Welcome to Edmonton Food Faves We Crave (2024 UPDATE)
presented by: Linda Hoang @lindork and Sharon Yeo @sharonxyeo (Only Here For The Food)!
In this updated 2024 version of our original Edmonton Food Faves We Crave list from 2022, you’ll find 20 categories of our Favourite Restaurants in Edmonton, including FIVE new categories!
Just like the inaugural 2022 edition, for 2024, Linda and Sharon have included three restaurant suggestions per category (a fave pick for Linda, a fave pick for Sharon, and a shared fave pick both Linda and Sharon have agreed on for that category). And just like the original list, we wanted to remind readers that we chose the title of the list as ‘Food Faves’ rather than ‘Best’ because it is completely subjective to our tastes and preferences, not at all exhaustive, and reflects our biases.
We invite you to use this list to guide your dining experiences in Edmonton!
You can also reference the Edmonton Food Faves We Crave (2022) Edition here.
A note from Sharon:
While both Linda and I have maintained long-standing blogs which include weekly suggestions for dining options, we are often still asked for recommendations and to share our “favourite” restaurants. As a result, in 2022, Linda and I started to think about how we might put together a list of some of our favourite places.
In this age of social media, where information is a constant barrage, it’s in some ways no surprise that “best of” lists continue to endure. Sometimes it can feel like there is just so much noise that a curated list can allow you to take a breath and be able to return to it when needed.
The last couple of years have been extra-challenging for small businesses, many grappling with repaying loans taken during the pandemic, all while serving customer bases with less to spend on dining out. Five of the businesses we featured on our 2022 list, partially chosen due to our long-standing patronage over the years, closed in the time since it was published.
With social media rewarding places and posts that highlight what’s new and flashy, so many of the enduring businesses who offer great food and consistent experiences tend to be overlooked and fall under the radar. As much as I enjoy trying new and different places, I am conscious that if I don’t intentionally support restaurants that I have loved for years, they may not always be there. It is our hope that this list casts a spotlight on our favourites that we hope could become your favourites for years to come.
A note from Linda:
Sharon and I are really happy to release this updated version of some of our favourite spots we might suggest if you were wondering what to try in the city. As Sharon alluded to, it is a little bittersweet doing this 2024 update from 2022 because in just two short years a number of spots we had listed in the original list shut down permanently.
The restaurant industry is not easy and the last few years have been particularly challenging on restaurant owners and customers alike. With the first list and now this update, Sharon and I did try to consider ‘longevity’ when making our selections to ensure the suggestions would stay relevant if it takes another two+ years to update again, but honestly, the food scene can be so unpredictable and even places you think are doing really well might be silently struggling. All the more reason to utilize lists like this to support local spots!
I will add that honestly I don’t love making definitive lists because I have so many favourite foods and places I frequently visit in Edmonton and narrowing down to ONE per category is hard!! Of course you feel bad if you can’t include all of the places that you love… plus, landing on a favourite SHARED pick? Difficult! But we did it!
All of that to reiterate that this list is not exhaustive and of course there are more places we love and would recommend too, that did not make the cut here (but makes the cut in our hearts lol). Some of Sharon’s picks are not my favourite and some of mine are not hers. However, many picks definitely overlap! We both have great, biased tastes after all, lol.
We hope you’ll find these recommendations useful! Enjoy!!
Edmonton Food Faves We Crave (2024)
20 categories listed in alphabetical order
- Favourite Bakery
- Favourite Brunch
- Favourite Cafe
- Favourite Comfort Food
- Favourite Communal (Sharing)
- Favourite Date Night
- Favourite Dessert
- Favourite Dish
- Favourite Drinks
- Favourite Handheld *NEW*
- Favourite Neighbourhood *NEW*
- Favourite Noodles *NEW*
- Favourite Non-Alcoholic Drink *NEW*
- Favourite Patio
- Favourite Place To Take a Tourist
- Favourite Solo
- Favourite Soup
- Favourite Take-out
- Favourite Value Eats
- Favourite ‘Worth the Drive’ *NEW*
Use a Printable Passport Version to Follow Along!
1. Favourite Bakery (2024)
- Sharon’s Pick: Brio Bakery
- Linda’s Pick: Great North Cookie Co.
- Shared Pick: Chocorrant Patisserie + Cafe
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Bakery: Brio Bakery
12021 102 Ave. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
Todd Barraclough started to build a legion of fans for his perfected sourdough as a vendor at the City Market Downtown. And since moving into a brick and mortar at the Oliver Exchange Building in 2019, lineups snaking out the door of the storefront are a common sight. Most come for one (or several!) loaves of bread – the Prairie loaf is our family favourite – but their pastry case is hard to ignore, too. Their cruffins (made with croissant dough in the shape of a muffin) are irresistible. Brio routinely sells out in the early afternoon hours – but they have an excellent pre-ordering system that sees staff meet customers with the goods outside the door or at their vehicle nearby.
While Todd sold the business to new owners in 2023, I am happy to say the transition has appeared to be seamless, and the quality has remained excellent.
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Bakery: Great North Cookie Co.
20 McLeod Ave #1, Spruce Grove, AB. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
I’m such a fan of Great North Cookie Co., a gourmet cookie shop located in Spruce Grove, that also sells at different markets in and around Edmonton. They specialize in gourmet, soft-baked cookies made with lots of love, fresh daily. These cookies are thiccc! They change out flavours each month (though the Milk Chocolate Sea Salt is a constant and must-order) and your beautiful cookies come in beautiful boxes, making this a go-to choice for us when it comes to gifting. This is my favourite cookie in the Edmonton area!
The storefront itself is also super cute (very aesthetic) and I love that they have a kids play area! Enjoy your cookies and drinks while the kids play.
Shared Pick for Favourite Bakery: Chocorrant
10328 124 St. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
* this shared pick is written by Linda
It’s not just the pretty pastries or the delicious croissants that keep us coming back to Chocorrant, located along the lovely 124 Street. It’s also the ear to ear grins I get when I gift Chocorrant treats to others. Sharing that joy of food makes food even more joyful! You know? Chocorrant’s selection of artisan croissants, croissantwiches (croissant sandwiches), tarts, and cakes (the Cake Sampler is always a hit), have made it a favourite for me. When you want special croissant flavours like matcha, strawberry milk croissants or S’mores—Chocorrant is where you should go! These 73-layer croissants take 3 days to make and are baked fresh daily.
Sharon adds that she loves how Chocorrant does sweet and savoury croissants exceptionally well. She pre-ordered their Lunar New Year croissants earlier this year to share with family and the Bolo BBQ Pork was a hit!
2. Favourite Brunch
- Sharon’s Pick: Happy & Olive
- Linda’s Pick: Tiramisu Bistro
- Shared Pick: Rosewood Foods
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Brunch: Happy & Olive
9640 142 St. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
With 50 years of experience between the two owner-operator couples, the restaurant veterans behind Happy and Olive had everything and more to open another successful venture.
Happy and Olive is decidedly a neighbourhood spot, with many Crestwood regulars drawn to their options for morning coffee, lunch, and dinner. But they are a destination in Edmonton for their brunch; the light and crispy latkes are simply outstanding, enhanced with toppings such as sauteed mushrooms or smoked salmon. The room is also designed with clear sightlines to take full advantage of the expansive windows, and as a result, it is a naturally bright space.
Their patio is also notable for being tucked away along the side street, and offers a pleasant option for outdoor dining.
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Brunch: Tiramisu Bistro
10750 124 St. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
I have just three words for you: maple spiced potatoes.
