Fast food in the United States can look very different than fast food in Canada. While big names like McDonald’s are available in both countries, there are tons of items featured on American menus that Canadians have never seen or heard of.
So here’s our list of 10 fast-food foods Canadians will almost certainly not find back home.
The ButterBurger (from Culver’s)
Culver’s is one of the most beloved burger joints in the American Midwest. However, for some reason, they have never opened a restaurant in Canada.
Their signature menu item is called the “ButterBurger.” As you may have guessed from the name, they take the burger bun, spread butter on it, and toast it till it’s golden brown and delicious.
Canadians who visit the US rave about this burger.
Animal Style Fries (from In-N-Out Burger)
In-N-Out Burger is one of the most iconic burger restaurants in the U.S. (think California, Nevada). They pride themselves on having a “secret menu.” The most popular item on their secret menu is called “Animal Style” fries.
It’s basically French fries topped with melted cheese, a “secret” sweet ranch sauce, and grilled onions.
Canadians will probably never see them since the company has refused to open in Canada. They claim it’s because they want to ensure their food is always fresh.
Cane’s Sauce (from Raising Cane’s)
Raising Cane’s is a relatively new chicken restaurant that specializes in ONE thing: chicken fingers. While their chicken is great, folks go there mainly for their signature “Cane’s Sauce.”
It’s a cold, creamy dipping sauce with a hint of tang and salt, with just a kick of pepper. Canadians love the sauce so much that some try to make “copycat” versions with mayo, ketchup, and spices.
Biscuits and Gravy (from Hardee’s or Carl’s Jr.)
Did you know that in America, “Biscuits and Gravy” is a classic breakfast you can get at most drive-thrus? It’s a fluffy, butter biscuit smothered in a thick white gravy made with savory sausage bits.
While there are some Carl’s Jr locations in Canada, they never seem to carry this menu item. To Canadians, eating soggy gravy for breakfast just sounds weird. But in the South and Midwest of the US, it’s a breakfast staple.
Ocean Water (from Sonic Drive-In)
Sonic is a “drive-in” style restaurant where you sit in your car and eat while waiters serve you. They’re known for selling every drink combination imaginable.
But their most popular drink is “Ocean Water.” It’s a bright blue coconut lime soda.
Since Sonic isn’t in Canada, this neon-blue drink is a “must-try” for Canadians who want something refreshing and different on a road trip.
The McRib (from McDonald’s)
The McRib is a boneless pork sandwich shaped like a tiny rack of ribs and covered in BBQ sauce. In the US, it comes back almost every year for a “limited time,” and people get very excited about it.
In Canada, however, the McRib is extremely rare. It might go ten years without appearing on a Canadian menu, so Canadians often view it as a legendary American snack that they can only get if they cross the border at the right time.
Cherry Coke Zero (from the Soda Fountain)
Walk into any American fast-food restaurant and you’ll see “Freestyle” machines with over 100 soda flavors. Americans drink Cherry Coke Zero (or Vanilla Coke Zero) all the time, but you won’t find these mixes very often in Canada.
Canada has different rules for what you can mix into soda machines. So some Canadians will load up on cases of these “special flavors” when they visit American grocery stores.
Bo-Berry Biscuits (from Bojangles)
Bojangles is a chicken restaurant located in the Southeastern United States. They are known for their homemade biscuit covered in blueberry jam and sweet icing.
It’s really a dessert more than an actual breakfast biscuit. There isn’t really a food like this in Canada, so it’s quite the treat for Canadians driving through states like North Carolina.
Deep-Fried Tacos (from Jack in the Box)
Jack in the Box is an American fast-food restaurant known for their insanely large menu. They serve everything from burgers and egg rolls to tacos.
The tacos are famous because they insert the filling into a taco shell, then deep fry the whole thing. These tacos are extra oily and are always sold in pairs.
Since Jack in the Box doesn’t exist in Canada, these “crunchy but oily” tacos have become a cult favorite for Canadians looking for a late-night snack in the US.
Pimento Cheese Sandwiches (from Chick-fil-A)
Chick-fil-A recently opened up locations in major Canadian cities like Toronto. However, their Canadian menu is very limited.
“Pimento Cheese” sandwiches are extremely popular in the American South. It’s a spread made of cheese, mayo, and sweet peppers.
Americans can order chicken sandwiches with pimento cheese on top, but in Canada, you can’t easily find pimento cheese anywhere.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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