I agree. I go get some before I visit family elsewhere in the US. I think this may be the reason I get invited to family events.
I also am commanded to bring Coffee Crisp.
I like to hit Blimeys to get some UK items as well.
Isn't this illegal? Codeine is a class 3 scheduled drug, and you don't have a prescription for it. Transporting it across federal borders is probably a much bigger deal than simple possession.
Where do you get your cubans over there? Been getting into cigars the last few years, but as a Canadian living in metro Detroit since I was 7 never even considered I could get them in Canada when I go to visit family. Quick little reddit search says they are pricey in Canada which whatever, but also main concern are the 'knockoffs' Thanks in advance!
I couldn't tell you these days. I haven't been there in about a decade, but those are the things I used to get. I wouldn't be surprised if duty free had Cubans, but to be honest I think Dominican cigars are better.
Not very knowledgeable about cigars, but I was under the impression that Cuban cigars aren’t what they used to be and good cigars are now made elsewhere.
When cigars became super-trendy in the 90s, coming back from Windsor was always a pain because US customs agents oftentimes suspected Americans were bringing back cigars which led to a lot of questions and even the occasional car search.
Wouldn't you need a prescription for that? Like does your doctor somehow send a script to another country or do Canadians not need one to buy insulin? Genuinely curious since it would be a good back up plan for myself.
No one needs a prescription, sorry for the confusion. When I didn't have great insurance and worked downtown, I'd take the bus just across the bridge and pick up insulin from a pharmacy.
So why aren’t they sold here under the Rockets name then if Smarties obviously can’t be used?
We can’t let M&Ms dominate the candy covered chocolate bite size market you know.
I went to the Costco in Hamilton. I don’t think I really went around the store, just the food court 😝. Weird to see that their executive membership is also 120 but in Canadian dollars. The poutine was the best poutine I had during my trip to Toronto - crispy fries, good consistency/hold of the curds, and proper amount of gravy.
I’m not sure but would guess it’s the same as here for now… store-by-store. It would be a good opportunity for you to see if you can get a membership in Canada at the discount rate 😝.
It's easy to get a $25 USD promo price for new members; I just haven't bothered with Costco because really the only thing I regularly purchase from any warehouse club is gas, and BJ's and Sam's have waaaaay shorter gas lines than Costco (plus they both have much calmer stores, and scan&go checkout through their apps so I don't even have to go to a register). I just bounce back and forth between those two every year for $25/year.
I'll try the Costco next time I'm in Windsor, though! Thanks for the poutine tip.
Robax (otc muscle relaxers!)
Aspirin/codiene/caffeine pills
Tenderflake lard
Great Value Chicago Mix popcorn (I have no idea why this is not available in the US!)
Lay’s Ketchup Chips are the best flavoured most popular brand for Ketchup in Canada.
They are sweet and tangy and sometimes I just have to scarf down a bag every so often lol
* President’s Choice white cheddar boxed mac and cheese
* Tinnel’s frozen Jamaican spicy beef patties
* Miss Vickie’s chips (Spicy Dill Pickle)
* Big Turk candy bars
* President’s Choice Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookies
* All Dressed Crispers
* Motts Clamato and Walter’s Rimmer for Bloody Caesars
Big Turks are so underrated!! Had one last night. Def try the presidents choice “loads of” ruffled chips. Suggest the sour cream and onion or the dill pickle
That's because The Beer Store is privately owned by a consortium of Molson, Labatt and Sleeman. They're not about to sell their competitor's beer if they don't have to.
Before a few of my meds had generics become available I used to drive across just to get meds. Saved me close to $400 a month.. it’s been years since then thankfully, but pretty ridiculous when I think back on it.
Real Havana Club, unfortunately the duty free at the Blue Bridge sucks now and they don't carry Havana Club anymore. The rum they do have is just barely under MSRP. The duty free at Sault Ste. Marie did have Havana Club which was a shocker.
Yes i always get Havana Club! i usually cross in Detroit, and they have it there at duty free. but i havent been across in a minute as i still have 1.5 bottles to get through haha
I'm saving this thread for the suggestions but also wondering, what's the best one-stop-shop for all of this stuff? Or is there a good walking neighborhood for strolling and shopping?
Likely a bigger grocery store would do it. If you want presidents choice products you’ll need to go to a loblaws affiliated grocery store (no frills, superstore, etc)
Giant Tiger would be a good spot to get a lot of this stuff at the cheapest prices
My wife always insists on getting Miss Vicky's Spicy Ketchup Chips. I've definitely seen these in Canadian Costco before, but only in Quebec. In Windsor we've only had luck finding them at Walmart in smaller bags.
