All the Best Comfort Foods and Where to Get Them
As the weather gets cooler and the nights get longer, the idea of cozying up on the couch with a blanket, a movie, and your favourite comfort food sounds more and more appealing. Comfort food season is takeout season, so we’ve rounded up a list of comforting dishes to warm the soul and where to order them across Canada.
Mac & Cheese
We can’t think of a better way to kick off a comfort foods list than with a big ole’ bowl of carbs and cheese. An ooey gooey bowl of mac and cheese can warm up even the coldest of days, and hearts. Next time you’re in Toronto looking for a little pick me up for dinner, lunch, or any meal really, check out The Heartbreak Chef at Bathurst and Dundas.
Their signature Mac and Cheese features a creamy five cheese blend topped with green onions. Best of all, you can make it a two-for-one comfort food meal by trying their Big Ass Mac – topped with two pieces of their famous fried chicken tossed in carolina butter sauce. Or if carbs are more your vibe, why not try The Mac & Charlie Sandwich, where your mac and cheese is stuffed inside a grilled cheese.
Address: 823 Dundas St W, Toronto | @theheartbreakchef
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Pizza
Pizza might just be everyone’s favourite comfort food year round, and you no doubt already have a go to spot in your neighbourhood – so we’re going to put a Canadian spin on this comfort food item. If you haven’t yet tried Windsor-style pizza, it’s time to put this dish on your gastronomic bucket list. Originating in – you guessed it – Windsor, Ontario, Windsor-style pizza is known for shredded pepperoni instead of round slices, so that you get an evenly dispersed hit of salty, meaty pepperoni flavour in each and every bite. Check out an Armando’s Pizza location in Windsor or Essex County to try this tasty Canadian classic.
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Chili
Chili might just have everything we need in a comfort food – it’s warm, savoury, and best eaten with a spoon. It’s kind of like soup’s heartier cousin. Though we have absolutely no doubt that your grandmother, uncle, cousin, has the best chili recipe out there, sometimes you just want to indulge in this hot, hearty meal from the comfort of your couch. If you’re in Calgary, Blue Star Diner‘s Alberta Bison Chili will not disappoint. It’s delicious and decked out with all the best toppings, including aged cheddar, sour cream, green onion, tortilla chips, and toasted focaccia.
Address: 809 – 1 Ave NE, Calgary | @bluestar_yyc
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Tourtière
A comforting classic, especially around the holidays, tourtière is a quintessentially Canadian favourite when it comes to comfort food. With French Canadian origins, tourtière traditionally consists of a spiced meat filling served in a buttery, flaky pie crust. In Quebec, the meat blend usually consists of beef, pork, or veal, and the spice blend almost always includes some mixture of cinnamon, clove, allspice and nutmeg. If there’s one spot that attracts attention from locals and tourists alike for upholding this Quebec food tradition, it’s La Binerie Mont Royal in Montréal.
Address: 4167 rue Saint-Denis, Montréal | @bineriemontroyal
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Pho
Soups of all types and flavours deserve a spot on the comfort foods list, but one soup in particular has a hold on the hearts and stomachs of Canadians and deserves honourable mention. Looking to warm yourself up on a cold day? Cure a hangover? Simply grab a quick and delicious lunch on a busy winter workday? Pho is always the answer. This classic Vietnamese dish consists of beef broth, rice noodles, and thinly sliced meat (usually beef) topped with fresh herbs and bean sprouts. The magic is all in the delicate spices and flavours of the broth, and one restaurant that definitely makes it magical is Anh and Chi. Order in from this award-winning and vibrant Vietnamese food hub in Vancouver.
Address: 3388 Main Street, Vancouver | @anhandchi
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Poutine
Rich, savoury gravy poured over squeaky cheese curds atop a crispy bed of french fries – who could resist? Of course, a list of comfort foods wouldn’t be complete without this Canadian favourite. Nothing quite screams midnight snack like a hot, steaming bowl of poutine – the saucier the better. So next time you’re in Halifax looking to satisfy that craving, check out Willy’s Fresh Cut. Located on Pizza Corner, poutine is their specialty and every order is served on freshly hand cut fries.
Address: 5239 Blowers St, Halifax | @willysfreshcut
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Chicken Wings
We would be remiss not to mention everyone’s favourite finger food. There’s something about a plate of deep fried meat that requires no particular sides, accoutrements, or even utensils to be a complete meal that screams comfort food. Not to mention the endless choose your own adventure that comes with selecting flavours. Winnipeg locals love Little Bones Wings for their assortment of 75 different flavours.
Address: 123 Regent Avenue W, Winnipeg | @littleboneswings
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