Tiramisu Bistro’s brunch potatoes are unreal—so, so good! Whether you’re having it with a sizeable eggs benny (they have lots of options), crepe, omelette or French toast, and whether you’re having it in Tiramisu Bistro’s super cute geodome enclosed patio, regular patio, or dining room, and whether you’re having it before or after a quick browse of their Lift Me Up Market, featuring tons of awesome pastries and fresh baked bread, you will have a great brunch here. And although not traditionally a ‘brunch’ cuisine, I just extra love Tiramisu Bistro for their Spaghetti Cones (literally, spaghetti in a cone lol) and they have a spaghetti eggs benny you can try too! If you get a chance to sit on the patio, Tiramisu Bistro’s patio vibes are also one of the best in the city AND their Lift Me Up Sandwich Bar makes this corner of 124 Street a great one to hit up.
Shared Pick for Favourite Brunch: Rosewood Foods
10150 100 St. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
* this shared pick was written by Sharon
Rosewood Foods has been a regular fixture for our family since they opened four years ago. It’s rare for me to say that I would order literally anything from a menu (I usually have a go-to dish or two), but this holds true for Rosewood – you absolutely cannot go wrong here. Their breakfast sandwiches are amazing (all served on their house milk buns), and their brunch-only lemony buttermilk pancakes are a sweet, fluffy dream.
Linda is partial to their breakfast rice (with toasted caramelized miso rice) and their katsu chicken sandwich. Linda is also a big fan of Rosewood’s cruellers, but our household favourite is their carrot cake, which we have used to ring in Mack’s birthday every year since.
3. Favourite Cafe
- Sharon’s Pick: Bar Oro Caffe & Roastery
- Linda’s Pick: Boxcar Coffee Shop
- Shared Pick: Hallway Cafe
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Cafe: Bar Oro Caffe & Roastery
10550 Jasper Ave. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
Antonio Bilotta is no stranger to the café business, having started several coffee concepts over the last 20 years, including Da Capo in Old Strathcona (it has since closed). Bilotta’s latest café, Bar Oro, opened downtown in 2023. Its location on the ground floor of Energy Square takes full advantage of the expansive lobby space, offering many overflow seating options (a great feature for those looking to stay and work a while). Over the summer, a friend and I found our way to Bar Oro on a weekly basis, lured by their great service and solid coffee. For those looking for something substantial with your drink, their pinsas are lighter than your average pizza (due to the long fermentation time on the dough) but just as satisfying.
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Cafe: Boxcar Coffee Shop
11926 129 Ave. | Instagram
Located in Edmonton’s historic Calder neighbourhood, Boxcar Coffee Shop is an awesome locally-owned coffee shop (in fact, voted Edmonton’s best in 2024 by Edify Edmonton—I was one of the judges on the panel that year), with specialty pastries and other tasty desserts, great drinks and sandwiches.
I’m a fan of their strawberry matcha here and their fun drink flight (featuring four rotating flavours). The patio is one of the cutest in the city and the building itself is really unique and slick —inside and out! I love the vibes, decor, and art (Hanji Korean art by Juju) at Boxcar too. It’s a wonderful hub in the neighbourhood and worth popping by even if you’re not nearby.
Shared Pick for Favourite Cafe: The Hallway Cafe
10114 104 St. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
* this shared pick written by Sharon
Linda points out that most people would be shocked to know that Hallway Café (previously called Kids in the Hall), has been around for twenty years, tucked away in Edmonton’s City Hall. Operated by non-profit E4C, the café is a social enterprise that provides at-risk youth with hands-on training and experience in the hospitality field.
They have a great coffee program along with hot breakfast and lunch menus, and though I am one to lean towards take-out, I’ve actually always dined in at Hallway Café. The space is bright and inviting (with ample room for strollers!), and my typical order is a half pizza with a side of fries – there’s something novel to me about the combination.
4. Favourite Comfort Food
- Sharon’s Pick: Route 99
- Linda’s Pick: Hanjan
- Shared Pick: Gui Lin Noodle House
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Comfort Food: Route 99
8820 99 St.
Mack and I have been eating at Route 99 for more than 15 years. While the interior has been refreshed in that time, the core of the diner has not changed. The charm of their cozy booths, vintage signs, and down-to-earth service has kept us coming back. The menu offers the expected burgers and fries, and also the bonus of all-day breakfast. However, our order has remained poutine (be warned it is not at all authentic; they use shredded white cheese) and pizza (with a crunchy and not-too-thick crust). Route 99 was also the site of our planned lunch stop in between wedding photos, so it will always have an air of nostalgia for me.
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Comfort Food: Hanjan
3735 99 St. and 10166 114 St. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
Oh how I love Hanjan. This is my typical order: The Bossam, which are pork belly lettuce wraps you create with raw garlic, pickled radish, and fermented soybean paste. Any of their soups—I am partial to Kimchi Jjigae or Budae Jjigae spicy stews, and a plate of jaeyuk bokkum (spicy pork belly with kimchi and vegetables). But depending on who I’m with we may also throw in some Strawberry Bingsu (a Korean shaved ice dessert with fresh strawberries, ice cream and condensed milk), or japchae (glass noodle dishes), or Korean pancakes too. I am so fond of the food and atmosphere at either Hanjan locations! Most of the main dishes also come with sides of white rice, which adds to that comfort food feeling. They have a video about eating Hanjan four days in a row and honestly, would do. lol
Shared Pick for Favourite Comfort Food: Gui Lin Noodle House
10626 97 St. | Website
* this shared pick written by Sharon
Something Linda and I share is finding comfort in noodles of all sorts. Among our favourites is Gui Lin Noodle House, the only restaurant in Edmonton that serves cuisine from this region in China. They incorporate pickled vegetables into their noodles and soups, which is surprisingly addictive once you’ve tried it. I always order the fried instant noodles with minced pork – it is great consumed out of the box, and yields another entire meal in leftovers (Linda often orders the sister dish, which substitutes macaroni for the noodles).
Service is fast and friendly – you can tell Tony we sent you!
5. Favourite Communal (Sharing)
- Sharon’s Pick: Otto Food + Drink
- Linda’s Pick: Bodega
- Shared Pick: Padmanadi
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Communal (Sharing): Otto
11405 95 St. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
Otto is my communal restaurant of choice. With a crowd-pleasing menu of sausages and delicious accompaniments, even the pickiest of eaters will have something to enjoy. The food is delivered on large platters to share, so it is also great for those looking to sample a variety of bites with a group. Our go-to is the Otto namesake, a pork sausage flavoured with caraway and garlic, and oozing with Sylvan Star gouda, as well as their garlic-herb fries and smoked mac and cheese. Otto is also a super kid-friendly destination; on one family outing years ago, owner Ed Donszelmann held Emily for twenty minutes when she was a baby so Mack and I could enjoy our meal. It’s something I’ve never forgotten.
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Communal (Sharing): Bodega
10220 103 St., 12417 Stony Plain Rd., 6509 112 Ave., 1 Herbert Rd. (St. Albert), 240 Baseline Rd. (Sherwood Park) | Website | Facebook | Instagram
I am such a big fan of Bodega, a Spanish tapas bar by SABOR. and well, I’m not the only one because it’s so popular they’ve expanded from their teeny downtown restaurant to multiple locations across the Edmonton area so many more people can partake in the delightful Spanish tapas! Tapas are small plate / appetizer style dishes that are meant to be shared. That’s the best way to dine at Bodega—select a handful of plates to share, from the Piri Piri Prawns or Chicken, to the Patatas Bravas (potatoes), to the Bacon-wrapped Dates, Grilled Baby Artichokes or various meats and cheeses. On Thursdays, you can get eight tapas and a bottle of wine for just $80. The perfect spot to share some mouthwatering dishes.