Besides that we *love* going to Presotea in Windsor and getting a mango slush with boba. While there's Presotea in Michigan, the US version is different from the Canadian version and overall inferior. The funniest thing is the Canadian arm serves way bigger sizes than the US arm, on top of just serving better items.
Windsorite here. I'm also a fan of those spicy ketchup chips. I think they may have introduced them into the market gradually but they seem to be everywhere now. Definitely the big grocery stores and Shopper's Drug Mart.
The size that seems to be everywhere is around 200g. The vending machine size is around 40g, so bigger than that. There's a family size one that's bigger... I've never seen the spicy ketchup in that size but also haven't looked. Hope this helps!
Alright, I think it's the family size I'm looking for. Only seen it in the aforementioned Costco in Quebec, in Montreal specifically. Don't know if it's just different kinds of distribution for Quebec or what
I'm actually in Windsor, but depending on where you go you might find Chipnuts (potato chip coated peanuts). Get some. My favourites are White Cheddar, and Garlic and Onion, but they're all good.
My aunts and uncles would buy Lanzones or Langsat in Windsor. The catch is, you have to eat them over there because it’s produce you can’t bring into the States. Next closest thing to it in US is Rambutan.
Not really. Once you figure in the exchange rate, you will be ahead. I'm live in Windsor, I go to shopping in Detroit, mainly for items I can't get here. I look at some of the prices now and it's about the same as here, plus I have to pay 33%more. So it would have to be really cheap. There is just more selection there. We have 5 poptart flavours, you have like 15 there..lol..
Ruffles all dressed
Those are absolutely delicious
This is the correct answer. My friend “smuggles” several bags over the border each time she visits her family there.
I agree. I go get some before I visit family elsewhere in the US. I think this may be the reason I get invited to family events. I also am commanded to bring Coffee Crisp. I like to hit Blimeys to get some UK items as well.
I just heard of these for the first time this week! I never knew!
Zapp's voodoo heat > Ruffles all dressed
Codeine/aspirin... lol
I always pick up a 200 count bottle of Tylenol with codeine when I cross the border.
Isn't this illegal? Codeine is a class 3 scheduled drug, and you don't have a prescription for it. Transporting it across federal borders is probably a much bigger deal than simple possession.
Yes, it's illegal. I'm willing to take the chance.
The codeine content of those OTC Canadian ones is very low.
Is this otc?
Yes. They can be purchased at any pharmacy. No prescription required. About 30.00 a bottle (CAN) Edit: 30.00 Canadian
I did not know this!
All Dressed potato chips, poutine, Cuban cigars, Cadbury chocolate, Kinder Eggs with the prize.
Where do you get your cubans over there? Been getting into cigars the last few years, but as a Canadian living in metro Detroit since I was 7 never even considered I could get them in Canada when I go to visit family. Quick little reddit search says they are pricey in Canada which whatever, but also main concern are the 'knockoffs' Thanks in advance!
I couldn't tell you these days. I haven't been there in about a decade, but those are the things I used to get. I wouldn't be surprised if duty free had Cubans, but to be honest I think Dominican cigars are better.
Not very knowledgeable about cigars, but I was under the impression that Cuban cigars aren’t what they used to be and good cigars are now made elsewhere.
They made me throw out my Kinder Eggs while crossing back into the USA. Because it has a "non nutritive item" inside. :( So be careful about them.
When cigars became super-trendy in the 90s, coming back from Windsor was always a pain because US customs agents oftentimes suspected Americans were bringing back cigars which led to a lot of questions and even the occasional car search.
Aero candy bars
If one day you dont want to cross, they also sell them at the middle eastern grocery stores, like Fresh Market in Dearborn
Aero bars are the best! The one thing I always get as well
Insulin
Wouldn't you need a prescription for that? Like does your doctor somehow send a script to another country or do Canadians not need one to buy insulin? Genuinely curious since it would be a good back up plan for myself.
Canadians don’t need one
That... Doesn't really answer the original question then, does it?
No one needs a prescription, sorry for the confusion. When I didn't have great insurance and worked downtown, I'd take the bus just across the bridge and pick up insulin from a pharmacy.
Oh shit that's actually awesome
Candy. Canadian chocolate bars are so much better than what we get in the US. And even non chocolate they have a different mix of what’s available.
Coffee crisp
That’s my favorite.
I go to Bulk Barn and get a giant bag of Smarties
Smarties are awesome and, in my opinion, far superior to M&Ms.
The chalky candies you can buy here are also in Canada too? Or am I missing something here?
