Canada’s Food Menu Trends 2025: What’s Rising, What’s Fading, How to Act
Canada’s hottest menu trends in 2025 centre on value, hot sandwiches, global flavours, chicken-and-fries sides, and digital-first ordering. See the data, regional tips, and how TFI Food Equipment Solutions programmes fit.
Canada’s menu tastes are shifting fast. Affordability and speed drive choices, hot sandwiches are climbing, and global comfort dishes lead delivery. Operators across Ontario and Atlantic Canada are simplifying builds, sharpening value, and adding craveable sides that travel well. Below is a simple, data-first guide to what is rising, what is fading, and how to act on it.
1) Food Menu Trends in Canada, 2025
Value Takes the Spotlight
Coupons, digital offers, and bundled meals are shaping choices, with the “hot sandwich” moving up the charts of most-ordered items, per Restaurants Canada and Circana’s 2025 report. (Restaurants Canada)
Global Flavours Stay Mainstream
Canadians’ most-ordered cuisines include Indian, Chinese, American, Japanese, and Italian. That global pull continues through 2025. (Uber)
Delivery Darlings: Comfort + Shareables
On Skip, butter chicken held Canada’s most-ordered dish for the second year, with garlic naan, miso soup, fries, and butter naan also near the top. Pair comforting mains with shareable sides. (To Do Canada)
QSR Keeps Leading Traffic
Quick-service restaurants hold roughly half the market and are set to grow as consumers chase fast, value-engineered meals. (Mordor Intelligence)
Price Pressure Persists, Moderating
Industry trackers show menu inflation in the mid-3 percent range year over year into spring 2025, so value architecture matters. (Winsight)
Image idea: Toasted chicken sandwich with crunchy slaw beside seasoned fries in a branded takeout box.
2) What Canadians Are Actually Ordering
The Winning Combo
Delivery platforms point to a clear pairing: global main + fries or naan. Butter chicken leads, fries remain a top side nationwide. (To Do Canada)
Grocery Add-Ons Skew Practical
On-demand grocery via apps trends to bananas, cucumbers, eggs, strawberries, and tomatoes on Uber; Skip reports chips, pop, milk, and bread near the top. Stock and cross-merch accordingly. (Uber)
Regional Notes
Toronto and the GTA
High digital-offer engagement and strong demand for global formats. Lead with hot sandwich value builds, butter chicken bowls, and loaded fries.
Atlantic Canada
Comfort classics plus global sides. Halifax, Moncton, Charlottetown, and St. John’s respond to hearty sandwiches, poutine, and warm, saucy mains.
3) Canada’s Most Popular Chains and Dishes
Fast-Food Leaders (by Canada sales rank)
Per Technomic’s latest Canada rankings, the 2023 sales top-10 were: #1 Tim Hortons, #2 McDonald’s, #3 Starbucks, #4 A&W, #5 Subway, #6 Boston Pizza, #7 KFC, #8 Dairy Queen, #9 Domino’s, #10 Wendy’s. Notably, Starbucks and A&W moved ahead of Subway over the last decade, and Domino’s made the biggest jump into the top 10. (pages.winsightmedia.com)
Tim Hortons footprint. As of July 29, 2025, there were 3,488 Tim Hortons restaurants in Canada, with Ontario hosting about half of all units. (ScrapeHero) (ScrapeHero)
Category momentum. Tim Hortons reported +2.5% Canada comparable sales in the latest winter quarter, with cold beverages up 6% amid an unusually warm start to winter. (Business Insider) (Business Insider)
Pizza insights. Domino’s rose to #9 and expanded its Canada footprint ~59% over the decade; Pizza Hut led “most craveable pizza” among recent guests in Canada. (Technomic highlights) (pages.winsightmedia.com)
Quick takeaway for operators: the leaders above shape consumer expectations on speed, value, and craveable limited time items. Calibrate bundles and sides accordingly.
Delivery favourites shaping menus
Most-ordered dish. Butter chicken was Canada’s top-ordered item on Skip for the second consecutive year, with garlic naan, miso soup, fries, and butter naan rounding out the top list. (SkipTheDishes 2024 Order Trends) (Skip the Dishes)
Top sides and grocery adds. On Uber Eats, the most-ordered sides included fries and naan; top grocery items were bananas, cucumbers, eggs, strawberries, and tomatoes. (Uber Eats Canada Cravings Report 2024) (Uber)
Build smarter kitchens. Boost your bottom line.
