A&W Canada in Courtenay

581 Ryan Rd, Courtenay, BC V0P 1R0, Canada

★★★★☆
(391 reviews)
Categories: Hamburger restaurant American restaurant Breakfast restaurant Canadian restaurant Chicken restaurant Fast food restaurant

About

Canada's original burger restaurant. Known for great-tasting burgers, handmade onion rings, and frosted mugs of famous A&W Root Beer. Now Proudly serving Organic Pret Coffee, offering hot, iced and frozen beverages at A&W Brew Bar.

Website
web.aw.ca
Address
581 Ryan Rd, Courtenay, BC V0P 1R0, Canada
Plus Code
M2W6+R8 Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada
Time Zone
America/Vancouver

Business Hours

Sunday
5 AM–11 PM
Monday
5 AM–11 PM
Tuesday
5 AM–11 PM
Wednesday
5 AM–11 PM
Thursday
5 AM–11 PM
Friday
5 AM–11 PM
Saturday
5 AM–11 PM

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating Kerbside pickup Drive-through Takeaway Dine-in Delivery
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Beer Coffee Late-night food
Dining options
Breakfast Lunch Dinner Counter service Dessert Seating
Amenities
Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual
Crowd
Family friendly Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
Good for kids High chairs Kids' menu
Parking
Free of charge street parking Free parking lot Parking

Reviews

4.1
★★★★☆
391 reviews

Most Mentioned

fast food (23) breakfast (18) drive thru (15) root beer (15) onion rings (7) cod (4) bun (4) wrap (3) poutine (2) sitting (2)
5 stars
189
4 stars
105
3 stars
53
2 stars
21
1 stars
23
★★★
December 4, 2024

I come here with my kids and I often find the wait times are a bit absurd for the drive thru, they forget to give me my smoothie and they always seem to be standing around for no reason.

★★★★★
October 30, 2024

Always impressed with how clean this restaurant is and the good service. Every time we are in there we see the staff making effort to run the restaurant well and keep it very clean. It is one of the few fast food restaurants we like to dine in.

★★★★★
October 8, 2024

Im only there in the morning sometimes for coffee and breaky. These morning gals are simply amazing. They make you feel like your just part of a club. And by that I mean the fellows sitting there early every morning. Man they make them feel soo welcome too. These girls are always joking with them and I feel included! Food is always good too. But I'm seriously enjoying the morning banter with the girls and these regular Gents! :) hey guy did you hit on the swim instructor?? Haha you had me rollin!!

September 16, 2024

Not cool that they removed the option to add special requests on skip. Also add the root beer sweet cream Shake to the app please 🙏 The special request feature was the only way you could order that flavour, otherwise you could only get it by going in. Won't be ordering from them anymore.

★★★★★
September 9, 2024

Great experience, friendly staff and a clean restaurant. The food was delicious. Thank you for the great time

★★★★★
August 7, 2024

The best Fast food burgers. Always great service with smiles every time I go in and it's not always prioritizing the drive through as I always go in for service. A&W trains their staff well. Thank you

★★★
October 17, 2018

Loving the Beyond Meat burgers. The only fast food restaurant on my A-list now because of this. Tastes like a real burger without the bloat, grease & guilt. :-) Ps. Sometimes "SOLD OUT." Go figure. ;-)

★★★★★
May 24, 2018

I love A&W's breakfast. You can order your eggs the way you want them and you have a choice of white or brown toast. All for an awesome price

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2024

This location I have picked up food bottom food in drive thru ordered from skip all 5 orders since moved here a month ago made fresh and freindly staff

★★★★
Local Guide
December 20, 2024

Its a fast food chain so the food is the same as all other A&Ws. The difference is the staff. They are kind and courteous and if you go there often enough (like me), they know you by name and sometimes what you ordered the last time they served you. Thats pretty good customer service when they deal with hundreds if not thousands of people a day. If you have a doggie, dont forget to order a pup pattie. Its an unseasoned Pattie available in small, medium and large. Your vet may not thank you but your dog will.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 8, 2024

They always get my earl grey tea order perfect. :)

★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

This A&W serves breakfast on real plates. It feels like a little diner. Friendly staff!

