Ciao Oct/Nov 2019 Ciao_OctNov2019_web | Page 52

bestlist VEGETARIAN Affinity Vegetarian Garden [Chinese] 100‑208 Edmonton St, 204-943‑0251. With 88 dishes, this small eatery has the most diverse vegetarian menu in town. Go for the daily changing lunch buffet. IA, M, V Circle Kitchen 1-709 Corydon Ave, circlekitchenwpg.com. This little spot offers a plant-based menu that’s gluten and peanut free. Try the filling taco bowl, fea- turing walnut cauliflower “meat”. SP, A, IA, M, V Green Carrot Juice Co 132 Osborne St, 204‑691‑0771; 11-2090 Corydon Ave, 204‑414‑3401; Airport, 2000 Wellington Ave, 204- 691-0771. A health-conscious menu of cold pressed juices, smoothies and light fare. WA, A, IA, M, V Organic Planet 877 Westminster Ave, 204-772-8771. This grass roots worker co-op houses a juice bar and organic vegan deli that pumps out creative and healthful fare. WA, IA, M, V Roughage Eatery 126 Sherbrook St, 204-779-8344. Vegan restaurant serves a knock-out selection of plant-based sandwiches. All “meats” and “cheeses” are made in-house. WA, IA, M, V Verde Juice Bar 887 Westminster Ave, 204-615-8733. Mod spot serves energy boosting juices and smoothies, alongside superfood salads and snacks. WA, IA, M, V VIETNAMESE Dalat 2‑1170 Taylor Ave, 204-895‑3222. Highlights among almost 200 menu choices are hot and sour soup, ginger-fried beef and shrimp with lemongrass. WA, LP, A, IA, M, V Pho Hoang 794 Sargent Ave, 204‑415‑6893; 235 Portage Ave, 204-949-0077. The pho at this local chain ranks among the city’s best. LP, A, IA, M, V Purple Noodle Bar 667 Stafford Street, 204-500‑0264. A menu of health-conscious Vietnamese highlights includes impressive starters like shrimp tempura pancakes. LP, A, IA, M, V Thanh Huong 534 Sargent Ave, 204-774‑8888. French‑accented North Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine in a rich space. The satay beef noodle soup is deeply satisfying. WA, LP, A, IA, M, V Viva 505 Sargent Ave, 204-772‑3167. Family-owned and operated West End hot spot. Traditional favourites like deluxe vermicelli and bánh mì are highlights. WA, LP, A, IA, M, V 50 ciao! / oct/ nov / two thousand nineteen WORLD FOOD Reflecting Winnipeg’s ethnocultural diversity, this category represents our top choices from the many small, primarily family‑run restaurants in town. The decor at most of these is simple and/or the location is out of the way. However, each restaurant represents food from the owner’s culture, with sometimes astonishingly low prices that reflect the simplicity of the service and surroundings, not the quality of food. Asian Hot Pot [Chinese/Asian] 740 Corydon Ave, 204‑615‑8878. Cheery strip mall spot serves do-it- yourself deliciousness in the form of soups that simmer at the table. WA, LP, A, IA, M, V Baraka Pita Bakery [Lebanese] 1783 Main St, 204‑334‑2004. Famous for in-house fired pita bread, this North End gem offers falafel pitas, pita pizzas and specialty dips like hummus. WA, IA, M, V BBQ Hut Pakistani Grill [Pakistani] 435 Notre Dame Ave, 204-221-4144. Sizzling plates of grilled meat satisfy at this quirky West End spot. Try the malai tikka, marinated in a spicy cream sauce. WA, IA, M, V The Dancing Noodle [Chinese] 1393 Pembina Hwy, 204‑691‑0205. Dough is hand-pulled into fresh noodles at time of order before being served in soup and noodle bowls. WA, IA, M, V Deen’s [Caribbean] 205 Marion St, 204-233‑2208. Short-order Trinidadian dishes such as roti are served in a variety of ways inside this resort-style space. LP, SP, A, IA, M, V Gohe [Ethiopian] 595 Notre Dame Ave, gohewinnipeg.com. Rich doro wat and vibrant lentil stews are highlights at this popular spot. Combo platters are perfect for a group. IA, M, V Gojo Restaurant [Ethiopian] 533 Sargent Ave, 204-615-0785. Injira is perfect for scooping up vibrant flavours like lamb tibs cooked with spiced butter. Lots of vegetarian options. WA, LP, SP, A, IA, M, V, ATM Harman’s Café [Ethiopian] 570 Sargent Ave, 204‑774‑6997. Enjoy Ethiopian breakfast as well as familiar lunch and dinner entrées. Don’t leave without ordering Ethiopian coffee at meal’s end. WA, LP, IA, M, V JC’s Tacos and More [Mexican] 187 Henderson Hwy, 204‑414‑9187. This bright and cheerful restaurant offers house-made hot sauces and scratch-made dishes like pupusas, tortas and tacos. WA, LP, IA, M, V Khao/Goodwill [Laotian/ Asian] 625 Portage Ave, 204-615-6590. Belly- filling Laotian specialties are spiked with uncommon ingredients like black fungus mushroom and pickled bamboo shoots. WA, LP, SP, IA, M, V Kyu Bistro [Japanese] 185 Isabel Ave, 204‑504‑8999. Izakaya-only spot offers small plates of gyoza, agedashi tofu cakes and chicken kara-age. Ramen makes satisfying meals. WA, A, IA, M, V Les Saj [Middle Eastern] 1038 St James St, 204-219-8939. First restaurant in Winnipeg to cook using a saj, a dome-shaped hot surface for baking flatbreads covered in za’atar, meat or cheese. WA, IA, M, V Mama’s Noodle House [Chinese/Vietnamese] 141 McPhillips St, 204‑783-4847. This bustling soup house dishes out steaming bowls of soup including a pho special. WA, LP, IA, M, V Massawa [Ethiopian] 200‑121 Osborne St, 204-284‑3194. Platters of Ethiopian and Eritrean food are worth the often lengthy wait at this established spot. LP, IA, M, V Mercadito Latino [South American] 570 Sargent Ave, 204‑415‑2870. This tiny West End spot houses big flavour, with favourites like tamales, tacos and pupusas. Corner shelves stocked with imported items. WA, IA Pho Kim Tuong [Vietnamese] 856 Ellice Ave, 204‑661‑8888. Surprisingly sleek neighbourhood spot offers an exhaustive menu of Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai specialties. WA, IA, M, V Pho No. 1 [Vietnamese] 81 Isabel St, 204-943‑7449. Charming Vietnamese noodle soup house with hundreds of menu options. Try creamy coconut tom yum soup. WA, LP, IA, M, V Pho-Yo [Vietnamese] 513-B St. Mary’s Rd, 204-615-0234; 554 Main St, 204-691-0072. This cozy noodle house serves Vietnamese specialities. Try meaty pho or warm vermicelli bowls. WA, LP, IA, M, V Sugar Blooms Café [Filipino] Unit C-1020 McPhillips St, 204-615-4620. Order-at-the-counter Filipino fare is served in modern surroundings. IA, M, V Tropikis [Caribbean] 878 Ellice Ave, 204-788‑4733. Well‑appointed, almost elegant setting for island favourites like roti. WA, LP, A, IA, M, V Wakoya [Korean/Japanese] 167 Osborne St, 204-783-7777. A menu offering a blend of Korean and Japanese cuisine in space with minimalist aesthetic. Specialties include spicy bulgogi. WA, LP, IA, M, V