TFI Food Equipment Solutions supports restaurants and c-stores across Ontario and Atlantic Canada with Taylor®, Franke®, Henny Penny®, and Icetro® systems—plus 24/7 OEM-trained service. Visit our demo kitchens in Mississauga or Dartmouth, or get a free equipment quote now.
4) Food Menu Trend-to-Action Playbook for Operators
Trend | What to do next | Equipment or programme action |
|---|---|---|
Value meals, hot sandwiches | Build a 3-tier sandwich roster with sharp bundle pricing and speed targets | Commercial flat-top and clamshell grills for fast throughput; use batch cook-and-hold with commercial combi ovens |
Global comfort + shareable sides | Pair mains like butter chicken or birria-style beef with loaded fries or naan | Commercial open fryers or commercial pressure fryers for fries and crispy proteins; commercial combi ovens for batch roasting |
Digital-first ordering | Standardize SKUs that travel well, with tight portioning | Upsell beverages with commercial coffee machines and telemetry for consistency |
All-day snacking | Add slush, milkshakes, and soft-serve LTOs | Taylor® soft-serve and slush programmes can deliver 70–80% gross profit with typical 6–18 month payback |
Healthy indulgence | Offer oil-free sides and veggie snacks | LightFry® commercial air fryer for oil-free crisping; lower waste and no oil management |
Cost control | Stretch oil, reduce downtime, protect uptime | Henny Penny® Smart Touch Filtration™ and Oil Guardian® can cut oil use by about 40%; keep uptime with TFI Total Care monthly service |
5) Menu Ideas for 2025 in Canada
The Hot Sandwich Trio
Menu build
Crispy chicken, grilled paneer, roast beef au jus.
Add-ons: shredded lettuce, crunchy slaw, pickles, hot honey, herb mayo.
Why it works
Hot sandwiches are climbing in popularity and pair well with value bundles.
Equipment and prep
Batch roast or retherm proteins in commercial combi ovens.
Finish on a flat-top or clamshell, then hot-hold for rush periods.
For fries or onion rings on the side, use commercial open fryers or commercial pressure fryers.
Profit tips
3 sizes or builds: Value, Signature, Premium.
Bundle with a side and beverage to lift cheque size.
Loaded Fries Range
Menu build
Classic poutine, tikka masala fries, gochujang-mayo fries.
Optional toppings: cheese curds, paneer, scallions, crispy onions.
Why it works
Shareable, travels well, easy to customize by region and season.
Equipment and prep
High-throughput sides from commercial pressure fryers or commercial open fryers.
Keep gravy or sauces hot-held in controlled wells.
Henny Penny® Smart Touch Filtration™ and Oil Guardian® can reduce oil use by about 40% ⬜, improving margin.
Profit tips
Offer Regular and Shareable trays.
Add protein toppers for a premium upsell.
Global Bowls
Menu build
Butter chicken, teriyaki salmon, Mediterranean chicken shawarma.
Bases: seasoned rice, fries, or mixed greens.
Finishers: fresh herbs, pickled veg, yogurt or tahini drizzle.
Why it works
Global flavours are mainstream, bowls travel well, and portion control is tight.
Equipment and prep
Batch cook proteins and veg in commercial combi ovens for speed and consistency.
Fryers for crispy toppers like cauliflower bites or chickpea fritters.
Profit tips
Offer one hero bowl, one vegetarian, one spicy.
Add a “Make it a Combo” with loaded fries.
Frozen Beverage Upsells
Menu build
Iced coffee, coffee-slush, seasonal shakes.
Why it works
Cold beverages are growing year-round and drive add-on sales.
Equipment and prep
Serve espresso-based and iced coffee with commercial coffee machines.
Franke® super-automatic programmes often earn 80%+ gross profit with 6–12 month payback ⬜.
Pair with soft-serve or slush for afternoon traffic.
Profit tips
Add flavour shots and plant-based milks.
Create a “Snack + Sip” duo with fries or a bar cookie.
Family Bundle
Menu build
Four sandwiches, two fries, two drinks at a value anchor price.
Swap fries for poutine upgrade.
