Mixed Platter at Pizza Valley and Donair

Pizza Valley and Donair is a new place at 9333 156 Street. I wanted to get a good taste of the place so opted for the mixed platter. At $17.50, there was a good amount of beef and chicken, on top of rice, with a side salad, fries, and warm pita. The sweet sauce atop the meat was not too sweet. The chicken was quite spicy, while the beef was mild. The beef was cut into chunks rather than strips. Fries had lots of seasoning, and the salad was sort of like a Greek salad, with some crumbled feta. Good food, good portion, and I am hearing lots of good things from others concerning the pizzas and other offerings. 

Fried Noodles with Beef at Fuqing Lanzhou Noodles (10824 97 Street)

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Hand-pulled, fried noodles with beef for lunch. Chewy goodness with cucumber on top (not too sure what was up with that, but it worked). #yeg #yegfoodie #yegeats #yegfood #noodles #chinatownyeg #yegdt

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Nov 4, 2018 at 12:17pm PST

Hand-pulled, fried noodles with beef for lunch. Chewy goodness with cucumber on top (not too sure what was up with that, but it worked).

Beef Dip at Brewsters

Beef dip - the roast beef was piled high with tangy onions and savoury horseradish aïoli in a pretzel bun. #yeg #yegfood #brewsters #yegfoodie #nofilter #beefdip #sandwich

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Aug 4, 2018 at 5:41pm PDT

Beef Short Rib at Sugar Bowl

Braised beef short ribs with asparagus and roasted potatoes. The dish usually comes with mashed potatoes but they were out. Mashed would have carried the plentiful and slightly spicy au jus better, but the meat was fork tender and delicious. #yeg #yegfood #yegfoodie #sugarbowl #yegeats #beef #nofilter

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Jul 14, 2018 at 9:11pm PDT

Beef Bulgogi at NARA Chicken and Tonkatsu

A beautiful bounty of bulgogi. #yeg #yegfood #yegeats #foodporn

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Apr 10, 2018 at 4:10pm PDT

I normally visit NARA Chicken and Tonkatsu for the fabulous fried chicken, but on a recent evening I decided to try the beef bulgogi. It was a bountiful portion of tender beef with vegetables, served alongside rice and a small salad. Quite enjoyable, and great for an evening where I felt like eating something a bit lighter than fried chicken.

Homestyle Beef Chili at District

Warm chili on a cold day. #yeg #yegfood #yegeats #foodporn

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Jan 31, 2018 at 11:41am PST

I have been to District Cafe and Bakery a few times over the past month for meetings. When I was there over lunch one time, I ordered the chili, which was packed with beef - and not ground beef - and vegetables and beans. It was hot and hearty, and almost read like a stew to me, with the flavour profile of chili though. The buttermilk biscuit was the perfect add on - crunchy and buttery.

Soups at Rice Bowl Deluxe

Trying out the new Rice Bowl Deluxe in the west end, and thought the pho was fab. #yeg #yegfood #yegpho

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Oct 30, 2017 at 3:27pm PDT

Rice Bowl Deluxe has a new location in the Lynnwood area. On my first time there I had the pho. I was surprised that the flavour profile of the broth was as rich as it was. It came with the basil leaves and beansprouts already inserted. Although the bowl looked small-ish for the price, it was deceptively large, with lots of sliced beef (I held the beef balls - never been a fan of their texture). There also also several kinds of green onion cakes available. I had the flat kind, and it was quite full of onions and a great side to the soup.

Laksa soup with tofu and a green onion doughnut. The soup was hot and spicy! (Even though the menu did not indicate it as such.) New Rice Bowl Deluxe in Lynwood. #yegfood

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Nov 2, 2017 at 12:11pm PDT

On my second trip, I had the Laksa soup with tofu as my protein. The soup already comes with tofu puffs, which absorb the flavourful mild curry broth. The sliced tofu that was added was a huge portion, along the the noodles. This was a very thick, rich soup and wonderful on a cold day. I had a green onion doughnut as well, which was crunchy but not greasy.

