I tried 3 fast-food chains in Canada that you can't get in the US. Here's how they ranked from worst to best.
Pizza Pizza, Mary Brown's Chicken, and Triple O's are Canada-based chains that don't serve the US.
I ranked my meals at each establishment from worst to best.
As an American, fast food is a guilty pleasure of mine. Some nights, nothing beats scarfing down a cheeseburger combo meal I paid less than $20 for.
So, when I traveled to Vancouver, British Columbia, for the first time in May, I sampled three Canadian fast-food chains that don't operate in the US. Here's how I'd rank them from worst to best.
My least favorite chain was Pizza Pizza.
Pizza Pizza is a quick-service pizza joint that has been around since 1967. According to the company's website, there are more than 750 locations across Canada.
I stopped by a location in Vancouver's West Point Grey neighborhood on a sunny early evening. Inside, the store was decorated with orange accents, from ceiling beams to strip lighting.
I didn't see any other customers during my visit.
I ordered a plain slice and a soda for $5.
I live in New York City, so I wasn't expecting to be blown away by a slice from a fast-food chain.
The mozzarella on the slice, sourced from Canadian farmers, tasted fresh. However, the sauce was a bit too sweet for me, the crust was thicker and chewier than I like, and I thought it lacked crispiness and flavor.
I ate about 75% of this slice before tossing the rest on my way out. Although it was a good deal, I wouldn't eat at Pizza Pizza again.
I had a better meal at Mary Brown's Chicken.
Mary Brown's Chicken was established in 1969 and has more than 270 locations in Canada, according to the company's website.
I had lunch at the fried chicken chain's East Vancouver location and spotted 50-pound sacks of locally sourced potatoes, which are hand-cut and fried in-store.
Some customers stopped in to pick up orders, while others ordered at the counter and dined in, like I did.
I got a three-piece chicken meal for about $14.
My meal included three pieces of bone-in chicken breaded with an over-50-year-old recipe, a side of "taters" (potato wedges), and a small coleslaw.
The chicken was everything I hoped it would be — moist and flavorful with a crispy outer shell. I liked the seasoning on the taters, but they tasted a bit dry to me. I'm not a fan of coleslaw, so I skipped it.
Although the sides didn't satisfy me, the chicken was so good that I would definitely return. So Mary Brown's Chicken takes the middle slot in my ranking.
Triple O's not only tops this list — it may be my favorite fast-food chain of all time.
Owned by White Spot Hospitality, Triple O's opened in Vancouver in 1997, according to the company's website. Today, the fast-food chain — which serves burgers, breakfast, sandwiches, and shakes — has 70 locations across British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.
I had an early lunch at the Triple O's in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighborhood, where many customers shuffled in and out throughout my visit.
I ordered a cheeseburger meal for $16.
My meal included a cheeseburger with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and a secret sauce. It also came with a long pickle slice that I stuffed inside the sandwich, fries with a side of gravy, and a soda.
The burger was juicy and flavorful, complemented by the tangy sauce, crispy lettuce, and fresh-tasting tomatoes. Unlike many fast-food burgers, the bread didn't feel like an afterthought. The thick bun was chewy inside, and the toasted exterior protected it from sogginess.
I thought the fries, made from locally sourced potatoes, were the best in the fast-food game. They were thick and soft inside with a crispy outer layer, and the gravy made them taste like Thanksgiving dinner.
I savored every bit of this meal. By the end, I was fairly certain it was the best fast-food meal I'd ever had. I'll return to Triple O's whenever I visit the Canadian provinces it serves.
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