Taste of Edmonton 2023: 80 tickets and we're gonna use 'em all!

It's Taste of Edmonton time once again and you still have the rest of this week and the weekend get yourself over to Sir Winston Churchill Square to eat as much as you possibly can! (Or learn from past years like I did and visit twice so that you don't have to try and eat 20 different things all in one go.) This is a festival that has only continued to improve, in my opinion, especially in recent years. It's one of my very favourite Edmonton festivals - how could it not be?! This year ToE has 50 restaurants/food trucks participating, with each vendor offering 3 dishes. There are lots of old standby favourites in attendance but I was also quite impressed at the number of brand new vendors with all sorts of new things to try. They did a really great job of freshening up the restaurant roster. Just like last year, I was very impressed by ToE's website and the ease that it provides in terms of looking at exactly what food items are available. Each dish also indicates whether it's vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, gluten friendly, dairy free, seafood, or contains nuts. Another new addition this year (that I loved) is that you can buy (2 tickets) branded reusable bamboo cutlery - it's dishwasher safe too! This is a wonderful idea to help diminish single-use cutlery. I'm going to bring my official ToE cutlery with me to all future festivals! Without further ado, let's get to the food.

Here is how I ranked what I ate: 22. NL Cold Plate Salads from K&J Kitchen (2 tickets)

No, you're not looking at ice cream, these are three versions of potato salad! A last minute add-in, I liked this Maritime nod to Canadiana. They were all tasty!

21. Crab & Cream Cheese Wonton from Panda Hut Express (2 tickets)

Easy to eat and an old standby that I get every year. A wonderfully creamy and crispy bite! 20. Buffalo Mushroom Caps from The Banquet Drinkery (2 tickets)

You had me at "buffalo." Nicely battered (but maybe a hint over-fried) and drenched in a spicy hot sauce, I liked these enough. Very easy to pop into your mouth. These were served with a ranch dipping sauce last year and this year they weren't. 19. Jerk Chicken With Rice & Peas from Irie Foods (4 tickets)

I'm a fan of Irie and their jerk chicken is definitely decent. The only problem is that I was recently in Scarborough eating the best jerk chicken in Canada... So this dish was subject to an unfair comparison. 18. Butter Chicken with Rice from Khazana (4 tickets)

This dish was ranked among my top 5 last year but this year was less impressive. I used to regard Khazana's butter chicken as the best in Edmonton, however it seems like they have changed their recipe. Their distinctive smoky tandoori flavour isn't the same. I'm sad about it. It tastes a lot more generic now. 17. Summer Float from Little Bear Gelato (4 tickets)

Another last minute add-in, this drink was effervescent, refreshing, and acted as an amazing palate cleanser! Made with two types of sorbet and topped with flavoured Bubly, this beverage isn't meant to be sugary and sweet. Everyone should walk around with one of these in-hand while eating tons of different food! 16. Brisket Potato Boat from Joanne's BBQ House (2 tickets)

The brisket was very tender and good and I liked it on top of the crispy potato. The portion size was pretty small... Although I guess it was only 2 tickets. 15. Tostada de Birria from Pi Kanté (4 tickets)

I've been enjoying this one for the past few years. Big flavours and a delightful crispy tortilla. 14. Mac & Cheese in a Waffle Cup from Smac & Cheese (4 tickets)

One of the most fun ideas at the fest, you can't be mad at a ton of creamy mac & cheese crammed into an ice cream cone! Great portion size and very fun to eat! 13. Dry Spicy Chicken from The Lingnan (4 tickets)

The old standby of all old standbys, this is one of the city's favourite dishes. Known as "crack chicken," this stuff is addictively salty, spicy, and crispy. A must. You don't ToE without it. 12. Addictive Cabbage from Shojo Izakaya (2 tickets)

I had to find out what was so addictive about it!! They were right. This dish takes cabbage to a whole new level with a huge blast of crunchy umami flavour. 11. Tres Leches Cake from Pi Kanté (2 tickets)

Another last minute addition, this cute little cake was more like a strawberry shortcake. But as a fan of tres leches I enjoyed their summery version of it. 10. Lobster Roll from Blowers & Grafton (4 tickets)

First of all, I was impressed that they were attempting a lobster roll at a festival of this size at all. I've had better but the buttery bread was excellent. Could've used more lobster, but again, given the nature of the event it was a solid effort. 9. Pupusa from Paraiso Tropical (4 tickets)

If there was one vendor that "won" overall, it was Paraiso Tropical. All three of their dishes were absolute smash hits (you will find all of them on this list). And this was their first time attending the fest! Talk about coming in with a bang! Their pupusa was excellent. 8. Braised Beef Yorkies from Our Truck is Your Truck (4 tickets)

These used to be stuffed with the meat but now I think that the meat is just served on top? Regardless, they still tasted great and I loved the horseradish dipping sauce. Definitely worth a try! 7. Face Off Fried Pickles from The Canadian Brewhouse (3 tickets)

I get these every year and always enjoy them. They're dill on dill on dill! I love the dill mixed right into the batter. 6. Yuca Con Chicharron from Paraiso Tropical (4 tickets)

This is one of my very favourite dishes at this restaurant (I visit their actual location for it regularly) and it was wonderful at ToE as well! The chicharron is what dreams are made of - crispy and succulent. Plus I'm obsessed with their yuca. Don't miss this. 5. Carnitas Taco with Amigo Rice from The 3 Amigos Authentic Mexican Cuisine (4 tickets)

This one was a bit of a surprise and it was very good! The taco was simple but perfectly executed. The tender pork was delicious! And the Amigo rice was really special too. 4. Brothers Fried Pepperoni from Blowers & Grafton (2 tickets)

Great value! I loved these savoury slabs of pepperoni, loved the dipping sauce, and found this dish to be unique. This could easily become one of those items that you go back for year after year. 3. Poke Donut from Splash Poke (4 tickets)

I absolutely loved seeing Splash Poke at the festival this year for the first time! This poke donut was amazing. The precision involved in making hundreds of these all day is impressive. The sushi rice was just right and the artfully laid tuna, salmon, crab, and cucumber was gorgeous. They win for creating the most beautiful dish of the fest! 2. Pastel Queijio from Paraiso Tropical (2 tickets)

This was so very nearly the best item. The ultra cheesy empanadas from Paraiso Tropical are already an item that I stop in to grab on the regular. These Brazilian cheese pastries are like a way better version of a mozzarella stick. Gooey molten cheese, golden crispy pastry... These are magic and I dream of them (and so does my whole family). 1. Brisket Cheese Bread Sandwich from Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse (4 tickets)

My #1 pick for 2023!!! Always an item that ranks high each year, this time they nailed it. Their cheese bread forever lives in my heart. The brisket is incredible and all of the toppings work in harmony. Don't try to share this one because you're going to want it all to yourself. Another fabulous Taste of Edmonton in the books! Can't wait to do it all again next year!