Beef Noodle Soup at Fuqing Lanzhou Noodles

Really good Fuqing noodles in this soup! (I could not resist!) my first time trying hand-pulled noodles. #yegfood

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Sep 25, 2017 at 4:39pm PDT

I have never had hand-pulled noodles before and finally had the opportunity to try them here at Fuqing Lanzhou Noodles(10824 97 Street). I was the only customer in the restaurant, as I went at an off-hour. The very friendly woman serving made sure I understood that I was in a noodle house, and kept checking to see if I was okay using chopsticks (I indeed am). I ordered a bowl of beef soup, and loved the rich bone broth and tender chunks of beef, but the noodles were definitely the star of the bowl. They are much thicker and chewier than other noodles I have had. The beef literally melted in my mouth. It was filling, reasonably-priced, and I would definitely come back.

Braised Beef Skillet at Montana's

Helping a friend celebrate a special day. Braised beef skillet for me. #yegfood

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on May 28, 2017 at 12:50pm PDT

A friend was celebrating a milestone birthday a short while ago, and I offered to take him out for lunch - and even let him pick the place. He was in a steak frame of mind, so we went to Montana's in the South Edmonton Common area. I was in more of a lunch frame of mind and had the braised beef skillet. It was a perfect, lunch-sized portion of tender chunks of beef in a mushroom and wine sauce, arranged around a large scoop of mashed potatoes, served in a skillet with a piece of corn bread. The portion was not huge (especially for a $15 price tag), but it was an excellent comfort food combination.

Kaey Wot at Langano Skies

Ethiopian food for supper. #yegfashion

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Apr 22, 2017 at 5:50pm PDT

I love Ethiopian food, even if the spices can sometimes be a bit much for me, so I was delighted to finally try Langano Skies. It's conveniently located next to one of my favourite bars, so after the music was over, this was the supper destination. I ordered something that seemed basic - Kaey Wot, which is tender beef in a spicy sauce, and I opted for brown rice instead of the injera. We also took advantage of an appetizer special, and had the lentil sambusas (which are like samosas, but with a lighter outer shell). Those had a definite "wow factor." I could probably make a meal out of some of the appetizers. The food was incredible, but I will definitely take the spice level into consideration next time and ask the server's advice about something milder. Which should be no problem, because the service here was excellent.

Beef Stew Noodle Soup at Old Szechuan Restaurant

Beef stew noodle soup. #yegfood

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Mar 27, 2017 at 4:41pm PDT

I was hanging out on Whyte Avenue and wanted soup, but something different than pho for a change. So, I headed into the new location for Old Szechuan Restaurant, formerly of the north side. I had an onion cake, and it was excellent: chewy and salty. My beef stew noodle soup had a delicate broth, lots of meat (which was quite flavourful), and loads of noodles in a mild beef broth. A perfect portion for one person, and at a reasonable price.

Prime Rib at Ricky's All Day Grill

Prime rib and trimmings. #yegfood

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Feb 25, 2017 at 4:37pm PST

So, the same friend I went for steak dinner with a few nights ago decided he wanted steak again. However, we needed a lower-cost option, so headed to the 170 Street location of Ricky's All Day Grill. Ricky's has Prime Rib available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, so we decided to take advantage of that. You choose the size - I had the six ounce, which was the smallest option. It was cooked to perfection, but was rather underwhelmed by the flavour. It was actually the sides that made this meal, especially the vegetables and Yorkshire pudding. It was good for the price point, and I noticed others were coming in to order the same thing, but I tend to prefer Ricky's steak sandwich or one of their steak dinners.

The Pho Files: Beef Satay Soup at Hoang Long Fresh Market

After picketing outside for over an hour, I need this. #yegfood #yegpho

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Feb 25, 2017 at 12:35pm PST

I was between events/meetings and needed a bowl of soup after my previous engagement had me outside in the cold for over an hour. So, I ventured into Hoang Long Fresh Market for the first time. The place was very modern and fancy, albeit empty on a Saturday afternoon. I certainly did not mind having the place to myself, and ordered a beef satay soup. I've never had beef satay soup before, so I can honestly say this is the best I have ever had, but it truly was great. The broth was rich and flavourful without being too spicy. There was an abundance of beef, noodles, and cooked carrots, topped with lettuce, red cabbage, and peanuts. Really great flavour. Although it is slightly pricier than other Vietnamese eateries I frequent, I love the look of the place and will be back.