Shared Pick for Favourite Communal (Sharing): Padmanadi
10740 101 St. and 6925 Gateway Blvd. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
* this shared pick written by Linda
Padmanadi is arguably the best spot for Vegan / Vegetarian Asian cuisine. It’s a family-owned eatery that has been serving up unmatched Indonesian, Chinese, Thai and Indian plant-based dishes in the city or more than 16 years. And it’s best eaten shared! Select a few small bites (veggie chicken satay skewers and deep fried tofu anyone?), add a soup (spicy tom yum!), then choose from a few family size entrees like the famous “ginger beef” (soy beef strips, a best seller), and curry chicken (a signature dish), with chili green beans. Dig in!!
6. Favourite Date Night
- Sharon’s Pick: Tzin
- Linda’s Pick: Japonais Bistro / Windermere
- Shared Pick: Kazoku Ramen
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Date Night: Tzin
10115 104 St. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
For a restaurant that has been open for 17 years, it speaks volumes that Tzin has remained consistent and continues to be sought-after by diners. From the beginning, Tzin has been reliable for great food and excellent service, and they’ve never wavered. As parents of young children, date nights for us are rare, so it’s even more essential to select a restaurant that won’t be a disappointment.
Co-owner Kelsey Danyluk’s warmth and personalized service always elevates the experience, while chef Corey McGuire’s food (including the menu’s legendary bacon dish, featuring melt-in-your-mouth pork belly topped with maple balsamic apple compote, apple mayonnaise, and Calvados gastrique on a crostini) is delicious. The space is small but cozy, and provides a great venue to reconnect.
In warmer climes, they add several tables on a thoughtfully enclosed and intimate patio – speaking from experience, it’s a great place to whittle away a long summer’s night.
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Date Night: Japonais Bistro / Windermere
11806 Jasper Ave. (Downtown) or 6138 Currents Dr. (South) | Website | Facebook | Instagram
We always have such a fantastic experience at Japonais Bistro (and specifically, the Windermere south Edmonton location since they opened in 2023). Boasting a modern Japanese culinary experience, Japonais (prononounced ‘za-po-ne’) Bistro’s menu is a mix of tradition and innovation. The presentation here is like art and each bite is so flavourful. Unique-to-Japonais dishes that we love to share include the Tuna Nachos, New Style Sashimi, TNT and Love Crunch rolls and Lobster Cream Udon, to name just a few items I know you’ll love.
We are also suckers for their Feature Menu items—these change seasonally and often include premium fish imported from Japan. If you’re not super into seafood (but like, this is where you would easily become a seafood lover), they have some great cooked protein options too. I always rave about how you’ll find extremely high quality, delicious food and drink at Japonais. It’s definitely a place to impress your date and form some great memories over even better food. Even their lunch bento boxes (which include a Build Your Own option!) feel like a a step above the rest with their gold/yellow interior box design!
Shared Pick for Favourite Date Night: Kazoku Ramen
16518 100 Ave. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
* this shared pick written by Linda
Mike would agree with Sharon that Kazoku is his Favourite Soup in the city too (somewhere in Chinatown my mother feels a pang in her heart that her pho isn’t #1 for Mike lol). We love coming here for our dates. For our Date Night, we usually get the Tonkotsu Black (Black Garlic) Ramen, Chicken Katsu Curry on Rice, and Chicken Karaaage to share. Great portion sizes. Delicious broth. Wonderful curry. Just a perfect date! Sharon also enjoys the Creamy Tonkotsu and Chicken Karaage and we both love their mural of a cartoon, ramen-loving Godzilla too cute to resist.
7. Favourite Dessert
- Sharon’s Pick: Sugared & Spiced
- Linda’s Pick: ch. cafeteria
- Shared Pick: Yelo’d Ice Cream & Bake Shoppe
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Dessert: Sugared & Spiced
Rear, 10334 Whyte Ave. | Website | Instagram
Linda and I debated whether or not our favourite dessert places had to be of the dine-in variety. But given this list is supposed to be a true representation of where we actually eat, the reality for me is that I rarely have desserts at restaurants. You will more often find me ferrying a treat home to enjoy with tea at the end of the day.
So my choice for that sweet ending is the brownie at Sugared & Spiced in Old Strathcona. Rich and dense, I actually find that one brownie is large enough to enjoy over two days. In addition, proprietor Jeff Nachtigall will ask if you would prefer a brownie from the centre, or with an edge (for a chewier bite). Of note, Sugared & Spiced is also the home of Cake Club, a subscription that allows you to choose three dates when you would like to receive one of their signature cakes (which can also be delivered – what could be better?).
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Dessert: ch. cafeteria
14802 Stony Plain Rd. | Facebook | Instagram
Did you know there’s a suuuuper cute Mexican chocolateria ch. cafeteria on Stony Plain Road?! This is one of the cutest, coziest spots in town, a Coffee House and CHocolate shop, where they also sell CHilaquiles! (Those three things represent the ‘ch’ in the cafe name).
They have great drinks and a variety of pastries but are especially known for their chocolate mousse desserts which they call Chido Desserts! I am partial to the “The Supreme” (white chocolate) mousse, but you can also get “The Raul” “The Dark Vader” “The Woodstock” “The Heidi” “The “Warhol” – each delicious dessert cup come with different layers of chocolate mousse, nuts, and flourless sponge. Because they’re primarily made of mousse, these make for lighter, airier, less dense desserts (which I am very for!) A wife and husband duo have been running ch. Cafeteria since 2020. They sometimes do chocolate tastings too!
Shared Pick for Favourite Dessert: Yelo’d Ice Cream & Bake Shoppe
10150A 82 Ave. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
* this shared pick written by Linda
Edmonton was absolutely ready when Yelo’d Ice Cream & Bake Shoppe introduced to us the ube ice cream—a brilliant purple soft serve made from purple yams. Since opening, Yelo’d has become known for its unique, Filipino and Asian-inspired ice cream and bake shoppe flavours. This is fusion ice cream we can all get behind—and well, we mostly do, as you can expect a line-up out the order window most days throughout Edmonton’s glorious summers. The owners have also been such a gift to whatever neighbourhoods they open.
In 2024, they opened sister ice cream shop Little Bon Bon Ice Cream in Chinatown and their commitment to revitalization efforts in the neighbourhood are so appreciated. There are some similar Yelo’d flavours but also unique to Chinatown items there. Plus if you live or work in the area you can get a discount there!
8. Favourite Dish
- Sharon’s Pick: Battista’s Calzone
- Linda’s Pick: Shanghai 456
- Shared Pick: XIX Nineteen
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Dish: Calzones from Battista’s Calzone
11745 84 St. | Website | Instagram
It’s a common refrain on this list that I’m partial to places that do one thing really, really, well. Battista’s Calzones is another such restaurant, only offering savoury and sweet calzones (in other words, folded-over, enclosed pizzas). The dough is always perfectly browned with just the right amount of chew, and owner Battista Vecchio never skimps on the filling. I find myself returning to the New York Mama again and again, as it is filled with tasty all-beef meatballs, but you really can’t go wrong with any of the calzones on the menu. For those looking for freezer stores, Battista’s also sells pre-ordered frozen calzones to bake at home – it’s always great to have some on hand to satisfy that craving! It’s worth noting that Battista’s is generally only open on weekends, so it is worth checking their hours before you visit.
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Dish: Xiao Long Bao from Shanghai 456
14456 118 Ave.