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

This A&W is always immaculately clean. The staff are helpful and friendly and service is quick.

★★
October 22, 2024

I asked for a combo gave me just a burger Kid-friendliness: They got baby burgers kids seats and cool stuff Food : 4/5 |

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Best take out window

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Love coming here every morning for my coffee and breakfast

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

I come here with my gramma whenever I go visit and the servers are super nice and the food is great, I don t have to worry about anything there Parking: There are about 12 spots I believe Kid-friendliness: I am A kid and I went there, so I verify that it s kid friendly Wheelchair accessibility: The door opens like normal and people with wheelchairs can get inside

★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Got the frozen root beer. Very good!

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Poutine was beautiful but I spilled my drink on my desk

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Very friendly service Parking: More 10 parking spots Service : 5/5 |

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Good food.

June 22, 2024

The ladies working at front are very much unprofessional and very rude, Every time i visit this store.

June 22, 2024

the lady who is working at the front is very unprofessional and rude

★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Ok but definitely could be better

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

The food is delicious. We getvthe baby burgers its the best value for youre money. The chairs arnt the most comfortable. But a nice place to eat

★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

No toilet paper in the mens room.

★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Food is decent and the staff were helpful and courteous taking my order.

Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Messed up my order. No pickles or onions and burger came loaded with them. Gave it a one time.

★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

A&W has become very expensive over the last decade. $15 for a burger, fries and beverage? In all fairness, its not just them. That said, the food tastes good.

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Great coffee

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Super nice staff, great root beer.

★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Food is always fresh.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Love A&W, I always order the Beyond Burger combo with onion rings. A&W has the best onion rings and the burgers are delicious!

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Wonderful place ,food was so tasty Love their burgers and root beer Food

★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Dub shop always hits

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

The food is usually ok if they get the order right. Usually pretty rude staff. Food

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Great food and staff. Food comes out hot, fresh, and fast.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Wow. Ive been in the Comox valley for 3 years. My first time at this location. We had a coupon for two teenburger meals. We swapped out fries for onion rings . So reasonable . The burger was amazing, the root beer cold but the real reason Im writing this is the staff. 6 stars. Food brought to the table by friendly, enthusiastic staff, a full assortment on dressings available and a clean and comfortable place. Get these kids a tip jar! Good job.

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

Damn good staff great food awesome management and the owners great! all an all a great place :)

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Drive-thru was quick and food was fresh

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Best A&W in the Comox Valley. Great customer service, great food Wheelchair accessibility: Im a care worker, I bring elderly clients who are not in a wheelchair. If they were in a wheelchair, I probably wouldnt even try. Not very accessible at all.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Had lunch here today. Got the uncle burger. The staff were soo friendly and fast. I enjoyed sitting here eating my food and listening to these guys. It sounded like they actually enjoyed their job! Great work guys!

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Typical of franchise which is declining.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Extremely fast and high quality food

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The two guys working the drive thru tonight (August 16th) had really really great customer service and were very kind.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

First time in ages that Ive gone into a fast food restaurant and all the employees actually spoke English and looked like they were born in Canada.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Excellent service and food was great!

★★★★
December 22, 2023

#1 across from superstore This A&W is the only one in the Comox Valley I will go to. They are consistently friendly, food is always fresh and great, they go the extra mile to guarantee our Mom has zero salt on her fries. Thanks for proving customer service does exist. The owner/manager is awesome. I have tried Cliffe ave it rated a -1 out of 5 and Anderton location lacks caring and quality.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Much improved after the remodel and 24 hour drive through is very much appreciated. They never miss the sauces etc for me or anything, overall very good now!

