Best Thai and Chinese restaurants in Edmonton?

[lisa in edmonton]

Just wondering your opinions on the best Thai place. I have tried Bua Thai and King and I and really like them both, but always looking for new places to try!

What about Chinese places? I have tried Lingnan and liked it the best so far...

[happyeats]

Ate at Viphalay a few nights ago. Had coconut soup,drunken noodles,coconut and jasmine rice,basil stir fried shrimp and either beef or chicken with oranges and cashews.All was very tasty and the waiter was very friendly. Reasonably priced about 56.00 plus tip for four of us. Will definitely return.

[felix the hound]

The good news: A fellow foodie of chinese ancestry who currently lives in Calgary and who often eats in Richmond when he visits family reports after leading a group of out-of towners for dinner at Ah Chin's Kitchen yesterday night that the food was quite acceptable, and by Alberta standards, "very good". He added that some of the dishes would have benefited from a hotter wok, but in general the spicing was correct. He found #35, dried scallop/spinach fried rice as above average. His ordering, however, was somewhat constrained by his sense of what his fellow diners would enjoy. They went there based on my recommendation ( they are staying nearby), which was entirely based, in turn, on chowhound postings. Unfortunately I could not join them as I always spend Friday nights with my family.
The bad news: The restaurant has ben sold and changes hands at the end of the month. I don't know whether the chef will stay.

[anonymoose]

I'll see if I can find that out; I know someone who knows the owner.

[anonymoose]

update: Chin is the only chef there, so if he's selling then there will definitely be someone else cooking the food. I don't have a confirmation yet on the sale.

[anonymoose]

Forgot to update that the sale definitely went through. No word on if he's going to open another place or not.

[felix the hound]

Has anybody eaten there since?

[felix the hound]

Best Thai:
Viphalay, Bualong, and Syphay, in that order. Viphalay is a pleasantly decorated space, Bualong is a clean hole in the wall, and Syphay is a plain room that can get very hot on a rare Edmonton warm day.

[David Kahane]

My favorite Chinese in Edmonton is Old Szechuan, on 107 Ave near 102 Street -- completely authentic Sichuanese.

I can't figure out the enthusiasm for Lingnan -- granted, it has a very theatrical, over-the-top decor, Chinese-resto-from-way-back decor. But the food is mediocre Cantonese, the service incredibly slow, and there's not a Chinese patron to be seen (which I tend to consider a bad sign in a Chinese restaurant).

[livetocook]

I haven't had the chance to try Syphay but, it's on my list. I will comment that I didn't mind Bau Thai but, I haven't eaten there in 5 years. As for the King and I, I've had 2 meals there and both I found to be overpriced and mediocre.... to be kind. The first time I ate there I thought I was eating poorly prepared Chinese food. The second time, last year, the dishes were more Thai but, tasted pretty dull. I will not return and I'd never recommend this place to anyone.

For Chinese my favorite is still Lingnans. They make a hot and dry chicken that is too die for!!

[pinko74]

We eat at Syphay often and I think there food is delicious and well priced. I would definately recommend it!

[Jkher]

Traditional Chinese - Best: Jumbo Seafood and Dim Sum, Cha for Tea Palace, Good: Noodle Noodle, Dynasty, Buddy Wonton, Golden Rice Bowl.
Hong Kong Noodle Shop - Best: Spicy Garden, Double Greetings Wonton House, Good: Sam Wok
Thai/Southeast Asia: Best SYPHAY, Ban Thai, Good: Bau Thai

Westernized Chinese: Best: Lingnan, Good: Good Buddy

Avoid, if interested in authentic: Pad Thai, Sukhothai, Tropika (Malaysian), Buffets, virtually any other "Chinese" place.

Asian food on the whole is pretty good in Edmonton, so I'm not slighting anyone, but these are the places that the Chinese eat.

[Simsters]

We tried Ban Thai with a friend from Toronto who told them "we would like to eat as the Thai would". Well, things certainly got spiced up a whole lot more!

[anonymoose]

Having just come back from a trip to Malaysia, I have to say that Tropika isn't that bad for authenticity. The satays in Tropika were actually better than the ones I had during my trip and the mee goreng was very similar.

