The Best things to Eat or Drink in Edmonton, according to our readers.
How to take the pulse of a city’s food scene? Find out what people really like to eat. Every spring we ask readers what is the best thing they ate or drank last year. This year there is more fish and local makers (sweets, vegetables and chocolate), less pizza and fewer burgers, which is very surprising.
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52. Chorizo Verde Chicken Sausage, Fuge Sausage
We love the delicious fresh sausage made at Fuge and we are not the only ones. “It’s the best sausage I’ve ever had. Rich in flavour, ground or linked, you can make a lot of different dishes—sausage on a bun, chili, pasta or even a spring roll—and it will stand out,” Jemalyn D.
53. Nena’s Empanadas, Dolly’s Cocktail Bar
The delicious empanadas on Dolly’s menu came out of a pandemic business operated by Dolly’s chef Joshua Nhan, with his parents Nena and David Nhan. It’s not the only tasty dish on Dolly’s Peruvian-influenced menu inspired by his mother’s cooking—the smashed plantain (patacones stack) and the savoury lomo saltado also received noms. “The patacones are yummy, especially with the mango salsa. Dolly’s makes my mouth happy,” Cecelia C.
54. Green Machine Pizza, Birch & Bear Pizza
Tucked inside Toast Culture on Jasper is a pizza shop making delicious pies (find Birch & Bear at Ale Architect too). “I eat a lot of pizza. Like. A lot. And I tell everyone that the Green Machine is the best pizza in Edmonton. Delicious, perfectly cooked crust with kale, spinach, broccoli. This. Is. The pizza,” Heather K.
55. Crispy Devilled Eggs, Ashford House Pub
“A fun twist on the traditional devilled egg. The egg whites are breaded and fried, then stuffed with the creamy yolk filling and topped with pickled red onions and bacon. They pair well with the best pint of Guinness in the city,” Shaun S.
56. Cheese Boards, Cavern Cheese
We love Cavern for its terrific selection of cheeses, but it’s also fun to eat in. “A Cavern cheese board with a glass of wine makes for a terrific night out,” says Theresa F. Keep an eye out for their special events too, like the semi-regular Cheese School.
57. Rolling Noodles with Egg, Tomato, Minced Pork Sauce, Noodle Feast
“With the addition of a good douse of chili oil this warms your belly and makes life better. Noodle Feast should be on your must-go-to list at least once a month,” Leanne S.
58. Pain au Levain, Bonjour Bakery
Bonjour built a larger location on Whyte, all the better to produce their fantastic pain au levain (sourdough) with the Prairie-sourced flour they grind in-house. “We get a loaf of the traditional and a loaf of the paysanne every week, and sometimes a pastry too. My kids really like the pain au chocolate as an occasional treat,” Cheryl M. Check out the expanded cheese selection too.
59. Lindeal’s Roti Platter, Sauce Modern Caribbean Cuisine
Nominators love Lindeal’s Roti Platter, curried pumpkin, chickpeas and potatoes with roti and the option of chicken or goat. “We tried this during Feed the Soul Dining Week last year and became fans. The platter has a delicious mix of flavours and textures and was great to share. And the jerk chicken tacos were amazing!” Carol T.
60. Daal Tadka, Guru
“The combination of five different lentils, ginger, garlic and cilantro can be made mild or spicy, and owner Gurjeet will ensure you have a fabulous wine from his extensive list to pair with all of the food. Great place to enjoy dinner, a date night, or watch the Oilers at the Bar. The charcoal shrimp are also delicious and they have a great cocktail program!” Cindy G.
61. Doubles, Café Caribbean
Nominators were ecstatic over Doubles, the Trinidadian street food— curried chickpeas, sandwiched between fried flat bread with a spicy green sauce. “Absolutely delicious and the only place to get authentic ones in Edmonton,” Sarah R. And the curried chicken. “This dish is so delicious. The cook uses a mix of different curries to get the distinct flavour. I wish I could reproduce it at home,” Mumya M.
62. Carpathian Cabbage Rolls, Ukraine’s Kitchen
“Totally different than the little holubsti stuffed with rice and bacon that I grew up on. These are much bigger, stuffed with carrots, onions, and mushroom, rolled in cones, usually. Simmered on the stove top, in a sauce of onions, carrots, tomatoes and spices, they are absolutely delicious, we have them at least once a month,” Brad S.
63. Madang Roll, Sushi Café Madang
“Flavour, texture, freshness. Yum. Wonderful Korean Japanese fusion from a small neighbourhood restaurant. If Erin the owner and chef suggests a dish, just say ‘yes’,” Gunnar B.
64. Coriander Liqueur, Above Average Drinks
“This spirit is a refreshing addition to our summer patio cocktail repertoire. We loved that it is made locally with a lot of attention to quality,” Ashlyn B
65. Pistachio Butter Crunch, Compass Chocolates
This St. Albert chocolaterie makes outstanding small-batch chocolate creations. And their nut confections are equally delicious. “Loads of pistachios, buttery and so delicious. The subtle hit of lemon takes the butter crunch over the top,” Kathy C.