Beef Vermicelli at Saigon Taste

Grilled beef vermicelli #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Sep 23, 2016 at 12:33pm PDT

When I first had pho at Saigon Taste, I was underwhelmed because I found the broth to be bland. So, when I ended up there again a short while later, I went for a vermicelli bowl instead. What a difference! The meat was tender and flavourful and the portion was quite large. I added a couple of veggie spring rolls for two delicious colours in my bowl.

Two Selections from Molly's Eats

Chickpea curry sandwich from @mollys_eats #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Aug 20, 2016 at 1:02pm PDT

While at the Edmonton Blues Festival this past weekend, I enjoyed some food from Molly's Eats for the first time. My first treat was a chickpea curry sandwich with mango and cucumber chutneys. The filling was substantial, vegan, and not too spicy. The mango and cucumber gave a delicious freshness, and it was served between two small pieces of naan. This was definitely a "fork sandwich." It was one of the best food truck offerings I have experienced.

Beef wrap from @mollys_eats #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Aug 21, 2016 at 4:07pm PDT

The next day, I had a wrap with beef, soy sauce, Japanese mayo, and fresh kale. The tortilla was stuffed to the max with the flavourful braised beef. It was filling and messy to eat. Next time, I will ask for a fork!

Hakka Noodles with Beef at Naanolicious

Hakka noodles with beef #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on May 28, 2016 at 4:40pm PDT

I first had Hakka noodles at Naanolicious a couple of years ago. This Indo-Chinese noodle dish is like a spicy chow mein. This time, I tried beef added to it. The beef was so soft and tender, it practically melted in my mouth. The portion was also incredibly huge - two people could easily share. If you like noodles and want to try a chow mein fusion, these Hakka noodles would be an excellent choice.

Breakfast for Lunch: Coast Plaza Hotel

I was at the Coast Plaza hotel for a function recently, and grabbed some breakfast while I waited, even though it was already around noon. The breakfast buffet was being put away, so I ordered an eggs/meat/potato dish from the breakfast menu - and it was more than enough food. The two eggs were done perfectly to my liking, while the beef sausages (a substitute for the pork) were crispy and delicious. The potatoes were a bit hard to deal with - they were undercooked, and served whole. If they were sliced they might have been more fork-tender, and also stood up better to the seasoning.

Salisbury Steak and Route 99

To me, no meal screams "diner" like Salisbury Steak. I decided to try the one at Route 99 (8820 99 Street) when I was there for lunch last week. It started with a small bowl of the soup of the day, which was cream of broccoli (I could have had salad). Warm, comforting, and a great way to start the meal. Then, it came: a plate of glistening gravy atop a huge, thick beef patty, two mountains of mashed potatoes, and sweet carrots. The onions on top of the patty really made the meal - there were a lot of them, and they were fried to perfection. The beef patty had a great charbroiled taste, while I found the mashed potatoes to be slightly sour, perhaps from buttermilk. I would possibly have it with fries next time. This meal stuck to my ribs and kept me full all day. It was greasy spoon personified.

Beef Wrap at Naanolicious

I tried one of the wraps on the new Naanolicious menu for supper tonight - the beef one, to be precise. The beef curry was wrapped with some of Naanolcious' signature cabbage salad in a plain naan, cut into two easy-to-hold pieces, each wrapped in foil. The wrap was well-filled, and came with a side of masala fries. This is a perfect portion for lunch or a small supper, and at $13.95, is one of the most economical choices on the menu.

Beef Short Ribs at Naanolicious

My favourite East Indian restaurant, Naanolicious, has a new menu which is much simpler and streamlined from the previous one. Fortunately, most of my favourites made the cut, but there are a few new things for me to try. One of them is the beef short ribs. Three Korean ribs (or, Miami ribs, as these were known in my household) are cut into small pieces with the bone in the middle, and grilled with Naanolicious's signature spices. The result is a crunchy, dry rib that makes an excellent appetizer, or meal if combined with some naan or rice. Naanolicious is a Halal restaurant, so while pork dry ribs are not an option, this is a great choice and a welcome menu addition.