Taste of Edmonton 2025: 120 Tickets, 31 Items, 26 Restaurants Booths!

This is it! The biggest food event of the year in Edmonton!! Anyone who calls themself a foodie in this city knows that this is the must-do festival! Not only was this my biggest Taste of Edmonton year yet - but it was the fest's as well with a record number of 52 restaurants and food trucks participating. It's safe to say that ToE is one of my very favourite events that the city has to offer and I always roll up with an obscene amount of tickets and a huge appetite. Each vendor typically offers 3-4 dishes and I was happy to see a good mixture of old standby plates combined with plenty of brand new things to try. Creating a game plan in advance (with the help of Taste of Edmonton's useful website, complete with pictures of each dish) is helpful. I like to know how many tickets will be needed and which booths I plan to visit before I even set foot on the grounds of Sir Winston Churchill Square. I liked the paper "menus" on site this year that served as a great visual planning tool as well - it can be overwhelming if you just show up and are faced with over fifty booths. Running this year from July 17-27, it was ten full days of tasty food goodness! Without further ado, let's get to the food.

Here is how I ranked what I ate: 31. Mac & Cheese Bites from Love Kitchen Catering (2 tickets)

Last year these came with a dipping sauce and this year they did not. They have literal Kraft Dinner on the inside which somehow endears them to me but I found them pretty underwhelming this time. 30. Lobster Roll from Blowers & Grafton (4 tickets)

This one made me sad because last year this was my top 3 item. There was WAY LESS actual lobster in it this year (it was packed last year) and most of the sandwich was slaw filling. The bread was still good but overall I felt very disappointed (especially knowing what it once was). 29. Butter Chicken with Rice from Khazana (4 tickets)

This is one of my usual dishes each year and the portion size was very generous. A very good example of butter chicken (I have been known to call it the best in the city) filled with tender chicken and a rich curry. 28. Jerk Chicken with Rice & Peas from Irie Foods (4 tickets)

A staple for me, I've gotta hit up Irie every year! The chicken drumstick was delicious and tender. Notoriously saucy, I really enjoyed the sauce to chicken ratio this year (as someone who prefers a drier jerk preparation). 27. Face Off Fried Pickles from The Canadian Brewhouse (3 tickets)

I always get these because I'm a fiend for pickles! And this dish is pickles on pickles on pickles! Fried to a golden perfection, there's even dill in the batter. And tzatziki as the dip? You just can't go wrong. 26. Smashburger from Ribeye Butcher Shop (4 tickets)

This burger in their actual shop is legendary. It's so delish. At ToE it was decently good and I liked the oversized patty and toppings. However, this was a shadow of the real thing. 25. Loaded Brisket Smash Potatoes from Joanne's BBQ House (3 tickets)

This booth had one of the longest lineups! I was very impressed by the potatoes themselves because the insides were magically fluffy. The toppings were pretty good too. But the star was the delightful potatoes! 24. Pasticcio from Pasta Pantry (4 tickets)

IYKYK! Their first time at the festival (as far as I'm aware), Pasta Pantry in Sherwood Park is a place of legend. As is their famed pasticcio! I loved seeing them at the fest this year bringing the people what they want! Plus the whole staff would exuberantly announce the name of each dish ordered, which was a ton of fun! Pasta and red sauce? Always a win. 23. Gold Bags (Deep Fried Wontons with Cream Cheese & Crab Meat) from Boualouang Laos & Thai Cuisine (2 tickets)

These are sort of filling the hole left by Panda Hut (who no longer participates) and the wontons with cream cheese and crab meat that they used to serve. However, these are different with a much lighter wonton wrapper and a sauce on top. Easy to pop in your mouth, these were quite enjoyable.

22. Tequila Lime Chicken Taco with Amigo Rice from The 3 Amigos (4 tickets)

I get this one every year and usually enjoy it a lot! This time I found the portion size a bit lacking and it seemed to be missing some of the big flavour that I love. As always, the rice was totally amazing. 21. Dry Spicy Chicken from The Lingnan (4 tickets)

The classic of all classics, I will never not grab an order of crack chicken. Especially now that Chicken for Lunch is gone. I found the batter a little too thick this year but this spicy, salty chicken always delivers. Edmontonians know. 20. Frybread Bites (Regular / Cheese / Wildberry / Cinnamon & Sugar) from Kokom's Bannock Kitchen (2 tickets)

I was a little confused about what was included here. All four flavours? As it turned out, you could choose two. I went with regular and wildberry. Both were amazing! I liked the light and fluffy regular one for a wonderful, unobstructed taste of bannock. But the wildberry is where it's at! Wild berries are such a staple ingredient in Indigenous cuisine and they shined within this delicious bannock! 19. Frankie Roll (Chicken Tikka / Chili Chicken or Butter Paneer) from Spicebros (3 tickets)

Really good value at only 3 tickets! I chose the chicken tikka version and did not expect to get two entire little naan wraps! It wasn't so much a "roll" as it was a "taco." The flavour was big and bold within its compact package.

