10 American Foods and Grocery Stores We Need To Have In Canada

Raise your hand if you travel South of the border just to stock up on your favourite American snacks once a season. We’re guilty of being foodies who cross the border to Buffalo to grab our favourite snacks and eat at American restaurants that we don’t have in Canada. And while we wish we had all our favourite American treats in the Great White North, we’re grateful that we can grab them in less than 2 hours. Read on for the American foods and grocery stores that we think we need to have in Canada ASAP. 

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Trader Joe’s

The unofficial official cult-favourite grocery store is our personal favourite that we wish made its way across the border. The American store is known for its game-changing private-label products and groceries that have gone viral for good reasons. We always stock up on items like the Trader Joe’s Ube Ice Cream, Peanut Butter-Filled Pretzels and Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning. Plus, Olive and Basil Pesto Sauce and the Cinnamon Bun Pancake and Waffle Mix. If you haven’t been to Trader Joe’s, this is your sign. Soon, you’ll become a seasoned Trader Joe’s shopper.   

Related: Here’s What a Canadian Buys at Trader Joe’s

Target

We still can’t wrap our heads around why Target closed down in Canada many years ago. The ever-so-popular large-scale merchandise and grocery store needs to make its way back to the country. With so many food items like specialty snacks (think Oreo, chips and Coca-Cola flavours not found in Canada) and healthy, organic items, you could spend hours “getting lost” inside Target. Their own brand, Good and Gather, has a wide range of delicious food items, including dairy, produce, ready-made pasta and more.

Wegmans

The birth child equivalent to Farm Boy and Wholefoods here in Canada is Wegmans, a grocery store chain that has tons of bread, baked goods, grocery items, produce, dairy products, gluten-free items, meals to go, meats, deli and so much more. They have a lot of healthy, sustainable choices and organic items that are reasonably priced compared to most organic and luxurious grocery stores.

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Swig

Raise your hand if you want a Swig’s here in Canada. You’re not alone because we desperately would love to experience a dirty soda at any time of day. The viral soda-fountain chain has made waves since the hit reality show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, with many people trying to recreate their own drink if Swig is inaccessible in their area. Swig has around 40 dirty soda flavours along with tons of Refreshers and Revivers on their menu. Plus, you can customize your own dirty soda however you like. 

Raising Cane’s

Raising Cane’s is an American fast-food chicken chain that should have a place in Canada. Known for its chicken fingers, and signature sauce, people say the flavour, tenderness, crispiness and juiciness of the tenders don’t compare to other fast food spots that serve chicken. Their legendary Cane’s Sauce is also delicious. 

Related: We Rank the McDonald’s Showdown Menu From Worst to Best

Dolly Parton Duncan Hines Cake Mixes

Technically, you can get Dolly Parton’s Duncan Hines Cake Mixes delivered from Amazon, but it would be so much easier if we could personally pick them off the shelves at grocery stores. The iconic multi-award-winning country star has a line of Duncan Hines cake mixes with flavours that are just as iconic as she is. Cake mixes like Vanilla, Strawberry, Cornbread, Blueberry Muffin Mix, Coconut and Banana flavoured Cake Mix sound incredibly tasty. 

Dunkin’ Donuts

When it comes to donuts, Dunkin’ is one American food that needs to come to Canada. Dunkin’ Donuts are fresh and delectable. They don’t only have donuts, but they also have breakfast sandwiches, coffee, frozen drinks, tea and more. They’ve also collaborated with celebrities on limited edition drinks like Sabrina Carpenter, Ice Spice, Ben Affleck and A.J. McLean.

Olive Garden

Olive Garden used to have a home in Canada before closing down all locations in the early 2000s. Known for its unlimited bread, soup or salad with every entree, the Italian restaurant chain is popular for being a comfort meal choice with a family-friendly environment for Americans — and Canadians. The closest Olive Garden to Ontario is across the border in Buffalo, which we’ve been guilty of stopping by for lunch every time we’re in the US, so we would appreciate it if it came back in the country. 

In-N-Out Burger

Petition to get In-N-Out up North raise your hand. The popular California fast food burger spot is famous for its menu of cheeseburgers, double-double, hamburgers and a not-so-secret menu that features Animal Style, Protein Style or a Flying Dutchman. Unfortunately, for now, you just have to continue going to the States or dreaming of In-N-Out every time you crave it. 

Related: Our Honest Review of Shake Shack Canada’s Menu

Loverboy

Bravo fans can agree that Loverboy needs to make its way to Canada. Founded by Summer House’s Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula, Loverboy has an array of spritz, cocktails and hard teas that are full of flavour but not full of sugar. Each can is adorably designed with fun colours and patterns that make each sip feel like a good time. There are eight flavours of sparkling hard teas, six flavours of spritz and two flavours of cocktails. With flavours like Strawberry Lemonade, White Tea Peach and Mango Peach, it would be awesome to grab one at a local LCBO or grocery store without having to stock up every time.