Instead of eating at McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and other big American chains, you can eat at Canadian ones instead.

I’ve read the arguments that avoiding these chains in Canada is just hurting Canadian workers since eating at a McDonald’s in Canada means we’re helping Canadian workers.

That’s true, we are helping Canadian workers.

However, for me, it’s how far down the chain do you want to help Canada and whether you want to help the US at the same time.

By eating at a McDonald’s in Canada, yes, you are helping Canadian employees. McDonald’s Canada also buys some local ingredients and maybe some equipment for their franchise. However, the ultimate profits goes back to the headquarters in the United States of America.

What if we bought at A&W. A&W is headquartered in Canada. So, profits Canadian workers and ultimately the profits stay in Canada.

If we were to reduce going to McDonald’s so much that they actually decided to close restaurants, would it mean we’re hurting Canadian restaurant workers?

If we ended up eating at home instead, yes. However, it would probably mean we’re helping our Canadian grocery stores such as Metro, Loblaws, or Sobey’s. If we started eating more at A&W, Harvey’s, Pizza Pizza, then no. If we actually ate so much more at local restaurants and local chains, then, ideally what would happen is that workers would end up transferring from McDonald’s or Burger King to different restaurants with head offices in Canada and so we would be helping Canada and not the USA at the same time.

Basically, eating at A&W, Harvey’s, and local restaurants as a replacement to McDonald’s, Burger King, or American chains, would expand our Canadian restaurants and reduce the footprint of American restaurants in our country.

I personally think it’s Maga Canadians who suggest that not eating McDonald’s hurts Canada. Maga Canadians want the US to take over Canada. It doesn’t hurt Canada. It transfers workers from one place to another. Is there some pain in transition? Yes, probably. Individually, most people probably do not like to change jobs. But, we need to work at fighting off Trump. And ultimately, if our Canadian restaurants become bigger, they may expand outside of Canada and earn more profits, just like the way McDonald’s expands outside of the USA in order to earn more profits.

List of Some Popular Canadian Restaurant Chains

Here are some notable restaurant chains that are Canadian-owned (or operated as independent Canadian entities) with their head offices/headquarters in Canada. I’ve focused on those where the parent company or primary operations are based in Canada, excluding major international ones like Tim Hortons (now under foreign ownership via Restaurant Brands International) or purely U.S.-based chains.

• A&W Canada — Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. It’s independently Canadian-owned and operated since the 1970s, with over 1,000 locations serving burgers, root beer, and poutine.
• Boston Pizza — Headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia (with strong Canadian roots from Edmonton origins). A major casual dining chain known for pizza, pasta, and sports bar vibes, with hundreds of locations mostly in Canada.
• Harvey’s — Owned by Recipe Unlimited Corporation (headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario). A classic Canadian burger chain famous for customizable flame-grilled burgers, with locations across the country.
• Swiss Chalet — Also under Recipe Unlimited (Ontario-based). Iconic for rotisserie chicken, ribs, and chalet sauce— a long-standing Canadian comfort food staple.
• Mary Brown’s Chicken — Headquartered in Scarborough, Ontario (with Newfoundland origins). A fried chicken chain emphasizing fresh, Canadian-sourced ingredients, popular for its chicken and “taters.”
• Pizza Pizza — Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. A go-to for affordable pizza delivery and takeout, especially in urban areas.
• Booster Juice — Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. A smoothie and juice bar chain focused on healthy, fresh options.
• BeaverTails / Queues de Castor — Canadian-based (often associated with Ottawa origins). Famous for fried dough pastries in various flavors, commonly found at tourist spots and fairs.
• Cactus Club Cafe — Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. An upscale casual dining chain with a focus on modern, globally inspired food and cocktails.
• Earls Kitchen + Bar — Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. A premium casual chain known for its diverse menu and location-specific offerings.

Many of these are part of larger Canadian groups like Recipe Unlimited or MTY Food Group (Richmond Hill, Ontario), which own and operate multiple brands domestically. Canada has a strong scene for homegrown chains, especially in fast food, casual dining, and quick-service spots emphasizing local twists like poutine or regional flavors.

More Canadian Restaurants owned by Recipe Unlimited

• Swiss Chalet — mentioned above
• St-Hubert — Quebec-based rotisserie chicken specialist.
• Harvey’s — mentioned above
• Montana’s (Montana’s BBQ & Bar) — BBQ and ribs-focused casual dining.
• Olive Garden — Recently acquired/expanded in Canada (all existing Canadian locations plus new developments).
• Kelseys (Kelseys Original Roadhouse) — Pub-style casual dining.
• East Side Mario’s — Italian-American family restaurant chain.
• New York Fries — Quick-service fries and poutine.
• Original Joe’s — Casual pub and grill.
• State & Main — Modern pub and eatery.
• Elephant & Castle — British pub-inspired.
• Añejo (Añejo Restaurant) — Mexican-inspired.
• Blanco Cantina — Mexican/Tex-Mex.
• The Burger’s Priest — Gourmet burger spot.
• Fresh (Fresh Kitchen + Juice Bar) — Healthy, plant-based focused.
• The Pickle Barrel (and Catering) — Deli-style comfort food.
• Bier Markt — Beer and European-inspired dining.
• The Landing Group — A collection of related concepts (often grouped under this umbrella).
• The Keg — Upscale steakhouse (mentioned in some sources as part of the portfolio).

