Tag Archives: Chinatown

Chinatown Dining Week Profile: Liuyishou Hot Pot

Until the start of Chinatown Dining Week, we’ll be featuring each of the 15 businesses who are participating in this year’s event, running January 26 – February 5, 2023. All businesses are offering special deals during this period for $10 and/or $20. Check out all of the menus here.

First we spoke with Tina from Liuyishou Hot Pot, a returning Chinatown Dining Week participant.

Why did you decide to open the restaurant? 

The initial motivation was actually quite simple. I lived in Edmonton for 3 years before opening this restaurant, and I struggled almost everyday because I had such a hard time choosing which restaurant to go to. There were not too many Chinese restaurants out there back then, not to mention an authentic franchise Szechwan hotpot restaurant which was already very popular and wide spread in China. Then the idea of opening such an authentic Szechwan hotpot restaurant came into my mind. I not only want to give all Chinese who are living in Edmonton the feeling of being back home when eating at Liuyishou Hotpot, but also wish that the locals can come out and enjoy delicious and traditional Chinese hotpot. Ultimately, I wish to present and spread the time-honoured Chinese food culture. 

How long has the restaurant been open? 

The restaurant has been open for five years.  

What is the style of cuisine served at the restaurant? 

We are a very traditional Chinese Szechwan hotpot restaurant; it is one of the best ways to share food with friends and family. “Hotpot “consists of a metal pot of broth sits on top of a burner at the centre of the table, while plates of raw meats, seafood, vegetables, and starches are presented all around the pot. Diners can choose different flavours of broth from the menu as well as their favourite food to cook in the broth. Hotpot is a perfect way to bring people together for quality time while enjoying a hearty meal.  

What makes your restaurant special? 

Founded in 2000, the Liuyishou Hotpot restaurant has grown from a single location on a small street in Chongqing, China to currently having over 1,200 locations around the world. 

Chinese hotpot has become immensely popular around the world given its interactive nature during the meal. Carefully selected ingredients such as premium marbled beef, wild mushrooms, seasonal greens, and other specialty foods, are cooked at your own table in broth to the perfect temperature. What separates Liuyishou from other hotpot restaurants is its healthy image with outstanding quality, and a blast of true Chinese traditional hotpot flavour. 

Most importantly, we are the only world-wide franchise hotpot restaurant in Edmonton which means that only Liuyishou Hotpot can provide the taste of authentic Chinese Szechwan style hotpot as if you are eating in the Szechwan [region itself]. 

Why do you think people should dine in Chinatown? 

Edmonton’s Chinatown was established over 100 years ago. Over that time, Chinatown has become the point of western and Chinese cultural interaction. Food is one of the most important aspects of any culture, and it is one of the best ways to know the basics and trends of a culture. Dining in Chinatown is the perfect way of getting to know Chinese culture while enjoying delicious Chinese food. 

Liuyishou Hot Pot will be offering a $20 special during Chinatown Dining Week. It is valid for dine-in only until 4pm:

$20 Special (only valid until 4pm ): Hot Pot Combo – includes one soup base, one staple food, three meats, three veggies, and one drink

Orders can be made in-person:
(780) 425-8888
#168, 9700 105 Avenue (Pacific Rim Mall)
Monday-Thursday 11:30am-10pm, Friday-Sunday 11:30am-11pm

Chinatown Dining Week 2022: Participating Businesses

We hope you’re as excited as we are for the upcoming Chinatown Dining Week, an event now in its fifth year!

It highlights some of the best food the neighbourhood has to offer, and this year, we’re thrilled that 18 businesses will be a part of Chinatown Dining Week 2022. It represents our largest number of participating businesses the event’s history. While we are welcoming back many returning favourites, we’re also happy to announce that we have seven new restaurants on board this year.

Participating restaurants have put together special menus for $10 or $18 that will be offered from January 13-23, 2022.

With the ongoing pandemic, some participating restaurants will be offering their Chinatown Dining Week menus for guests choosing to dine in as well as those opting for take-out, while others will be offering their specials as take-out only.

Participating businesses include (*denotes new participant):

Menus will be released at edmontonchinatown.ca on January 2, 2022 – check back then for more details!

Save the Date: Chinatown Dining Week Returns, January 13-23, 2022

Chinatown Dining Week returns for its fifth year!