December 22, 2023

Trough rip off, charged me for medium drinks while weve asked for medium, watch out with your orders

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Food was hot fresh and staff was friendly. No complaints

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Me and my family have been to many a&was across Canada and none of them compare to dthe Ryan road location! All the staff is amazing! Highly recommend!! Food : 5/5

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Best A&W on the island. Food is always hot and the staff is super friendly

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Whether you are 18 or 80 this is a very comfortable place to hang out. Breakfast is always consistent and tastey. Hot coffee and friendly staff that takes time to remember your name makes this A&W feel like a proper homegrown, family fast food restaurant thats sets it apart from all of others in Courtenay. Once breakfast is finished, lunch and dinner seem like a favorable choice for upcoming meals

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Been shopping here for quite a while. Great owner and management team. There is always a friendly smiling assortment of people sitting around enjoying their meals. This is my go to breakfast place. Good prices, and great service. They remember my order, and bring my food to my table. They also make their onion rings fresh for each order which is rare in this valley. I would highly recommend eating here Dietary restrictions: If I ever want anything customized they always hook it up. Some days I go in and they have my coffee started already Parking: Tons of parking always

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Best fast food burger in town locally owned and operated by a great guy

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Outstanding service and great food. As an Uncle I like that a burger is named after me. I bring my nephew and he loves it as well. My Mama come too but orders a Papa burger which is weird but I love her anyways

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Good folk

December 22, 2023

The staff at the drive through were very rude.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I love this place, the best staff

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Always fantastic service and food! Never had a poor experience.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Food is always delicious, Super friendly staff, Fast service, what more could you want? Highly recommend.

★★★
December 22, 2022

Its a burger joint.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Good. Quick. Smooth drive thru. In other words classic A&W.

Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I ve had really bad food and service here recently when it never used to be this way. The girl who took my order sounded annoyed and just kept saying yep, that it? anytime I said anything. I ordered a buddy cheese meal with onion rings and there was no salt on the onion rings, they didn t give me a straw or any napkins, and they put so much mayonnaise on the burger huge globs of it went into my hair, all over my clothes, my hands and my car. Really disappointed.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Excellent, friendly service

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Good bacon and eggs breakfast kinda crowded with oldsters like two taking up big tables with a cup of coffee ,but service was good

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

I love all A&W burgers.Every burger has the same size patty(1/4 lb) of beef.The beef has no hormones or steroids.That also goes for the eggs.Grain fed chickens.A&W always holds their employees and their food to the highest standards for the fast food industry.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Even though Im the one who made the mistake and put pick up instead of delivery with skip the dishes, the staff at Ryan Rd A&W went above and beyond to deliver the order to me. This is not something they normally do but a staff member did this for me.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Went here at 5:00 on a Saturday! The crew was fast and attentive to taking the order, you can hear the cooks being competitive and light hearted yelling orders and completing them fast! Our order took about 1-2 minutes to receive. Chubby chickens with perfect amounts of mayo, fresh lettuce and cooked nicely not too tough in texture and still juicy, soft buns. Ordered a poutine as well getting almost the perfect poutine I ve had at an A&W. My special other, ordered a Uncle burger meal on a lettuce wrap! She could not have been more pleased! And this was all on a coupon! I will be coming back to this location if I must choose any A&W in the entire Valley. This whole team should feel proud!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Parking: Lo Kid-friendliness: Lots of parking

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great breakfast. Good coffee. Excellent price and service. Kid-friendliness: My 3yo son forgot his shoes they let us stay and eat. Very nice folks.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Perfect experience, great food, awesome location and best of all: FRESH YUMMY COFFEE! This A&W team is rocking it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Fast friendly service and excellent food. Love the teen burger!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Good experience and service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Best fast food in town! Cant go wrong with a classic teen burger combo!