Why it works
High perceived value, simple to execute, perfect for digital offers.
Equipment and prep
Proteins and veg batch-cooked in commercial combi ovens.
Sides from commercial pressure fryers or commercial open fryers.
Beverages from commercial coffee machines.
Profit tips
Price with a clear “Save X% vs. à la carte” message.
Offer an add-on dessert to lift basket size.
6) Tie the Trends to ROI with TFI Programmes
High-Margin Frozen Treats: Taylor® commercial soft-serve and slush machines routinely deliver 70–80% gross profit with 6–18 month payback when priced and promoted well.
Premium Coffee, Fast Payback: Franke® super-automatic coffee programmes can achieve 80%+ gross profit with 6–12 month payback, plus telemetry for multi-site control. Explore commercial coffee machines.
Oil Savings Add Up: Henny Penny® pressure and open fryers reduce oil consumption via Smart Touch Filtration™ and Oil Guardian®, saving thousands annually and speeding ROI. See commercial pressure fryers and commercial open fryers.
Keep Uptime High: Protect uptime with TFI Total Care monthly service across Ontario and Atlantic Canada.
Cash-Flow-Friendly Paths: Lease-to-own to protect cash flow with restaurant equipment leasing. Short-term rentals or certified used can bridge gaps.
Certified Used With Warranty: Browse used restaurant equipment in Canada with warranty.
Book OEM-Trained Techs: Need help now? Book commercial kitchen equipment repair services.
Menu Trend FAQs
What is the #1 most ordered food item in Canada?
On delivery platforms, Skip reports butter chicken as Canada’s most-ordered dish two years running. Fries and naan are frequent sides. (To Do Canada)
What is the biggest food trend right now?
Value-engineered meals and hot sandwiches are surging, with digital coupons and bundles driving traffic. (Restaurants Canada)
What is the most popular Canadian fast food?
Tim Hortons remains Canada’s largest and most popular QSR by footprint and sales. (Foodservice and Hospitality Magazine)
What is the most popular street food in Canada?
Poutine is consistently cited as Canada’s signature street dish. (TasteAtlas)
Which product is most sold in Canada?
For grocery ordered via delivery, Uber Eats lists bananas as the top item nationally; Skip’s grocery orders lean toward chips, pop, milk, and bread. It varies by platform. (Uber)
What is Canada’s most eaten food?
There is no single official “most eaten” across every channel, but delivery data points to butter chicken leading mains and fries as a top side, while bananas dominate grocery baskets online. (To Do Canada)
What food is trending right now?
Hot sandwiches, shareable fries, global comfort mains, and digital-first value deals. Expect QSR to lead growth while menu inflation eases slightly. (Restaurants Canada)
What is the most popular food dish in Canada?
For national identity and street food culture, poutine. For delivery orders, butter chicken tops several 2024 lists. (TasteAtlas)
What is Canada’s favourite meal?
In eating-out occasions, burgers and sandwiches remain the most popular, with pizza favoured for takeout and delivery. (Made in CA)
What food does Canada consume the most?
By online grocery deliveries, bananas are consistently the top item, aligning with broader North American Instacart data. (Uber)
How to Act This Month
Add a hot-sandwich value build with a fries or poutine upsell.
Make one global bowl your hero and pair it with a shareable side.
Add one frozen beverage or soft-serve LTO to lift afternoon traffic.
Finance smartly. Lease-to-own or rent to protect cash flow, and enrol in TFI Total Care to keep uptime high.
Conclusion
As food equipment experts, TFI Food Equipment Solutions can help you match the right equipment to your menu goals. We size for volume, speed, footprint, and budget, then back it with training and service across Ontario and Atlantic Canada. Explore options, book a Mississauga demo, or request free a quote today.
Nicole Camposeo-Cheung is the Director of Marketing, People & Culture at TFI Food Equipment Solutions, Canada’s leading provider of premium commercial foodservice equipment. She combines her expertise in business management and fashion arts to foster a dynamic, innovative, and people-centric corporate culture. Passionate about empowering teams, building strong client relationships, and driving growth through creativity and collaboration, Nicole plays a key role in shaping TFI’s brand and workplace culture. She also shares her industry expertise and insights through the TFI blog, helping foodservice professionals stay informed about the latest trends, best practices, and innovations in commercial food equipment.
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