What to eat and drink in Canada

16.12.2024 - 17:09 / lonelyplanet.com / Nova Scotia

Dec 16, 2024 • 10 min read

Canada is known for its beautiful landscapes, the politeness of its residents, and its prowess in ice hockey. However, most visitors have no idea what to expect when it comes to food. Due to Canada’s large agricultural base, most Canadians eat a diet similar to that of their American and European counterparts, high in processed grain and dairy products. But what do people eat in Canada that sets it apart?

Traditional Canadian dishes include poutine, bannock, Nova Scotia lobster rolls, Montreal-style bagels and Halifax donair. Regional specialties reflect the availability of local ingredients across the country. You’ll find a strong emphasis on seafood in the Atlantic provinces, wild game in the Northern Territories and beef in the Prairies. The culinary landscape is influenced by Indigenous culinary traditions, European flavors and cuisines from Asia and the Caribbean. 

From fresh seafood to sweet treats and, of course, all things maple, here’s what to eat and drink on your trip to Canada.

Maple syrup is Canada’s most famous food. Despite what some people think, Canadians don’t just go into their backyard and tap a tree to get fresh maple syrup to pour over their morning pancakes. Creating maple syrup is a labor-intensive process, and the best way to see it in action is to visit a sugar shack or maple syrup farm. Maple season depends on the weather but usually starts late in February and runs into early April.

Where to try it: Ontario and Québec are full of sugar shacks open to visitors during maple season. Most of them have on-site restaurants that allow you to sit down for a pancake breakfast featuring the local maple syrup. You can always pick up a bottle or can at the grocery store if you aren't visiting during sugar season. The all-you-can-eat spread at Cabane du Pic-Bois in Québec is the quintessential sugar shack experience.

Poutine is far and away the most popular food in Canada, being found not just in its home province of Quebec but in every province and territory across the country. 

Traditional poutine is made up of fries, cheese curds and gravy. The hot fries and gravy melt the cheese curds, creating a gooey mess that just might be one of the most delicious things you have ever eaten. The classic flavor is arguably the best, though many restaurants and food trucks offer additional toppings, including anything from bacon to lobster to jerk chicken.  

Where to try it: Poutine originated in Québec but can be found in dining establishments across Canada. The best poutine really depends on who you’re talking to, but trying it at a food truck or casse-croute (roadside stand) in Québec is almost always a good bet.  

Nova Scotia is famous for its lobster. From classic lobster