Going to restaurants or hotels in foreign countries is one of the first things that a tourist experiences. The types of foods that are available in foreign places, such as Canada, can be very close to native food but different enough to be interesting to try. However, as a tourist, there are many things that one should know, lest they risk feeling awkward.

An obvious difference between a restaurant in America and one in Canada is price. The Canadian dollar has always been slightly less valuable than the US dollar, which can cause some prices to seem outrageous. When transferring to the Canadian dollar, you’re likely to get a lot more out of what you convert, but the return is that the prices you pay in Canada are significantly higher.

Another thing that confuses foreigners is the included tip. When paying your bill, you might notice that it has the tip already calculated and added into what you have to pay. It may not be what you usually pay for a tip, but usually goes by a universal rate that most people are okay with. It also helps eliminate the inquiry of whether to leave the tip on the table or to put it on your card. Regardless of what method you chose, you’ll know that you’re leaving a tip and that your server is getting it.

Part of the experience of going to a foreign restaurant is eating foreign food that you won’t get in your native country. Canada has it’s own share of unique foods, but it also (conveniently enough) shares some of the same foods you’ll see in both France and the UK because of the history they have with those countries. Therefore, when going to a Canadian restaurant, you can get several cultures at once.

For those that are looking for something a little more American, they’d be surprised to see how different fast-food is as well. Canadian fast-food is different in many ways, like selling beer where that’s rare in America. Some of these differences may be better, and some may be worse, but above all they tend to be enlightening, as they generally come off as a surprise.

They are also different in how they serve their customers. They may have the same menu items that you’d see in America, but they’re prepared in a different way for whatever reason. As an example, because Canada uses the metric system, they might sell steak by a different size scale. This can be baffling to an American.

Like any culture, there are some food that are more popular, either because of how they’re prepared, how readily available they are, or whatever the reason. In Canada, cheese and beer are some of those foods and make their way onto most restaurant menus in one way or another. Even some franchised places may offer their food differently based on these national favorites.

The kind of food you see in Canadian restaurants or hotels is different for many reasons, but one of the biggest is that food, itself, is seen differently. In the US, we see food as a necessity that we don’t want to spend too long waiting for. That’s why there are so many fast-food places, or so many pre-cooked meals available. In Canada, food has more a significance, and to the typical foreigner, that’s something that takes some getting used to.

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