Pizza Across Canada: Regional Favorites

Canada is the second-largest country in the world by landmass, stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, with diverse cultures and culinary traditions throughout its provinces and territories. While Canadians everywhere love pizza, regional preferences have developed over time that reflect local ingredients, cultural influences, and unique tastes. At Pizza73, we've seen these regional differences firsthand through our ordering data across the country.

Join us on a coast-to-coast pizza tour as we explore the distinctive pizza preferences that make each part of Canada unique.

Atlantic Canada: Maritime Flavors

The Atlantic provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador have developed some truly unique pizza traditions influenced by their coastal location and cultural heritage.

Nova Scotia: The Donair Pizza

Perhaps the most famous Atlantic Canadian pizza variation is the Donair Pizza. Based on the Halifax donair (a regional adaptation of the Turkish döner kebab), this unique pizza is topped with spiced ground beef, mozzarella cheese, diced tomatoes, and diced onions. What makes it truly special is the sweet garlic sauce drizzled on top – a combination of condensed milk, garlic, and vinegar that creates a distinctive sweet and savory flavor profile.

The popularity of Donair Pizza in Nova Scotia can't be overstated; it's practically the unofficial provincial food. Our Halifax locations sell more Donair Pizzas than any other specialty pizza – accounting for nearly 30% of specialty pizza orders.

Newfoundland: Salt Cod and Scrunchions

Newfoundland's unique culinary traditions extend to its pizza preferences. While less common nationally, pizzas featuring local ingredients like salt cod (known locally as "fish") and scrunchions (small pieces of fried pork fat) have dedicated followings. Some Newfoundland pizzas even feature traditional ingredients like Newfoundland savory (an herb) and partridgeberries for a truly local flavor.

Quebec: European Influences

Quebec's French heritage and European connections have created a pizza scene that often leans toward more gourmet ingredients and preparations.

Montreal-Style: Thin and Elegant

Montreal pizzas typically feature thin, crispy crusts more reminiscent of European styles than the thicker North American standard. Toppings in Quebec often include more gourmet options like:

• Goat cheese (chèvre)
• Figs and prosciutto
• Caramelized onions
• Fresh herbs like thyme and rosemary
• Local cheeses such as Oka

All-Dressed: The Quebec Classic

Quebec's version of a "deluxe" pizza is called "all-dressed" (or "tout garnie" in French). While similar to combinations found elsewhere, the Quebec version typically includes pepperoni, green peppers, and mushrooms, but often adds sliced hot dogs or sausages instead of the bacon or ham found in other regions.

Ontario: Multicultural Melting Pot

As Canada's most populous province with tremendously diverse communities, Ontario features perhaps the widest variety of pizza styles in the country.

Toronto: Global Fusion

Toronto's multicultural makeup has led to innovative fusion pizzas that incorporate international flavors. Some popular variations include:

• Butter Chicken Pizza: Inspired by Indian cuisine, featuring butter chicken sauce, tandoori chicken, mozzarella, and fresh cilantro
• Jerk Chicken Pizza: With Caribbean-inspired jerk seasoned chicken, peppers, and sometimes pineapple
• Korean BBQ Pizza: Featuring bulgogi beef, kimchi, and sweet and spicy Korean sauces

Windsor-Style Pizza

Windsor, Ontario has developed its own distinctive pizza style characterized by:

• Medium-thick crust with a distinctive texture
• Canned mushrooms (a local preference)
• Shredded pepperoni (rather than sliced)
• Layering toppings under the cheese
• Galati cheese (a local mozzarella blend)

This regional style is so beloved that ex-Windsorites living elsewhere in Canada often have these pizzas shipped to them frozen!

The Prairies: Hearty Traditions

The prairie provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta have developed pizza traditions that often reflect the hearty, agricultural heritage of the region.

The Prairie Special

Across the prairies, meat-heavy pizzas dominate the preference charts. Our data shows that prairie customers order approximately 35% more meat toppings than the national average. Popular combinations often include:

• Multiple meat toppings (pepperoni, bacon, ground beef, ham, and sausage)
• Generous cheese portions
• Heartier, thicker crusts
• Classic vegetable toppings like mushrooms and green peppers

Saskatoon: The Perogy Pizza

Saskatchewan has a strong Ukrainian heritage, which has influenced its pizza culture. The perogy pizza is a unique regional specialty featuring:

• Thin sliced potatoes
• Bacon or bacon bits
• Sautéed onions
• Cheddar and mozzarella cheese
• Topped with sour cream and sometimes green onions

This innovative combination effectively transforms the beloved Ukrainian dumpling into pizza form.

British Columbia: West Coast Innovation

British Columbia's proximity to the ocean and emphasis on fresh, local ingredients has created a distinctive pizza scene, especially in Vancouver and Victoria.

West Coast Seafood Pizzas

In coastal BC, seafood pizzas are significantly more popular than in other regions. Common seafood toppings include:

• Smoked salmon
• Dungeness crab
• Spot prawns (when in season)
• Candied salmon (a unique BC specialty)

These seafood pizzas often feature lighter, herb-infused olive oil bases rather than traditional tomato sauce.

Farm-to-Table Philosophy

BC's emphasis on local, sustainable food extends to its pizza culture. In places like Vancouver Island and the Okanagan Valley, pizzerias often source ingredients directly from local farms and feature seasonal toppings that change throughout the year. This has led to creative combinations like:

• Foraged mushroom pizzas featuring locally harvested chanterelles or morels
• Seasonal fruit pizzas (beyond just pineapple) with ingredients like Okanagan peaches
• Artisanal cheese pizzas featuring small-batch cheeses from local producers

Northern Canada: Frontier Pizza

In Canada's northern territories of Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, pizza takes on unique characteristics influenced by the extreme environment and blend of Indigenous and settler cultures.

Wild Game Pizzas

In northern communities, pizzas sometimes feature locally hunted game meats that would be considered exotic elsewhere:

• Caribou sausage
• Bison
• Elk
• Arctic char (a fish similar to salmon)

Practicality and Preservation

Due to the challenges of food supply in remote northern communities, pizza toppings often reflect what's practical and available. Preserved ingredients like smoked meats and pickled vegetables appear more commonly than in southern regions. At the same time, pizzas in northern communities often come with a premium price due to the high cost of shipping ingredients.

What Does Your Region Prefer?

Canada's regional pizza preferences reflect our country's geographic diversity and multicultural heritage. At Pizza73, we celebrate these differences by offering a range of toppings and combinations that appeal to local tastes across the country.

Have you tried the signature pizza style from another Canadian region? Or do you have a local favorite that deserves more recognition? We'd love to hear about your regional pizza experiences!