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.

Next, we interviewed Winnie from All Happy Family Restaurant.

Why did you decide to open the restaurant? 

My family and I had been in the restaurant businesses for over 8 years before we moved to Edmonton. When we moved here, we wanted to continue doing what we are familiar with and picked this location because it’s close to the downtown area and surrounded by the Chinese community. Before we started this restaurant, there weren’t many restaurant options for family style/comfort food around town that would be open late at night; yet there was a demand for it, especially for those who get off work very late. We thought that this could be a great opportunity for us.  

 How long has the restaurant been open? 

We have been open for over 18 years in Chinatown.  

 What is the style of cuisine served at the restaurant? 

Our dishes are mainly Cantonese style, which is from the Cantonese (or Guangdong) province in China. We make dishes that are authentic and have also adapted western flavours in some of our menu items.  

All Happy Family’s $20 Chinatown Dining Week special

What makes your restaurant special? 

We have a very extensive menu which offers over 180 options to our customers. Diners can always find something they like from our menu! We have late night hours every day as we open from 11am to 2am, 7 days a week.  

 Why do you think people should dine in Chinatown? 

People should dine in Chinatown more as you will find options for Chinese food as there are many authentic cultural food options here.  

 Do you have any hopes for the future of Edmonton’s Chinatown? 

I hope our Chinatown becomes a safer environment with better streets, and to have reduced social issues in the area.  

All Happy Family Restaurant will be offering the following special during Chinatown Dining Week. It is valid for both in-person dining and pick-up.

• $20 Special: 1-Person Combo (Ginger Beef, 2 Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls, Soya Sauce Chow Mein and a Can of Pop)
• Orders can be made via phone or in-person
  10013 106 Avenue
  (780) 421-8297
  Daily 11am-2am

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.

Next to be profiled: we spoke with Chip Tang of Hong Kong Bakery, 10649 97 Street.

Tell us a bit about your business.

Hong Kong Bakery was the first Chinese bakery to open in Alberta. My parents immigrated from Hong Kong to Alberta in 1977, and opened a bakery in Calgary in 1978. In 1986, they relocated to Edmonton and opened the current Chinatown bakery that same year.

How long has the business been open?

36 years in Chinatown. We have also had a south side location for more than 10 years.

$10 Chinatown Dining Week special from Hong Kong Bakery

What is the type of food served at the business?

We serve authentic Chinese and Hong Kong-style pastries and buns. We also offer European-style pastries, which reflects how Hong Kong offers international food. We’ve continued to build on the variety we sell, and are proud to feature our house-made macarons!

What makes your business special?

We make everything from scratch from simple ingredients and no mixes, including the fillings. For example, we are the only bakery who makes our own red bean paste!

Many people also know Hong Kong Bakery because of the green onion cakes we serve at the Taste of Edmonton. We sell these frozen at the bakery [for people to make at home].

$20 Chinatown Dining Week special from Hong Kong Bakery

Why do you think people should shop in Chinatown?

Chinatown has unique, ethnic businesses that are mostly family-run. There is a personality in Chinatown that is different from box stores.

Hong Kong Bakery will be offering the following special during Chinatown Dining Week. It is valid for dine-in or take-out:

• $20 Special: 6″ Fruit Cocktail Cake
• $10 Special: Box containing BBQ Pork Bun, Coconut Cocktail Bun, Cream Bun, Swiss Roll, Green Tea Macaron, and Salted Caramel Macaron
• Orders can be made via phone or in-person
  (780) 429-3838
  10649 – 97 Street
  Daily 9am-5:30pm

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.

Next to be featured is Asian Express Hot Pot. We interviewed owner Ming Wang.

Why did you decide to open the restaurant?

A group of friends came together to open the restaurant after years of working in the food industry. The restaurant is named to represent the sauces and bases used for hot pot that is influenced by different Asian cuisines from countries such as China, Japan, Malaysia, and Korea. Thus, the name Asian Express Hot Pot. 

How long has the restaurant been open?

12 years.

What is the style of cuisine served at the restaurant?

We serve individual hotpots with your choice of bases and sauces. 

Asian Express Hot Pot’s $20 Chinatown Dining Week special

What makes your restaurant special?

We offer over 30 different sauces for variety, so there is something for everyone! 

Why do you think people should dine in Chinatown?

Edmonton’s Chinatown is a diverse community with a lot to offer! It is a one-stop shop for all your needs; you can shop, dine, and take in the beautiful scenery and culture at the same time. There is a lot to discover in Chinatown! 

Asian Express Hot Pot will be offering the following special during Chinatown Dining Week. It is valid for dine-in or pick-up.

