Must-Try Foods in Victoria, BC

Nanaimo bar

The most famous sweet on the island. A Nanaimo bar has three layers: a crumb base of coconut, nuts and chocolate, a thick custard-style buttercream middle, and a smooth chocolate top. It is named after Nanaimo, BC, a short ferry ride north of Victoria, and became a Canadian favourite in the 1950s. Pick one up at a Victoria bakery or café, or in most grocery stores. Keep it chilled for the cleanest slice.

Poutine

Poutine started in Quebec and is now found right across Canada. It is hot fries topped with fresh cheese curds and brown gravy. The curds should be fresh enough to squeak when you bite them. You will find it on pub and diner menus around Victoria, and it is the perfect order after a cold, wet walk.

Fish and chips

Fish and chips on the water is a Victoria tradition. Fisherman's Wharf has several seafood stands and small eateries where you can eat by the harbour. Ask whether the fish is cod or halibut, and whether you want it battered or grilled. Add tartar sauce and vinegar. Keep an eye on your chips, because the gulls are bold.

Clam chowder

West Coast clam chowder is usually creamy, with clams, potato, onion and often bacon. It is commonly served in a bread bowl. It is a good warm-up after a walk around the Inner Harbour or along Dallas Road.

Salt Spring Island mussels

Salt Spring Island mussels come from the cold, clean waters of the Gulf Islands. They are usually steamed with white wine, garlic and herbs, sometimes with a curry or cream broth. Salt Spring is reached by ferry from Swartz Bay, just north of Victoria, and the mussels appear on seafood menus across the city. Mop up the broth with bread.

Shaft

The Shaft is a small, caffeinated coffee shot and a Victoria institution. It is named after John Shaft, the private detective in the 1971 cult film Shaft, whose theme song was an Academy Award-winning hit. The drink itself was most likely created around 2000 by a bartender at The Living Room restaurant in Calgary, Alberta. It was originally built rather than shaken: espresso with a splash of Kahlúa and skimmed milk, a pick-me-up for the bar. It travelled west and became ubiquitous in Victoria, which is why many locals consider the city its true home.

Recipes vary from bar to bar. The Victoria version is usually vodka, Irish cream liqueur and cold brew coffee, sometimes with espresso, with milk or cream either mixed in or floated on top, as in a White Russian. The Irish cream gives it a creamy, mocha-like sweetness. It is most often downed in one go, a grown-up alternative to a Jägerbomb.

Order one at a Victoria bar and expect a different version at each place you try.

Shaft origin: Avenue Calgary · About Kahlúa

Canadian snacks to try

Grab a few of these at any grocery store or convenience shop. They are the everyday snacks Canadians know well.

Ketchup chips

Potato chips with a tangy tomato ketchup flavour. Crisp, salty and sweet-sharp, and a favourite across the country.

All dressed chips

A classic Canadian flavour that combines ketchup, salt and vinegar seasoning. If you only try one chip flavour, make it this one.

Coffee Crisp

A chocolate bar with thin, crisp wafer layers and a light coffee-flavoured cream filling, covered in milk chocolate. A Canadian childhood staple.

Hawkins Cheezies

Bright orange, crunchy cheese puffs with a sharp, cheesy flavour. A classic road-trip snack.

Want to try several of these in one go? A guided food tour is the easiest way. The tours below cover local food and history.

Questions people ask

What food is Victoria, BC known for?

Victoria is known for Nanaimo bars, fish and chips from the harbour, clam chowder, and Salt Spring Island mussels. Poutine and Canadian snacks are easy to find across the city.

Where can I buy Nanaimo bars in Victoria?

Most Victoria bakeries and cafés sell Nanaimo bars, and they are sold in many grocery stores across the city.

Is poutine a Victoria dish?

Poutine comes from Quebec, but it is served across Canada, including in Victoria at pubs and casual diners.

Is a food tour a good way to try these foods?

Yes. A guided food tour lets you try several of these foods in one afternoon, with local history along the way.

More guides

• Victoria in 1 day
• Free things to do in Victoria
• Rainy day in Victoria
• All city guides

Open the interactive map to find these places and plan your own route.

Menus, hours and prices change. Check each place's website before you go.

Plan your food day

• Pair a Nanaimo bar with coffee on a morning walk through downtown.
• Have fish and chips on the Wharf, then walk the self guided tours to work it off.
• Eat chowder or poutine on a rainy day with our rainy day guide.