66. Coffee and Bomboloni, Ace Coffee Roasters
“What is a trip to Bountiful Farmers Market without a stop at Ace for coffee and a donut. And what a donut!” Kyle S.
67. Lemon Cream Pie Ice Cream, Annie Rue Ice Cream
“Simultaneously light and refreshing and decadent and indulgent. Their rotating feature flavours are fun and delicious too— Baba’s Baked Apple in the fall and Cranberry Bliss over the holidays were particular favourites,” Erin W.
68. Morning Bun, Bon Ton Bakery
“A glorious creation! Rich, buttery, crisp, sugary, light. Everything you could want in a sweet treat in one, delectable bun. Absolutely addictive,” Richard T.
69. Asparagus, Edgar Farms
“Every spring we run to the market to get the fresh Edgar Farms asparagus. It’s only available for about five weeks, depending on the weather. I swear we must eat it every day during the season, grilled asparagus, asparagus quiche, asparagus soup. We even eat it raw in a salad, it’s so good and fresh!” Jimmy K.
70. Good Morning Sandwich, Brown Butter Café
“The sweetness, the savouriness, and the subtle kick from the pickled onions, along with the soft texture of the milk bun, truly makes it an excellent choice for a breakfast sandwich,” Madeline D.
71. Soppressata Pizza, Rosso Pizzeria
Nominators always find it hard to choose just one pizza from this Bridge District spot, but this year the Soppressata came out on top with its tangy tomato sauce, melty mozz, oregano and spicy Calabrian soppressata salami. “We love the tang of the salami on this delicious pizza and Rosso’s crust is to die for,” Sheralynn G.
72. Ultimate Seafood Bake, Effing Seafood
Effing Seafood supplies many of the best restaurants in YEG with high quality fish and seafood. Nominators were all over the seafood bake.
“This dish is so delicious and easy, goes from oven to table. I give this a 10/10,” Cindy E. “A good variety of seafood, but also veggies like corn and potatoes. The spice pulled it all together and the prep was effortless!” Jodi H.
73. They Call Me Bruce Pizza, High Dough
The High Dough’s deep dish pizzas are now ubiquitous, not bad for a biz born out of the Pandemic. Their version of Canada’s claim to pizza fame (or infamy, depending on which side of the hell yeah/over my dead body divide you stand on) ham and pineapple, was most nominated, with the Kim’s Convenience and Get Them to The Greek close behind. Long live deep dish!
74. Roasted Garlic Hummus, Happy Camel
Happy Camel dips are lifesavers, easy and convenient and tastes like homemade. Nominators are united in their love of the roasted garlic hummus and the smoked salmon dips. “The smoked salmon and caper dip is made with fresh ingredients and is full of flavour,” Karen S.
75. Milk and Dark Salted Caramels, Sweet Lollapalooza
“Brett makes the most flavourful caramels, perfectly balanced between sweet and salty. Decadent and delicious, I get them for everyone in the office,” Paul M.
76. Lemony Buttermilk Pancakes, Rosewood Foods
The pancakes have major fans. “We have these fluffy pancakes every time we have brunch at Rosewood,” says Aaron G. “And the breakfast bowl, so filling and delicious, just great before a skate.”
77. Italiano Prosciutto and Arugula Pizza, Ragazzi Bistro
“This pizza is crafted with absolute care. The homemade sauce is fantastic. And the crust? The pinnacle of all thin crust pizzas in Western Canada! Not a soggy spot anywhere. Be sure to eat in. When that pizza comes to your table with its crisp crust, hit of prosciutto and soft bocconcini topped with fresh arugula, you will have found happiness. Go crazy. Add a sprinkle of feta. Now you’ve found inner peace,” Jack G.
78. Hot Chocolate and Flan, Caffé Sole
“It is the best flan I have ever had and it’s their original recipe,” Annabell N. “Their hot chocolate is so rich. And the flan? Perfectly creamy and not clumpy like other flans. Everyone should try them!” Hilda L.
79. Gluten-free Sourdough Bagel, Food in the Nud
“All of the gluten-free baked goods here are incredible. It’s amazing to find a local bakery that is safe for celiacs and they have absolutely perfected their gluten free baked goods. The chocolate chip cookies and cupcakes are also delicious,” Alexandra S.
80. Jambon Beurre, Slow Pour Beer Bar
“Slow Pour is an awesome new bar in Edmonton serving high quality products with great staff and a great environment. The jambon-beurre is a favorite, incredible value. It always hits the spot,” Mason P. “Best sandwich in the city,” Kayla D.
81. Elegance Collection, Chocolate Escapade
“There are so many flavours and it the most decadent chocolate I have ever tasted. They are delicious,” Hannah W.
82. Signature Pretzel, DasBrezelHaus
“These pretzels were a revelation. We enjoy the plain signature pretzel and we love the Philly dog, a pretzel-wrapped farmers sausage and the cheesy pretzel. So fresh and tasty with just the right amount of chew,” Roman V
83. Stuffed Bars, Colleen’s Chocolates
“Decadent and delicious!” Krysta F.