[livetocook]

I can't recall the satay there but, their green beans are to die for!! Just a quick note, the dishes are good but smaller than say what you'd get a chinese restaurants. Keep in mind they're not stuffed with a bunch of fillers like onions, green peppers etc

[Jkher]

I was born in Penang, and still desperately miss nyonya food. I guess my main gripe with Tropika is the lack of heat, proper Malaysian food should be volcanic with Sambal and the food at Tropika is universally more salty than it should be. There was a place called the Singapore Restaurant on Stony Plain road that was pretty authentic. I don't think it's there anymore though. The satay should be properly cooked over charcoal and have a smokey flavour, but they use a gas grill at Tropika sometimes charring the meat.

[anonymoose]

Hmm... I was in Penang and I don't recall any of the satays I had there having a smokey flavour, although they were cooked over charcoal. Odd, now that I think about it. I would have thought they'd taste smokier.

I agree that Tropika isn't quite the same, but I'll take what I can get. I need to figure out how to do my own assam laksa though.

I think the one on Stony Plain was Singapore Baba, but I don't think it's open anymore either.

[marvman]

hey, I was wondering if you guys have been to Matahari on 124 st just off of jasper ave. I checked their menu and they have singapore laksa. my mom used to make sarawak laksa and I can't find anywhere around here that serves it. tropika's laksa is better than nothing, but I'm still not satisfied. there used to be a malaysian restaurant on 118 ave and 97 st, but they don't know what belachan is so I didn't consider them malaysian. any suggestions?

[anonymoose]

Sorry marvman, didn't see your post until now. I haven't had the laksa there but the mee goreng and yellow curry was good when I was there once last year.

[marvman]

thanks! I'll have to try that next time I'm there. their singapore laksa tasted a little too fishy for my liking. I'm not a fan of assam. I love mee goreng though.

[canabe]

King and I is gross and grossly over priced. Bua thai is below average at best, I find. Lingnan is good, but not "terrific" good. I'm a food crazy person, and travel frequently and try anything and everything. If you are open to trying the kind of asian restaurants with 90% or more asian people eating in it, try Double Greetings Wonton House off Jasper ave - it is not fancy in any way, but it is good wholesome chinese food. It's been there forever and the food is excellent. There are many dishes on the menu that aren't scary to eat, no worries. Best ginger beef I've ever had. LOL For Thai, definitely Boualong in Chinatown. Must try Boualong if you like Thai. I have not had better Thai food in Canada so far - in a restaurant anyway. It is incredibly cheap and insanely tasty. Downside is, it is always busy, and only has 6 tables in it. No reservations, prepare to wait 2 hours or more on a weekend night. The wait is well worth it.

[cleopatra999]

I would put in my 2 cents for Ban Thai & Cha for Tea Palace in the west end. (thai & chinese respectively).

I am interested to try Boualong though!

[harvey123]

I recommend trying:

(1) Golden Rice Bowl, 5365 Gateway Boulevard, tel: [phone], www.goldenricebowl.ca
** Best Chinese / Szechuan cuisine

(2) Cha For Tea Palace, 17512 Stony Plain Road, tel: [phone]

[eastcoastgirl_westcoastlife]

Lingnan is great for a "nite out" to dress up and order the groovy cocktails from the old school placemats, but my all time fave and (late nite pick too) is Sam Wok on 104 St and 79 Ave. Traditional cantonese, cheap prices, bad decor, huge portions. Prob the best pot stickers I've EVER had. Don't forget to try the garlic chicken and black bean chow mein - to DIE for!

[lisa in edmonton]

Hi eastcoastgirl,

I have wondered what Sam Wok was like! I like the sort of Canadianized Chinese food that we have on the east coast! I am also a transplanted maritimer! Thanks for the tips!

[eastcoastgirl_westcoastlife]

No problem - always good to see another imported East Coaster! If you are looking for western Chinese like we have back home SamWok is a good choice as they have the sweet and sour pork etc., but also lots of great Cantonese choices to try!

[livetocook]

To update Sam Wok has moved further South down Calgary Tr. and is about 2 blocks north of 63ave (just across from the Home Depot)

[arch]

Definitely try Syphay (on Calgary Trail). It's a tiny house but lots of character. They serve Thai and Loation. Fantastic and reasonably priced. Authentic.

For a bit of a fancier place, try "Pad Thai" on Whyte Ave.

[lisa in edmonton]

Arch, I have tried Pad Thai and liked it! I will definitely have to try Syphay! Thanks!