★★★
December 22, 2021

The food is what youd expect from an A&W. Just standard A&W stuff it all tastes pretty much the same. The staff there laughed at me and my friend after we left the drive through it was quite rude. We were on foot in the drive through, that could be the reason although it says that you are allowed to walk through the drive through because the dining room is closed due to Covid-19.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Great service.

Local Guide
December 22, 2021

They took our order at the drive thru, asked us to pull up to the window. Took our order again at the window. Then said their grill is turned off and they cant make a vegie burger so have a good night.... What is going on with these restaurants lately

December 22, 2021

Food is good but the service is horrible. Dont care about customer and are very rude.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Very friendly, yummy and they are supporting a great cause multiple sclerosis research. 2 dollars from every teen burgers goes towards MS research!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Consistently impressed by the quality of food from A&W. The burgers look like the pictures and taste great.. with similar prices to other fast food places the quality here is unbeaten

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

How could I describe this location! It was a mixture of 50/50 of people not knowing to wear or not wear their masks! Some staff were wearing theirs, and some werent! So thats confusing... Anyways went looking for either a ice cream cone or Milkshake, and was told they dont sell them anymore! What a shame, guess the oldies are being flushed for new ideas! So bought myself some lunch! Boy do I ever regret it! When I ordered my Papa Burger, I requested extra onions & sauce! Good luck in getting those! 2 orders of Fries (salty like they came from a brine solution) a drink! I miss the good old days of A&W where there use to be a small, med, & a large size drink! But now its one size regular & for the price I couldve walked down the street to 7Eleven and got a 2lt Pop for the same price! Also they use paper straws which seem to go soft after starting to drink youre drink!! Oh yah cant forget the so called cold A&W apple pie! Talk about cold, not hot in which it should be! Possibly sat there most of the morning! Wheres the time limit on items like this! They use to be thrown after a certain amount of time not sitting there for a unexpected customer to buy! I took a bite out of it, and immediately threw it in the garbage .. Plus also if Id been the supervisor, Id sent some of my staff home to save the labour cost; instead of standing around & giggling with customers in the store! If you stand around look busy, and maybe you wouldnt get complaints like this... As it stands thats why you get 3 stars, instead

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Buddy burgers!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

So good! And quick ? Classic breakfast in 3 minutes? Unheard of. Fresh tasting and perfectly done.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Friendly people .

December 22, 2021

Employees close 15 sometimes 25 minutes before posted closing times. Sign off 30 mins before.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Always a good burger

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Great food, fast service, friendly staff

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Typical A&W. Food was prepared as ordered, restaurant was clean. Service adequate, staff did their jobs. Personally I like to feel that my patronage was that welcomed and this is what takes a business from just being average to better than average.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

My new lunch spot while in Parksville. This is a must to savor.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Great service

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Dirty needs to be cleaned dirty dishes piled high and tables where filthy

★★★★
December 22, 2021

Great staff and service

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Good atmosphere and great survis.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Very friendly staff and fast service!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Used the drive thru ..experienced staff very helpful..hot and fresh food..great service

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

A&w has the same menu at every outlet

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Always fantastic service. The only A&W we will go to in town.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Best A&W ever. Im on the road constantly and this crew is fantastic. Everything is always 100% accurate and they are super friendly.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Best burgers served by great staff - friendly and delicious, and great value!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Great burgers and always get with onion rings. Order with salt on the side and they will be fresh cooked and delicious. Rootbeer shakes are awesome but very addicting. Dont say I didnt warn you!

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Amazing stuff every time

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Good food

★★★★
December 22, 2020

Great breakfast

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

A good and friendly Place to eat a Variety of healthy Burgers.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Very natural tasting hamburgers

★★★★
December 22, 2020

The best part about A&W for me is the integrity of their ingredients. I am confident that beef is beef and fish is fish. In fact their cod wrap with Cole slaw has tartar sauce in it which I love and is the perfect quick lunch for me ( I dont eat much) or snack for some. My son really enjoys their chicken bacon ranch wrap. And of course the rootbeer, cmon about the rootbeer!

