Most Canadians have never heard of this allegedly Canadian viral sandwich
A fascinating, supposedly Ontario-invented sandwich is breaking the internet as of late, with Canadians claiming they’ve never heard of it in their lives.
So, what is the truth behind the mysterious Steak Canadian sandwich?
Canadian cuisine boasts plenty of shining stars, from poutine and ketchup chips to maple taffy made in a fresh bed of snow. One dish that doesn’t get any airtime whatsoever is the Steak Canadian.
I mean, seriously, no airtime. I had never heard of this concoction before a video, which now boasts nearly a million views on YouTube Shorts, came across my feed. Suffice it to say, I was mystified, even if my appetite had entirely disappeared.
The video, aptly titled “What is a STEAK CANADIAN?” echoing my own thoughts, was posted by a restaurant called Counter Kitchen in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. While the video does make some progress towards answering the title question, judging by the comment section, it left Canadians with more questions than answers.
According to the heavily-accented man — or should I say, gent — in the video, the Steak Canadian was invented in the 70s “in a place called Ontario.” Don’t believe him? Well, his mate, an ice hockey player, he says, has told him all about it.
The sandwich consists of a buttered bun with a slice of “steak Canadian,” which appears to be some form of composite sandwich meat (it’s 80 per cent beef, according to the lad in the video), akin to that found on the Halifax donair.
The meat is then topped with fried onions, mushrooms, a generous handful of shredded cheese and plenty of ketchup. According to our Steak Canadian chef, you can also add maple syrup because, as he says, “that’s what they do in Canada.”
Quickly after the video was posted, the comments were flooded with confused Canadians who, like me, had never heard of this seemingly Ontario-based creation before, let alone put maple syrup on theirs.
“I’m born and raised in Ontario Canada (my family has been here for 8 generations) and I’m 40 years old currently and I have never seen this or heard of this ever,” one YouTube commenter writes.
“He keeps saying ‘Steak Canadian’ like its a thing that exists,” another writes.
One commenter, however, provides our first piece of evidence to prove that, no, we Canadians haven’t collectively blocked a seemingly national dish from our memories, suggesting that it’s not a Canadian dish at all.
“It was developed in Lancashire! It’s about as Canadian as black pudding,” they write.
In another video, Corner Kitchen describes the Steak Canadian as a “British cafe steak sandwich that’s all but disappeared,” a once-standard classic that’s been forgotten in recent years.
In the video, he even provides a close-up of the box the meat is delivered in, labelled “sliced and seasoned beef” manufactured in Birmingham with a shelf life of 12 months.
So, what is the truth?
Canadian TikTok user EarlyPete finally offers the answers we’ve been so desperately craving in a video posted in January 2026.
“I can say confidently, as a Canadian, it did not start here, and we are just as confused about it,” Pete proclaims in the video.
@earlypete Replying to @Mac and cheese Steak Canadian isn’t… Canadian? Like at all #steak #canadianfood #foodhistory ♬ O Canada – Canada – Ian Post
He goes on to explain that Steak Canadian, referring to the meat inside the eponymous sandwich, was actually invented in the 1950s by Lancashire-based butcher Derek Ingham. Steak Canadian producers Ewood Foods claim the actual invention date was closer to the 70s, but, in any event, it was indubitably invented in the U.K.
It’s a little less clear how the meat came to be called Canadian, and less so how the rumours of the sandwich being developed in Ontario came about.
Pete postulates that, following World War II, North American culture was inspiring a lot of dishes in and around England, which could be one reason why Canada got the credit. He also suggests that Ingram could have vacationed somewhere in Canada, been served a half-rate cheesesteak, supposed it was a Canadian specialty, and brought his interpretation back home.
In any case, Pete sums it up perfectly: “This isn’t Canadian food, this isn’t even really Philly cheesesteak. This is purely a British invention that Canada has just taken the blame for.”