Dipa-eats

Although we made the journey to Tarrka specifically to try their Halwa Puri, we were more than happy with the other items we ordered, especially since we arrived a little too late for Halwa Puri that day.

We started with the Samosa Chaat, which was a solid take on the classic, thick yogurt-based sauce, chutneys, and chickpeas generously layered over 3–4 samosas. Often, samosa chaat at other places can end up being a bit cold because of the chilled chutneys, but the temperature here was just right for a savory chaat.

For the mains, we ordered Palak Paneer, Nihari, and Garlic Naan. I have to take a moment to talk about the naan, it was super fresh, perfectly garlicky, and honestly good enough to eat on its own. It also made the curries taste even better.

The Palak Paneer was creamy while still retaining the flavor of the spinach, and there was a generous amount of paneer.

The Nihari had a pretty thick layer of oil on top that we had to scoop out, but underneath was a rich, flavorful gravy with incredibly tender meat.

Overall, the portion sizes were generous across the board. I believe Tarrka is a family-run restaurant, and while we enjoyed the food, the service could definitely have been better.

If you have plenty of time on your hands and aren’t looking for fancy ambiance but simply want good, hearty food, Tarrka is worth a try.

📸 Items in frame:
🥙 Samosa Chaat 💸 9.99
🥬 Palak Paneer 💸 12.99
🥘 Nihari 💸 15.99
🫓 Garlic Naan 💸 3.49 each

For our anniversary, we chose to celebrate at The Old Spaghetti Factory in downtown Edmonton, and we absolutely loved the experience.

We made a reservation in advance, which turned out to be a great decision since the usual walk-in wait is around 20 minutes. After being seated, we were served warm sourdough bread with whipped garlic butter.

To start, we ordered the Calamari Fritti, and hands down, it was some of the softest calamari we've had in a long time. The tzatziki sauce perfectly complemented its delicate flavor.

Each entrée came with a choice of soup or salad, but we decided to upgrade to the Baked French Onion Soup and Clam Chowder. The last time I had French onion soup was when I was a kid, and I've avoided it ever since. This one however, completely changed my mind. The broth was rich with the sweetness of caramelized onions, while the layer of melted cheese added the perfect texture. The clam chowder was equally satisfying, packed with clams and everything you'd expect from a comforting classic.

For our mains, we ordered the Tortellini Pomodoro with Sautéed Prawns and the Seafood Fettuccine Alfredo. The tortellini was bright, fresh, and full of flavor, making it hard to put our forks down. The fettuccine was my personal favorite, but I may be a little biased when it comes to Alfredo sauce! Both dishes were generous with the seafood.

To finish, the meal included complimentary ice cream along with your choice of tea or freshly brewed coffee.

The warm ambiance, attentive service, and delicious food made this anniversary celebration truly memorable. We'd definitely recommend giving The Old Spaghetti Factory a visit!

📸 Items in frame:
🍝 Tortellini Pomodoro with Sautéed Prawn 💸CAD 22.90
🍝Seafood Fettuccine Alfredo 💸CAD 21.95
🦑 Calamari Fritti 💸CAD 12.50
🧅 Baked French Onion Soup 💸CAD 3.25
🥣Clam Chowder 💸CAD 3.25
🍑Peach Lemonade 💸CAD 4.75
🍺 Fentimans Ginger Beer 💸CAD 4.95

After a scenic walk along the boardwalk, a few friends and I were craving some chaat and decided to stop by the Masala Tree.

Having heard great things about the place, we started with their Papri Chaat, and it certainly lived up to the hype. It was a perfect balance of savory, tangy, and spicy flavors, featuring a delicious mix of namkeen, chickpeas, potatoes, bhujia, tomatoes, and onions. The yogurt and tamarind chutneys on top tied everything together beautifully.

Next, we tried the Amritsari Fish, served with a green chutney on the side. The fish was tender and flaky, while the coating was crispy, well-seasoned, and packed with flavor. It paired especially well with the raw onions served alongside it.

Lastly, we ordered the Shrimp Chow Mein, which reminded me of the chow mein I grew up eating back home in Bangladesh. The shrimp were tender, and the noodles were nicely balanced, not overly saucy or greasy.

While the service could have been a bit warmer, the food more than made up for it. Overall, I'd definitely recommend giving Masala Tree a try.

📸 Items in Frame:
🐟 Amritsari Fish 💸 CAD 14
🍤 Shrimp Chowmein 💸 CAD 18
🥙 Chaat Papdi 💸 CAD 10

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After ordering pho from this spot on Uber Eats a couple of times, I finally decided to visit in person.