What: Chinatown Dining Week

When: January 13-23, 2022

Where: Businesses in Edmonton’s Chinatown

In January 2021, restaurants were limited to take-out and delivery methods only, and as a result, our event had to pivot too. But the community came through, and participating Chinatown Dining Week businesses were overwhelmed with Edmontonians who placed take-out orders in droves. It was our most successful event to date.

Twenty one months after the pandemic changed everything, most businesses in Chinatown continue to struggle. While restaurants were permitted to re-open to dine-in services earlier this year with the implementation of the Restrictions Exemption Program, many establishments have not seen their foot traffic return to pre-pandemic levels.

Chinatown Dining Week started five years ago as a volunteer-run event meant to highlight some of the culinary gems in an overlooked neighbourhood of the city. The need still stands, perhaps now more than ever, to showcase these unique hospitality businesses at a time when they could use more support.

Participating restaurants have put together special menus for $10 or $18 that will be offered from January 13-23, 2022 for take-out and in-person dining.

The list of participating restaurants will be released on December 27, 2021, and includes several businesses new to the event, as well as many returning favourites.

Stay tuned for more details!

Save the Date: Chinatown Dining Week Returns, January 14-24, 2021

Mark your calendars, Chinatown Dining Week is returning for a fourth year!

What: Chinatown Dining Week

When: January 14-24, 2021

Where: 10 businesses in Edmonton’s Chinatown

It’s been a rough year for hospitality businesses in Chinatown. The economic downturn had already settled in early on in 2020, impacting discretionary dollars spent dining out, but then in March, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. First, establishments in the neighbourhood were stigmatized because of misinformation about where and how the virus was spreading, and a perceived connection to where the virus originated. Secondly, with the lockdown in the spring, restaurants and cafes were limited to take-out only, which severely impacted their bottom line.

With the current restrictions coming at a time that would have been a busy season for restaurants, it’s more important than ever that we raise awareness of some of the culinary gems in an area that is often overlooked in Edmonton.

10 businesses will be participating in the fourth annual Chinatown Dining Week. We’re thrilled to welcome one new partner to our roster: Kim Fat Market. Kim Fat has been a strong community advocate, and we’re happy to showcase some of their menu items in our upcoming event!

Participating restaurants have put together special menus for $10 or $18 that will be offered from January 14 – 24, 2021. Because of current public health guidelines, all menus will be offered for pick-up only. Participating businesses include (*denotes new participant):

Menus will be released next week at edmontonchinatown.ca/menu – check back then for more details!

Vendor Spotlight: Ying Fat Food Products Ltd.

Allow us to introduce you to Ying Fat Food Products Ltd., makers and purveyors of superior quality tofu.

Tofu-front

We Edmontonians have much to be proud of, what with having more farmers’ markets than we can shake a stick at, and our summer festivals abound. But few people realize how fortunate we are to have a tofu factory nestled in our very own Chinatown.  Fresh-made tofu is something few people get to experience, and unless you’ve tasted it (or felt it… it might be more of a texture thing), you might never know what you were missing. With Ying Fat in town and open to the public, Edmontonians have unbridled access to fresh, scrumptrilescent tofu.

Ying Fat already provides many local restaurants with tofu, and we’re delighted to announce that they’ll be supplying us with individual portions of their house-made sweetened dessert tofu, or dau fu fa, to sell for a bargain at the 97th Street Night Market.

A couple weeks ago, I had a chance to visit Ying Fat and explore the wonders of Alberta’s only tofu factory. Thanks to May Ying for letting me look around and take these photos to share!

May Ying - she and her siblings operate Ying Fat Food Products Ltd., having taken over for their parents, the original proprietors.
May Ying – she and her siblings operate Ying Fat Food Products Ltd., having taken over for their parents, the original proprietors.

Dau fu fa - one for you, two for me.
Dau fu fa – one for you, two for me.

Shiny things!
Shiny things!

Ying Fat Food Products Ltd.
10512 – 98 Street NW
Edmonton, AB  T5H 2N4
T: (780) 425-9489

Save the Date: 97 Street Night Market 2014

Building on the momentum of our first market last year, we are thrilled to announce the second annual 97 Street Night Market, taking place this August!

What: 97 Street Night Market
When: Saturday, August 23, 2014
Time: 6-10pm
Where: 97 Street & 106 Avenue

2014 Night Market Poster, August 13, 2014

Expect food trucks, Chinatown walking tours, performers and vendors. Over the next few weeks, we will share more details about what we have in store. Stay tuned!