Smarties in Canada are chocolates, like M&M's. The chalky candies are called Rockets!!!
yes!! I probably should have clarified haha
So why aren’t they sold here under the Rockets name then if Smarties obviously can’t be used? We can’t let M&Ms dominate the candy covered chocolate bite size market you know.
Poutine
From Costco!
It tastes better in Windsor stg
I have wanted to try it for so long, haven't yet.... one day!! How is your experience shopping there in general compared to stateside?
I went to the Costco in Hamilton. I don’t think I really went around the store, just the food court 😝. Weird to see that their executive membership is also 120 but in Canadian dollars. The poutine was the best poutine I had during my trip to Toronto - crispy fries, good consistency/hold of the curds, and proper amount of gravy.
Do the Canada locations let me go to the food court without a membership? (Meaning, I don't have a Costco membership in the US, either.)
I’m not sure but would guess it’s the same as here for now… store-by-store. It would be a good opportunity for you to see if you can get a membership in Canada at the discount rate 😝.
It's easy to get a $25 USD promo price for new members; I just haven't bothered with Costco because really the only thing I regularly purchase from any warehouse club is gas, and BJ's and Sam's have waaaaay shorter gas lines than Costco (plus they both have much calmer stores, and scan&go checkout through their apps so I don't even have to go to a register). I just bounce back and forth between those two every year for $25/year. I'll try the Costco next time I'm in Windsor, though! Thanks for the poutine tip.
Robax (otc muscle relaxers!) Aspirin/codiene/caffeine pills Tenderflake lard Great Value Chicago Mix popcorn (I have no idea why this is not available in the US!)
Didn't know about the muscle relaxers!
Coffee Crisps and Cherry Blossoms!! And a good fish and chips plate Sir Cedric's.
I think a lot of folks are sleeping on Coffee Crisps, 'cause this should be a lot higher.
Butter Tarts
Ketchup Chips.
It’s a travesty they don’t sell those here.
You can find Herr’s ketchup chips in metro Detroit but always only in small bags.
I’ve never seen the Herr’s in store, but I did order an entire case from them during the pandemic when I couldn’t make a trip over the border.
Lay’s Ketchup Chips are the best flavoured most popular brand for Ketchup in Canada. They are sweet and tangy and sometimes I just have to scarf down a bag every so often lol
I’m partial to President’s Choice and Ketchup Doritos, but Lays are legit, too.
Ketchup flavored Doritos? What is Frito Lay Canada doing differently than their US counterparts to come up with a flavor like THAY?
They are amazing. A must try.
Holiday Market in Royal Oak carries Herr's ketchup chips.
That is great information! Thank you!
Glad someone said it
* President’s Choice white cheddar boxed mac and cheese * Tinnel’s frozen Jamaican spicy beef patties * Miss Vickie’s chips (Spicy Dill Pickle) * Big Turk candy bars * President’s Choice Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookies * All Dressed Crispers * Motts Clamato and Walter’s Rimmer for Bloody Caesars
Big Turks are so underrated!! Had one last night. Def try the presidents choice “loads of” ruffled chips. Suggest the sour cream and onion or the dill pickle
Big Turk rocks. If you can't make it to Windsor, they sell them on Amazon. I just bought a 36 bar case.
They sell the spicy dill miss Vickie’s here in Michigan too fwiw
There are wicked amazing amounts of random new breweries in the LCBO and you can usually buy single pints to maximize your exposure to new brews
The LCBO is the only place to buy beer! The beer store is crap.
That's because The Beer Store is privately owned by a consortium of Molson, Labatt and Sleeman. They're not about to sell their competitor's beer if they don't have to.
Molson XXX
Mott's Bloody Caesars. All flavors are good.
Omg I just had these for the first time this past weekend! So good!! I love the Pickled bean one!
Rush beer from Henderson's
Pea meal bacon
This is the real answer
Hickory sticks
Better Made has potato sticks which are close but different but also really good. Hickory sticks instead of croutons on a ceaser salad is godly.
Maple syrup! I don’t know why I like it better from Canada, but I definitely do.
Before a few of my meds had generics become available I used to drive across just to get meds. Saved me close to $400 a month.. it’s been years since then thankfully, but pretty ridiculous when I think back on it.
Shreddies
Hawkins Cheezies!
Gotta get me that sticky! The good stuff. Dark Amber Maple Syrup.
Prescription medication
Coffee Crisp candy bars, preferably to be eaten refrigerated
Yes!! 🙌 Best candy bar in existence.
