Culture on a Plate: 5 Indigenous-Owned Restaurants To Try
​Indigenous foodways are as diverse as the Nations across this land. Rooted in place and culture, these restaurants serve more than a meal. The owners share stories, celebrate resilience, and invite all of us to taste a deeper connection through Indigenous cuisine. Here are five Indigenous-owned restaurants across Canada that deserve a spot on your list when travelling.
Naagan: Owen Sound, Ontario
This intimate 17-seat restaurant, whose name means dish in Ojibwe, has been reshaping the way diners experience food in Grey County. At Naagan, Chef Zach Keeshig weaves together seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmers, hunters, and foragers into multi-course tasting menus that are as mindful as they are delicious. Each plate reflects both innovation and tradition, grounding modern techniques in the teachings of the land. This is Indigenous cuisine as you’ve never tasted before!
Read more about Chef Keeshig in Beyond Bannock
Feast Cafe Bistro: Winnipeg, Manitoba
​Located in Winnipeg’s West End, Feast Café Bistro is owned and operated by Chef Christa Bruneau-Guenther, a proud member of Peguis First Nation. The restaurant has become a gathering place for community and visitors alike, offering dishes like bison chili, wild rice salad, and, of course, bannock. Every menu item honours her vision of Indigenous cuisine, using food as a bridge between cultures.
Read more about Chef Bruneau-Guenther in The Original Feast
Dakota Dunes Resort: Whitecap, Saskatchewan
​Just outside Saskatoon, Dakota Dunes Resort is owned and operated by the Whitecap Dakota First Nation. Its restaurant, Moose Woods Home Fire Grill, offers an elevated dining experience that blends contemporary cuisine with Indigenous flavours and traditions. Signature dishes spotlight local game, wild berries, and farm-fresh produce — all served in a space that reflects the Dakota people’s culture and connection to the land.
Salmon N Bannock: Vancouver, British Columbia
​Vancouver’s only Indigenous-owned and operated restaurant, Salmon n’ Bannock has become a culinary landmark since opening in 2010. Led by Nuxalk Nation chef and owner Inez Cook, the restaurant features traditional ingredients like wild salmon, bison, and game meats, prepared in contemporary ways. Its offshoot, Salmon n’ Bannock On The Fly at Vancouver International Airport, brings these flavours to travellers from around the world.
Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations: Wendake, Québec
Located within the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations, La Traite celebrates the culinary traditions of the Huron-Wendat people. The menu blends game, fish, and foraged plants with contemporary techniques, creating a dining experience that is both rooted and refined. Surrounded by the heritage and artistry of Wendake, La Traite offers guests an immersive taste of living Huron-Wendat culture.​
These restaurants remind us that food is linked to identity, culture, and connection. By supporting Indigenous cuisine and Indigenous culinary experiences, travellers not only savour memorable meals but also contribute to the resurgence of food traditions that nourish both people and place.
Related: Discovering Culture Through Food with Chef Billy Alexander