I know a dish is really good when I have to fight off my niece and nephew for a bite. When we take them to Shanghai 456 for soup dumplings, we each start with two orders EACH of the delicious Xiao Long Bao (XLB) soup dumplings—no sharing here, lol. These are the absolute best bites in the city. Place your dumpling on a soup spoon, bite a little hole in the top of the dumpling, add a touch of vinegar and soy sauce, dig in and never be the same again. Once you have XLB here you’ll find yourself constantly returning for more, the cravings are absolutely real.
Shared Pick for Favourite Dish: Ahi Tuna Twists from XIX Nineteen
5940 Mullen Way and 150 Bellerose Dr. (St. Albert) | Website | Facebook | Instagram
* this shared pick was written by Linda
The Ahi Tuna Twists from XIX Nineteen is the type of dish that makes you exclaim in glee. It’s so good and and Sharon notes, really unlike any other dish in Edmonton.
Mike and I often find ourselves at XIX for occasions—every anniversary for instance since this restaurant opened in 2012, we celebrate here, and no celebration is complete without Chef Andrew Fung’s famous Ahi Tuna Twists—the perfect bite of tuna atop spicy Thai noodles, Asian slaw, with cilantro aïoli.
Named after the “nineteenth hole” at a golf course (the drinks + food / celebration after your round), XIX is a favourite fancy night out. Reserve a seat by the kitchen so you can watch the action unfold. We are also fans of the signature Warm Butter Cake here.
9. Favourite Drinks
- Sharon’s Pick: Fu’s Repair Shop
- Linda’s Pick: Mai Mai Vietnamese Street Kitchen
- Shared Pick: Partake
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Drinks: Fu’s Repair Shop
9902 109 St. | Website | Instagram
Fu’s Repair Shop opened in Edmonton back in 2022 with such a fun, cheeky splash. It was awarded with such immediate acclaim that they soon outgrew their space and relocated to a prime Jasper Avenue space a year later. It’s hard not to be stricken by a place that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Fu’s Repair Shop operates under a guise as its name suggests, but through its (vending machine) door, guests are treated to a space with a speakeasy vibe. Fu’s put boozy bubble tea on the map in Edmonton, but their other drinks are equally interesting, made with spirits infused with everything from black sesame, white miso, and tea. I also appreciate that several drinks on their menu can be made without alcohol. To enjoy with those drinks, the food menu offers all-day dim sum (who knew the option of having a drink with siu mai was such a game changer), alongside some Chinese restaurant mainstays (peaches and shrimp anyone?)
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Drinks: Mai Mai Vietnamese Street Kitchen
14221 23 Ave. | Facebook | Instagram
In southwest Edmonton you’ll find the really lovely Mãi Mãi Vietnamese Street Kitchen, one of my favourite Vietnamese restaurants in the city for its fresh, flavourful Vietnamese dishes (including some items you don’t see on many menus in town), plus their creative, delicious Vietnamese takes on classic drinks.
Drinking is a pretty core component of Vietnamese culture (lol), and we cheers by saying “Mot – Hai – Ba -Zo!” before clinking glasses. Mai Mai’s drink menu breaks down the meaning of the cheers really well and they present some incredibly unique signature cocktails including the Saigon Negroni, Pho Old Fashioned, Sambal Margarita, or Hanoi Espresso Martini, to name just a few inventive drink twists.
You’ll have a great time at Mãi Mãi, which means “forever” in Vietnamese. The decor, which includes Vietnamese lanterns and big blown up portraits of albums from Vietnamese musicians, celebrates the timeless spirit of Sài Gòn, inspired by its vibrant food, fashion, and music from 1954-1975 (before the Fall of Saigon).
Shared Pick for Favourite Drinks: Partake
12431 102 Ave. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
* this shared pick written by Linda
Partake is an awesome little French restaurant serving up French classics like tartine, tarte, and tartare, plus flights of butter (yes, butter!) along with a wide selection of cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks all created by their exceptional bartender Jenn Kerr. Partake’s drink names double as descriptions of the flavour of each drink, like the No. 25 rich, sweet berry, citrus (alcoholic), or the No. 6 balanced, citrus, complex (non-alcoholic). Love a place where you can trust the bartender entirely to find something that fits your mood and preferences. Also appreciate complimentary bowls of popcorn (who doesn’t?), something Partake also offers.
10. Favourite Handheld
- Sharon’s Pick: Van Loc
- Linda’s Pick: Tealicious Blend
- Shared Pick: Pal’s
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Handheld: Van Loc
10648 98 St. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
Over the years, I’ve managed to convert Mack to the wonders of a Vietnamese sub (he was previously a Subway devotee). While I oscillate between Nhon Hoa (mentioned elsewhere on this list) and Van Loc, since William Chen and Wilson Wong took over the business in 2023, I’ve been frequenting the latter a lot more. They stayed true to the recipes of the original owners, but have added more modern options, such as their crispy pork banh mi (made with pork belly sourced from another Chinatown business, Hing Lung). Still, the traditional is my favourite, while Mack loves the shredded chicken. It’s an added bonus that they accept credit cards (rare for a business in that neighbourhood).
You could also pick up ingredients to Build Your Own Banh Mi Board like Linda has done!
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Handheld: Tealicious Blend
11 St Anne St. | Facebook | Instagram
If you’re looking for a sizeable sandwich, you’ve got to try the Korean-style fluffy egg sandwiches from Tealicious Blend in St. Albert.
It’s the only place in the Edmonton area serving up these massive, delicious, buttery brioche thiccc toast sandwiches with your choice of filling. I usually go for the spam and egg while Mike is a Meat Lover guy. There’s also Classic Egg Bite (like a super elevated breakfast sandwich offered all day), and flavours like beef teriyaki, spicy beef bulgogi, smoked salmon with wasabi. The sandwiches are also under $10 (except the salmon one), making this extra great value for the quality and quantity (again, she thicc!) for the price. Their bubble tea is also great here!
Shared Pick for Favourite Handheld: Pals
10335 83 Ave. | Website | Instagram
* this shared pick is written by Linda
At the intersection of 104 St. and 83 Ave. in Old Strathcona, you have some seriously great choices for eateries offering top-notch food and atmosphere. From The Next Act Pub to MEAT to Marlo to Pips and Pals, all five of these popular spots have something in common—their ownership! And something the team at all of these spots know how to do is deliver a quality experience. The sandwich shop arm of this dining dynasty, Pals, is our Shared Pick for Favourite Handheld.
While Sharon’s go-to is the hot Beef Dip (on a torpedo bun with roast beef, sauteed onions, provolone and au jus), while I am partial to the served fresh Pals Hoagie (on a torpedo bun with mortadella, genoa salami, ham with harvati, shredded lettuce, tomato, red onion, mustard, mayo and pepperoncini vinaigrette).
Pals sandwiches are sizeable (really, they’re big!), packed with filling, and oozing with flavour. And while I by and large am not generally craving a sandwich on any given day, the ones here at Pals really aren’t your typical sandwich. These are ones you crave.
For Sharon, Pals offers exactly what she gravitates towards most days: well-made comfort food served in a bright, and casual environment.
11. Favourite Neighbourhood
- Sharon’s Pick: Downtown
- Linda’s Pick: 124 Street
- Shared Pick: Chinatown
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Neighbourhood: Downtown
Both Linda and I love impromptu food crawls, maximizing variety and the opportunity to support and sample from several small businesses at a time. Neighbourhoods with main street orientations make it easy to do that, where many hospitality options are often clustered together and can easily be reached on foot.
