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The allure of Canada’s culinary landscape lies in its rich blend of influences, ranging from British, Scottish, and French traditions to Indigenous and Asian flavors, including the popular bannock bread. With numerous delicacies to enjoy during your vacation, it can be challenging to narrow down your must-try dishes. If you’re planning a cruise to Canada/New England, be sure to explore our curated list of top dishes worth sampling.
1. Poutine
Poutine is a quintessential Canadian dish made of French fries, cheese curds, and gravy. This tasty snack originated in Quebec during the 1950s and has since spread across Canada as a beloved menu item in various eateries.
The term “poutine” is derived from the English word “pudding,” which traditionally signifies a mix of ingredients. Initially, it was a Quebec slang term meaning “mess,” before becoming associated with this famous dish.
The dish features a base of French fries topped with cheese curds, which are small, delectable pieces of curdled milk, completed with a generous drizzle of gravy.
You can find traditional poutine at various chain restaurants, but for a unique experience, visit places like the Whistle Stop Cafe in Ontario, which boasts over 100 different poutine styles to choose from.
2. Butter Tarts
Another iconic Canadian dessert is the butter tart. This delightful treat consists of a small pastry shell filled with a sticky syrupy mixture, often complemented by dried fruits like pecans or raisins. You can customize the filling with ingredients from nuts to chocolate chips, resulting in a sweet, flaky crust paired with a gooey center.
Butter tarts are widely available across Canada, with Ontario even hosting an annual Butter Tart Festival, where bakers compete to showcase their best tarts. With various recipes available, this dessert is easy to recreate at home post-trip.
3. Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is possibly Canada’s most renowned food product, with the country producing a staggering 85% of the world’s maple syrup. The sap required to create this delicious natural sweetener is harvested from abundant forests of red, black, and sugar maples. When boiled down, the sap transforms into rich maple syrup.
Besides traditional maple syrup, Canada also offers:
- Maple sugar
- Maple butter
- Maple candy
Tasting authentic maple syrup on home soil is an experience not to be missed. You can attend a maple syrup festival, such as the Sugaring Off Festival or the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, or visit farms that provide tastings and bottles for purchase, like Cabane à sucre Leclerc, which also offers horse-drawn carriage rides and log sawing activities.
4. Montreal-Style Bagels
If you’re eager to savor something unique, try Montreal-style bagels. These bagels are distinct from boiled New York bagels; they are sweeter, slimmer, and baked in a wood-fired oven. Prior to baking, they are soaked in honey-sweetened water, imparting a unique flavor.
This style of bagel was introduced to North America by Jewish immigrants from Poland and quickly gained popularity, leading many restaurants and bakeries to include them on their menus.
Today, you can find these celebrated bagels in numerous bakeries and cafes across Canada, with iconic establishments like Fairmount Bagel, a family-run bakery specializing in Montreal bagels since 1919, and Hinnawi Bros Bagel & Café in Montreal.
For the best experience, enjoy a Montreal-style bagel fresh out of the oven; don’t miss your chance to try it at its peak flavor.
5. Bannock
Bannock is another staple in Canadian cuisine, resembling a round, flat bread akin to a pancake. It typically includes:
- Unleavened flour
- Lard
- Salt
- Water
- Baking powder
By adding milk, sugar, and salt, these ingredients are combined to form a large biscuit that can be baked in either a pan or oven based on personal preference.
Bannock’s history links to the Indigenous peoples of early Canada, who originally cooked it on rocks over fire or in clay ovens. You can find bannock in various Canadian restaurants or try your hand at a recipe once you return home.
6. Montreal’s Smoked Meat
Another famous dish is Montreal smoked meat, made from traditional beef brisket. The meat is salted, cured with spices, and aged for a week to absorb all the flavors. It is then cooked using hot smoke and steam, resulting in a complex flavor that sets it apart from other meats. Some poutine versions showcase this flavorful smoked meat.
Montreal-style smoked meat can be found in many diners, fast food outlets, and restaurants across Canada. Though it originated in Montreal, its presence is widespread. Notable restaurants in Montreal include Smoke Meat Pete and Snowdon Deli.