★★
December 22, 2020

I went there with my brother and ordered two Mozza combos. After a little bit, a worker brought out our food along with the food of another woman, because we weren t allowed inside. We grabbed the bag that said x2 Mozza and the woman grabbed her Buddy Burgers. We walked all the way home and opened our food, only to realize that they had put our food in the wrong bags, and we had the buddy burgers. So uh, thanks I guess

★★★★
December 22, 2020

The only place in town where u can walk thru the drive thru absolutely NAKED and they still serve u, with a huge smile and some drool on their face!!

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Only drive by available during covid-19. Missed an order on item which both sides quickly sorted out but Id recommend checking your order.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

This is the only A&W place where they make food the way it should be. We have never had such a consistent Beyond Meat burgers quality anywhere else. I dont know what and how they do it, but I appreciate their service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

This is the better of the two A&Ws in Courtenay. I live way closer to the Cliffe Ave location but always drive to this one, it s worth it. The owner is an absolutely lovely elderly woman who could be found working the drive thru every single night. Hours have changed since covid so unfortunately this has changed, but she still works during the day and her quality control game is on point! This A&W actually cares about the food they produce, the burgers are delicately put together, it feels like an artisan burger joint, not a fast food chain! Very friendly staff, great central location and cheaper prices than the Cliffe Ave Location!

★★★
December 22, 2020

To long a wait

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Just like the rest. Only go when I have a coupon

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

We asked for every sauce and it literally took 10 mins to get it... kind of sucked

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

These ladies are amazing, everyone works together so well and you can tell there is a level of quality and care they put into their work. It can be hard to trust fast food places but this location is always a sure thing!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Awesome food

★★★
December 22, 2019

Just wanted a Berger,they have one that you can See With the bun closed. Hate to have to search for the meat. Just fine.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Good food

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Great food pleasant atmosphere

December 22, 2019

My fiance and I just passed through to order some breakfast, and the I dont know what the ladies problem was but she needs to change her tune. We straight up had such a bad taste in our mouth we pulled away before getting to the window to take our money elsewhere. McDonalds wasnt far and actually treated us with some respect.

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Staff are usually lovely in the drive through. Veggie burgers & fries are delicious!

Local Guide
December 22, 2019

To many homeless ppl outside

December 22, 2019

Stop asking.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

The place is renovated since I came years ago

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Ever since they started selling the beyond meat burgers they have become my go to fast food joint. Always have been, in my mind, a more healthy alternative to McDonalds..

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Prices are to high

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Tried the cod burger. Healthiest choice on the menu!

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Had our classic car meet there. Very well run. Staff went above and beyond in their service considering the place was packed with car club members.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Only got food poisoning once

★★
December 22, 2019

Cod burger seems to have shrank to 1/2 size

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Actual cheese melted on breakfast sandwich and fresh bun and eggs. Yummy

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Always fast and fresh. Never a problem.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

A little pricier than the average fast food (I think, I dont know) but the Beyond Beef? Beyond Meat burger? Yum! Throw an onion ring between the buns, skip the cheese and bingo! Great burger for the price. Plus you may have contributed to saving a cow and live a little longer, who knows

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Had the Beyond Meat Burger... Yay they were also on sale.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Always enjoy my Teen burger.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Quick service

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Its fast food what do you expect

December 22, 2019

8 min drive thru

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Good

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Good food... they looked at me as if I was a unicorn.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Great service food is always hot love the coupons.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Excellent service and quality was great

Local Guide
December 22, 2019

It was dry and tasteless

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

The very best of the fast-food burger chains. Also A&W rootbeer is the king of root beers, hands down. The available seasoning salt for dining in customers is a nice touch for your tasty fries. Very consistent quality and service, Never disappointed

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Can walk through the drive through at night

★★★
December 22, 2019

service slow

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

One of the better fast food places out there. Staff are pretty friendly, and the food is always accurate.