The next time you wander down Whyte Avenue’s west end, you may notice the sounds and smells emanating out Mr. Bun, which has been full and flavourful each time we’ve stopped by, helping it rocket to the top of this year’s Best Chinese Restaurant list.
Helmed by Michelin-Star pastry “Chef Quan,” the restaurant prides itself on its Xiao Long Bao (pork soup dumplings), and it’s fun to watch the staff roll small sections of the long line of dough, because you can tell they’re having fun, too.
Their enjoyable expertise results in a savoury, delicate delight, and that applies to their handmade noodles as well, including the tomato-based variety, which I didn’t know were a thing.
But there’s no noodle-knowledge shaming at Mr. Bun — just a crew of smiling faces welcoming hungry customers eager to experience Edmonton’s best Chinese restaurant. – Cory Schachtel
Mr. Bun 壹笼包子
Garneau | 10828 Whyte Ave NW, Edmonton | 780.761.2720 | @mr.bun_yilong
Even a mild Edmonton winter creates treacherous ice, and even someone with over 40 years of walking experience can slip and break a thumb. So when I stop for a meal on my one-handed drive home through a January rush-hour snow storm, all I want is some peace.
Luckily, I walk into 852 Hong Kong, where the front-entrance charms, red decor and smiling staff make the winter hellscape feel like a world away. I ask about the soup of the day, and say yes as soon as I hear the words “beef” and “carrots,” ingredients I nearly ignore in my haste to slurp up the soul-soothing broth.
It’s one of many western items on the menu, but 852 (the Hong Kong area code) has other great dishes, too, and I order too much for one meal (Stir-fried Shrimp Scallop and Truffle, Chilled Abalone, Spring Rolls).
And when the server sees my splinted hand struggle to carry the leftovers on my way back across the parking lot, she insists on doing it for me. – Cory Schachtel
852 Hong Kong Cafe
Steinhauer | 3040 Calgary Trail NW, Edmonton | 780.440.1328 | 852cafe.ca
This year, The Lingnan will have been in operation for 77 years — an amazing feat in the fickle restaurant business. From the red-suited servers to the giant fish tank that greets you when you walk in, there’s something oh so comforting about this Edmonton standard, which has also been the subject of two — count ‘em, two — reality shows. From Lingnan matriarch Amy Quon: “I would like to continue my positive attitude with my family, and see customers at The Lingnan. We’ll carry on our devotion and caring for another 23 years.” Yup, Mrs. Quon herself is already looking forward to the one-century anniversary. – Steven Sandor
The Lingnan
Central McDougall | 10582 104 St NW, Edmonton | 780.426.3975 | thelingnan.com
Dim sum at Jumbo: From tapas to charcuterie and antipasto, people in cultures around the world love getting together to snack and chat over sharable meals. In China, it’s dim sum. And in Edmonton, we like our dim sum Jumbo, where the low-key atmosphere always feels like you’re walking into a hall for a small-town family reunion. – Cory Schachtel
This article appears in the March 2025 issue of Edify
