In 1956, the first A&W drive-in restaurant in Canada opened on Portage Avenue in Winnipeg. Serving a delicious combination of great-tasting burgers, onion rings and frosted mugs of famous A&W Root Beer® all from the smiling faces of friendly car hops A&W proved to be an instant hit. A&W Restaurants quickly multiplied across the nation, flourishing through the late ’50s and ’60s.