Tag Archives: Edmonton

Chinatown Dining Week Profile: All Happy Family Restaurant

Chinatown Dining Week,

Until the start of Chinatown Dining Week, we’ll be featuring each of the 18 businesses who are participating in this year’s event, running January 13-23, 2022. All businesses are offering special deals during this period for $10 and/or $18. Check out all of the menus here.

Next up, we interviewed Winnie from All Happy Family Restaurant. The restaurant is returning to Chinatown Dining Week for the first time in two years.

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 17 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.  

1-Person Combo with Ginger Beef, Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls, Egg Fried Rice and a Can of Pop ($18) 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 an $18 special during Chinatown Dining Week. It is valid for both in-person dining and pick-up.

$18 Special: 1-Person Combo (Ginger Beef, Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls, Egg Fried Rice and a Can of Pop)

Orders can be made via phone or in-person
10013 106 Avenue
(780) 421-8297
Daily 11am-2am

Chinatown Dining Week Profile: Macarons & Goodies

Chinatown Dining Week,

Until the start of Chinatown Dining Week, we’ll be featuring each of the 18 businesses who are participating in this year’s event, running January 13-23, 2022. All businesses are offering special deals during this period for $10 and/or $18. Check out all of the menus here.

Next to be featured is Macarons & Goodies, another returning business to Chinatown Dining Week. We spoke with Akham Hasni of the bakery:

Tell us a bit about your business.

Macarons & Goodies is a specialty French bakery. I opened the business after working as the first Executive Pastry Chef at Rogers Place.

How long has your business been open?

We have been open for four years. We also opened a second location in St. Albert three years ago.

10″ Pie ($18) Chinatown Dining Week Special

What type of food is served at your business?

We serve French, Canadian and Mediterranean cuisine, but we specialize in high-end traditional French pastries, cakes, and cookies, including macarons. We make everything in-house.

2 x 5″ Pie ($10) Chinatown Dining Week Special

What makes your business special?

We are the only bakery that specializes in French specialties, and we offer the largest menu and variety in the city. Our macarons are our best-selling product – we offer 32 different flavours, and some of the most popular are salted caramel, pistachio, and dulce de leche.

We also serve high tea, and offer macaron baking classes.

6 pcs Macarons ($10) Chinatown Dining Week Special

Why do you think people should shop in Chinatown?

Chinatown is full of specialty restaurants that you can’t find anywhere else in Edmonton. The businesses are the attraction.

Macarons & Goodies will be offering the following $10 and $18 specials during Chinatown Dining Week. They are valid for pick-up only:

$18 Special: 10″ Pie
$10 Special: 6 pcs Macarons or 2 x 5″ Pie

Orders can be made via phone or in-person
(587) 473-6400
10548 101 Street
Monday 10am-6pm, Tuesday-Saturday 9am-6pm, closed Sunday

Chinatown Dining Week Profile: Namaste India

Chinatown Dining Week,

Until the start of Chinatown Dining Week, we’ll be featuring each of the 18 businesses who are participating in this year’s event, running January 13-23, 2022. All businesses are offering special deals during this period for $10 and/or $18. Check out all of the menus here.

First to be featured is returning restaurant Namaste India. We sat down with we sat down with Rajendra Singh of Namaste:

Tell us a bit more about the restaurant.

Not many people know that we serve Indian meals in Chinatown. We also cater to halal and vegetarian customers.

Chana Masala with Naan ($10) Chinatown Dining Week Special

How long has the restaurant been open?

We opened the first Namaste India in the west end in 2015. This location opened in October 2017.

Vegetable Korma with Rice ($10) Chinatown Dining Week Special

What is the style of cuisine served at the restaurant?

We serve Indian favourites. Our most popular dish is butter chicken, but [I would also recommend] chicken lababdar, cooked in an onion and bell pepper-based sauce.

Butter Chicken Combo with Rice and Naan ($18) Chinatown Dining Week Special

What makes your restaurant special?

Our buffet [when in-person dining is permissible] is very popular – we offer nine hot dishes plus salad and dessert. We usually have a different fish and vegetarian special, too. Most of our buffet items are gluten-free, and we have vegan items as well.

We are one of just a few Indian restaurants that serve chicken malai tikka, a mild, creamy dish cooked in the tandoor oven. Our mango prawns sauteed in a mango sauce are also special.

Butter Chicken ($18) Chinatown Dining Week Special

Why do you think people should dine in Chinatown?

I think people should know more about Chinatown – the area has a bad reputation.

Namaste India will be offering the following $10 and $18 specials during Chinatown Dining Week. They are valid for pick-up only:

$18 Special: Butter Chicken Combo with Butter Chicken, Naan and Rice
$10 Special: choice of Butter Chicken, or Chana Masala with Rice or Plain Naan, or Vegetable Korma with Rice or Plain Naan

Orders can be made via phone, website, or in-person
10023 107 Avenue
(780) 540-0100
Monday, Wednesday-Saturday 11:30am-9.30pm, Sunday 12pm-9:30pm, closed Tuesdays

Chinatown Dining Week 2022: Participating Businesses

Chinatown Dining Week, ,

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,

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!