18. Salty Crispy Chicken from Dagu Rice Noodle (4 tickets)

These had an addictive flavour that made me want to eat more!! Bite-sized and easy to eat, this chicken delivered on all of its salty and crispy promises. The booth also had a wheel that you could spin to win discounts from the restaurant which was fun! 17. Tostada de Birria from PiKante (4 tickets)

I get this one every year and I still love their crisp tortillas loaded with toppings! (Is there a non-messy way to eat one of these? I think not.) Bright and full of flavour with a touch of heat, this dish always satisfies. 16. Pan Con Lechón from Beya's Catering (4 tickets)

This booth screamed Cuban vibes and I loved this sandwich made with tender and juicy pork. The veggies used were bright and fresh too. A successful and flavourful sando in my book! 15. Donair Egg Roll with Donair Sauce from Blowers & Grafton (3 tickets)

I loved this item because it was unlike anything that I've ever seen before. Start with an eggroll... But then jam donair inside of it?! It might just be the perfect bite of Edmontonian dreams. The outside was golden and crispy while the inside was juicy and delicious. Plus the classic donair sauce on the side for dipping? Come on! 14. Dill Pickle Soup from Continental Treat (3 tickets)

I had a laugh when I noticed that this soup held the same 14th spot ranking last year! Consistently delicious, this is easily one of the best soups in the city. A pickle-lovers dream! 13. Brothers Fried Pepperoni with Honey Mustard from Blowers & Grafton (3 tickets)

I enjoy these every year and they always come through strongly. I mean, who doesn't love tasty thick slices of pep-pep? It's a simple dish but it doesn't need much to be amazing. 12. Gamsung Hotdog from Chungchun Rice Hotdog (4 tickets)

This Korean corn dog is VERY delicious! Coated in crispy potatoes, each bite is a satisfying delight! There was a whole bar of condiments on the side so that you could dress your dog however you wanted. I'm not new at this and knew to use the spicy mayo, sweet mayo, and honey butter sugar. Excellent! 11. Chicken Bites: Sweet & Spicy from Gangnam Street Food (4 tickets)

This booth had my favourite chunks of chicken overall! The batter was SO perfectly crispy making each bite of juicy chicken perfect. I loved the sweet and spicy sauce on top! A total flavour and texture party that I was happy to be invited to!! 10. Quesabirria (Quesadilla with Beef Briskett) from Paraiso Tropical (4 tickets)

A new item this year and what a smash hit!! ALL of Paraiso Tropical's three items are located within the top 10. That speaks for itself! They've won ToE as far as I'm concerned!! This dish was a beauty, from the tender beef brisket to the perfect tortilla. Amazing!! 9. Diavola Pizza from La Catrina Wood Fire Pizza (4 tickets)

Cooked on-site in a real wood-fired pizza oven, I loved this fresh tasting pizza. The shredded meats were delicious and abundant and I loved the olives and gooey cheese. A great slice of pizza! 8. Pupusa (Pork & Cheese or Cheese) from Paraiso Tropical (4 tickets)

A pupusa is one of the world's most perfect foods, in my opinion, and the ones from Paraiso Tropical are the best. I chose the pork & cheese version and loved the vinegary toppings. You could see the team making them from scratch. The Salvadorian treat at its finest! 7. Fish Pakora from Kissan Indian Cuisine (4 tickets)

This one surprised me and kinda came out of nowhere! At first I thought that the portion size looked small but after taking a bite of this deliciously well-seasoned, tender fish... All was forgiven. The flavour of the batter coating was expert-level. These things came to play and they succeeded with their massive flavour! 6. Dubai Pistachio Covered Strawberry from Choco N' Dip (4 tickets)

Dubai chocolate is a total trend and this version of it was extra good. In fact, this was the only item at the fest that I ate twice. Ripe and juicy red strawberries bathed in chocolate and pistachio sauce. Sprinkled with pistachio and shredded phyllo. They even had a chocolate fountain at this booth to make the magic happen. Loved! 5. Shumai from Takopo (4 tickets)

These dumplings were excellent. A popular dim sum dish in Chinese culture, these pockets of deliciousness packed a spicy punch and were filled with a juicy filling. I loved these!! 4. Bánh Khọt (Mini Pancakes) from Saigon Taste (4 tickets)

A dish that I'm already newly obsessed with in "real life," I was excited to find bánh khọt at the fest this year! I would have been happier if these had been served a little warmer but all was forgiven when I tasted the big flavours. This Vietnamese dish involves pancake cups made of rice flour and then filled with toppings like shrimp and pickled vegetables. So much decadent flavour and wonderful texture! 3. Smoked Brisket Slider from Transit Smokehouse & BBQ (4 tickets)

I liked this last year and I liked it even more this year. The brisket speaks for itself. Thick, unctuous pieces of well-smoked and well-seasoned meat. Drenched in your choice of BBQ sauce (I picked Alabama white sauce, their most popular). The bun wasn't much to be excited about but the meat shined over everything. 2. Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest Cake) from Continental Treat (4 tickets)

I LOVE black forest cake and this version in cupcake form was a huge success! Moist and delicious chocolate cake with a cherry filling. Plus whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and the quintessential cherry on top. It looked incredible and tasted even better! 1. Pastel de Queijo (Cheese Empanada/+Guava) from Paraiso Tropical (3 tickets)

My #1 pick for 2025! This dish landed at #2 last year and has risen to the top spot! I know that it doesn't look like much... BUT TRUST ME ON THIS ONE. This year they added the option to order a cheese + guava flavour and OMG it's one of the best things that you will ever taste! Salty and sweet. Crispy and gooey. This cheesy empanada is the BEST of it's kind and you need to get yourself one RIGHT NOW. That's it, that's all for another Taste of Edmonton! This was a great one with so many things to choose from and so many types of cuisine represented. I can't wait to do all the eating once again next year!