Restaurant Review: Rosewood Foods

ROSEWOOD FOODS

10150 100th Street | rosewoodfoods.com Instagram: @rosewoodfoods

Co-Diners: The E.A.T Crew

As a self-proclaimed dinette and bakeshop Rosewood Foods has singlehandedly changed the face of breakfast and lunch in Edmonton's Downtown core. Open since April 2020 (an unfortunately timed pandemic opening that actually worked?!) and adjacent to Sir Winston Churchill Square and Edmonton City Hall, this restaurant has always been positioned right in the middle of it all. Capturing the fast-casual vibe, Rosewood Foods has solidified themselves as the kind of cozy spot that offers counter service while simultaneously providing stylish and simple surroundings. But it's the food that has won the hearts of Edmontonians with their lean toward Asian-inspired flavours and of course their iconic cruller donuts. EDify Magazine named them as Best Brunch Restaurant in 2023, 2024, and 2025 while the Edmonton Food Faves We Crave 2024 list called them Favourite Brunch. It's all about the brunch, people, and this is the spot! I visited around 11am on a Sunday morning and the place was bumpin'. A long queue snaked from the counter and there wasn't a single available table in sight. I also need to point out that finding parking on Rice Howard Way is an absolutely nightmare. You might get lucky and nab a coveted paid street parking spot... But in all likelihood you'll spend 15 minutes circling the block. I can't tell you how many times that I've ditched my car in the loading zone just to run in and grab crullers. Maybe I shouldn't be admitting to that. (Loading donuts is a type of loading!!) Entering the space the atmosphere is light, warm, and airy. Beams of sun poured in through the large windows and everything felt exactly as a Sunday morning should. Don't let the lineup deter you because it moves fairly quickly and if you hover for a few minutes it's likely that a table will open up as well. This was the case on my visit and before we knew it we were settled into a four top and our order had been placed. The staff at Rosewood Foods clearly have their process down to a science because despite being positively slammed the food didn't take very long to arrive at all. Plus while you wait you get to take in the vibe - the people watching at Rosewood is elite. I spotted a low-key Edmonton celebrity grabbing breakfast and overheard a very interesting conversation about a prolific local chef. It all felt very juicy and entertaining! The coffee at Rosewood Foods is solid and they've got all of the usual versions of caffeine that you love. However, I had to order the Vietnamese Iced Coffee ($7.00) because it was the most unique offering and also echoes much of what you'll find on the food menu.

The thing that makes Vietnamese coffee unique is that it's traditionally made with rich condensed milk which adds a luscious sweetness. Not only was this a delicious iced latte but the specific caramelized sweetness makes it special. Definitely the go-to coffee order at Rosewood Foods. There are also cocktails available and if you're more of a mimosa-with-brunch kind of person you can absolutely take that route as well! There are so many dishes on the food menu that sound incredible and I have heard that there's no wrong item to order. However, the Egg & Cheese Sandwich ($18.00 for Four Whistle Farm Bacon) has gotta be one of the top contenders.

Fried farm egg, local cheddar, house chili jam on a milk bun.

You can choose from three versions of this sandwich; griddled scallion, Four Whistle Farm bacon, or house chicken sausage. I went with the bacon. The sandwich is also served with Crispy Potatoes but you can sub for soup or salad if you want. (The potatoes are beyond incredible so I recommend sticking with those!) It's all about that gorgeous, glistening milk bun which is made in-house. Warm and soft like a pillow, it's like biting into a delicious cloud. You won't find a bun like this anywhere else! Inside was an abundant heap of thick-cut bacon, a perfectly cooked slightly runny egg, and a mountain of melty cheddar cheese. You can tell that these are quality ingredients and that Rosewood Foods puts value into sourcing from local farmers (when they're not just making it themselves). The chili jam added a big punch and brought big chili-garlic flavours. It's honestly a perfect breakfast sandwich that delivers exactly everything that you could want it to be. Valentina is the hot sauce of choice at Rosewood and I enjoyed getting a bit of that into the mix for some heat. But can we circle back to the crispy potatoes for a second? Because I don't know what kind of potato voodoo is being performed here. How do they do it?! Each smashed piece of potato is impossibly crispy, golden, and ridiculously addictive. They're quite possibly the best potatoes in the whole city and I want more. Now. Another dish that I'd heard a lot about are the Lemony Buttermilk Pancakes ($17.00) People swear by these things.

3 fluffy, zesty buttermilk pancakes, real maple syrup, pat of butter.

The beautiful citrine hue of these cakes tell the perfect story of the flavours that await you. They really are lemony in the most forward yet subtle way. Bright notes of citrus capture the very feeling of the rays of sun that are shining into the space. My favourite part was the exceptional cook on each pancake - with an ideal light crisp on the outside and a fluffy interior. I can see why these are famous.

I don't think that I'll ever set food in Rosewood Foods without buying a Cruller ($5.50). I have repeatedly said that it's one of the best donuts in the city and I stand by that statement.

Choux pastry doughnut with flavoured icing.

There are usually upwards of seven different flavours to choose from (and they often sell out!) but my all-time favourite has to be the Raspberry Cardamom one. I like the Honey Rose one as well. But there's something about the way that they've captured the flavour of real fresh raspberries that I just love. The dough is moist and porous, with a great fried crisp on the outside. It almost reminds me of a Chinese donut... But better. These things will haunt your dreams and if you've never tried one you are truly missing out. What's not to love at Rosewood Foods?! Besides the terrible parking (it's worth it) everything else coming out of this place is delicious and innovative. They play with combinations of flavours that you don't normally see and they create plates that seem fairly straight forward yet are unexpectedly so much more. I need to return to try the Breakfast Rice (love that this Asian morning staple is on the menu) and the Katsu Chicken Sandwich (which I've heard is basically the best sandwich in the whole city). A total gem of a restaurant and I'm so glad that everyone seems to know it! See you soon for crullers.