Hundreds of Edmontonians are lining up at an unlikely spot for fish and chips
Before most people had started thinking about lunch, Sabor owners and chefs Christian Mena and Lino Oliveira were already outside frying fish.
By 10:30 a.m., a lineup had formed outside the downtown Edmonton restaurant, already crowded by construction. Everyone was waiting eagerly for its annual $15 summer lunch deal.
Allison Stephen/Daily Hive
Each Friday in August, the restaurant serves up fish and chips with a drink included, drawing a line that regularly stretches to the corner of 103rd Street and 103rd Avenue. The deal is first-come, first-served and runs until the food sells out, which doesn’t take long.
When we visited last Friday, it sold out by noon.
The offering is a departure from the Portuguese and Spanish menu that has made Sabor an Edmonton institution, but since launching in 2019, it has become a summer tradition for downtown workers and people from across the city.
The crowds are especially noticeable during a rough summer for downtown Edmonton, between record rainfall, disruptive construction, and several restaurants closing in quick succession. But on Fridays, this corner is packed with people waiting for lunch.
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For some, the deal has become an annual ritual; it’s a rare chance for foodies to sample some top-notch fish and chips. Other people we spoke to show up to support charities that benefit from the annual event.
Allison Stephen/Daily Hive
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“In terms of fish and chips, they are elite,” said Alysia Lok, who was waiting in line for lunch. “I know we can’t get them throughout the year, but I think that also makes it super special.”
Her friend, Melanie, who works nowhere near downtown, was trying them for the first time.
“I didn’t get a Friday available in previous years, so we kind of snuck out of the office and made it happen today,” she said.
We got our hands on some, too. The fish is light and flaky with a fresh, crisp coating. It isn’t greasy or heavy, and comes with a bed of thin, crispy fries and an in-house tartar-adjacent sauce that you’ll definitely want to go back for.
Mena and Oliveira came up with the idea for the fish and chip Fridays as an offshoot of Seafood Fest.
Beyond all the flaky fishy goodness, about 300 orders of these fish and chips fly out the door every week, with all of the proceeds supporting Ronald McDonald House and Santa’s Anonymous.
The deal wraps up on Aug. 28, the final Friday of the month, so if you want to try it, get there early. Otherwise, mark your calendar for next summer.
Have you tried the fish and chips yet? Let us know in the comments.
Sabor
Address: #109, 10220 103rd St. NW, Edmonton