What to eat in Edmonton, and where: 9 Canadian dishes

Green oion cake, a trademark Edmonton dish. Image by bryan. Licence CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped from original

One of Edmonton's most beloved street foods, green onion cakes, a.k.a. scallion pancakes, are a gift from the Chinese community. In the late 1970s, Siu To, an immigrant from northern China, started serving them at his restaurant. Simple as they are – just flour, water, and green onions mixed into batter and fried – green onion cakes quickly became a hit among Edmonoton’s foodies, and it’s perfectly clear why: often served with say sauce or sambal for dipping, they are irresistibly crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.

Edmonton’s scallion pancakes can be pan-fried rather or deep-fried; over the years, there appeared stable variations of the original recipe that include sesame oil or even different types of onions for added flavor. Local restaurants often reinvent green onion cakes and make them a signature snack, so hunting for at least half a dozen original takes on the concept is a must for a foodie in Edmonton.

If you're looking for the best green onion cake in Edmonton, you absolutely have to visit Green Onion Cake Man at 9132 118 Ave NW. This legendary spot is directly connected to Siu To, the guy who popularized the dish in Edmonton back in the 1980s. The cakes here are pan-fried, as per the classical approach, deliciously full of fresh green onions, crispy on the outside and soft inside. Drop in while exploring Edmonton's Alberta Avenue, a street lined with local shops, unique boutiques, and art galleries.

Bison burger and fries. Image by usainohugahuga. Licence CC BY 3.0. Cropped from original

The indigenous peoples of America have been eating bison meat for centuries. Currently, it is regaining its former glory in the context of the search for healthier and more sustainable sources of animal protein. And it’s a good option, really: bison meat is leaner than beef, contains less fat and cholesterol while being rich in iron and essential vitamins like B12, not to mention its unparalleled taste with a note of sweetness that comes from the animal's natural diet of grass and herbs.

In Edmonton, you can eat bison burgers packing layers of a wide range of ingredients, from traditional cheese, lettuce, and tomato, to more adventurous components like caramelized onions or spicy aioli. In fine-dining establishments, chefs create masterpieces featuring blue cheese or smoked bacon that further enhance the burger's rich flavor. There’s also an ethical side to eating a bison burger in Edmonton, since this is how you support the efforts to restore the Great Plains ecosystem and promote ethical livestock management.

Where to eat a bison burger in Edmonton? Check out Homefire Grill located at 18210 100 Ave NW. This cozy bar and grill is known for its commitment to using locally sourced ingredients, including for their mouthwatering bison burgers, and a great selection of beer to chase them down. Come here after a session of fun at LaunchPad Trampoline Park or Factory Climbing (a rock climbing gym), both of which are within walking distance from Homefire Grill.

Bannock, authentic Canadian flatbread to eat in Edmonton. Image by freepik from Freepik

Did you know that people have been baking flatbreads even before they invented agriculture? There’s archeological evidence confirming that: charred bread crumbs found in Jordan date back to 12,400 BC, and they are what survived from a loaf made of ground grains mixed with water and salt, then baked on hot stones or in a primitive oven.

Flatbreads are essential to the history of humankind, and most peoples have their own realization of the concept, cherished and beloved. In Canada, it’s bannock, brought here by Scottish fur traders in the 18th century. The name of this flatbread is a derivative of the Gaelic word bannach, meaning “morsel”; traditionally, it was made from simple ingredients like flour, water, and fat. Over time, indigenous peoples adapted this bread to their own culinary practices, so today Canadian bannock comes in various forms, including baked, fried, or even cooked over an open fire. In Edmonton, many local cuisine restaurants serve this flatbread alongside stews or soups, and there are sandwich shops that use it as a base for their offerings, so you’ll definitely have many chances to enjoy this simple and delicious part of Canadian culinary heritage.

DOSC stands for Department of Service and Comfort, and it is a very fitting name for this Edmonton steak house located at 10190 104 St NW. Bannock isn’t a separate menu item here, but it comes with many other dishes offered here, and it’s outrageously delicious. Drop in for a good, hearty, Canadian-style meal in a funky atmosphere after a tour through the Neon Sign Museum and a selfie session against the famous Escape Into Action mural.

Tourtière, traditional Canadian meat pie. Image by Mack Male. Licence CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped from original

Canada is a bit over 20% francophone, which means every fifth citizen of the country speaks French as his/her native tongue. This is not surprising, considering that French colonists were among the first to settle the new lands in the early 17th century. As you understand, it’s not just the language they brought with them, but culinary traditions, too.

