You Don’t Have to Cook the Turkey
Written by Kelsey Kashluba
Here’s where you can order Thanksgiving dinner across Canada, and why it doesn’t even have to be turkey.
Let’s get one thing straight: I love Thanksgiving food. I love to overeat. I love pie, I love treats, I love dessert, and I could eat stuffing until I am genuinely unwell.
Especially my mom’s stuffing, which my brother now makes, and it has a real something about it that I can’t explain. We’ve had Thanksgiving with two kinds of stuffing, because everyone loves their mom’s stuffing and nobody should have to miss out. We’ve done ham AND a turkey.
We have really, truly gone all out.
And I love cooking it. The whole house smelling like dinner, the table filling up, everyone going back for seconds (and thirds).
But sometimes? It’s a lot.
You know those memes of someone frantically working the grill like a total lunatic? That is me, two hours before any event I’m hosting. Every time.
Here’s what I’ve learned: the food is wonderful, but the people are what make the holiday special. And it’s hard to enjoy the people when you’re sweating over four dishes that all need to finish at the exact same moment. Sometimes you need to take a step back and admit it’s just too much. That’s completely understandable.
So some years, order out. Pick up the containers, get dinner hot and ready, and actually sit down with the people you love. This is your permission slip.
Order the feast. Keep the holiday (and your sanity).
One thing before we start: order early. Most places close pre-orders a week or more ahead, and Thanksgiving is Monday, October 12th this year.
Calgary: My Go-Tos
I’ve ordered from all three of these over the years. They're classics for a reason.
Sunterra Market: The easy, reliable choice for a small or big table. Their heat-and-eat feasts are a full four courses, with turkey, ham, prime rib or Vegetable Wellington. Buy big and save 25% off! Pre-order early here.
Hayden Block: Kensington’s smokehouse does a Thanksgiving dinner every year. Think smoked brisket or turkey, sweet potato casserole, green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, homemade stuffing, cranberry BBQ sauce and pumpkin pie. Cranberry BBQ sauce. Let that sink in.
Comery Block: Hayden Block’s sister spot on 17th Avenue, and another one I’ve ordered from for the holiday. Same family, same serious smoked-meat energy. Their meats are smoked 10 to 14 hours, so your turkey has had a longer day than you will.
Pro tip: Both Block restaurants usually announce their Thanksgiving menus closer to the long weekend. Follow them on Instagram so you don’t miss the pre-order window.
Vancouver
Railtown Catering: Now in its 14th year, this heat-and-serve feast comes with sage-roasted turkey, apricot chestnut brioche stuffing, maple-glazed sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts and pumpkin pie. Half packages feed 5–6, full packages feed 10–12. Their beloved Thanksgiving Turkey To-Go packages are back here.
H Tasting Lounge: A whole turkey feast for a crowd, or individual carvery meals for smaller tables. For dessert, enjoy their Pumpkin Butterscotch Tart with a sweet vanilla crust, Chantilly cream, candied pumpkin seeds, butterscotch chips and Skor bits. OMG, right?!
Toronto
Summerhill Market: Their turkey dinner is so loved it’s available year-round, so this is your safety net if you miss every pre-order deadline. Order a meal, or grab a few sides and let the rest be a beautiful little secret.
TOCA at The Ritz-Carlton: The splurge. Turkey To-Go packages for small and larger tables, prepaid, with orders due well before the long weekend.
Halifax
Jane’s Next Door: A North End favourite. Dinner comes with a starter salad, slow-roasted Nova Scotia free-range turkey with all the sides, and pumpkin pie, in sizes for two up to a full table. Heads-up: pickup is usually the Friday or Saturday before the holiday, so plan your reheat.
Don’t Forget Your Community Centre
Before you order anything, check what’s happening close to home. Community centres sometimes host Thanksgiving dinners and harvest events, and they can be a lovely, low-key way to share a meal with your neighbours. No dishes, no stress, and you might just meet your new favourite people.
Or… Skip the Turkey Entirely
Here’s the thing nobody tells you: Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be turkey. Some people love turkey (and I see you). But turkey can be daunting, and there are so many other fun ways to celebrate. It’s about gathering, being grateful and eating well together. The menu is completely up to you.
So have a little fun with it. Theme it.
Smokehouse Thanksgiving: Brisket, burnt ends, mac and cheese and cornbread. Honestly, Comery Block or Hayden Block could cover this entire table.
Italian Night: Order lasagna, focaccia and tiramisu from your favourite local spot. Candles, red wine, done.
Curry Feast: Butter chicken, dal, naan and rice from a neighbourhood Indian restaurant. Warm, cozy, perfect for fall.
Dim Sum Thanksgiving: Lots of little dishes and everyone reaching across the table. Very festive, very fun. (Steam your own - we often buy ours from a great little shop that sells them frozen and a little old couple makes them! We bought the bamboo baskets and steam them at home with a tasty dipping sauce)
Pizza and Pie: Good pizza for dinner, pumpkin pie for dessert. Nobody is complaining.
The Luxe Friendsgiving: Feeling fancy? Rent a private room at your favourite restaurant, dress up a little and let someone else handle every single detail. You deserve a night like that.
Your family, your table, your rules.
The Bottom Line
Cook the whole feast if that’s what brings you joy. Order it all in if that’s what gets you to the table relaxed. Or trade the turkey for brisket, butter chicken or a private room with a view.
Here’s what I really believe: traditions don’t come from doing it the “right” way. They come alive when you put yourself into the holiday and make it feel truly, completely you.
So make it yours. Whatever’s on the plate, the best part is still who’s sitting around it.
A note on menus and pricing: Many restaurants haven’t released their 2026 Thanksgiving menus yet, so offerings, prices and order deadlines may change as updates roll out. Check each spot’s website or social media before ordering for the most current details.