Canadian Restaurants operated by MTY Group

Here are the key MTY brands that qualify as Canadian-owned with no U.S. head office (primarily Canadian-originated, managed from Canada under MTY). They do have US brands that they operate in Canada, which I’m not bothering to list.

• Thaï Express (and related like ThaïZone) — Founded in Quebec, iconic Canadian fast-casual Thai.
• Mucho Burrito — Canadian-founded fresh Mexican chain.
• Mr. Sub — Classic Canadian sub sandwich chain, founded in Toronto in 1968.
• Country Style — Canadian coffee/donut chain, long-time staple.
• Pizza Delight — Founded in New Brunswick, Canada.
• Toujours Mikes (Mikes) — Quebec-based pizza/pasta chain.
• Bâton Rouge — Canadian steakhouse/grill concept.
• Ben & Florentine — Quebec breakfast/brunch specialist.
• Scores — Rotisserie chicken, Quebec origins.
• Allô! Mon Coco — Quebec breakfast chain.
• Yuzu Sushi — Canadian sushi brand.
• Jugo Juice — Founded in Calgary, Alberta (smoothies/juices).
• Koya Japan — Canadian Japanese fast food.
• Villa Madina — Mediterranean, Canadian-developed.
• Tiki-Ming — One of MTY’s earliest, Chinese/Polynesian fusion from Quebec.
• La Crémière — Quebec ice cream/soft serve.
• Café Dépôt — Quebec coffee shop.
• Cultures — Canadian fresh/salad concept.
• Valentine (Groupe Valentine) — Quebec poutine/hot dogs.
• Big Smoke Burger — Canadian gourmet burgers.
• Extreme Pita — Founded in Ontario, Canada.
• Manchu Wok — Canadian-Chinese fusion (though some U.S. presence, originated/primarily Canadian under MTY).
• Sushi Shop — Founded in Montreal (though some international, core Canadian).
• Taco Time (Canada version) — MTY holds Canadian rights; the brand has U.S. roots but the Canadian operation is separate and managed from Canada.

Here are some smaller or regional chains not operated by Recipe Unlimited or MTY Food Group.

Breakfast/Brunch-Focused (Recent Growth, Often Ontario-Strong)

• Pür & Simple — Quebec origins (first location in Laval, 2016); head office in Montreal, Quebec. Elevated breakfast/brunch/lunch with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, creative twists on classics (e.g., loaded French toast, poutines); over 50+ locations across Canada (strong in Quebec, Ontario, and expanding to other provinces + some U.S. plans), with aggressive “Road to 100” growth.
• Stacked Pancake & Breakfast House — Ontario-founded (first in Barrie, around 2014–2016); head office in Barrie, Ontario. All-day breakfast/lunch specializing in massive pancake/waffle/French toast stacks, benedicts, hashes, and hearty portions; 130+ locations nationwide (fastest-growing in Ontario/GTA, with expansion coast-to-coast).

Quebec-Focused or Strong Quebec Roots

• Chez Ashton — Primarily Quebec City region; poutine, burgers, hot dogs; very local fast-food staple.
• Ben & Florentine — Quebec origins (Saint-Laurent area); breakfast/lunch like crepes, eggs Benedict; heavy Quebec presence with some Ontario.
• Normandin — Quebec family-style; rotisserie chicken, poutine, comfort meals; mostly Quebec.
• Bâton Rouge — Laval, Quebec-started; steakhouse/grilled meats; Quebec and GTA focus.

Atlantic Canada / Eastern Focus

• Mary Brown’s Chicken — Newfoundland origins; fried chicken, Big Mary sandwiches; strong Atlantic but national expansion.
• Greco Pizza — Moncton, New Brunswick-founded; affordable pizzas/subs; Atlantic Canada dominant.

Other Regional or Smaller-Scale Ones

• 241 Pizza — Toronto-started; customizable pizzas; stronger in Ontario + some Newfoundland/Saskatchewan.
• Triple O’s — British Columbia roots (Vancouver); handcrafted burgers; mainly BC with Alberta/Ontario spots.
• La Belle Province — Quebec fast-food; steamies, poutine, fries; almost entirely Quebec-based.

And of course, any small “mom&pop” restaurant is helping out Canada too.