• $20 Special: Special Combo (Soup Base + Noodles or Rice + Choice of 4 Items) + 2 Spring Rolls or 2 fried golden buns
• Orders can be made via phone or in-person
  10586 100 Street
  (780) 421-8300
  Monday-Thursday 4-11pm, Friday 4pm-12am, Saturday-Sunday 11am-12am,

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.

Next up, we interviewed Khuyen Wales, Director at The Moth Cafe.

Why did you decide to open the restaurant?

Our food journey, at the time, led us down a path of exploring and creating plant-based dishes and learning about the benefits of vegetables and herbs. When we were given the opportunity to open a restaurant on the east side of the city we decided to jump on it. Chinatown and Boyle has always held a special place in our memory because this is where we started our lives as immigrants. 

How long has the restaurant been open?

Just over 5 years.

Lemongrass Minty Vermicelli + Spring Roll Chinatown Dining Week special from The Moth

What is the style of cuisine served at the restaurant?

Plant-based.

What makes your restaurant special?

I really don’t see us being special. We’re a family. We take care in everything we do, and we try to live and treat others the way that feels good to the human spirit. We sleep well at night. 

Purple Yam Risotto Chinatown Dining Week special from The Moth

Why do you think people should dine in Chinatown?

Chinatown is a hot spot for many family owned businesses. The food scene here is diverse and that alone is worth a visit to the area. The community support goes a long way. 

The Moth Cafe will be offering the following specials during Chinatown Dining Week. They are valid for dine-in only:

• $20 Special: Choice of –
  • Lemongrass Minty Vermicelli + Spring Rolls: sautéed lemongrass with bean curd, soy protein muttons (contains wheat), bell pepper, onion, cucumber, bean sprouts, mint, mixed greens, fried onion shallots and roasted peanuts served in citrus sauce. Served with two spring rolls.
  • Purple Yam Risotto: creamy brown rice risotto slow cooked in purple yam coconut sauce, garnished with salted caramelized shiitake mushrooms, and seasonal vegetables
• Orders can be made in-person
  (780) 244-9702
  9449 Jasper Avenue
  Monday-Saturday 11am-9pm, Sunday 11am-4pm

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.

Next up to be profiled is Shan Shan Bakery, another returning restaurant to Chinatown Dining Week. We sat with the bakery’s Shanshan Wang.

Savoury buns at Shan Shan Bakery

Why did you decide to open the bakery? 

My husband had been operating both Chinese and Western bakeries for over 30 years, with experience in Vancouver. About 10 years ago, we decided to open our own store here in Edmonton.

How long has the bakery been open? 

10 years.  

Egg tarts from Shan Shan Bakery

What is the style of food served at the bakery? 

We make mainly Chinese bakery products and some western items.

What makes your bakery special? 

With over 30 years of professional baking experience, we produce over 100 types of pastry items from our kitchen here. We also make custom cake for parties and events.

Shan Shan’s Chinatown Dining Week special

Why do you think people should dine in Chinatown? 

There are lots of dining options in Chinatown and they usually have a really good price – more bang for the buck! Chinatown is also a very convenient location in the city as it’s near downtown.  

Do you have any hopes for the future of Edmonton’s Chinatown? 

I hope that more people would come to experience and learn about the Chinatown’s culture, business and community. I also hope that issues like homelessness and safety would be improved in the near future. 

Shan Shan will be offering the following special during Chinatown Dining Week. It is valid for pick-up only:

• $20 Special: Gift certificate valued at $24
• In-person orders only, payment by cash only
  10552 97 Street
  (780) 974-7788
  Daily 10am-7pm

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.

Next to be profiled: we interviewed Linda Hoang, the daughter of the owners of King Noodle House Pho Hoang.

What’s the origin of the restaurant?

This is a family run restaurant, originating with our family in Vietnam. “King Noodle House” was added in the name for an easier Canadian takeaway. Plus Dad / Owner ‘Moustache Man’ likes to think of himself as a King, and also that our pho is the “King” of all phos (lol).

How long has the restaurant been open?

It’s been open for 27 years.

$20 Chinatown Dining Week special from King Noodle House Pho Hoang

What is the style of cuisine served at the restaurant?

We specialize in Vietnamese noodle soup (pho) but offer some vermicelli dishes as well. But the speciality is our pho. With pho, it’s all about the broth, and our broth recipe stands out from most pho broths you’ll try.

What makes your restaurant special?

King Noodle House is one of the oldest running Vietnamese restaurants in Edmonton! We are known for serving the best pho in town (and beyond—we have people who say they need to stop for our pho when they come in from out of town, and people who tell us pho they’ve tried in Vietnam doesn’t compare to ours!). We are so grateful for our customers and this recognition, and are proud of the pho we serve. Our pho broth recipe has been passed down 3 generations. Customers also like to be served by the “Moustache Man” (his grumpiness is charming for most).

