You just HAVE to try these dishes once in your life!
Time and time again, we’ve heard from customers that the hardest thing to do while at 5th St Food Hall is to decide on what to eat, as there are so many delicious dishes to choose from. Well, this food bucket list is here to help a little, with a sample of the best dishes (as per my own taste) from each restaurant.
PS: the dishes are not listed in any preference order, I just wanted to share a few of my own favorites (that may become yours).
HOM
Northern Thai Chicken Curry Noodle Soup (Khao Soi)
What is this dish?
Crispy and chewy egg noodles in an aromatic Khao Soi curry, with tender chicken legs, tangy pickled mustard greens, shallots, and fresh herbs. Served with Nam Phrik Pao (roasted chili dip) to give the Khao Soi and sweet umami flavor to your liking.
Why should it be on your Food Bucket List?
Perfect on a cold or rainy day, it’s bound to bring you warmth while taking your taste buds on a trip. A staple of Northern Thai cuisine, Khai Soi is a complex dish that delivers on all flavor profiles – rich, salty, sour, and savoury. Everytime I order this curry, I’m impressed at the depth and complexity of flavors you taste in it. My friends often hear me say I love it so much I would bathe in this sauce!
Crispy Rice Lettuce Wraps
What is this dish?
A mix of crispy rice, peanuts, herbs, lemongrass, sour pork, shallots, ginger and chili lime dressing for you to fit in a crispy lettuce wrap.
Why should it be on your Food Bucket List?
A great option to share with friends (or keep it all to yourself - no judgement!). Looking at it, it seems like a simple dish. But once you get to taste it, you know it’s not just another lettuce wraps - it’s so much more flavors than that. With a hint of heat from the chili lime dressing and the crunch of the peanuts and crispy rice, it’s bound to make every bite you take unforgettable.
Bonus Dish: Skewers
Did you know that HOM offers a few options for skewers? They’re a great choice for lunch, simply paired with rice or as a Sate plate with rice, salad, and pickled vegetables. Hard for me to pick a favorite, so I often get a mix of the Thai pork and Indonesian Chicken ones!
Meat Shack Barbecue
Smoked Beef Brisket
What is this dish?
This is a brisket that is tender, juicy, flavourful, and smoked to perfection. It all starts with the whole untrimmed brisket, first rubbed with a house rub composed of over a dozen different herbs and spices, then slowly smoked and basted in its juices for the entire 20 hours. Paired with your choice of homemade barbecue sauce (from sweet and smoky to bold and spicy) to bring this smoked meat to the next level.
Why should it be on your Food Bucket List?
A good barbecue joint is not that common in Alberta - and I am so happy that Meat Shack delivered on that front. The meat is so decadent and flavorful, with a subtle yet impactful smokiness (check the smoke ring next time you order it!). While the 1/2 lb order is plenty enough for a meal, I do enjoy upping my order to a full pound so I can take some home as leftovers - a decision I have never regretted to date.
Smoked Chicken Wings
What is this dish?
A slightly different take on chicken wings. Smoked low and slow for a full hour, these wings come out full of flavors while remaining very tender and juicy all the way through.
Why should it be on your Food Bucket List?
Because this is definitely not your run-off-the-mill chicken wings. As they’re smoked and not baked or deep-fried, they retain all their juices - you’ll never get a dry wing with Meat Shack. You can then eat them with your choice of barbecue sauce, whether your go-to is a sweet and smoky or bold and spicy.
Please note: the smoker and the type of wood used make the meat look pink.
Bonus: Baked Beans
If you decide to go for a smoked meal, you get a choice of side along with the meat. My usual go-to is the smoked baked beans. These are not your ordinary BBQ beans. Made with some homemade sausage bits, bacon, onion, peppers, chipotle peppers, and smoked in barbecue sauce for 12 hours, they bring just the right amount of heat to pair with your favorite smoked meat.
Seitans
Mack Pizza
What is this dish?
Crispy, thin sourdough crust pizza topped with beaf crumbles, smoked chedda, spicy garlic dill pickles, iceberg lettuce, onions, and tangy Mack Sauce.
Why should it be on your Food Bucket List?
If you’re a pizza lover, then you’ll be a fan of Seitan’s pizzas - even if you’re not vegan! My personal favorite is the Mack pizza, because - as you guessed it - it has all the great flavors of your favorite fast-food burger, but on a pizza. Trust me, you will have a hard time believing that this pizza is made without any animal product. As someone who will never entirely give up on eating meat, the Mack pizza is definitely vegan food I like to order on purpose every so often.
Super Donair PoBoy
What is this dish?
Crispy cheeze bun, garlic tahini sauce, iceberg lettuce, Seitan’s donair meat, minced onions, diced tomatoes, house pickles and sweet sauce.
Why should it be on your Food Bucket List?
Did you know that Edmonton is the Canadian city with the most donair shops? This is proof that people are donair fans here! And Seitans definitely brings something to the donair table with this delicious vegan version (although I’m ready to bet it could fool you). This PoBoy is a great lunch or dinner option.
Bonus: Pizza Bites
If you’d like to try Seitans tasty sourdough but don’t feel like having an entire pizza, then the pizza bites are a great choice. Whether you share them (or not), they make a great appetizer! Chedda, Pickle, Donair, or Kimchi bites… whichever flavor you go for, you won’t be disappointed.
Did this give you any ideas? Which dish(es) are you most looking forward to checking off of your food bucket list?