5 Most Delicious Canadian Dishes To Try

The unique dishes that Canada has created for the world includes an intriguing mix of sweet and savory food. Although it’s also the country that eats the most Kraft Macaroni and Cheese dinners every week, there are many signature Canadian dishes; here are 5 of the best and the top places to try them.

* Poutine

Known as Canada’s national dish, poutine is a French-Canadian meal featuring three ingredients: fries, cheese curds, and gravy. Created in the 1950s in Quebec, the dish can be found everywhere today. Many eateries even serve their traditional poutine with additional flavors, such as butter chicken or pulled pork.

* Nanaimo Bar

The Nanaimo bar originated in Nanaimo, which is on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. It’s a sweet no-bake treat consisting of three layers. There’s a wafer crumb base, a center of custard-flavored butter icing, and a chocolate top layer. Although Canada is its birthplace, people can find Nanaimo bars across the world, including in Australia, Spain, and Laos. Where to try: Mon Petit Choux Labeled as “a corner of Paris in Nanaimo,” locals and visitors alike love the Nanaimo bars served at Mon Petit Choux. If one isn’t enough, Tourism Nanaimo has created a Nanaimo Bar Trail. Follow the map and find your favorite one in Nanaimo.

* Butter Tart

Butter tarts are small pastries consisting of butter, sugar, syrup, and egg filling. The filling goes on top of flaky pastry, and once baked, the tart’s filling will be crunchy on top and mostly solid. The tarts are quintessentially Canadian, but their origin is hazy. Some believe the history can be traced back to the 1600s, while others think the tarts resemble America’s pecan pies and Quebec’s sugar pies. Where to try: The Maid’s Cottage Securing first place for the best butter tart at Ontario’s Best Butter Tart Festival, The Maid’s Cottage is obviously the top place to try an authentic butter tart. A family-owned business, stop by to try their secret recipe.

* BeaverTails

BeaverTails are deep-fried dough pastries, flattened to resemble a beaver’s tail, and topped with a myriad of flavors. The classic toppings include cinnamon and sugar or chocolate hazelnut spread. They were created in 1978 by a husband and wife in Ottawa, with the recipe passed down through the husband’s family. Their chain of stores, also called BeaverTails, now stretches across Canada. Where to try: BeaverTails ByWard Market BeaverTails ByWard Market is the store’s flagship location, and where former President Barack Obama sampled the delicacy during his first visit to Canada in 2009.

* Pea Soup

Another dish people can thank French-Canadians for is split pea soup, a winter specialty in Canada. The most authentic version includes whole yellow peas, salted pork, and herbs. Newfoundland Pea Soup is another variation, which usually has more vegetables such as turnips and carrots and is topped with doughboys, or small dumplings. Where to try: By the Sea Inn and Café This Newfoundland café says that “pea soup and dumplings have been a tradition for us Newfoundlanders on Saturdays,” so they keep with tradition and only serve the soup on Saturdays. It’s also located right by the sea, with the dining room over the water.