Tourtière is, arguably, the best known French-Canadian dish. A long-standing staple of Quebec cuisine that’s currently loved throughout the country, it is a meat pie, flaky pastry crust filled with a mixture of ground pork, beef, or veal, along with potatoes and a blend of warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. There are two noteworthy variations of tourtière, one a traditional shallow pie and another a deep-dish version with cubed meats and vegetables. Edmonton favors the classic take on the concept with a blend of ground pork and spices, but you can make it a mission to eat other realization of tourtière in the Gateway to the North, and share your experience with us in the comments below, mentioning names of the spots that gave you the best, most savory bites.

There are over 150 bakeries scattered throughout Edmonton. They offer a wide range of baked goods, from artisanal breads to sweet pastries. Duchess Bake Shop is, arguably, one of the best of them: located at 10718 124 St, which is a not very central position, it boasts a score of 4.6 at almost 3,000 assessments on Google Maps. The two factors combined mean that at least a certain proportion of patrons make Duchess Bake Shop a destination, traveling there specifically for the treats offered, including tourtière. For a tourist, though, the entire 124 Street, known for its boutique shops and art galleries, is an attraction, so coming here will be memorable in all relevant respects.

Canadian pea soup, a perfect warming food to eat in Edmonton. Image from PxHere

Canadian pea soup is another dish French colonists have enriched the local cookbooks with. Called soupe aux pois by the descendants of Les Habitants, it is a thick, comforting meal that was invented out of necessity – pea is easy to store and transport, thus its popularity among sailors, fur traders, and other sorts of traveling folk – and later became a signature first course in many Canadians homes, especially during the winter months and around Christmas.

As the recipe spread across the country, it evolved to reflect regional tastes and ingredients. In Quebec, the traditional version is made with whole yellow peas, salt pork, and herbs for flavor, while in Newfoundland, pea soup often includes more vegetables like diced turnips and carrots, and is sometimes topped with "doughboys," which are small dumplings. Alberta prefers the traditional Québécois-style pea soup with salt pork or ham hocks as core ingredients and carrots and onions as savory options. Ordering a bowl of soupe aux pois in an Edmonton restaurant, expect it to arrive with johnny cake, a type of cornbread, and a wish of good health and warmth from the waiter.

Urban Diner is one of those spots that are basically no-frills and oriented towards locals – the establishment occupies space in a strip mall – but invests enough passion and skill into what they do to be justly called a hidden gem of the Edmonton restaurant landscape. You can come here after a walk through Paul Kane Park, or Government House Park, both of which are nearby. They make pea soup the traditional way here, so if you want to understand the essence of this dish, consider visiting this spot.

https://restaurantguru.com/jiggs-dinner-Edmonton-m11727

How many dishes named after a comic strip character do you know? Well, here’s one you can shine with at the next brainiac clash you engage in while partying with friends: Jiggs dinner, a traditional Canadian meal deeply rooted in Newfoundland and Labrador's culinary heritage. Traced back to Irish immigrants, it owes its name to Jiggs, a made-up hand-drawn Irish guy in a rugs-to-riches situation who loved corned beef and cabbage, which are the key components of the recipe.

Contemporary Jiggs dinner revolves around salt beef boiled alongside root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, turnips, and cabbage, plus occasional yellow split peas cooked in a pudding bag for a texture and flavor twist. Canadian households with Irish roots often have their own variations of the recipe that can incorporate anything from dumplings to mustard pickles and beets. Thus, when you’re looking for something hearty to eat in Edmonton, a dish that literally sings and dances for you before being consumed, go for Jiggs dinner. And if you’re not driving, ask for a glass of uisce beatha (stands for “water of life” in Gaelic, and you’ve already guessed what it is) with the stew to make your Irish experience in Canada complete.

Edmonton is great, but its suburbs also deserve your attention, especially St. Albert, which is situated just north of the Gateway to the North. The noteworthy attractions there are the St. Albert Farmers' Market, one of the largest in Alberta, and Red Willow Park, a hotspot for all sorts of outdoor activities. And when you get hungry, head straight to The Atlantic Kitchen, an East Coast cuisine restaurant that serves wicked Jiggs dinner and all the seafood staples you can think of.

Flapper pie, Canadian dessert to eat in Edmonton. Image by Elsie Hui. Licence CC BY 2.0

Flapper pie is the embodiment of the Roaring Twenties, the early period of the 20th century known for loud jazz, bottomless cocktail parties, decadent feeling of freedom verging on premonition of doom, and girls defying the then-common norms of femininity. As a matter of fact, it’s those girls that gave the pie the name: they were called flappers, and, obviously, loved this dessert very much.

