From India to Canada: The Masala Veggie Burger is here to stay!

If you’re an immigrant of Indian (or South Asian) origin in Canada, or want to try more exotic fare, there’s good news: a Canada-wide restaurant chain has brought a masala veggie burger to their menu, permanently.

The burger is one of three vegetarian offerings that restaurant chain A&W have decided to roll out to cater to increasingly multicultural customer tastes in Canada, with the other two being the Crispy Veggie Burger and the Spicy Piri-Piri Potato Buddy Burger.

The Masala Veggie Burger features a crispy patty made with paneer and real vegetables, topped with spicy piri-piri sauce, layers of crisp whole-leaf lettuce, sliced tomato and red onion, all sandwiched between a freshly toasted seeded bun. The Crispy Veggie Burger features everything you love about the Masala Veggie, but the sauce is swapped with mayo for those who prefer a delicious burger without the heat.

The Spicy Piri-Piri Potato Buddy Burger, meanwhile, features a perfectly crispy potato hash brown, topped with spicy piri-piri sauce, layers of crisp whole-leaf lettuce, sliced tomato and red onion, all sandwiched between a freshly toasted bun.

 

Becoming a fan favourite

When introduced as limited time offers in 2024, the Masala Veggie Burger and the Spicy Piri-Piri Potato Buddy Burger were very well received by customers across Canada. To some, the burgers satiate a craving for a taste of home; for others, it is a chance to mix it up with new, exciting, bold flavours. Achieving record-breaking sales, both burgers became clear fan favourites amongst Canadians.

“For Canadians, A&W has consistently been a popular choice for vegetarians seeking great tasting burgers,” says Karan Suri, Senior Director, Innovation at A&W. “We’re seeing this growing demand reflected from returning guests and their positive feedback, so we’re very excited to introduce more veggie options on our menus across Canada and adding these items to the menu permanently was a no brainer.”

The burgers are the result of a partnership between A&W and Nanak, Canada’s largest processor of traditional dairy-based South Asian foods, to produce the crispy paneer vegetarian patties for their Masala Veggie Burger and Crispy Veggie Burger in Surrey, British Columbia.

“Nanak Foods has seen increased interest in our products as more Canadians seek out Canadian-made vegetarian options,” shares Gurpreet Arneja, President of Nanak Foods. “We’re proud to continue our partnership with A&W, ensuring our crispy paneer vegetarian patties remain a popular choice for Canadians looking for a flavourful vegetarian burger.”

A&W’s Masala Veggie Burger and other flavour-packed burgers are now available at your local A&W. Please note that these options are not available in Quebec.