List of Canadian restaurant chains
Although many of the largest restaurant chains in Canada are US-based, some Canadian-based restaurant chains are growing and have expanded into other markets, especially into the US.
Major chains
241 Pizza
was founded in Toronto in 1986. Since then, 241 Pizza has expanded across Ontario, and has locations in Newfoundland and Labrador and Saskatchewan.A&W (Canada)
entered the Canadian market in 1956. In 1972, the American company sold the Canadian unit to Unilever thus creating A&W. In 1995, it was spun off into an independent entity with no ties to its American counterpart. They have over 800 locations nationwide.Bâton Rouge Steakhouse & Bar (restaurant)
Founded in Laval, Québec Bâton Rouge is a steakhouse and bar owned by MTY Food Group Inc., with most of their locations found in Québec and the Greater Toronto Area.BeaverTails/Queues de Castor
pastry is a chain of pastry stands operated by BeaverTails Canada Inc. The chain's namesake product is a line of fried dough pastries, individually hand-stretched to resemble a beaver's tail. The chain began in Ottawa and now has franchises and licensees in six countries: Canada, the United States, Japan, France, U.A.E., and Mexico.Ben & Florentine
is a Canadian breakfast and lunch restaurant chain, serving around 2.5 million customers per year. The founders used characteristics from their own families to create the concept of the chain. Each Ben & Florentine restaurant is owned individually as a franchise. Ben & Florentine was founded in 2008 in Saint-Laurent, Quebec and the first restaurant opened in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec. By 2011, it had 16 locations in the province of Quebec. The chain has been a CFA member since 2010. The restaurant chain began by serving an extensive breakfast and lunch menu, and later extended hours to include dinner selections. In 2012 the chain expanded into Ontario, and by 2014 there were 31 locations. In 2015, the chain had 43 franchise units.Big Smoke Burger
is a chain of burger restaurants founded by Mustafa Yusuf in Toronto in 2007 with 17 locations across North America and the Middle East.Booster Juice
is a smoothie/juice bar founded in Sherwood Park, Alberta, just east of Edmonton. Booster Juice Headquarters is located in Edmonton, Alberta. Initially found in Western Canada, over time, Booster Juice has expanded internationally with over 500 locations worldwide as of 2022. Most of the Booster Juice locations are primarily found in shopping malls.Boston Pizza
has franchised 396 restaurants in North America. Boston Pizza International Inc. was Canada's number one casual dining brand with more than 340 restaurants in Canada and system-wide sales of $831 million in 2008. Annually, Boston Pizza serves more than 40 million guests. The first Boston Pizza location was opened in Edmonton, Alberta in 1964 by Gus Agioritis under the name "Boston Pizza and Spaghetti House". It took 32 years to open its first 100 locations, and eight years for the next 100. The current owners of the restaurant chain, Jim Treliving and George Melville, purchased the company in 1983, 15 years after Treliving bought his first franchise, and 10 years after he first partnered with Melville. Store sales growth has averaged 6.3% for the last decade compared to the industry average of 2.2%.Boustan
is a chain of Lebanese-Canadian restaurants started in Montreal in 1986.Cactus Club Cafe
is a chain of premium casual restaurants founded by Richard Jaffray and Scott Morison in Vancouver in 1988. Currently 31 restaurants are operated across Canada.As of 2022 "After 34 years, Richard Jaffray is stepping aside as an owner and executive of Cactus Club Cafe, the national restaurant chain he co-founded. The Fuller family, who have been silent partners since the company began, will become full owners." Source: https://www.bcbusiness.ca/people/hospitality/cactus-club-cafe-founder-richard-jaffray-gives-up-ownership-stake/
The Fuller family also owns Earls, Joey's, Cactus Club, Saltlik Steakhouse.
Chairman's Brands
Chairman's Brands is a privately held corporation dedicated to the franchising, development, and marketing of quick-service restaurants. Until 2006, its main operation was Coffee Time with operations in Canada, Greece, Poland, China, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The chain's first store was opened in 1982 by Tom Michalopoulos in Bolton, Ontario. In October 2006, the company doubled in size, when it purchased the Afton Food Group, a company whose assets included Robin's Donuts, 241 Pizza and Mrs. Powell's Cinnamon Buns. The company also operates Eggsmart, and The Friendly Greek. In all, Chairman's Brands operates more than 500 stores across Canada under its seven brands.As of November 15, 2016, they operated eight brands with over 440 locations in five countries. The brands were 241 Pizza, Coffee Time, Eggsmart, Mia Fresco, New Orleans Pizza, Robin's, and The Friendly Greek.