In my home turf of Downtown, BaoBao’s soup dumplings are a must-eat for both of us, as is Farrow’s grick middle sandwich (I had avoided undercooked eggs when I was pregnant with Ellie; the sandwich was among the first things I had after she was born). Linda also feels like Farrow’s pastries are underrated in the city. Tiffin is another quick-service favourite (I love their mango paneer), and always very efficient. Lastly, while OBJ3CTS is a relative newcomer to the neighbourhood, the bakery producing their products, Wild Rose Cakes, has been in operation for many years. Their cookies are a weakness of mine, and I await the day their seasonal s’mores flavour returns.
Linda also notes that SABOR is a great downtown destination for high quality Mediterranean cuisine and many more of our Fave Foods in other categories of this list are located centrally.
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Neighbourhood: 124 Street
124 Street and area is simply one of the best in Edmonton.
Whether you’re popping in for meats from Meuwly’s or The Butchery by RGE RD, taking advantage of a wicked great Taco Tuesday deal at El Mariachi, popping in for pastries from Duchess Bake Shop, or heading down the street a bit to enjoy the restaurants at Manchester Square (pick up some pretzels from DasBrezelHaus!), this is a neighbourhood where food crawling and supporting multiple businesses in one-go is super easy.
Sharon notes that Duchess is the business that really put patisseries (and macarons) on the map in Edmonton. She loves their scones and I love their gruyere croissants. Sharon loves popping into Meuwly’s for locally-made food gifts and we both are big fans of their smoked ham.
Many other Food Faves you’ve seen throughout this list can be found in this neighbourhood too—from Tiramisu Bistro to Bodega and Chocorrant. What a great neighbourhood!
Shared Pick for Favourite Neighbourhood: Chinatown
* this shared pick is written by Linda
Obviously I have some deep connections to Chinatown with my parents operating their restaurant King Noodle House Pho Hoang on 97 Street for nearly two decades in the neighbourhood, and three decades overall.
There are so many gems in the neighbourhood at such affordable price points. I think people miss so much if they aren’t experiencing food here. The business is always so appreciated from the mostly family-owned eateries. Bring cash just in case!
At Xu Hue, the Bot Chien (pan fried rice cake with eggs), Bun Hen (small clams noodles), and Bun Rieu (Crab Meat Vermicelli soup) are some of my favourites, while Sharon raves about the Rare Beef Noodle Salad. Sharon is also a big fan of Shan Shan Bakery, their baked goods, and the self-serve system (Emily is a big fan of the long doughnuts, and my friend Brittney loves that you can order Shan Shan on UberEats). I love that Little Bon Bon Ice Cream Shop also offers discounts for folks who live and work in the area. And you can’t beat the value of Super BBQ Delight‘s lunch rice and meat box. You’ve also got so many options for hot pot in Chinatown (we are both big fans of 97 Hot Pot as we discuss in other parts of this list).
Suffice to say, there are lots of incredible culinary options and certainly many of our food favourites in this neighbourhood.
I encourage you to use the Chinatown Stories Map to help guide your exploration too!
12. Favourite Noodles
- Sharon’s Pick: Golomein
- Linda’s Pick: CQ Noodle
- Shared Pick: Menya Mori
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Noodles: Golomein
3696 97 St. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
It is no secret that I love to stock my freezer with locally-prepared meal options (see: Battista’s Calzones on this list). I came across Golomein a few years ago at a farmers’ market, where they first sold their products frozen. The family is from Brunei, the same country my parents are from. While flavours of their signature scratch-made noodles and meat (my favourite is their BBQ pork) are very familiar to me, I also just really enjoy the dish. The packages are also super-convenient, as you can heat them from frozen without thawing them first.
When we travel, I always make sure we have Golomein in the freezer to come home to (our ravenous kids eat it up). Now, Golomein also has a food stall at Bountiful Market where you can enjoy their noodles hot outside of your own home.
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Noodles: CQ Noodle
10140 104 St. | Website | Instagram
重庆小面 ChongQing noodle & bubble is a small noodle shop on 104 St. (around 20 seats) that serves up handmade, authentic Szechuan noodles in both soup + dry dishes, along with a selection of bubble tea flavours. The bubble tea doesn’t particularly stand out for me here (though you can get a slight discount on your bubble tea if you make your main noodle order a combo), but the noodles really shine! The cuisine here represents authentic dishes you may find in the Chongqing southwestern region of China. Try the “Chef Meat Noodle Soup” for excellent noodles (great texture) in a real delicious broth. I am also a fan of their spicy handmade meat wontons and they have a cold noodle dish that’s great too if you are a cold noodle fan.
Shared Pick for Favourite Noodles: Menya Mori
10350 124 St. | Website | Instagram
* this shared pick written by Sharon
Allen Gao’s passion for and fascination with ramen is infectious, and Edmonton is so lucky he decided to create Kasey Ramen to share that love. Initially only selling ramen kits to prepare at home during the pandemic, the weekly kits illustrated Allen’s obsession towards perfecting the perfect bowl of ramen. Linda and I were always impressed with the depth of flavour and different ramen styles presented in those soups. We happily supported Allen’s series of pop-ups and were thrilled when he opened Menya Mori on 124 Street. Allen is consistent. His ramen bowls at Menya Mori are a seamless transition from Kasey Ramen. The no reservations, no take-out containers, no-fuss ramen shop serves the same perfectly crafted noodles we’ve come to love over the years. You’ll enjoy the thick, creamy, Classic Tonkotsu Ramen (choice of Shoyu, Black Garlic or Spicy—Linda notes the Spicy is “very spicy!”) And the Gentei – Feature Ramen should keep you coming back for more too.
13. Favourite Non-Alcoholic Drink
- Sharon’s Pick: Black Diamond Distillery
- Linda’s Pick: Dagu Rice Noodle
- Shared Pick: Spilt Zero Proof
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Non-Alcoholic Drink: Black Diamond Distillery
12 Rowland Crescent, St. Albert, AB | Website | Facebook | Instagram
I was introduced to St. Albert’s Black Diamond Distillery’s zero proof Spiced Cranberry cocktails a few years ago when I was pregnant with Ellie. I was looking for non-alcoholic products that I could stash in the fridge, and found that so many canned zero-proof cocktails were loaded with sugar. The Spiced Cranberry has no added sugar, but in that process doesn’t sacrifice any flavour. Their use of warming spices elicits thoughts of the holidays (Black Diamond markets it as “Christmas in a cup”) but for me, I am happy to enjoy this year-round (pregnant or not!).
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Non-Alcoholic Drink: Dagu Rice Noodle
10408 Jasper Ave. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
You might be surprised to learn that a noodle shop has such an extensive non-alcoholic drink selection but it really does and I really love it! Not only can I not get enough of Dagu Rice Noodle’s Sour and Spicy Crossing the Bridge soup (this spot was Favourite Soup in the 2022 edition of this list and I still love it dearly, also get the Salty Crispy Chicken), but Dagu Rice Noodle is also basically a bubble tea shop lol.
You’ve got fruit teas, milk teas, cheese drinks, yogurt slushes, smoothies and frappes, yakult drinks, mochi drinks and more. They regularly offer specials for different seasons and that usually includes a few specialty drink options. My go-to drink here is the Kiwi Green Tea which comes with kiwi chunks, add diced strawberry, tapioca pearls and lychee jelly (lol I’ve joked before my Dagu drink is basically a meal).
Sometimes I get the Kiwi Yakult too for a slightly creamier taste.
Shared Pick for Favourite Non-Alcoholic Drink: Spilt Zero Proof
11909 Jasper Ave. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
*this shared pick is written by Linda
There is perhaps no better non-alcoholic drink specialist in the city than JoAnne and her team at Spilt Zero Proof Bar. Alberta’s first non-alcoholic bar looks and feels like a trendy downtown bar and that’s exactly the vibes JoAnne was going for.
