Updated January 2023! A&W Canada separated from the corporate A&W Restaurants back in 1972, which is why we created this separate listing. It is reportedly Canada’s second largest burger chain, and has many more dairy-free options than the A&W Restaurants in the U.S. In fact, almost the entire menu at A&W Canada can be ordered without dairy! We’ve outlined the choices below along with custom order options and a full vegan menu guide.
A&W Canada Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Custom & Vegan Options
This menu guide includes dairy-free menu options first, followed by custom order components. Be aware of special order requirements in parentheses () next to the menu items, and see the Heads Up notes to help fill in the blanks. Please note that this guide is for the Canadian locations. Options may vary in other countries. If you are in the U.S., see our U.S. A&W Dairy-Free Menu Guide.
Butter & Seasoning Note: The Margarine, Pan Coating, and Burger Seasoning used at A&W Canada are all reportedly made without any top allergen ingredients (though refined soy oil might be used). They do not use real butter. They reportedly use canola oil for deep frying at A&W Canada.
Other Allergen & Dietary Notes: Most of the items listed below contain a “made in the same manufacturing facility as items containing milk” note for at least one component. But all of the items listed below are prepared in the same facility as items containing milk. As always, speak with the manager if you are concerned about any potential cross-contamination with allergens. For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.
Breakfast
- Egger Breakfast Sandwich (no cheese)
- Bacon & Egger Breakfast Sandwich (no cheese)
- Breakfast Wrap (no cheese)
- All Canadian Special (no sausage, eggs not scrambled)
- Classic Bacon & Eggs (eggs not scrambled)
- Hash Browns
Heads Up! The Sausage Patties and Sausage Links at A&W Canada contain milk. At last check, both the sesame seed bun and English muffin were made without milk (for the breakfast sandwiches), but verify at your location.
Burgers
- Baby Burger
- Bacon Uncle Burger (no cheese)
- Beyond Meat Burger
- Buddy Burger
- Double Buddy Burger
- Double Mozza Burger (no cheese)
- Double Teen Burger (no cheese)
- Grandpa Burger
- Mama Burger
- Mozza Burger (no cheese)
- Papa Burger
- Teen Burger (no cheese)
Heads Up! The Mozza Burgers without cheese might seem pointless, but they do have a dairy-free Mozza Sauce on them.
Chicken
- Bacon Chicken Wrap (no ranch)
- BLT Chicken Burger
- Chicken Buddy Burger
- Chicken Nuggets (limited offer)
- Chicken Strips
- Chubby Chicken Burger
- Double Chicken Buddy Burger
- Spicy Chipotle Chicken Wrap (no cheese)
- Spicy Habanero Chicken Burger
Dairy-Free Dipping Sauces: Honey Mustard, Chipotle Mayo
Kids Menu
- Kids Buddy Burger Pack (sub dairy-free beverage)
- Kids Chicken Buddy Burger Pack (sub dairy-free beverage)
- Kids Chicken Nuggets Pack (sub dairy-free beverage) (limited offer)
- Kids Chicken Strips Pack (sub dairy-free beverage)
Sides
- Gravy
- Hash Browns
- Onion Rings
- Poutine (no curds)
- Russet Thick-Cut Fries
- Sweet Potato Fries
Dessert
- Root Beer Lollipops
Bread
- 7-Grain Bun
- Brown Toast
- English Muffin
- Flour Tortilla
- Hamburger Bun
- Sesame Seed Bun
- White Toast
Protein
- Bacon
- Beef Patty (made with A&W Seasoning)
- Beyond Meat Burger Patty
- Chicken Buddy Portion*
- Chubby Chicken*
- Spicy Chicken Portion*
- Egg
Heads Up! The Sausage Patties and Sausage Links at A&W Canada contain milk.
Garnishes
- Grilled Onions
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Pickles
- Sliced Onion
Condiments & Dipping Sauces
- Chipotle Mayo
- Honey Mustard Sauce
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise
- Mozza Sauce
- Mustard
- Peanut Butter
- Red Jalapeno Aioli
- Teen Sauce
- Smuckers Regular Syrup
- Smuckers Strawberry Jam
Seasonings for Cooking
- A&W Seasoning
- Canola Pan Coating
- Margarine
Vegan Menu Guide
- Beyond Meat Burger (no mayo)
- Hash Browns
- Onion Rings
- Russet Thick-Cut Fries
- Sweet Potato Fries (no chipotle mayo)
- English Muffin
- Brown Toast
- White Toast
- Root Beer Lollipops
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Margarine
- Peanut Butter
- Smuckers Regular Syrup
- Smuckers Strawberry Jam
This Post is for Informational Purposes Only
Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, food sourcing, and restaurant protocols are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure they can accommodate your situation. This post is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as advice.
There is always a risk for potential cross-contamination of allergens in any commercial kitchen. If cross-contamination is an issue for you, always speak with the manager to ensure that your meal can be safely prepared. Listings here do not guarantee that a restaurant is safe enough for your individual needs. Only you can make that decision.
Each location of a chain restaurant has different management and staff, and some might have different owners. This means differences in processes, ingredients used, menu options, and food sourcing can occur. Always verify the safety of your order for your needs at your current location.
Where to Find A&W in Canada
There are nearly 1000 A&W locations in Canada. See the website below for addresses, hours, and online ordering.
Website: www.aw.ca
Watch cross contamination
The a&w we tried in saskatoon was not dairy free, or at least not cross contaminate free 🙁 ordered a burger without cheese for our son and he still had a bad reaction. Be careful.
Response from Go Dairy Free
I’m so sorry this happened to you. You should definitely report this to the manager. Please be aware that no restaurant is free from potential cross contamination with allergens. There are so many variables, from ingredient sourcing, to accidental equipment usage, to what an employee had for lunch. Always speak with the manager to ensure your order can be prepared to your standards before ordering. Only you can determine what level of allergen safety suits your needs.
Thank you A&W!
I live that A&W has so many dairy free options! Thank you!
For More Dairy-Free Guidance, Get Go Dairy Free!
3 Comments
Hi
I checked the website and asked in store and whey powder is listed as an I ingredient in the fries. Just thought I would mention.
Actually, the last time I checked, the fries actually said they contained milk – maybe in the seasoning… 🙁
Thanks, Kerri. According to the A&W website, the fries are manufactured in a facility with dairy but don’t actually contain dairy. The ingredients are listed in the ingredient information linked to above.