7. Donairs
If you’re visiting Halifax and the East Coast, don’t miss out on trying a donair, a dish similar to gyros that originated in Halifax. It’s a beloved comfort food made with:
- Spiced ground beef
- Tomatoes
- Onions
- Sweet garlic donair sauce
- Pita bread
The signature donair sauce is distinct with its sweet garlic flavor. Unlike traditional gyros that use lamb, the donair features ground beef. Given its Halifax origins, donairs are commonly found in the East Coast regions, particularly around New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
8. Nanaimo Bars
Nanaimo bars are a classic Canadian dessert, named after the city of Nanaimo. Following World War II, when bakers regained access to butter and sugar, new dessert recipes flourished, leading to the emergence of these delightful no-bake treats. Nanaimo bars consist of three distinct layers:
- A coconut crumb and chocolate base
- A creamy custard filling
- A chocolate topping
With each layer contributing to a delicious combination, they’re often likened to chocolate fudge or an Almond Joy.
You can find Nanaimo bars in various bakeries and grocery stores throughout Canada, but the most famous version is found in Nanaimo, where a Nanaimo Bar Trail invites you to explore different varieties of this delectable treat. The trail includes unique options like:
- Ice cream Nanaimo bars
- Nanaimo bar cheesecakes
- Nanaimo bar fudge
- Nanaimo bar waffles
9. Canadian Bacon
Canadian bacon, known in Canada as peameal bacon, is a delicacy celebrated globally. It is derived from a lean pork loin rather than the typical pork belly, then pickled and coated in ground cornmeal for preservation. This meat product has its origins in the early 1900s when Canadians exported bacon to England, with the cornmeal layer helping to maintain its quality during transport.
Peameal bacon is widely available all over Canada, often found in local markets, fast-food outlets like Tim Hortons, and various restaurants. Many Canadians enjoy it in sandwich form, with the Carousel Bakery at St. Lawrence Market in Toronto being famous for its peameal bacon sandwich, making it a must-visit.
10. Ketchup Chips
If you’re craving a snack, you should definitely try Canada’s distinctive ketchup chips. These potato chips, unique to Canada, provide an excellent opportunity to indulge during your trip. To make ketchup chips, crunchy potato chips are coated with a blend of tomato powder, garlic, onion, and other spices, resulting in a smoky and sweet flavor.
The invention of ketchup chips is attributed to Hostess Potato Chips in the early 1970s. Although Canadians quickly embraced them, their popularity never expanded significantly into the U.S. and abroad. Today, ketchup chips are a staple item in Canadian grocery stores.
You can find these flavor-packed snacks for sale in most shops and supermarkets throughout Canada.
11. Split Pea Soup
For a hearty meal option, consider tasting Canada’s famed split pea soup. This traditional Quebec dish is perfect for chilly afternoons, providing warmth and satisfaction. Made with whole yellow peas, salt pork, and a variety of herbs, it may be served with or without the pork, depending on preference.
Split pea soup has deep historical roots in Quebec cuisine, having surfaced since the arrival of early settlers. The ingredients were easily accessible, making it an ideal dish for long winters, and in regions like Newfoundland and Labrador, it is a tradition to enjoy pea soup after the Easter holidays.
This comforting dish is a regular feature on many Canadian restaurant menus, particularly during winter. If your visit coincides with colder months, a bowl of split pea soup could be an ideal way to cap off a day of exploration.
12. Lobster Rolls
Canada’s East Coast is renowned for its seafood, particularly lobster. Early settlers would fish for lobster in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and lobsters have remained a cherished component of Canadian cuisine. Lobster was an easy and affordable meal option for early inhabitants.
A lobster roll consists of fresh lobster meat served in a grilled hot dog-style bun, often enhanced with butter, lemon juice, and seasoning. If your travels take you to the East Coast like Halifax or St. John’s, you’re in for a delicious treat with a lobster roll.
13. Sweet and Sour Pork
Sweet and sour pork, a vibrant dish loved worldwide, also has a Canadian connection. It was introduced by Chinese immigrants who worked on railroads in the 19th century. This dish features deep-fried pork coated in a sauce made from sugar, ketchup, vinegar, and soy sauce, commonly including bell peppers and pineapple for added flavor.
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