10 popular restaurant concepts we wish would come to Edmonton

Mar 25 2022, 9:21 pm

There are so many popular restaurants in Edmonton.

From chain restaurants, mom and pop spots, pop-ups, food markets, and local restaurant groups, the Edmonton dining scene is an exciting one.

But still, when we travel or hear about all the fantastic food spots in other cities, we can’t help but dream about going there.

There are so many exciting restaurant concepts with more and more locations; it’s natural to hope to hear announcements that the next outpost will be in YEG.

Here are some popular restaurants we would love to see open up in Edmonton.

Nobu

 

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“Eatin’ crab out in Malibu at Nobu,” sang Drake on “Who Do You, Love,” and what we love is the idea of a Nobu coming here. It’s one of the most recognizable restaurant names in the world and one of the most popular restaurants in the world to be frequented by celebrities. Sticking to mostly big markets like Las Vegas and Los Angeles, they seem to be growing quickly, so you never know!

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Tacofino

If you’ve ever been to Vancouver, surfed in Tofino, or have friends from there who can’t stop talking about it, then you’ve heard of Tacofino. This California Baja-style taco spot started out as a parked truck in Tofino, BC, and now has multiple locations and trucks. Each one has a different menu, and we hope the next creative menu will be in Edmonton.

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Pizza Labretto

 

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With five locations now in Toronto, people in Toronto know this pizza place very well. This is a growing brand that makes authentic Neapolitan pizza, both the classics and fun creations. Edmonton definitely has some world-class pizza, but we would love the chance to try a Neo-New York-inspired Labretto American pie made with aged and fresh mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, san Marzano tomato, and fresh basil.

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In-N-Out Burger

 

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There used to be a time when In-N-Out Burger had just one location in LA. Then, after a few more, you still had to go to California to order one of the legendary double-double burgers or something from the secret menu. Animal-style, anyone? Now, there are well over 100 locations in five states. We think it’s time it started expanding to Canada, especially since it’s one of the most popular restaurants in North America.

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Eggslut

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Eggslut is a chef-driven, gourmet sandwich spot that started in 2011. It’s inspired by a true love for eggs, which makes sense given the name. There are currently locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Tokyo, Seoul, Kuwait, London, and Singapore — but no Edmonton?! The Fairfax is the signature breakfast sandwich here, made with cage-free soft scrambled eggs and chives, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, and sriracha mayo all on a warm brioche bun.

Momofuku

 

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From the location in Toronto with three different levels, the noodle bars, or the majordomos, there are several different Momofuku concepts. Serving a constantly changing menu of noodles, steamed bread, soft serve, and daily dishes, this place was a huge leader in popularizing ramen and Asian cuisine in North America. We don’t care what version we get, we just want one to come to our city.

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Lord of the Fries

 

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Lord of the Fries is a burger and hot dog spot that’s one of the best fast-food spots in Australia. Like any great burger joint, the fries are amazing too, and they have several different kinds. It’s actually so delicious that most tourists of Australia don’t initially realize the not-so-secret fact that it’s entirely plant-based.

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Shake Shack

 

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In-N-Out Burger runs the show out West as far as fast food burger chains go, but this spot has the crown on the East Coast.

Larger burgers, smashed patties, and crinkle-cut fries are the crowd-pleasers here. For us, if it ever comes to YEG, we’ll be on team Shake Shack for life.

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Guy’s Burger Joint

 

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More than anything, we just want to see the frosted tips and flamed button-up in person. Plus, there’s no way this spot from Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives’Ā Guy Fieri isn’t a total blast, right? Edmonton is known as the City of Champions, but it’s about time we changed that to Flavour Town.

National

 

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Popular brewpubs in Alberta seem to creep into each other’s city all the time. Home and Away just opened in Edmonton, Calgary just got another Canadian Brewhouse…but Calgary’s National has not yet opened a YEG spot. One of the most popular places for lunch or a party, every National feels like home and also different. There are four in Calgary, and some have massive rooftop patios, while others have basement bowling alleys. We think it’s about time we see a national open up in Edmonton.

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