King Noodle House’s famous Moustache Man

Why do you think people should dine in Chinatown?

Chinatown is a great hub for delicious and affordable food. There are a lot of great restaurants where you can experience authentic, quality Southeast Asian cuisine. A majority of the restaurants in the neighbourhood are family owned and operated, which is always worth supporting. It’s so close to downtown and yet often can be overlooked by Edmontonians thinking of where or what they should eat. It’s truly a gem for local shops and tasty cuisine.

King Noodle House Pho Hoang will be offering the following special during Chinatown Dining Week. They are valid for dine-in or pick-up:

• $20 Special: choose from Combo A or B; please note restaurant closed January 26-31
  • Combo A – Bun Bo Hue (Vietnamese Lemongrass Soup with vermicelli noodles, beef and pork) + Spring Rolls / Grilled Pork Balls Combo Platter + a Can of Pop
  • Combo B – Bun Bo Hue + Spring Rolls / Grilled Pork Balls Combo Platter + Vietnamese Iced Coffee
• Orders can be made via phone, text, e-mail, or in-person
  10613 97 Street
  780-428-8983 (by phone) or 780-903-2247 (by text) or kingnoodlehousephohoang@gmail.com
  Wednesday-Sunday 10am-7pm, closed Monday and Tuesday

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.

Next, we sat down with Lao Jian, the owner of China Marble Restaurant. It is the restaurant’s second year participating in Chinatown Dining Week.

Why did you decide to open the restaurant?

Our family had a wonton restaurant in Hong Kong, and our dishes were very popular in our neighbourhood. We thought it would be a good idea to try it here in Edmonton and see if Edmonton locals would like it as well.

How long has the restaurant been open?

We had 2 restaurants in the south of Edmonton, and the first location was open in 2004. Both locations were closed in 2017, but our friends and previous customers kept telling us how much they missed the food. We were really grateful for the support from them and decided to start looking for a new location. In 2020, this location (previously Pagolac Restaurant) in Chinatown became available for us. We really liked how there are lots of Chinese businesses in the area, and the location came with some customer parking spots at the back – and here we are!

XO Vermicelli from China Marble

What is the style of cuisine served at the restaurant?

What we have on our menu are mostly Cantonese dishes made with traditional home recipes. Our signature dish would be the Bao Yu Wonton Soup, which is named after my lovely wife. Our Cantonese style stir-fried dishes are also very popular, and we have a Dim Sum menu as well! 

Salt and Pepper Pork Chop from China Marble

What makes your restaurant special?

We make cooking sauces in house to ensure they taste authentic and great! 

I’d like to also mention that our restaurant location is where one of the very first Chinese banquet restaurants was located. We even have a display in the restaurant that shows you the very original menu from the 1930’s. 

Why do you think people should dine in Chinatown?

There are lots of great options of Chinese food and cuisines from many different ethnic cultures. It definitely brings you an international food experience!

China Marble Restaurant will be offering the following specials during Chinatown Dining Week. They are valid for pick-up or dine-in:

• $20 Special: Salt and Pepper Pork Chop on Steamed Rice, plus 1 Green Onion Cake and Bowl of Soup of the Day
• $10 Special: Shanghai Noodles or XO Vermicelli
• Orders can be made via phone or in-person
  (780) 760-2808 and (780) 760-2809
  10566 97 Street
  Wednesday-Monday 10am-10pm, closed Tuesday

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.

Next up, we interviewed Luan Cao, one of the managers at Co Chin Saigon. This is their second year in Chinatown Dining Week.

Why did you decide to open the restaurant?

We are always proud of how delicious Vietnamese food is, as well as the variety of traditional food across the country. Also, it has been a long time since Vietnamese food was introduced to Canadians with lots of adjustments to meet local people’s tastes. This is not really necessary anymore nowadays. Thus, it is an opportunity for our team to start up a restaurant that can bring back the experience of authentic Vietnamese food.

How long has the restaurant been open?

We will be two years old this coming March 7.

What is the style of cuisine served at the restaurant?

We provide a 100 percent Vietnamese food menu, and a unique full service for dining customers that can’t be found elsewhere.

Co Chin Saigon’s Pho

What makes your restaurant special?

At Co Chin Saigon, customers will receive not only the best dishes and/or soups but also a unique daily special menu that introduces more traditional foods to try out every day.

Why do you think people should dine in Chinatown?

Chinatown should be considered as the most convenient and interesting place for people to visit and stop by, as there are many local markets providing special imported products, and restaurants offering a variety of traditional  food menus from many other countries to explore. Also, it is very close to the city’s downtown where many other indoor and outdoor events are held due to its location, and it is not too far to visit from surrounding areas.