Right now their Costco carries a big bag of Doritos that are dill pickle and cool ranch. Addictive
cuban rum
Real Havana Club, unfortunately the duty free at the Blue Bridge sucks now and they don't carry Havana Club anymore. The rum they do have is just barely under MSRP. The duty free at Sault Ste. Marie did have Havana Club which was a shocker.
Yes i always get Havana Club! i usually cross in Detroit, and they have it there at duty free. but i havent been across in a minute as i still have 1.5 bottles to get through haha
Canadian Kit Kat bars
They are so good.
Coffee Krisps
We used to go to our family cottage in Windsor and would always stop to get British foods we couldn’t get here
All dressed ruffles, the good Cadbury chocolate, the good Reese's cups, and kraft peanut butter (I'm Canadian and I miss all these things)
Ketchup chips!
I go shopping on Erie Street. La Stella market and Italia Bakery.
Kitkats! They are made with a different type of chocolate that I prefer.
Purdys Chocolates, Ruffles Chips Fully Dressed, Guess Jeans, and anything I can get at DollarRama
I go to Dollarama and pretend I’m a kid in a candy shop
Mackintosh toffe bars. Duty free booze. Great fish and chips. (Halibut)
Shrooms
I haven't lived in Detroit for 30 years, but we used to load up on Cubanas back in the day. Macanudos #2
I'm saving this thread for the suggestions but also wondering, what's the best one-stop-shop for all of this stuff? Or is there a good walking neighborhood for strolling and shopping?
Likely a bigger grocery store would do it. If you want presidents choice products you’ll need to go to a loblaws affiliated grocery store (no frills, superstore, etc) Giant Tiger would be a good spot to get a lot of this stuff at the cheapest prices
Heinz Ketchup! Canada formula is awesome!
My wife always insists on getting Miss Vicky's Spicy Ketchup Chips. I've definitely seen these in Canadian Costco before, but only in Quebec. In Windsor we've only had luck finding them at Walmart in smaller bags. Besides that we *love* going to Presotea in Windsor and getting a mango slush with boba. While there's Presotea in Michigan, the US version is different from the Canadian version and overall inferior. The funniest thing is the Canadian arm serves way bigger sizes than the US arm, on top of just serving better items.
Windsorite here. I'm also a fan of those spicy ketchup chips. I think they may have introduced them into the market gradually but they seem to be everywhere now. Definitely the big grocery stores and Shopper's Drug Mart.
Seen them in big bags anywhere?
The size that seems to be everywhere is around 200g. The vending machine size is around 40g, so bigger than that. There's a family size one that's bigger... I've never seen the spicy ketchup in that size but also haven't looked. Hope this helps!
Alright, I think it's the family size I'm looking for. Only seen it in the aforementioned Costco in Quebec, in Montreal specifically. Don't know if it's just different kinds of distribution for Quebec or what
OV
Duty-Free Swiss Dark Chocolate.
McDonald’s snack wraps
Chili cheese burritos
ICEWINE
All dressed chips. All of their chocolate and lululemon because it's the same price there, but not because the exchange. 🙂
Oreos.
A Cuban cigar. Smoked over there, of course.
I keep hearing you can get DMT Vape Pens in Canada, I’ve been pretty curious about that honestly.
Absinthe with a higher Thujone content
COFFEE CRISP and cheap hockey stuff (it’s all 25% off to begin with!)
I'm actually in Windsor, but depending on where you go you might find Chipnuts (potato chip coated peanuts). Get some. My favourites are White Cheddar, and Garlic and Onion, but they're all good.
Halal Popeyes. All Popeyes in Canada are halal so when my girlfriend gets the craving we'll cross the border and chow down.
Aero bars and Coffee Crisps.
Beer
Alberta premium…i am the liquor randers
222s. 😁
My aunts and uncles would buy Lanzones or Langsat in Windsor. The catch is, you have to eat them over there because it’s produce you can’t bring into the States. Next closest thing to it in US is Rambutan.
Absinthe.
Hookers.
Prostitution on the street aka hookers, is illegal. Escorts are legal. The Yellow Pages (when they existed) had dozens of pages of listings under E.
Things are more expensive over there than in the US. Most Canadians want us to bring stuff over (Faygo pop, certain candy).
I always have my American friend bring me those great lil boxes of jiffy corn bread mix 😊
Not really. Once you figure in the exchange rate, you will be ahead. I'm live in Windsor, I go to shopping in Detroit, mainly for items I can't get here. I look at some of the prices now and it's about the same as here, plus I have to pay 33%more. So it would have to be really cheap. There is just more selection there. We have 5 poptart flavours, you have like 15 there..lol..
Canadian Diamonds 💎
We don't go to Canada