The restaurant has a great atmosphere that's perfect for group hangouts or a casual date night. The staff were warm, welcoming, and easy to approach.

To start, we ordered the Oxtail Fries topped with a sunny-side-up egg. The fries were crispy, well-seasoned, and packed with flavor. While the dish was enjoyable overall, the oxtail itself tasted more like a rich gravy to me, and the portion felt a little light for the price.

Of course, I had to order my favorite, the Pho the works, served with bean sprouts, basil, and the classic hoisin-sriracha combo. It came with rare beef, brisket, and beef balls. What kept me going back is the broth; it's flavorful, and comforting. The portion size was generous enough for the two of us to leave completely full.

Definitely a place I'd recommend for anyone craving a good bowl of pho.

📸 Items in frame:
🍟 Oxtail Fries 💸 CAD 19.43
🍲 Pho The Works 💸 CAD 21.46

One of our recent favorite finds has been this Nepali-owned and operated Indian restaurant called Swagat. We’ve already been there a couple of times, and here’s my take on their food.

To start with, my first go-to would be their steamed chicken momos. The momos are plump, generously filled, and made even better by the delicious sauce/chutney they’re served with.

My second favorite is a tie between their chicken Hakka noodles and lamb curry. We ordered the Hakka noodles with a little extra spice, and it was smoky, flavorful, and had just the right amount of heat that keeps you going back for more.

As for the lamb curry, we had a detailed discussion with the server before ordering, and he later mentioned that it was one of their newer signature recipes. That definitely turned out to be true. It was one of the best lamb curries I’ve had in Edmonton. The meat was tender without any gamy smell, and the flavor profile was creamy without being overly sweet or tomato-heavy. It is served with one plain naan.

Some of the other items we tried included their samosa chaat (an absolute win in terms of value for money), kadak chai (one serving is enough for two or even three people), and both the garlic and plain naan, though I would definitely recommend the garlic naan.

As for their hospitality, it has always been warm and welcoming. The staff are genuinely kind, and they usually serve complimentary soup or papadam while you wait for your food. On one visit, we even received complimentary tea.

📸Items in frame:
🥟 Kathmandu Chicken Momo (10): 💸 11.99
🍛 Lamb Curry: 💸 18.99
🍝 Chicken Hakka Noodles: 💸12.99
🥙 Chat Samosa: 💸 8.99
🫓 Garlic Naan: 💸 2.99

We had been meaning to try the Korean fried chicken at Buldak for a while, especially since we pass by the store so often. But what finally drew me in one day last December was actually their salads.

To start, we ordered the Chicken Mango Salad and we absolutely loved it. The chicken had a nice crispy and juicy texture, the mango was perfectly ripe, and the combination worked surprisingly well together.

For the fried chicken, we went with the Cream Onion flavor. While the chicken itself was flavorful, the sauce was a bit too sweet for my taste. To balance that out, we added a side of their Buldak (hot) sauce, which helped cut through the sweetness nicely. The chicken came with the sides of fried corn and rice cakes.

We also tried the iced mango smoothie, which was exactly what it promised, a thick, ice-cold mango drink that was both refreshing and satisfying.

📸 Items in frame:
🍗 Fried Chicken - Cream Onion 💸 CAD 23.5
🥗 Chicken Mango Salad 💸 CAD 19.50
🥭 Iced Mango Smoothie 💸 CAD 7
🥫 Buldak (hot) Sauce 💸 CAD 2

Some time (a few months) back, on a cold evening, we stumbled upon a cozy Japanese place called Kabuki. The place seemed like it saw some good days and had quite a few regulars.

We went with their Seafood Udon, which had various kinds of seafood along with fish cakes and fried tofu pockets. It was everything we needed to warm ourselves up.

We also got their Crazy Baby Roll which is deep fried salmon and avocado maki, topped with eel sauce, spicy mayo, and katsuobushi. The texture itself was interesting because of the chewy exterior and the flavor profile was creamy and slightly spicy.

For drinks, we got their pot of green tea which was earthy and yet very mild. It was more than enough for 2 people.

Their service was homely and felt very warm. Overall, I would definitely recommend giving them a visit.

📸 Items in frame:
🍜 Seafood Udon 💸 CAD 20.95
🍣 Crazy Baby Roll 💸 CAD 15.95
🍵 Pot of Green Tea 💸 CAD ~3.95

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