From Poutine To Pregnancy Tests: 2024’s Defining Canadian DoorDash Orders

The year is coming to an end, and with warm hearts (and fuller stomachs), DoorDash Canada is reflecting on unique ways that Canadians nationwide have ordered this year. From abundant deliveries of Canadian classics to larger-than-life orders in single transactions, it’s safe to say there’s an order from everyone on DoorDash – no matter where you live or how you shop.

• Generous Words and Wallets: Customers chose to add a tip to more than 75% of orders via DoorDash in Canada, but the buck doesn’t stop there, as Canadians say "please" or "thank you" in more than 50% of delivery notes on DoorDash.

• Constant Canadian Classics: Love for poutine, maple syrup, and peameal bacon has no limits. That comes as one consumer ordered 30 litres of maple syrup in an order, another ordering 176 portions of poutine in a single delivery, and another indulging in 6 kilograms of peameal bacon.

• Giant Orders In The Great White North: The largest order on DoorDash in Canada was placed in Surrey, racking up a bill of $1,916 which included 400 french fries, chicken sandwiches, fish sandwiches, and cheeseburgers from Surrey. Another contender? $1,145 spent in Markham, Ontario on six different types of men's cologne and women's perfume – and a pregnancy test.

For a second serving of insights analyzing ordering insights on DoorDash Marketplace in Canada from January to September this year, DoorDash Canada is serving up the extra slice of knowledge you might be looking for.

Canadians Express Gratitude In More Than One Way

Customers chose to add a tip to more than 75% of orders via DoorDash in Canada. These five provinces and territories are considered to be the most generous.

1. Yukon Territory

2. Quebec

3. New Brunswick

4. Northwest Territories

5. Newfoundland and Labrador

As far as the most generous cities in Canada? Lockport, Manitoba takes the crown. The most generous cities in each province are...

• Cold Lake, Alberta

• Duncan, British Columbia

• Lockport, Manitoba

• Hanwell, New Brunswick

• Torbay, Newfoundland and Labrador

• Upper Tantallon, Nova Scotia

• Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

• Greater Sudbury, Ontario

• Cornwall, Prince Edward Island

• Saint-Jérôme, Quebec

• North Weyburn, Saskatchewan

• Whitehorse, Yukon Territory

The gratitude doesn’t come only through tips, as Canadians say "please" or "thank you" in over 50% of delivery notes on DoorDash. The most polite Canadian cities based on delivery instruction percentages mentioning "please" or "thank you" are ...

1. Victoria, British Columbia

2. Toronto, Ontario

3. Calgary, Alberta

4. Winnipeg, Manitoba

5. Edmonton, Alberta

6. Kelowna, British Columbia

7. Burnaby, British Columbia

8. Vancouver, British Columbia

9. Scarborough, Ontario

10. Surrey, British Columbia

Giant Orders In The Great White North

The most expensive order in Canada was for $1,916 CAD in Surrey, British Columbia which included 400 french fries, chicken sandwiches, fish sandwiches, and cheeseburgers in total. Other contenders for biggest order include …

• $1,230 spent on beauty essentials including sunscreen, moisturizers, scrunchies, liquid blush, and more in Calgary, Alberta.

• $1,195 on bath bombs, shower jelly, shampoo, and lotion in Victoria, British Columbia.

• $1,145 on six different types of men's cologne and women's perfume – and a pregnancy test – in Markham, Ontario.

National Favourites

Whether you like them or not, there are some Canadian classics that will stay with us each year – in very large quantities too!

• Maple Syrup: A customer in Camrose, Alberta ordered 30 litres of Organic Maple Syrup on DoorDash and another in London, Ontario ordered 11 litres.

• Peameal Bacon: Someone in Edmonton, Alberta ordered 6 kilograms of peameal bacon on DoorDash, enough to go around.

• Poutine: A resident in Longueuil, Quebec ordered 176 portions of poutine in a single transaction, followed by customers in Edmonton, Alberta and Saint John, New Brunswick who ordered 147 portions of Chicken Shawarma Poutine and 104 portions of Breakfast Poutine on DoorDash respectively.

Regional Preferences

There isn’t a uniform way to order on DoorDash, highlighted by the unique preferences of each of the biggest cities per province or territory.

• Yellowknife orders the most burgers, breakfast, and smoothies.

• Moncton orders the most pasta.

• Charlottetown orders the most Mexican and Indian food.

• Whitehorse orders the most Japanese food and coffee.

• St. John's orders the most chicken.

• Saskatoon orders the most Chinese food and steak.

• Montreal orders the most sandwiches and seafood.

• Winnipeg orders the most Thai and Filipino food.

• Calgary orders the most Greek and Korean food.

• Toronto orders the most Mediterranean food and salad.

• Vancouver orders the most sushi.

• Halifax enjoys ordering pizza.

Eating Habits

Canadians are finding more in common regionally, with West Coasters enjoying green eating and East Coasters preferring meat-forward meals.

• Green Eating: Surrey orders the most vegan and vegetarian options on DoorDash, followed by Vancouver, Abbotsford, Victoria, and Burnaby.

• Protein Packed: St. John's orders the most meat-heavy meals (ie. burgers, barbecue, chicken) on DoorDash, followed by Halifax, Quebec City, Montreal, and Longueuil.

• Local Love: Vancouver is the most likely city in Canada to support small businesses on DoorDash, followed by Montreal and Toronto.

• Fast Foodies: Edmonton is the most likely city in Canada to order fast food on DoorDash, followed by London and Victoria.