US fast-food restaurant chain A&W has unveiled its new Spicy Piri-Piri Buddy Burger, a limited-time offering with a choice of chicken, beef or a potato patty, in Canada.

The new burger features piri-piri sauce, whole-leaf lettuce and slices of tomato and red onion.

Customers can choose a 100% breaded chicken breast, a 1.6oz grass-fed beef patty or a crispy hash brown patty, all served on a toasted bun.

A&W Canada menu development director Karan Suri stated: “This hack was happening organically at A&Ws all across Canada. It was a no-brainer for us to develop a recipe that complements our guests’ love for a potato patty substitute and adds a nice flavour kick to it.

“This is an exciting opportunity to introduce a new menu item that reflects the diversity of our guests. Our take on a spicy piri-piri sauce that is zesty, spicy and addictive is designed to satisfy more of our guests’ cravings for spice and to suit their dietary preferences. I can’t wait for Canadians to try it.”

The Spicy Piri-Piri Potato Buddy Burger marks A&W’s first Buddy Burger to feature a crispy hash brown as the main ingredient.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The innovation stems from community-driven menu hacks, which are popular among A&W employees and guests, particularly within the South-Asian community.

A&W noted that by substituting the traditional beef patty with a crispy hash brown and adding the spiciest sauce available, the Potato Buddy Burger offers a taste of familiar home-cooked flavours.

Spicy Piri-Piri Buddy Burger is available for C$3.99 at A&W locations across Canada for a limited time.

A&W Canada restaurant franchisee Priya Dhillon said: “For years, A&W employees and guests (predominantly from the South-Asian community) have been quietly making this menu hack for themselves.

“Its popularity was clear to me during a meeting with Ontario operators, where every one of them knew the exact same menu hack recipe because of how many guests were ordering it.”

In July 2023, A&W launched three frozen lemonades in Canada for the summer season.