Food Notes for July 7, 2025

Openings

• Congrats to the team at District Cafe on the opening of their second location at the University of Alberta campus. It is located at Campus Tower, 11147 87 Avenue NW.
• The folks behind Meuwly’s have opened a new space in Old Strathcona in the historic Hub Cigar building at 10345 82 Avenue NW. It will “serve as a launchpad for Edmonton’s emerging restaurants”, with inaugural pop-ups featuring Beb’s Bagels and Balay Coffee.
• Seitans, serving up plant-based food in Die Pie, will be opening a location on Jasper Avenue and 112 Street.
• I always thought Edmonton would be ripe for more seasonal ice cream carts, so its great to see Bestie Ice Cream, the “sunny sidekick of Kind Ice Cream,” open in Crestwood at 14325 96 Avenue NW. It will open July 8.
• Zest Kitchen and Bar is now open downtown at 10127 100A Street NW, primarily serving up burgers.
• Molly Tea, a Chinese-based franchise focused on jasmine tea, will open at 10173 109 Street NW (formerly Tsujuri).
• Nero Cafe is coming soon to 9947 82 Avenue NW.
• Mr. Halal Burger has opened a second location in West Edmonton Mall.

Closures

• It looks like Sugared and Spiced has closed. Owner Jeff Nachtigall had been very public about their struggles, especially post-pandemic, but I am sad to see them go. Their brownies were my favourite in the city.

Upcoming Events

• The Grove Rotary Ribfest turns 5 this year. The event runs July 11-13, 2025 in Spruce Grove, with free admission to purchase food and drinks onsite.

Local News

• Boxer in Old Strathcona has opened a rooftop patio.
• The July issue of Modern Luxuria features profiles of Chelsea and Tony Tipping, the couple behind St. Albert’s Wild Roots Bistro, and a great Q & A with Mojo Jojo Pickles founder Johwanna Alleyne.
• Edify highlights JuuKu, chef Andrew Fung’s next chapter, and rounds up a diverse list of food trucks.
• Local Vietnamese chili oil Drunken Pho is now available on store shelves at Lucky Supermarket on the south side.

What I Ate

Last Food Notes for a couple of weeks, as my family heads out on vacation to Vancouver Island later this week. Have a great summer!

• My sister was in town last week, so we had to hit up her favourite diner during her visit. After an extraordinarily gracious gesture during my parents’ last meal there, Donna’s has cemented itself as a wider family favourite as well. You can’t go wrong with their sandwiches, and though I felt a bit like I was cheating on Route 99’s poutine, it was indulgently good.

Donna’s famous clubhouse and poutine

• Mack and I also hit up Tzin, one of our favourite restaurants in the city last week. Their patio is a fantastic spot, and I consider them the standard for hospitality in Edmonton.

The Bacon

• Ellie and I had a mama and me date one afternoon, and we swung by Little Bon Bon on the way to the Royal Alberta Museum. I really liked their feature KDays-inspired flavour, five spice mini donut.

At Little Bon Bon

• Our family also continued our annual summer haskap u-pick tradition at Rosy Farms. We plan for a picnic lunch followed by haskap ice cream for dessert. It’s such a great way to spend an afternoon with the kids.

Our little berry pickers