Menu ideas: DoorDash reports most-ordered and top trending foods in Canada

Thinking about refreshing your menu? Hot wings, mozza sticks and Japanese cuisine are some of the most popular items, according to a report from DoorDash that looks at ordering information in each province and across Canada.

The company’s 2020 Food Trend Report analyzes its order data regionally and nationally from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, 2020, alongside a nationwide survey examining Canadian food trends and ordering habits*

Top foods of 2020 were burritos, butter chicken, chicken tenders/nuggets, poutine and onion rings.

Canadians remain committed to supporting local businesses in their communities with 73 per cent of Canadians saying they made an effort to order more from local businesses this year.

70 per cent want to experience new foods and diverse cuisines in the upcoming year.
66 per cent say they will try to eat healthier next year as well.

Japanese and Indian cuisines were among the most popular Canadian cuisines in 2020. Hot wings were trending (1400 per cent increase year over year). Mozza sticks (1700 per cent year over year) continued to trend upwards in popularity this year.

Top foods of 2020

(Top good items ordered from 1/1/20 to 10/31/20 – Canada)

Burritos
Butter chicken
Chicken Tenders/Nuggets
Poutine
Onion Rings
Miso Soup
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
California Roll
Burger
Tuna Poke Bowl

Top 10 #Trending Foods on the Rise in 2020

Mozzarella Sticks – 1700% increase
Hot Wings – 1440% increase
Hash Browns – 1130% increase
Quesadilla – 850% increase
Molten Chocolate Cake – 580% increase
Onion Rings – 400% increase
Nachos – 350% increase
Gyoza – 310% increase
Apple Pie – 265% increase
Dynamite Roll – 230% increase

Top cuisine picks nationally

Japanese
Indian
Mexican
Chinese
Italian

Top breakfast food orders

Hash Browns
Coffee
Bagel
Breakfast Wrap
Iced Cappuccino
Sausage and Egg Breakfast Sandwich

Top lunch orders

Burrito
Poutine
Chicken Nuggets/Wings
Chips & Guac
Fried Chicken Sandwich

Top dinner orders

Butter Chicken
Burrito
Garlic Naan
Miso Soup
California Roll

Top items in provinces

Alberta
Onion Rings
Poutine
Naan
Burger
Boba Tea
Chicken Tenders/Wings
Japanese Gyoza
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Kale Caesar Salad
Tuna Poke Bowl

British Columbia
Burrito
Butter Chicken
Miso Soup
California Roll
Chicken Tenders/Wings/Nuggets
Spicy Tuna Roll
Tuna Poke Bowl
Chips & Guacamole
Edamame
Teriyaki Chicken

Manitoba
Chicken Nuggets
Poutine
Boba Tea
Butter Chicken
Fried Chicken Sandwich
Smoothie
Carrot Cake
Caesar Salad
Pork Dumplings
Wings

New Brunswick
Mozzarella Sticks
Chicken Nuggets
Spinach Dip
Burger
Poutine
Onion Rings
Fried Pickles
Taco
Boba Tea
Burrito

Newfoundland and Labrador
Wings
Poutine
Onion Rings
Fish & Chips
Chicken Taquitos
Cheesecake
Mozzarella Sticks
Burger
Nachos
Spinach Dip

Nova Scotia
Chicken Shawarma
Egg Roll
Cheeseburger
Milkshake
Mozzarella Stick
Poutine
Souvlaki
Ramen
Pepperoni Pizza
Pad Thai

Ontario
Butter Chicken
Burrito
Poutine
Naan
Fried Chicken Sandwich
Chicken Biryani
Burger
Donuts
Chips & Guacamole
Miso Soup

Prince Edward Island
Chicken Pad Thai
Chicken Nuggets
Burger
Mozzarella Sticks
Spring Roll
Dumpling
Egg Roll
Plant-Based Burger
Chicken Nuggets/Tenders
Chicken Teriyaki

Quebec
Poutine
Beignets
Chicken Shawarma
Cheeseburger
Pad Thai
Naan
Pad See Ew
Butter Chicken
Hot Dog
Fried Rice

Saskatchewan
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Dynamite Roll
Wings
Butter Chicken
Fried Chicken Sandwich
Onion Rings
Chicken Tenders
Garlic Naan
Pizza
Tuna Poke Bowl

A strong majority of Canadians plan to continue supporting local businesses, DoorDash said. This year, nearly three quarters of people said they made an effort to order more from local businesses and 80 per cent plan to do their part to support local in 2021.

2020 holidays

Spending time with family and close friends was identified as the most important aspect of the festive season. Food was second on the list, beating out gift giving/receiving.

Trying new foods

● Canadians want to experience new foods and diverse cuisines (70%) in the upcoming year.
● Canadians are going into 2021 open-minded when it comes to food habits with 66% saying they will try to eat healthier
● Plant-based trends up in 2021; with over one third (38%) saying they will try to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diet, and another 26% said they will try to eat less meat