EDify Best Restaurants 2023: The must-do food event of the year!

The most important food list that comes out each year in Edmonton is the annual EDify Best Restaurants list. Chosen by a panel of actual local foodies (not votes from the general public), this reliable snapshot of the hottest restaurants and food happenings in the city is the most prestigious award that Edmonton has to offer in terms of food. I look forward to the March issue of the magazine each year - and I have kept all of my copies since the first list came out in 2012! The best part is that there is an accompanying event. A gathering of many of the restaurants that made the list, all in one place, ready to serve their incredible food. It's probably the best food event of the year and you know that I wouldn't miss out! Not only that, I got myself a VIP ticket which guaranteed a seated table and early event access (because beating the crowd seemed key!). Held at the Edmonton Convention Centre, I rolled up with strong intentions to eat every last thing in sight.

Here is how I ranked what I ate: 16. Curry Chicken with Rice, Red Beans, Curry Potato & Channa, Coleslaw from Cafe Caribbean (#4 Best New Restaurant)

Loved the chicken and it all tasted great (although the rice was a little plain). Not quite as elevated of a plate as some of the others. 15. Flautas from Maria Northern Mexican Cuisine (#2 Best Mexican Restaurant)

Who doesn't love a crispy taco flute?! Loved the bright colours and flavours. 14. Spinach Dip with Tortilla Chips from The Next Act (#2 Best Tried & True Restaurant)

You can't be mad at a tasty spinach dip. You just can't. 13. Tacos Birria from Smokin’ Barrels Cocina Latina (#1 Best Mexican Restaurant)

I'm obsessed with a birria taco. I liked all of the components that this one came with and I especially loved sipping (and dipping) the consomé broth. 12. Beef and Pork Meatballs with Pomodoro Sauce from Leopard Pizza (#3 Best Pizza)

I'm a sucker for a red sauce and the tangy pomodoro in this dish was my favourite part. A tender and tasty meatball! 11. Spicy Pepperoncini & Dill Pickle Soup from Pals Sandwiches (#3 Best New Restaurant)

One of my own personal favourite new restaurants, I've eaten the "real" version of this soup before. Pepperoncini and pickle?! What a match made in heaven! 10. Smoked Tofu & Scallion Agnolotti from Fu’s Repair Shop (#1 Best New Restaurant & #3 Best Restaurant for Date Night)

Fu's is the hottest restaurant in town at the moment and they've got a ton of buzz. I can't wait to try them in real life. This fusion dish was full of amazing textures. 9. Wonton in Chili Oil from The Lingnan (#1 Best Chinese Restaurant)

Super juicy and full of huge flavours! I loved the heat in this one! (I should note that they were also serving two other dishes; Pork Shu Mai and Chicken Pot Stickers but I didn't have enough tickets to try them all.) 8. Maple Sausage with Dutch Mustard, Peruvian Sausage with Chimichurri, Coleslaw, Spaetzle Salad from OTTO Food & Drink (#1 Best Family Restaurant)

I love OTTO and need to remember to visit them more. These sausages were so juicy and delicious. 7. Elk Tataki with Cabbage Slaw from RGE RD (#2 Best Overall Restaurant)

Widely regarded as one of the best restaurants in the city, I loved the perfect cook on this elk. Extremely tender and well-seasoned, this dish was a beauty. 6. Celeriac and Leek Vichyssoise with Dungeness Crab & Crispy Taro from XIX Nineteen (#3 Best Overall Restaurant)

This dish was skillfully prepared and beautifully presented. The textures and flavours were excellent. This was a special one. 5. Simmered Pork Belly from Izakaya Tomo (#2 Best Japanese Restaurant)

The restaurant that brought izakaya to Edmonton! This pork belly was cooked to perfection and I loved the spicy Japanese mustard on the side. 4. Sweet French Toast Bake from Pip (#2 Best Brunch)

This French toast was MAGICAL!!! Caramelized and crispy on the outside, soft and warm on the inside. WOW. Now I want to go to the restaurant to order the whole thing. 3. Bison Tartare with Pickled Fennel & Rye Cracker from Bündok (#4 Best Overall Restaurant)

This dish wins for being the most pretty and perfect bite overall. Delicate, balanced, and every flavour note on point. This is exactly what you hope to see at an event like this. 2. Ahi Tuna from Maria Northern Mexican Cuisine (#2 Best Mexican Restaurant)

I love, love, love ahi tuna and each bite melted in my mouth. The different flavours were very exciting and I especially loved the aioli on the side. I had two of these because I loved it so much! 1. Tonkotsu Shio Ramen from Kasey Ramen (#5 Best New Restaurant)

My #1 pick!!! This ramen was INCREDIBLE. It's just as good as ramen that I've eaten in Japan. Kasey Ramen is super hot right now and somewhat elusive, so I was not surprised to see that this booth had the longest line at the event. I ate two bowls because it was perfect. In addition to all of this incredible food... There was MORE FOOD. There was a popcorn table with a whole array of seasonings available, a sourdough bread table which included epic butter boards, and because I had a VIP ticket I got a personal charcuterie and cheese plate at my table. Desserts included Kind Ice Cream offering multiple flavours; Key Lime, Salted Caramel, River Valley Road and Jammy Raspberry. And The Cheesecake Cafe with Lemon Souffle Cheesecake and Mocha Cheesecake dipped in Milk Chocolate.

And also Bloom Cookie Co. with a trio of flavours; Chocolate Chip, London Fog, and Salted Double Chocolate. All of the desserts were unlimited.

I absolutely loved this well-organized event and cannot wait to attend it every year! The food was absolutely wonderful and a true testament to the fact that Edmonton's food scene is not only underrated, but serving up some of the best food in the country.