Chez Ashton
Chez Ashton is a regional fast food restaurant in Quebec that is famous for its poutine. Chez Ashton was started as a travelling snack cart by Ashton Leblond in 1969. In 1972, poutine was first offered. Leblond hooked his customers by giving free samples of his poutine. The enterprise grew in popularity until Leblond was able to open a restaurant with a dining room open year-round in 1976. The franchise has grown to include 25 restaurants in the Quebec City region.Coffee Time
Coffee Time is a chain of coffee & donut shops headquartered in Bolton, Ontario.Cora Breakfast & Lunch
, based in Montreal, has 128 restaurants and was started by Cora Tsouflidou in 1987. It can be found in every Canadian province. In 2008, the restaurant changed its name from Cora's breakfast and lunch to Cora. Serving such breakfast items as eggs, crepes and French toast, it is known for its all day breakfast and heaping mounds of fruit.Crabby Joe's Bar • Grill
is a restaurant and bar chain founded in 1996 with 15 Ontario locations and headquarters in Mississauga. "Obsidian Group Inc." has made the decision to swap some of their Crabby Joe's restaurants to "Chuck's Roadhouse". In 2025, the chain had 15 locations across southern Ontario.Country Style
is a chain of coffee stores operating primarily in the province of Ontario. They have 420 estimated locations in Canada. Country Style was purchased by MTY Food Group Inc. With their headquarters located in Richmond Hill, Ontario.Cows Ice Cream
is a chain of ice cream parlours and cheesemongers with nine locations in Canada and one in the United States. It started in 1983 in Prince Edward Island as an ice cream parlour. Today it is known for its 32 varieties of ice cream, cheddar cheese, and cow-themed merchandise. Sales of Cows ice cream spiked in the summer of 2010, after American television hosts Regis and Kelly showed interest in the chain.La Diperie
La Diperie is an ice cream chain created in 2014 in Montreal by Sam Arif. In 2016, MTY Food Group acquired 60% of the ice cream chain.Dixie Lee Fried Chicken
Dixie Lee Fried Chicken is a fried chicken restaurant that has 39 locations in 3 different Canadian provinces.Druxy's
Druxy's is a chain of Canadian fast-food sandwich shops.Dunn's
Earls
East Side Mario's
is an Italian restaurant chain, with headquarters located in Mississauga, Ontario. It has 61 locations as of 2025, most of which are located in Ontario.Edo Japan
Based in Calgary, Alberta, Edo Japan is a quick-service restaurant that primarily sells Japanese food.Eggsquis
Eggsquis is a midscale chain of restaurants in Quebec and Ontario. As of 2018, there are 39 outlets, which are primarily in Quebec. It specializes in egg dishes, from bacon and eggs to omelettes. The first Eggsquis restaurant was opened by Elias Stergiou in Sherbrooke, in 1995. In 2010, the owners of the restaurant chain Chez Cora took Eggsquis to court, claiming that some of the dishes at its Mascouche location had been copied from Cora's, including the names of the dishes.Elephant and Castle Pub and Restaurant
Freshii
Freshii is a quick service restaurant that has about 100 locations all over Canada and 15+ other countries.Gabriel Pizza
The Great Canadian Bagel
Grinner's Food Systems Limited
Grinners Food Systems Limited, the franchiser of Greco Pizza and Captain Sub, is a Truro, Nova Scotia-based company. It is owned by Trucorp Investments Incorporated. Trucorp, headquartered in Dieppe, New Brunswick, also owns Bonte Foods Limited, Frank and Gino's Restaurants, and Chris Brothers food products.Established in Moncton, New Brunswick in 1977, Greco Pizza is one of Atlantic Canada's largest pizza chains. Menu items include pizza, donair, salads, garlic fingers, and the restaurant's proprietary dipping sauces. Many of the over 170 locations in Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland operate co-branded with Captain Submarine. Both are quick-service restaurants.
Captain Submarine was acquired by Grinner's in 2002, when it only had nine locations. Many of the stores franchised since then also sell Greco Pizza items. The purchase brought the number of Grinners franchised restaurants from 111 to 120.