.

Pouding Chômeur
Literally meaning “unemployed person’s pudding,” this Depression-era dessert is now a treasured Quebecois classic. It’s made by pouring hot maple syrup or caramel over a simple cake batter before baking, which creates a gooey, sweet layer at the bottom. It’s rich, cozy, and best served warm.

Peameal Bacon (aka “Canadian Bacon”)
Outside of Canada, “Canadian bacon” is a round, ham-like slice. But real Canadian bacon is peameal bacon - a lean,  pork loin rolled in cornmeal. It’s especially popular in Ontario, particularly at Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market, where it’s served on a bun with mustard. Simple, savoury, and satisfying.

BeaverTails
Don’t worry - no beavers are harmed in the making of this dessert! Beaver Tails are pieces of deep-fried dough shaped like a beaver’s tail and topped with sweet delights like cinnamon sugar, chocolate, or fruit. Sold at winter festivals, ski resorts, and food stands, they’re a sweet, warm treat perfect for cold days (or really, any day).

Montreal-Style Bagels
Thinner, denser, and sweeter than their New York counterparts, Montreal-style bagels are boiled in honey water before baking in wood-fired ovens. They're often topped with sesame or poppy seeds and are best eaten fresh from one of Montreal’s legendary bakeries. Especially good warm with cream cheese.

Flapper Pie
A Prairie favourite, flapper pie is a vintage dessert made with a graham cracker crust, a silky vanilla custard filling, and a fluffy meringue topping. It’s a slice of nostalgia that’s still served in diners and home kitchens across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

Bannock
Bannock is a traditional Indigenous bread that has been adopted across Canada in various forms. It can be baked, fried, or cooked over an open flame, and is often served with stews or topped with jam. Its history and cultural importance run deep, and it’s a staple at many Indigenous gatherings and festivals.

Donair
Canada’s East Coast has its own take on the doner kebab, known simply as the donair. Halifax’s version features spiced beef, sweet garlic sauce, onions, and tomatoes, all wrapped in a soft pita. It’s messy, flavourful, and a late-night favourite for many Maritimers.

Saskatoon Berry Pie
Saskatoon berries, which grow in the Prairies, taste like a mix between blueberries and almonds. When baked into a pie, they create a uniquely Canadian dessert that’s sweet and slightly tart. If you ever get the chance to try one fresh, don’t pass it up.

Photo by Aldo Houtkamp on Unsplash

Ice Wine
Canada, particularly Ontario and British Columbia, is famous for its ice wine - a luxurious, sweet wine made from grapes that have frozen on the vine. It pairs beautifully with dessert or cheese and is a must-try for wine lovers. Just a small sip delivers a burst of rich flavour.

Photo by Marcelo Verfe

Canadian Whisky
Smooth, subtle, and a little spicy, Canadian whisky has earned its place on the world stage. Brands like Crown Royal and Canadian Club are household names, and the whisky itself is often used in classic cocktails - or just enjoyed neat beside a roaring fire. It’s a little bit of Canada in a glass.

Now that I've made you hungry, is there anything on this list that you've tried already, or would love to try?  Let me know in the comments.