These expertly crafted mocktails are as beautiful as they are complex and delicious. Forget Shirley Temples and say hi to the Surly Temple (a Jamaican-style ginger beer, house-made grenadine, lemon, lime and Scrappy’s Fire Water bitters). You’ll love the Magic Lemonade with Token Butterfly pea flower syrup, rose water, almond and lemon. There may also be seasonal drinks on the menu when you visit, you’ll love the Hot Mulled Haskap Berry.
Sharon notes that Spilt feels very adult and more elevated than a café (which might be a go-to for those looking for non-alcoholic options), and is sophisticated enough to be a place where you can start or end your night and I agree. Sharon loved the Whoops-a-Daisy, a light and refreshing cocktail with elderflower and orange blossom liqueur with lemon, sparkling wine, and tonic.
Spilt also does mocktail classes that typically sell out! They’re a lot of fun.
14. Favourite Patio
- Sharon’s Pick: Dalla Tavola Zenari
- Linda’s Pick: Dolly’s Cocktails
- Shared Pick: Foxburger
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Patio: Dalla Tavola Zenari
10166 Howard St. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
Dalla’s patio is unique in that it fronts onto a small pedestrian-only plaza downtown. This allows for ample people-watching opportunities, while removing the warm weather buzzkill of traffic noises and smells (see: Whyte Avenue).
Mack and I have also dined often on this patio with our two young children, who, while waiting for our food to arrive, have a safe space to stretch and play. For lunch, I cannot pass up Dalla’s house-made Italian loaf, the scaccia, while for dinner, we lean towards their flatbreads or pastas (the di bosco is my favourite). And though it isn’t listed on the menu, they do offer kid-size pasta portions at a discount. My daughter would also want you to know that they serve Little Bear Gelato, something she may have developed a familiarity with over the years.
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Patio: Dolly’s Cocktails
10425 121 St. | Website| Instagram
When you step out onto the patio of Dolly’s Cocktails you’ll immediately notice the cutest colourful paper lanterns, twinkly lights, pink picnic tables, and a refurbished camper bar. The vibes are incredibly just right here (inside and out!), and the food is excellent too. Try the empanadas, halloumi sticks, corn ribs, and chicken lollipops (for Sharesies). Depending on time of year, Dolly’s also goes all out decorating for different holidays. You’ll have so much fun here.
When our sun doesn’t set until almost midnight on those sunny summer days in Edmonton, I know you want to hit the patio and Dolly’s is one of the best to soak up every last bit of sunshine.
See for yourself!
Watch the “Prettiest Patios in Edmonton” video I did on Instagram featuring Dolly’s.
Shared Pick for Favourite Patio: Fox Burger
6423 112 Ave. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
* this shared pick written by Sharon
Since Fox Burger opened their first location in Highlands in 2019, they’ve added additional spots in Leduc and Westmount. We think it speaks to the popularity of their smash burgers and the community they create with their restaurants, but it’s the original and its rooftop patio that we want to highlight in this category.
It’s a full exposure patio (in Linda’s words, you’re “closer to the clouds”), so perfect for sun seekers, and those looking for a view of the neighbourhood’s expansive tree canopy. I keep my order classic with the Fox cheeseburger, while Linda recommends the mushroom swiss and says you will not regret trying the animal fries.
15. Favourite Place to Take a Tourist
- Sharon’s Pick: RGE RD
- Linda’s Pick: Dorinku Tokyo
- Shared Pick: Olia
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Place to Take a Tourist: RGE RD
10643 123 St. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
RGE RD is one of the most distinguished restaurants in Edmonton, and is an easy choice when hoping to impress out-of-town guests. Their philosophy of sourcing local ingredients provides visitors with a taste of the region, while their commitment to whole animal butchery is a window into the kitchen’s ingenuity with off-cuts and different preparations.
I have also yet to see anyone pass up their grizzly gouda and potato perogies, a mainstay on their menu from day one. I will also say RGE RD will always be a sentimental favourite for me, as Mack and I hosted our wedding reception at the restaurant back in 2014, and it is a place we try to return to on special occasions.
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Place to Take a Tourist: Dorinku Tokyo
10205 82 Ave. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
When I’m deciding on where to take a tourist, I weigh not only how good the food and drink is, but how cool the atmosphere is too, and I truly think there are fewer spots in the city with as cool an atmosphere than Dorinku Tokyo in Old Strathcona (and its sister restaurant Dorinku Osaka downtown). I remember walking into Dorinku Tokyo when it first opened, not long after a visit to Japan myself, and thinking, wow, this feels like the real deal. It’s an authentic, Japanese street food restaurant that is an absolute vibe. From the anime projected on the wall, to the authentic plastic food displays, red lanterns, dark wood counters, and Japanese bidets in the bathroom (!!), I love the look and feel of everything at this restaurant and that is before even getting into how good the food is. Dig into Pressed Wild Salmon Sushi in a creamy soy sauce (so creamy!), try Dorinku’s Jewelry Bowl (basically a rice bowl with diced sashimi and vegetables), the ramen salad is also fantastic, with pork chashu, a Japanese mayo and sweet soy dressing, and oh gosh you can’t leave without trying their Carbonara Udon served in a hot stone bowl. I am so hungry lol.
Shared Pick for Favourite Place to Take a Tourist: Olia
12016 Jasper Ave. | Website | Instagram
* this shared pick written by Sharon
Since the first version of this list, Uccellino has moved into more polished and bigger digs further west on Jasper and renamed as Olia. Fans of Uccellino won’t be disappointed, however, as many of their popular dishes, including the arancini and whipped goat ricotta crostini, are still available on the menu. The handmade pasta is easily the best in the city, and on my last visit, I had the pleasure of enjoying delicate yet punchy roasted pumpkin and sage caramelle pockets. Service remains excellent, and Linda commented that Uccelino has always been her favourite of Daniel Costa’s empire. She is looking forward to trying Olia’s tasting menu.
16. Favourite Solo
- Sharon’s Pick: Coliseum Steak House
- Linda’s Pick: Lloyd’s Patty Distro
- Shared Pick: Green Onion Cake Man
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Solo: Coliseum Steak House
8015 118 Ave. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
My solo pick is naturally close to my office, given the instances where I’m in need of a quick bite to eat on my own. I will say the places I have frequented in the past have closed over the years, due to a combination of the pandemic and family circumstances.
However, Coliseum Steak House has remained, and outlived what I thought would be a downturn in business when the Oilers relocated from the Coliseum to Rogers Place. That hasn’t happened for the nearly fifty-year-old institution. It is always jam-packed with regulars enjoying their diner-style pizzas (usually my order), home-style pastas and well-prepared steak. Their consistency across the board in food and service has earned them that stellar reputation.
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Solo: Lloyd’s Patty Distro
10534 111 St. | Website | Instagram
I find myself in and around downtown Edmonton several times a week and love to pop into Lloyd’s Patty Distro just behind MacEwan University to grab a few delicious Jamaican patties to enjoy while I’m on the road (and take home for leftovers!)
Choose from chicken, beef, and vegetable (mild or spicy options for all) or my favourite / go-to: the Breakfast Patty which comes with your choice of meat with egg and cheese. It’s REALLY good. I’ve described the egg to folks as like what you get in a McDonalds breakfast sandwich. It pairs really well with the gooey melted cheese and the well-seasoned filling.
Raimok is also really wonderful so do say hi to her when you pop by to order!
Shared Pick for Favourite Solo: Green Onion Cake Man
9132 118 Ave. | Website| Facebook | Instagram
* this shared pick written by Sharon
Also located on Alberta Avenue, the Green Onion Cake Man has the distinction of being operated by the person who introduced the savoury treat to Edmonton in the 1970s. Opened by Siu To, who is now 84, the restaurant serves up hot and crispy green onion cakes to order.
