7 Regional Canadian Foods Every Newcomer Should Try At Least Once

Pacific salmon

This one is simple! If you're ever out along the Pacific coast in British Columbia, getting some fresh, wild-caught salmon is really life changing.

Whether you're simply having it raw or it's been smoked on cedar or prepared basically any other way, it's impossible to deny the quality of fish you can get out on the west coast.

And while it might be a little on the expensive side, it's worth it for some of the freshest, best-quality fish you've ever had.

Nanaimo bar

While you can get Nanaimo bars almost anywhere in Canada, the real diehards know that they're a delicacy that originates over on the West Coast.

Named after the city of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, this sweet confection has the reputation of being one of the top Canadian desserts. What exactly is it? Well, it's three sweet layers of sugary decadence, with the bottom typically being a chocolatey crumble made with nuts and coconut, the middle being a yellow custard icing and the top being a thin layer of chocolate ganache.

They're a staple of many Canadian holidays and a go-to dessert recipe for lots of grandmothers, especially on the West Coast.

Saskatoon berry pie

In keeping with the sweet trend, this pie is made from a quintessentially Canadian berry that's so intertwined with Prairie culture that the city is named after the fruit, not the other way around, according to the city.

The saskatoon berry is a small, purplish berry with a tart flavour and a seedy texture that can be found across the Canadian Prairies. An important food source for early Indigenous people, the berries later made their way into pies and other desserts, leading to the traditional saskatoon berry pie.

So, grab a cup of coffee, a slice of pie and a side of ice cream or whipped cream and enjoy this very Canadian treat.

Butter tart

Now we move on to Canada's most populous province, Ontario, and its signature dessert. The butter tart has a contested history, but most accepted theories originate in either Ontario or Quebec, per CBC.

The tart is made up of a flaky pastry cup filled with a sweet filling that can best be described as pecan pie filling minus the pecans. It's simple and sweet and is another one of the treats that many Canadian grandmas will make big batches of for special occasions or sometimes just for fun.

Poutine

Of course, it wouldn't be a list of Canadian foods if poutine wasn't included.

Poutine has its origins in the largest Francophone province of the country, Quebec, but has quickly become something that people from coast to coast to coast have adopted as a part of the general Canadian culture.

It's also probably the most famous of Canadian foods internationally, being almost a punchline for Canadianness.

But, while it can be found across the country, having it in the province that specializes in and invented it is a whole other deal. Getting a steaming pile of crispy french fries smothered in gravy and squeaky cheese curds from a place in Quebec is a top-five experience in Canadian eating.

Maple taffy

Finally, a dish that's made from the two things that most people outside of Canada associate with our nation: snow and maple syrup.

This treat is made out of maple syrup that's been boiled down a little bit so it's more viscous, which is then dribbled onto cold snow. Once it starts to set, you get a wooden popsicle stick, twirl up the hardening maple and then, boom, you have a sweet, mapley lollipop made the most Canadian way possible.

This treat is mostly found in parts of the country where lots of maple syrup is made, which is predominately Ontario and Quebec, but can also be done nearly anywhere you have access to both maple syrup and snow.

Lobster roll

Nothing screams East Coast more than lobster, and if you're out there, grabbing a lobster roll is a great way to really feel like you're tasting the region.

If you're unfamiliar, a lobster roll is a warm bun, roll or piece of bread stuffed with a cold salad of lobster, butter and mayo. It's a savoury snack you can actually get all over the East Coast, including down in the New England region of the United States, where it actually has its roots.

However, given that you can get great lobster up and down the East Coast, it makes sense that this dish has migrated its way up to Atlantic Canada.

While there are a bunch of places you can try this snack, the first stop for it in Canada just might be Nova Scotia.