The treat is also known as “forgotten prairie pie,” which, as it seems, reflects the destiny thereof: same as the flapper girls subculture that soon passed into oblivion, the pie went out of fashion and became a rare guest on the shelves of bakeries, thus, “forgotten.” The “prairie” part isn’t sad, it just reflects the territories of Canada the recipe is typically pinned to: Alberta and Saskatchewan. A testament to the resourcefulness of cooks during times of economic hardship, flapper pie is made of basic pantry ingredients like milk, eggs, sugar, and cornstarch. In the bakeries of Edmonton, you can find assorted variations of the original flapper pie: with peach leaves, lemon peels, vanilla filling, and even whiskey as a flavor agent. If you like sweet things, taste them all!

The Art of Cake is one of those spots that raise the bar really high with their name alone, and, lucky for us, deliver as promised. You can visit this bakery in Queen Mary Park, a residential neighborhood just west of Edmonton’s downtown, specifically for flapper pie and at least half a dozen (no chance to eat less here) other desserts, or drop in if you’re exploring the right bank of North Saskatchewan River, with its parks and golf courses.

Butter tarts, a delicious Canadian desserts. Image by azerbaijan_stockers from Freepik

Ingenuity is the key driver of culinary science and art, especially in situations where the supply of ingredients is minimal and the assortment poor. Butter tarts, the quintessential Canadian dessert, is the product of ingenuity: in the 17th century, the filles du roi (King's Daughters) arrived in Quebec with other French settlers, and, having but local foods at hand, they adapted a traditional European recipe and ended up with a gastronomic masterpiece.

Over the years, butter tarts have evolved, with variations emerging that include different fillings such as raisins, pecans, or even bacon; currently, they are enjoyed across Canada, embodying the country’s diverse culture, resilience and, of course, ingenuity of its people. Edmonton will offer you this dessert improved with nuts, since this is how they prefer it here; pair with coffee for breakfast or some herbal tea after a filling dinner, and feel yourself Canadian for at least several minutes.

Located at 10548 101 St NW, near the Royal Alberta Museum and Prince of Wales Armories, Macarons and Goodies French Bakery is a small establishment specializing in all things cooked in the oven and adorned with lavish amounts of creme patissiere. Butter tarts, of course, are always there, being one of the trademark Canadian desserts; treat yourself to one or two when in the neighborhood, and it’ll be a memory as vivid as those produced by sightseeing around here.

Saskatoon berry pie, a unique Canadian dessert to eat in Edmonton. Image by bryan. Licence CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped from original

Some dishes are sensitive to the availability of ingredients. In most cases – think Indonesian rendang, Balinese betutu, or Vietnamese pho – it’s all about spices, and, while the authentic taste can only be experienced where those are grown, you can order their popular varieties in most major cities of the world. There are, however, recipes that have very local core ingredients, like the Canadian saskatoon berry pie.

As the name suggests, the star of this pastry is saskatoon, a berry that’s harvested in the prairie provinces of Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba). It has deep roots in indigenous culture, with the name derived from the Cree word misaskatomina, meaning “fruit from the tree with many branches.” These berries have been a vital food source for thousands of years, used in traditional dishes like pemmican and enjoyed fresh or dried. The pie, though, wasn’t around until the 19th century, when settlers first baked saskatoon in sweet dough. The combination of the almond-like flavor of the berries and a buttery pastry crust was an instant hit. Edmonton is, arguably, the best place to eat saskatoon berry pie in the world, as fancy as it sounds. Start with a traditional variation, and then look for options that alter it with crumb topping, or raspberries, or even non-sweet crust.

Located at 13408 Stony Plain Rd NW, within 4 minutes on foot from Alexander Circle and Glenora Park, major patches of green in the Glenora district, Vi's For Pies is a charming establishment that’s been around for decades. Known for its cozy atmosphere and a menu that features a delightful array of homemade pies and comfort foods, the restaurant can give you saskatoon berry pie subject to availability of the key ingredient. Don’t be upset if it’s not on the shelves when you get there, the place offers many other Canadian treats you’ll positively appreciate.

What’s good about Canadian prairie provinces is that they are easily accessible from elsewhere in the country. This means that from the outset, the territories were settled by all national groups that cared to reach this land. They mixed and mingled, sharing traditions and customs, and, of course, exploring cuisines of each other. The result of this process, as we enjoy it today, is a patchwork of hallmark dishes reflecting the culture of each people living in the prairie, from the indigenous Cree through the Irish to those with roots among Les Habitants. Edmonton, called the Gateway to the North, is also a place where you can savor pretty much everything that makes up Canadian cuisine, i.e., it is the only sensible choice for a gourmet wishing to explore the Land of Maple off the beaten paths.