While they seem deceptively simple, the pan-fried salty rounds are an Edmonton festival staple, with some in the city lobbying for green onion cakes to be recognized as the city’s official dish. Although a few green onion cakes can make a meal, the restaurant also serves more substantial dishes such as hot and sour soup and Szechuan beef.
For those looking to stock their kitchen, the restaurant sells frozen green onion cakes, as well as a series of cook-at-home dishes like Shanghai noodles and mu-shu pork.
17. Favourite Soup
- Sharon’s Pick: Pho Tau Bay
- Linda’s Pick: Noodleholic
- Shared Pick: King Noodle House Pho Hoang
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Soup: Pho Tau Bay
10660 98 St. | Website | Instagram
It’s hard to imagine that I’ve been eating at Pho Tau Bay for almost 17 years, but it’s true. There are few establishments in Edmonton (Battista’s on the list is actually one of them too) that specialize in essentially one item done really well. For Pho Tau Bay, it’s their soup, which can be ordered with a variety of different cuts of beef. Tau Bay is my first choice when I’m feeling under the weather – the aromatic broth is so cleansing to the senses. When dining in, you can be assured that your order will take less than 5 minutes to hit your table, so for those seeking a quick meal, this is your spot. And when grabbing take-out, I always order the extra large so I can reserve a cup of broth to sip on the next day.
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Soup: Noodleholic
3350 Parsons Rd. | Website
I can’t resist a solid ‘build your own’ option and Noodleholic is the only game in town offering delicious Build Your Own Noodle Soup Bowls. So many options!
Choose your soup base, noodle, and two toppings for $16.25. You can also add additional toppings for an extra charge. I usually get a Tom Yum soup base with ramen noodles, sweet potato glass noodles or udon noodles, plus it’s always a tough choice between sirloin beef, jumbo shrimp, luncheon meat, and century egg (I think this is the only place in the city I’ve been that gives you a whole century egg lol). There’s vegetable options too of course.
They also have pre-set soups you can order for the maybe more indecisive (and you know sometimes it is best to let the chef choose the perfect ingredients to pair together lol) but for me, it’s hard to resist a good BYONSB (Build Your Own Noodle Soup Bowl, let’s make this a more well-known acronym, hehe).
Noodleholic used to be located in Chinatown but moved south on Parsons Rd. and 33 Ave., it’s actually just across the street and down the road from the nail salon I frequent (V5 Nails, I’m an ambassador) so I would recommend both locations for a little south side treat-yourself jaunt.
Shared Pick for Favourite Soup: King Noodle House Pho Hoang
10615 97 St. | Website| Facebook | Instagram
* this shared pick written by Linda
🚨 Bias Alert. 🚨 As regular readers / followers will know, King Noodle House Pho Hoang is my parents Vietnamese pho restaurant. So obviously, it tops any of my lists for Favourite Soup and/or Dishes in the city. But just because I’ve got some clear biases, doesn’t mean it’s not really good soup. Sharon will agree—and she’s not related to us, lol. Sharon loves our Bun Bo Hue (a spicier lemongrass Vietnamese noodle soup) and I am partial to, well I change my order frequently but it’s usually got some combination of thinly sliced and rare steak and beef balls.
Pho is the national dish of Vietnam and my parents’ broth recipe has been passed down three generations from Vietnam to Canada. As our restaurant has been serving Edmontonians for nearly 30 years, we have amassed a pretty loyal following over that time—and hear some pretty heartwarming stories about our customers, from people who travel afar for our soup, to those who grew up slurping the broth, or the fond memories some recall dining with their families.
Because our soup is the star, we don’t offer a whole lot else on the menu, but the grilled pork balls and spring rolls are always well-ordered appetizers, and since becoming pregnant, I like to do a smaller portion of soup in conjunction with a grilled shrimp, spring roll and pork ball vermicelli.
18. Favourite Take-out
- Sharon’s Pick: Jack’s Burger
- Linda’s Pick: Pizza Garage
- Shared Pick: Nhon Hoa
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Take-Out: Jack’s Burger
10354 Jasper Ave. and #130 15 Perron Street St. Albert AB. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
Jack’s Burger is on our regular take-out rotation, with their Downtown location being so close to home. They have kept their menu small and manageable, and are able to produce a reliable product time and again.
Their burgers are solid (the Hangover, with the indulgent grilled cheese buns, is my pick), and their service is personable and efficient. Emily will often ask if we can “go to the place with the milkshakes” (which tells you about her priorities, haha), but if we don’t have her with us when we pick up our order, the staff will ask after her. Jack’s also does infrequent specials which are worth seeking out – like their annual turducken burger for Thanksgiving, or Hanoi chicken sandwiches (celebrating the Vietnamese heritage of owner Tu Le).
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Take-Out: Pizza Garage
31 Fairview Blvd., St. Albert and 10020 Jasper Ave (Central LRT Station)
| Website | Facebook| Instagram
Whenever Mike craves Detroit-style pizza, we love to order from Pizza Garage! They originally started in north Edmonton, moved to St. Albert, and then expanded with a location in downtown Edmonton, offering three great styles of ‘za—Detriot, Chicago bar pie and New York style pizza.
These are phenomenal pizzas from a sweet, local family. The pizzas have great crust (and correctly cooked depending on the style you choose). And are loaded with awesome toppings.
We are fans of the Nice 2 Meat U (it’s a best seller), Porky’s Revenge, Via 313 (another best seller) and Lamborghini pizzas here.
Shared Pick for Favourite Take-Out: Nhon Hoa
9718 106 Ave., 10622 97 St., and 10154 82 Ave. | Website
* this shared pick written by Sharon
Vietnamese subs are easily my favourite sandwiches. I love the variety of textures, from the crispy bread to the crunchy pickled vegetables, and the pop of freshness from the herbs. Our favourite sub is from Nhon Hoa in Chinatown, whose distinction among the competition is that they bake their own bread. As for value, it’s hard to beat a sandwich priced at just $6.50 – the cost of their most popular “combo sub”, which features layers of Vietnamese sausage, head cheese, and house-made pate. We’ll note that my go-to is Nhon Hoa on 96 Street whereas Linda’s go-to is Nhon Hoa 2 on 97 Street, and there are other locations for Nhon Hoa (Whyte Ave., north side), which we’re told are apparently not run by the same families (at least anymore), but you’re sure to find similar, delicious consistency!
19. Favourite Value Eats
- Sharon’s Pick: Spirit Bistro
- Linda’s Pick: Seoul Fried Chicken
- Shared Pick: 97 Hot Pot
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite Value Eats: Spirit Bistro
10824 97 St. | Facebook
A couple of years ago, Spirit Bistro joined Chinatown Dining Week as a participating restaurant for the first time. Through that, I met the lovely family who runs the establishment (before Spirit Bistro, the family had run a restaurant on the north side for over a decade). At one point, I even spent some time in the kitchen as we recorded a promotional segment.
I have since enjoyed their food on multiple occasions; as they are primarily a take-out joint, I have found them to be fast and reliable. Our family favourites include their big rice noodles with beef, Cantonese fried rice, and crispy ginger beef. With reasonable prices and large portions, we always end up with loads of leftovers for subsequent meals, a big plus in my book! Spirit Bistro also typically offers great deals on certain dishes over the holiday season, worth considering for a break from turkey dinners, and they typically offer great Chinatown Dining Week specials.