Chinatown Dining Week Feature: Kanto 98 St. Eatery

Chinatown Dining Week, ,

Over the next two weeks, we’ll be featuring each of the 10 businesses who are participating in Chinatown Dining Week, running January 14-24, 2021. All businesses are offering special takeaway deals during this period for $10 and/or $18. Check out all of the menus here.

Last to be profiled: we sat down with Edgar Gutierrez, owner of Kanto 98 St. Eatery, 10636 98 Street.

Why did you decide to open the restaurant?

It has always been my dream to open a restaurant [on my own]. Eating out was such a big part of my life growing up. It’s how my mom and I used to bond.

Kanto came about when I was taking Filipino martial arts that brought me back to my roots. I started researching more and just fell in love with the culture all over again and wanted to take it more seriously. So as soon as this space was open, I took over and opened Kanto. Before I came to Canada, I spent a lot of time outside; Kanto means “corner” or “where two streets meet”. [Back home] there were always steamed buns and barbeque sold on the streets. We would play “cara y cruz” (heads or tails), eat BBQ and read comics. Those were a part of my last memories in the Philippines. Kanto is a combination of all those things. It’s an accumulation of my love for food and the restaurant culture.

How long has the restaurant been open?

More than 2 years.

What is the style of cuisine served at the restaurant?

We serve casual Filipino street food; it’s mostly an in and out type of setting. If you go anywhere in the Philippines you will find Bao (steamed buns}, fried chicken and barbeque being sold on the streets.

What makes your restaurant special?

There are a lot of Filipino restaurants in Edmonton, but they are all the same; I thought a different approach would widen the scope. Filipino food is very individualized which makes it hard to put it out in the mainstream. I researched trendy Filipino food and decided on items that were easier to introduce.

Why do you think people should dine in Chinatown?

Chinatown is so diverse; you can get Vietnamese, Chinese, African, Filipino food! It’s very convenient, and close to downtown. I come to Chinatown for inspiration.

What have you changed about your business as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?

I had some time to create more space through renovations, and [add] decor.

How has your business been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?

The sales have taken a dive. Fortunately, being where we are situated, we are able to stay afloat because of the low overhead and the cost of food to is relatively lower and accessible.

Kanto 98 St. Eatery will be offering the following $10 special during Chinatown Dining Week:

Special: 2 Carne Asada Tacos – Chipotle Marinated Beef with Smoked Tomato Lime Salsa, Handmade Corn Tortillas, Cilantro and Onions, Cheddar Cheese

Check out other special menus, here.

Chinatown Dining Week Feature: Padmanadi

Chinatown Dining Week, ,

Over the next two weeks, we’ll be featuring each of the 10 businesses who are participating in Chinatown Dining Week, running January 14-24, 2021. All businesses are offering special takeaway deals during this period for $10 and/or $18. 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.

How long has the restaurant been open? 

We have been around for 18 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.

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 $18 special during Chinatown Dining Week:

Special: Individually-Sized Ginger Beef, Curry Chicken, or Vegetable Deluxe served with Jasmine Rice, Two Spring Rolls, and Bowl of Wonton Soup (vegan)

Check out other special menus, here.

Chinatown Dining Week Feature: Namaste India

Chinatown Dining Week, ,

Over the next two weeks, we’ll be featuring each of the 10 businesses who are participating in Chinatown Dining Week, running January 14-24, 2021. All businesses are offering special takeaway deals during this period for $10 and/or $18. Check out all of the menus here.

Next to be profiled: we sat down with Rajendra Singh of Namaste India, 10023 107 Avenue.

Tell us a bit more about the restaurant.

Not many people know that we serve Indian meals in Chinatown. We also cater to halal and vegetarian customers.

How long has the restaurant been open?

We opened the first Namaste India in the west end in 2015. This location opened in October 2017.

What is the style of cuisine served at the restaurant?

We serve Indian favourites. Our most popular dish is butter chicken, but [I would also recommend] chicken lababdar, cooked in an onion and bell pepper-based sauce.

What makes your restaurant special?

Our buffet [when in-person dining is permissible] is very popular – we offer nine hot dishes plus salad and dessert. We usually have a different fish and vegetarian special, too. Most of our buffet items are gluten-free, and we have vegan items as well.

We are one of just a few Indian restaurants that serve chicken malai tikka, a mild, creamy dish cooked in the tandoor oven. Our mango prawns sauteed in a mango sauce are also special.

Why do you think people should dine in Chinatown?

I think people should know more about Chinatown – the area has a bad reputation.

What have you changed about your business as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?

We are currently not offering dine-in, and have not been able to host private events. We are [taking every precaution] as our business requires us to interact with many people on a daily basis, and we want to keep ourselves and our family safe.

How has your business been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?

We are surviving on takeout orders.