84. Kale, Lacombe Fresh
“First, it is delicious. Secondly, it’s always so perfect and clean. I love all of Lacombe Fresh’s produce, but I will go to serious lengths to get this kale. I am the kale groupie at the farmers markets— leaning over to other shoppers to whisper ‘have you tried the kale? You know you have to massage kale, right?’ Although this kale is so lovely and tender, you probably don’t have to!” Erin P.
85. Belgian Chocolate Gelato, Little Bear Gelato
“Superior ingredients are used with an exceptional attention to flavour, texture and quality. All of Little Bear Gelato’s flavours are amazing. However, the Belgium Chocolate is tops,” Danielle N.
86. The Jackie Bar, Jacek Chocolate
The Jackie Bar, milk chocolate, caramel, sea salt is a perennial favourite with nominators. As are the caramels; “chewy salted caramel, it’s life changing, it’s perfection, it’s addictive,” Judi N.
87. Galangal Cashew Chicken, Thai Valley Grill
“If you want authentic homemade, tastes like your mom’s cooking, or grandma’s passed-down recipe, go to Thai Valley Grill and have anything on the menu. My faves are the cashew chicken with papaya salad and the basil beef,” Rom J.
88. Tacos at Omen Brewing, Super Amigos Mexican
“Victor is a passionate chef who always gives you a smile and lets you try original Mexican food The food is tasty, fresh, you always have a good time and Victor and Laura make you feel at home,” Yara M.
89. Focaccia Bread, Quarter Section Food
“Last summer, I spent some time with my uncle in Liguria, the birthplace of focaccia. We ate a lot of focaccia during that trip and it was really good. But I have to admit that, while there, I kept catching myself longing for the focaccia at Quarter Section in the Old Strathcona Farmers Market. That was when I understood just how good their product is,” Alex M.
90. Soup Dumplings, Shanghai 456
“Melt in your mouth taste of Shanghai. A very humble chef making excellent food at very affordable price,” Antonio A.
91. Ramen Kits, Kasey Ramen
“It’s the tastiest and most carefully produced ramen I can find in Edmonton. The constant rotation of soup flavours that are always top notch really makes the head spin,” Filliep L.
92. Fried Macaroni, Cui Hua Gui Lin Noodle House
“The ultimate comfort food, and unique in our city. As a white kid who grew up around Chinatown in the 90’s, this dish makes me nostalgic for the happy Goonie-esque times I had with my multi-ethnic friend group. We were all second-gen Canadian kids, so a love for macaroni was shared among us all. This business is one still surviving and serving Edmontonians in Chinatown, the owners are generous, brave and kind,” Jacquie H.
93. Uncle Rye’s Dreamland Whisky, Strathcona Spirits
This whisky is unapologetically forthright, made with 66.6 per cent Canadian rye and aged in virgin American white oak and ex-bourbon casks. “This whisky has personality!” says Brian G, “The flavour doesn’t get lost in a Paper Plane or a Whisky Sour.”
94. Chicken, Sunworks Farm
“It might seem weird to nominate an ingredient, but Sunworks chicken is such an important part of so many meals in our house. Lots of fresh chicken flavour, no shrinkage and the stock from the bones is fantastic,” Kylie F
95. London Fog Ice Cream, White Rabbit Ice Cream
This sweet ice cream shop opened last summer and has gathered loyal fans. Most nominated was the London Fog; the seasonal Matcha Green Tea is also popular. There is a lot of truth in their tag line—you can’t buy happiness, but you can buy ice cream and that’s kind of the same thing.
96. Spicy Goma Ramen, Tokiwa Ramen
This modern ramen spot in the brewery district has many fans. The spicy goma ramen was the most nominated of all their tasty soups. “Great for a delicious filling lunch, especially on a cold day,” Martin C.
97. Crispy Chicken Wings, Co Do Hue
“The perfect wing—crispy, salty and a fab blend of spicy with a hint of sweet. Delicious fixings on top too, 10/10,” Alaina T
98. Marmite Toast, The Monolith
“This dish packs so much umami savouriness into a small package. It’s dreamy, different, inventive and you couldn’t not get one when it was available,” Shawn N.
99. Tumbler & Rocks Cocktails on Porter Airlines, Fort Distillery
“I enjoy the occasional Manhattan, and how wonderful is it that we can get a local cocktail on a Toronto-based airline!” Sharon G.
99. Salted Caramel Vegan Donut, Fawkes Coffee
“The donuts are delicious and gorgeous. My family loves the salted caramel, the chocolate and the London fog. They have a cute pop up next to their 104 Street store which is under construction.” Iain I
100. Fish Cutlets, Visuvasam Grocery
“I visited this petite Sri Lankan grocery in search of Ceylonese curry powder (no problem!) and went home with a large box of delicacies including fish cutlets—fragrantly spiced balls of fish and potato, crumbed and deep fried. I had them at a tasting session at Bent Stick Brewery, and, I’m telling you now, there are no better beer snacks than fish cutlets,” Thea W.
101. Edmonton Tap Water, Epcor Water
There are no great dishes without water. And Edmonton’s water is exactly what it should be clean—slightly minerally and reliable.
“It is truly amazing to have such great tasting tap water in the City of Edmonton,” Jamie P.