Linda’s Pick for Favourite Value Eats: Seoul Fried Chicken
7904B 104 St., 10145 104 St., 9314 137 Ave. | Website | Facebook | Instagram
It’s been years and I haven’t stopped raving about Seoul Fried Chicken’s incredibly well-priced and unbelievably good fried chicken lunch set.
When we want excellent take-out for a great price, Seoul Fried Chicken’s crispy, juicy, well-sauced soy garlic chicken and Mac n’ Cheese Pesto are top of mind. The Mac n’ Cheese is so good I often make both of my sides the Mac n’ Cheese and you can also order a tub of the Mac n’ Cheese to go too—something I highly advise lol.
The Big Seoul set is just $16.75 for 4 pieces, a 1/2 salad and side plus drink and the Lil Seoul gets you 2 pieces, 1/2 salad or side, with drink.
Shared Pick for Favourite Value Eats: 97 Hot Pot
10602 97 St. | Website | Instagram
* this shared pick written by Linda
Sharon and I both love slurping up hot pot broths and cooking our preferred ingredients at 97 Hot Pot in Edmonton’s Chinatown, who have a great lunch or late night deal of one soup base and six items for $18, or their usual all you can eat hot pot buffet. The set deal is such great value!
I am particularly a fan of 97 Hot Pot because they offer a Mixed Vegetables basket as part of their items so you don’t need to choose between individual vegetables. I actually frequent this hot pot restaurant often with my mother so it’s an affordable meal to treat mom to, too!
Everyone hot pots a bit differently but I also like to add steamed white rice to my meal so I can eat it with the awesome broth and meats and vegetables I cook. Hot pot is great for lots of people because the experience both feels communal but is highly individualized—with each person selecting their own ingredients and broth!
20. Favourite ‘Worth the Drive’
- Sharon’s Pick: La Patrona
- Linda’s Pick: Barbacoa
- Shared Pick: Chartier
Sharon’s Pick for Favourite ‘Worth the Drive’: La Patrona
2 Athabascan Ave #8, Sherwood Park | Website | Facebook | Instagram
Back when Mack and I organized the food truck festival What the Truck?!, Casa 12 Doce was one of the vendors we regularly worked with. Their Mexican offerings were always a big hit, and in 2017, the pair behind Casa 12 Doce opened up the brick and mortar La Patrona in Sherwood Park. The space is brightly lit, and due to its compact size, it feels warm and intimate. I am never one to pass up their queso fundido, and the barbacoa tacos are tender and moist after an eight hour braise. The owners of La Patrona also opened a second restaurant called The Other Place in 2021, just around the corner so it could meet the demand for their food (though The Other Place serves what they call more of a “Mexican-Canadian fusion” menu.
Linda’s Pick for Favourite ‘Worth the Drive’: Barbacoa
470 South Ave Unit C, Spruce Grove, AB | Website | Facebook | Instagram
Barbacoa is one of the best steak houses in the Edmonton area, located just west of the city in Spruce Grove. Not only is it home to some seriously good steaks, but it’s also got an impressive drink list—including really fun and tasty non-alcoholic drink options too! Originally included in the 2022 edition under the Drinks category, since we added “Worth the Drive” suggestions, I knew Barbacoa needed to top for me in this category.
For food: The menu changes seasonally, and ingredients are largely sourced locally (love that!) but you should plan to share the massive Tomahawk for two (depending on size of cut at the moment, it might take a bit longer to cook—ask your server to set expectations). Really any of the meat dishes here are going to be great here, cooked over an indoor fire that’s been stoked and fed over 12 hours each day. Be sure to try their housemade pasta option too!
For drinks: I love the fun drink names you’ll find here (like the Forgive Me Father, for I have Ginned, the Let’s Get Fizzical, or the You go, Glen Co-Co). The Empress Royale is always a great pick for presentation and flavour. And they’ve got some fun Old Fashioned options including one that comes in a smoke dome. Barbacoa bartenders take great care in crafting you the perfect cocktail to pair with your main! Worth the drive. Make a reservation to avoid disappointment.
Shared Pick for Favourite ‘Worth the Drive’: Chartier
5012 50 St Unit 102, Beaumont, AB | Website | Facebook | Instagram
* this shared pick was written by Sharon
Beaumont gem Chartier was almost among the pandemic casualties in 2023. However, after announcing their impending closure, an angel investor stepped in to ensure its continuation. The regional food scene is all the better for it; its take on French-Canadian comfort food isn’t readily available elsewhere, and as Linda notes, it makes it worth the drive!
Her must-order appetizer is their haricots verts battered green beans. You also can’t talk about Chartier without talking about the poutine – those potatoes, triple-cooked to remain crispy with the gravy bath, are perfection. Linda is partial to the breakfast poutine version (whose ingredients include, in her words, “brown butter hollandaise and magic!”).
The room also feels lived in and cozy in the best way, and has been a welcome destination for our family dinners, big and small. Linda also notes Chartier’s cool history—in 2015, it was the most successful Kickstarter restaurant campaign in Canada.
Thus concludes the 2024 Edition of our Edmonton Food Faves!
Do you agree with our picks? Would you like to share your own food faves? Leave a comment below to give more ideas for folks searching for quality, consistent eats in Edmonton.
We hope you enjoy making your way through some of our favourite foods and restaurants in the city. Maybe we’ll see you there!
About Linda Hoang:
Linda is a longtime Edmonton food and travel blogger whose food recommendations and travel guides are well-used, helping readers get the most out of their meals, trips, and well—life! Linda also shares recommendations for Things to Do, Eat, and Know Each Week via her Lindork’s Lists newsletter.
Linda prides herself in being a cheerleader for the city—and has a special focus on supporting small businesses. Through support small business campaigns like Chinatown Chow Down, #AdoptAShopYEG, touring people around on her Instagrammable Wall and Food Crawls, weekly food recommendations via Lindork’s Lists, or partnering with tourism boards, municipalities, or other brands to put a spotlight on food, travel, and small business owners, and more, Linda loves encouraging others to become tourists in their town and support the vibrancy of Edmonton.
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If you live or work in the Edmonton, Alberta area, or care about Edmonton content, sign up for Lindork’s Lists – Linda’s hyperlocal newsletter to get her weekly curated recommendations on things to do, eat, and know each week (in the Edmonton area), plus more exclusive content. It’s free!
About Sharon Yeo:
Sharon has been blogging about food at Only Here for the Food for more than 15 years. Although she’s written her share of reviews, in recent years, she’s pulled back to focus more on chronicling changes to Edmonton restaurants, documenting businesses that have opened, closed, or transitioned, and highlighting interesting food-related trends and developments.
On Sharon’s blog and over at Taproot Edmonton (her husband Mack’s local journalism start-up), Sharon has also covered many of the chefs, restaurateurs, and personalities who work to grow the food community. Sharon is proud to have contributed to the food scene in a multitude of ways in the last decade plus, including co-founding Chinatown Dining Week, What the Truck?!, and Eat Alberta, and in what feels like a lifetime ago, even hosting a pop-up restaurant in a downtown pedway. Sharon sees herself as a #yegfood booster, and want to ensure the continued vibrancy of a strong ecosystem of independent food businesses in Edmonton.
- Follow @sharonyeo on Twitter
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- Visit Sharon’s food blog – Only Here For The Food
If you live or work in the Edmonton, Alberta area, or care about Edmonton food content, sign up for Taproot Edmonton Food Roundup, a weekly roundup that Sharon contributes to, with the latest headlines and happenings related to food and agriculture in the Edmonton region.
About the Logo: The Edmonton Food Faves We Crave logo + branding was designed by Rory Lee!
1 Comment
Hey Linda! Delicious discoveries ahead! Can’t wait to explore Edmonton’s top food picks, Awesome post.