INTERNATIONAL CUISINE: TOP SPOTS IN THE LEDUC REGION

April 6, 2021.

LOCAL EATS

Embark on a culinary adventure without leaving the Leduc Region

The dining scene in the Leduc Region is more diverse than you may guess! Creative chefs take pride in using locally-sourced ingredients to make carefully curated recipes from around the world – expertly interpreting international cuisines for Canadian audiences. Regardless if you’re in the mood for Mexican, Indian, Thai, or Japanese, there’s a local restaurant waiting for you.

We’ve assembled a list of a few international dining experiences waiting to be (re)discovered in the Leduc Region + top picks from each spot. Read on to learn more…

International Cuisine in the Leduc Region
International Cuisine: Top Spots in the Leduc Region
Habaneros Mexican Grill

ADDRESS: 5015 48a St, Leduc, AB T9E 6Y2

Once upon a time, “Dos Güeros” (two brothers from Canada) went to Mexico and fell in love with the local street food. So much so, they ended up hiring a chef from Cabo San Lucas to teach them traditional recipes and authentic Mexican culinary secrets! The rest is history after a family passion for Mexican street food grew into what is now… Habaneros Mexican Grill!

Add in a dash of Tex-Mex to those traditional Mexican flavours and you end up with the PERFECT recipe for all the great-tasting Mexican food Habaneros offers right here in Leduc. Bold flavours, hand-made salsas, fresh ingredients – when it comes to food, they’ve got it all and then some. Complete with a joyful, family-friendly atmosphere and authentic Mexican décor, dining at Habaneros will make you feel like you’re actually in Mexico.

GO-TO FOOD ORDER: Our tried-and-true favourite = Habaneros’ Fajitas! They’re sizzling hot, savoury, juicy, and filled with flavour. Choose between chicken, steak, or shrimp for meat (vegetarian options available as well) and “spice it up” with Tex-Mex, Lemon Garlic Dill, or Salt & Pepper seasoning. Insider tip for Caesar-lovers… make sure to order the Jalapeño Caesar! Awarded first place by Mott’s Clamato in their 2019 competition, this drink packs a punch in the best of ways. Rig Hand Jalapeño Basil Vodka + Fresh Jalapeño + a bacon-wrapped Jalapeño topper combine to create a Caesar-experience you won’t forget.

Beef Fajitas - Habaneros Mexican Grill
Beef Fajitas – Habaneros Mexican Grill
The Sushi Factory by YOZAKURA

ADDRESS: 5204 50 St, Leduc, AB T9E 6Z6

Calling all sushi lovers! The Sushi Factory is THE place to go for Japanese food in the Leduc Region. Offering an open-kitchen concept and authentic ambience, this restaurant is a must-visit spot for any foodie. The friendly servers are fast, organized, and committed to providing helpful and genuine customer service.

The presentation itself is absolutely gorgeous (just look at the sushi boat in the image below to see what we mean). With a diverse selection of fresh seafood and generous portions at reasonable prices, it’s everything you want from a local sushi spot.

GO-TO FOOD ORDER: Go for a party tray – you won’t regret it! We’re partial to the Chef Nigiri Tray ourselves… how you can go wrong with 56 pieces of expertly prepared, assorted seafood? For the specialty roll lovers, we recommend the Red Dragon Roll or Tuna Temptation Roll – the former has just the right amount of spice, and the latter is SO flavourful.

Sushi Boat Display - The Sushi Factory by YOZAKURA
Sushi Boat Display – The Sushi Factory by YOZAKURA
India Grill & Bistro

ADDRESS: 5103 50th Ave #111, Leduc, AB T9E 0B9

Whether you’re a long-time fan of Indian cooking, or just a casual foodie looking to satisfy those butter chicken cravings, India Grill & Bistro prepares mouth-watering dishes guaranteed to gratify your taste buds. Combining traditional cooking methods with an innovative style of preparation is what this restaurant is known for, and it shows in the high quality of food they create on a regular basis.

Fresh herbs, staple curries, Tandoori breads, roasted garam masalas, just the right amount of ginger & garlic – it’s all right here. The staff always greet you with a smile and friendly, accommodating service + you can taste the love that goes into each dish. It’s simply a world-class dining experience waiting to be discovered right here in the Leduc Region.

GO-TO FOOD ORDER: Butter chicken of course! The Tandoori-roasted chicken in a tomato cream curry is guaranteed to have you coming back for more. The spices in the sauce are perfectly balanced against the creamy tomato base – it’s not too fragrant, but not overwhelmed by tomato either. The dish is paired with perfect basmati rice and a side of freshly baked & seasoned naan bread.

Butter Chicken - India Grill & Bistro
Butter Chicken – India Grill & Bistro
Saskitoba Diner

ADDRESS: 1501 8 St #1, Nisku, AB T9E 7S7

It’s the ultimate prairie comfort food – perogies! Despite being relatively new to the local dining scene, Saskitoba Diner has quickly established itself as a go-to spot for delicious Ukrainian food. You can stick with classic handmade perogies, or mix it up by adding farmer’s sausage, kubasa, cabbage rolls, or borscht to create an ultimate Ukrainian plate.

This author grew up in a Ukrainian household (with grandparents on both sides that made every trip out to the farm a culinary adventure in Baba’s kitchen) so trust my high expectations when it comes to Ukrainian food. Saskitoba Diner lives up to those expectations and then some; their food is authentic, flavorful, and has just the right amount of cream, butter, and onions.

GO-TO FOOD ORDER: How could you NOT order perogies when you visit here!? We’re partial to the potato, cheese, bacon & onion combo ourselves, and of course, have to make it into a combo plate with cabbage rolls and kubie. Although the perogies are undoubtedly the star of the show, you need to check out the “carnivore holubtsi” at some point too – ground beef and onion are mixed into their classic cabbage rolls, then smothered in tomato sauce. SO GOOD!

Combo Plate - Saskitoba Diner
Combo Plate – Saskitoba Diner
Phalika’s Thai Food

ADDRESS: 5 Superior St, Devon, AB T9G 1E9

This hidden gem in Devon is known for having incredible food-truck-style Thai food. The owner and chef, Phalika, is friendly, loves to chat, and takes immense pride in providing excellent customer service. Every dish is made to order instead of in advance, so be sure to phone ahead if you’re looking to quickly drop in and pick something up.

Every meal we’ve had from here has been full of authentic flavors, and you can tell serious thought is put into how each dish is carefully crafted. A lesser-known secret about Phalika’s is that they have amazing fish & chips too, so keep that in mind if you’re not in the mood for Thai food. Traveling through Devon in the summer? Make a stop here for ice cream – the portion sizes are massive!

GO-TO FOOD ORDER: This one is a tough one, because there are SO many unique and tasty items on the menu. However, if we had to pick, our go-to food order would be the massaman beef curry. We love a bit of heat in our Thai food, and this dish packs just the right amount of punch to really bring out the complex flavors and spices that make the curry so flavorful. Cool off with ice cream for dessert if you’re visiting in the summer (or, anytime really, winter included – we are Canadian after all!).

Stir-fry Plate - Phalika's Thai Food
Stir-fry Plate – Phalika’s Thai Food

Our mouths are watering after writing this blog, and yours’ probably is too! Leave a comment below and let us know if you’ve visited any of these spots, or other unique restaurants in the Leduc Region. Looking for more places to eat? Click HERE to discover the full list of local restaurants! In the meantime… Bon appétit!