Co Chin Saigon’s Spring Rolls

Co Chin Saigon will be offering the following specials during Chinatown Dining Week. They are valid for dine-in or pick-up:

• $20 Special: Pho, with Medium Rare Beef, Flank, and Meatball, and an Iced Vietnamese Coffee
• $10 Special: 5 Spring Rolls and 1 Pop
• Orders can be made via phone or in-person
  (780) 761-6311
  10632 100 Street
  Sunday 11am-6pm, Monday 11am-8pm, Tuesday-Wednesday 11am-6pm, Thursday-Saturday 11am-8pm

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.

Next up is second-time participant Lee House. We sat down with Jayden Cho, Manager with the restaurant.

Why did you decide to open the restaurant?

When I was going to school here in Canada, I met many friends who came from Korea to study. What they missed the most from Korea was home-cooked food, so I used to invite them over to share my mom’s food. My mom is a great cook, and all my friends really loved her dishes. My family decided to open the restaurant to share my mom’s food with anyone who misses Korean home food, and with anyone who wants to try something new!

How long has the restaurant been open?

It’s been 9 years in Chinatown.

What is the style of cuisine served at the restaurant?

We are serving traditional Korean food, nothing fancy, but just like how Korean people would eat at home.

$20 Chinatown Dining Week special from Lee House

What makes your restaurant special?

It is a definition of a family-run small local business; we cook, we serve, and we run the place. My family put our love and passion in this place to create Korean home-style meals, just like how Korean mothers would prepare for their family at home. It is authentic and comforting.

Why do you think people should dine in Chinatown?

Chinatown in located at heart of Edmonton’s downtown. It brought many cultures together, not only Chinese, but Korean, Vietnamese, Indian, etc. It also neighbors many other ethnic groups, such as Ethiopian, Greek, Italian, etc. Visiting Chinatown, not only you will be having authentic Chinese food, but you will be pleasantly surprised by the many other options that you could choose from.

Lee House will be offering the following $20 special during Chinatown Dining Week:

• Special: Spicy Wok-Tossed Seafood Noodle with 5 Deep Fried Dumplings
• Orders can be made via phone or in-person
  (780) 438-0790
  10704 97 Street
  Sunday-Thursday 11am-8pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-9pm

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.

Next to be profiled: we sat down with Maya of Padmanadi, 10740 101 Street.

Tell us a bit more about the restaurant. 

We are a family owned, vegan restaurant. There has been a lot of demand for plant-based food, eating healthy, and eating something that’s different, and people are open-minded about the type of food that we are serving. Our dishes are more to share – we encourage family-style sharing. This way you get to try different dishes.

Padmanadi’s ginger beef Chinatown Dining Week special

How long has the restaurant been open? 

We have been around for 20 years. We used to be in Chinatown right on 97 Street. We outgrew ourselves more than 10 years ago. It used to be a 60-seat restaurant, and now we have grown to 160 seats.  We also opened a second location on the southside in 2019.

What is the style of cuisine served at the restaurant? 

We are Indonesian, and my mum is Chinese. The type of food we serve is what we eat back home, which is Indonesian-Chinese food. We are also Buddhist, so we don’t use any garlic or onions in our cooking. We don’t use any egg or dairy, and everything is completely plant-based.

Padmanadi’s Chinatown Dining Week special

What makes your restaurant special? 

When people think of vegan food, people think about raw, or salad-based foods. What we serve is more like vegan comfort-food – not mac and cheese type of comfort food, but with rice, curry, ginger sauce, and a bit of spice. We cater to various types of people [who love food]. We also have a lot of lactose-free customers who enjoy our food a lot.

Why do you think people should dine in Chinatown? 

Small local grocery stores have started selling lots of products that cater to special needs such as halal food and other dietary restrictions.

Chinatown is a destination for everyone  – you can find good Chinese/Asian food in Chinatown and there are things that you will learn and experience differently in a smaller shop or restaurant.

Padmanadi will be offering the following $20 special during Chinatown Dining Week:

Special: Individually-Sized Meals with Spring Rolls, Jasmine Rice, and Chocolate Mousse Dessert; choose one of the following items: Curried Tofu Vegetables (tofu in our famous yellow curry sauce with a selection of seasonal vegetables – gluten-free), Padmanadi Vegetable Deluxe (Oriental vegetables and tofu stir-fry extravaganza – gluten-free), Ginger Beef (soy beef strips, sweet bell peppers and carrots in a tangy ginger sauce), Kung Pao Chicken (vegan chicken stir-fried with celery, bell peppers, carrots, and cashews), Curry Chicken (rich yellow coconut curry with veggie chicken and potatoes)

Orders can be made via phone or in-person
10740 101 Street
(780) 428-8899, press 1
Tuesday-Thursday 11am-2pm and 4-9pm, Friday-Sunday 11am-9pm, closed Mondays