You might be surprised to hear that you don't have to travel any further than Edmonton for fine variety of restaurants. Sure, you could go to the Taste of Edmonton to indulge your taste buds for sample size portions. Alternatively, you could pick up a SEE or VUE magazine and browse through reviews. Or, you could look at these suggestions and use google to find what other reviewers have to say about them. Sorry, food photography isn't really my thing when it ought to land on my taste buds first.
Fast bites for breakfast/lunch
A. Shine Cafe
If you work in downtown, a notable cafe with delectable choices for breakfast and sandwiches/salad for lunch is neatly tucked right along the walkway to Canada Place. So far, I have tried an egg, havarti cheese, spinach English muffin at $2.95. At first I was skeptical -- the near-by affordable breakfast places I have frequented up to that point were just OK.
It is quite the priviledge to be served by the chef himself; he is the owner of the cafe. He went to culinary school at SAIT. You might want to read his work biography if you do decide to pop by the cafe. When I took my first bite at my office desk, I was in breakfast heaven sans bacon.
B. Pho King
Okay, don't laugh at the name. Decent prices and amazingly delicious Vietnamese food. The owner's sister-in-law is an amazing cook. Don't fancy pho or vermicelli? There's breakfast all day! Furthermore, they have Happy Hour for a certain time after 3 pm.
C. Handy Bakery
It is ALWAYS dangerous to carry your debit or credit card there. Mouth-watering pastries and various variety of fresh bread.... If they have this on the menu: "lasagna, garlic toast and caesar salad" and if they still have some available, it is worth a try. Caution though, you might get hooked and would look forward to the next time it's on the menu. It was always a good day at work when the indulgence of cream horns and custard tarts from this bakery are being shared at work. Oh, hope you won't be counting calories. After all, letting yourself indulge DOES involve burning some calories.
CULINARY TREASURES: The journey around the world in Edmonton
A. Ethiopian: Blue Nile
Yes, there are restaurants that serve sheesha. Co-Co Di was a popular spot until it got burnt down. The Blue Nile offers both exotic food (on the main floor) and sheesha (in the basement). Do not be turned off by using your hands to eat. The food is delicious; it is actually quite fun to tear a piece of this sour-dough wrap/flat-bread and eat it with meats and/or vegetable.
On a side note, Sabzy Cafe (Persian cafe on Whyte Ave) also offers sheesha. Reviews would be unavailable for this cafe since I haven't tried it yet.
B. Chinese:
There are plenty in the city. It depends on what you want or your location within the city.
Dim Sum
For chinese breakfast ("dim sum"), there are a few in the south-side. "Beijing Beijing" is a great note-worthy place for dim sum, with quite reasonable prices. It is very busy in the weekends; after a certain time in the morning, you would have to wait for spots.
Mirama and Century Dynasty are good for dim sum too; it's not difficult to find a dim sum place in Chinatown. Fast service, good food. Likewise, Good Buddy at Northgate is a great place for dim sum as well.
Dinner -- dining with a group of people
Great seafood!
You might want to learn how to use the chopsticks properly before the peaches and shrimp arrives on the lazy susan at Wok King. (Or save one and put it in your spare bowl!) This restaurant is two stores away from the Garden Bakery in Chinatown. Even though not known by many people, it is often packed on big occasions such as Chinese New Year.
Great hot-pot!
A great way to enjoy food and company is to bond while cooking fresh ingredients. Tantalizing sauces to dip your food in: peanut sauce, satay sauce, and so on. The broth is always amazing closer to the end of the meal. The hot pot restaurant to indulge at is Spice Kitchen. It serves barbecue grill and other entrees as well if you do not have enough people to share hot pot with. Spice Kitchen is a seafood lover's heaven! Fresh mussels, shrimp, scallops, fish.... Reminiscing the food they have got there is making me hungry!
C. Korean:
Bow down to Bul-go-gi House. Located close to Faculte St. Jean, this family restaurant offers a great selection of authentic foods at reasonable prices. You would have to try the way they prepare their beef. Every thing there is to die for... even their deep fried won tons.
All you can eat buffet barbecue at Korean Village. Keep in mind, however, that over-eating brings discomfort. Please enjoy responsibly.
Wait, there are even more note-worthy eateries/restaurants in Edmonton, but I shan't spill it all. The best part of indulging while eating out is the process of discovery and be pleasantly surprised by it all. Just take a walk or drive around the University of Alberta campus, Whyte Ave, 109 st, 99 st (two German restaurants can be found here) for a start. Well, the rest usually depends on the experiences of whom you know. Or, even better, join the Taste of U tour if you can. (It is a lot cheaper than the Taste of Edmonton -- it's free! Plus, you get to shed calories walking from cafe to cafe. A risk-free way of trying new places.)
Bon Appetit!
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