Namaste India will be offering the following $10 and $18 specials during Chinatown Dining Week:

$10 Special: choose from Choice #1, #2, or #3:
Choice #1: Butter Chicken – Tandoori Grilled Chicken Cooked in an Ambrosial Tomato and Cream Sauce
Choice #2: Vegetable Korma – Vegetables with Homemade Cheese Cooked in Thick Creamy Sauce, Served with Basmati Rice or Naan (vegetarian)
Choice #3: Chana Masala – Chickpeas Cooked in Onion, Tomato, Ginger and Garlic Gravy, Served with Basmati Rice or Naan (vegan)

$18 special: Butter Chicken Combo (served with Butter Naan and Basmati Rice)

Check out other special menus, here.

Chinatown Dining Week Feature: Kim Fat Market

Chinatown Dining Week, ,

Over the next two weeks, we’ll be featuring each of the 10 businesses who are participating in Chinatown Dining Week, running January 14-24, 2021. All businesses are offering special takeaway deals during this period for $10 and/or $18. Check out all of the menus here.

Next, we interviewed Phong Luu, the owner of Kim Fat Market, 9905 107 Avenue.

Tell us about your business.

When you walk into our market, you will not only find butchers offering you fresh custom cuts of meat (beef, pork, chicken, and lamb), but we also provide a great selection of live seafood, a well-stocked Asian market and fresh vegetables. We also offer a variety of delicious Chinese and Vietnamese food to-go. Some popular items being our hotpot kits, garlic fried chicken wings, lobster with noodles and cream sauce, and so much more. We can provide ready to go, tasty meals for you, your family, and friends.

How long have you been open?

This is our 32nd year! We have been serving the Edmonton area since 1989.

What makes your market special?

What makes our market special is that our team takes the time to understand what our customers want. Our staff can teach customers about the different cuts of meat to help better your meals.

What have you changed about your business as a result of COVID-19?

Since March 2020, we have focused on increasing our presence on social media. It has helped us tremendously in advertising what we offer. We are so grateful for our friends and family who have helped us spread the word as COVID-19 has guided us in a different direction. Our clientele base has diversified and has led our business in a positive direction. We love all the orders we receive and are always grateful for all the kind words and shout-outs.  We also continue to shop locally, to support small businesses and we try to be fluid in meeting community needs by offering delivery to our customers and keeping our pricing fair despite increasing rates on our end.

How has your business been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?

Chinatown has always been known for its culturally rich markets, Asian bakeries, delicious dining spots and sweet shops, but truthfully, we’ve all taken a hit. A large part of our sales relied on wholesale meats and groceries to restaurants that are struggling due to being closed or operating at reduced capacities. We’ve had to redefine our target market and be more creative to help our business maintain sales during these unique circumstances. We have also increased our already stringent sanitation standards to further ensure cleanliness during this time, so our customers continue to feel comfortable purchasing from us. Our customers also enjoy the family dynamic as they become a member of our family the moment they walk through the front door.

Kim Fat Market will be offering the following $10 and $18 specials during Chinatown Dining Week:

$10 special: Small Tray of Deep-Fried Drumsticks or Dry Ribs. Flavour options: All-Dressed, Honey Garlic, Regular Crispy, or Cajun

$18 special: Medium Tray of Deep-Fried Drumsticks or Dry Ribs. Flavour options: All-Dressed, Honey Garlic, Regular Crispy, or Cajun

Check out other special menus, here.

Chinatown Dining Week Feature: Tea Bar Cafe

Chinatown Dining Week, ,

Over the next two weeks, we’ll be featuring each of the 10 businesses who are participating in Chinatown Dining Week, running January 14-24, 2021. All businesses are offering special takeaway deals during this period for $10 and/or $18. Check out all of the menus here.

Next to be profiled: we sat down with Andy Chung of Tea Bar Cafe, 10640 98 Street.

Why did you decide to open the restaurant?

When I first opened the restaurant, there was no bubble tea place in Edmonton. People had to go to Vancouver if they wanted to have bubble tea. Most people didn’t even know what bubble tea was. I chose to name the place Tea Bar Café because I wanted it to be easily recognizable. People know for sure that they can get tea here and I added “bar” because we also have a liquor licence; at night it is a lounge where people can come for drinks, order snacks and even sing karaoke.

How long has the restaurant been open?

21 years.

What is the style of cuisine served at the restaurant?

I serve mainly bubble tea, and snack bar food. It is casual dining.

What makes your restaurant special?

Tea bar Café is the OG bubble tea place in Edmonton. I have been open since 2000 thus, it is the first and longest running bubble tea place in Edmonton. We offer a diverse drink menu accompanied with over 30 food items.

Why do you think people should dine in Chinatown?

Chinatown offers something that is different to other areas of the city, which makes it unique. There is a lot to try and explore in Edmonton’s Chinatown.

Tea Bar Cafe will be offering the following $10 special during Chinatown Dining Week:

Special: 1 Original Egg Waffle and 1 Fresh Fruit Bubble Tea

Check out other special menus, here.