The most iconic Canadian foods
The top 3 according to 38 votes from people: Maple syrup and maple taffy · Poutine · Nanaimo bars. (Updated Oct 4, 2026.)
The foods Canadians call their own, from coast to coast, according to Insight Vacations, Travelsphere and Canadian food guides.
Top 12
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1
Maple syrup and maple taffy
Quebec's liquid gold, poured on snow at the sugar shack.
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2
Poutine
Fries, squeaky cheese curds and gravy, born in rural Quebec in the 1950s.
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3
Nanaimo bars
No-bake bars of crumb base, custard icing and chocolate, from Nanaimo, BC.
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4
Peameal bacon sandwich
Cornmeal-rolled back bacon on a bun, Toronto's St. Lawrence Market icon.
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5
Caesar cocktail
Vodka, Clamato and spices, invented in Calgary in 1969.
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6
Montreal smoked meat
Smoked brisket piled on rye bread.
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7
Butter tarts
Pastry shells with a gooey butter, sugar and egg filling, an Ontario classic.
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8
Tourtière
Spiced meat pie from Quebec, eaten at Christmas.
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9
BeaverTails
Stretched fried dough with cinnamon sugar, from Ottawa.
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10
Bannock
Indigenous fried or baked bread.
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11
Atlantic lobster rolls
Lobster from the Maritimes in a buttered bun.
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12
Ketchup chips
A uniquely Canadian crisp flavour.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 12… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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13
Montreal-style bagels
Honey-water boiled, wood-fired bagels.
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14
Saskatoon berry pie
Pie of native Prairie berries.
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15
Steamies (Montreal hot dogs)
Steamed hot dogs topped with mustard, onions and coleslaw, a Montreal snack-bar classic.
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16
Perogies (Prairies)
Ukrainian-Canadian dumplings, a staple across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (2)
Missing Montreal steamies and Prairie perogies!
Butter tarts: raisins or no raisins? The great Canadian debate 😂