On July 14, more than 3,000 athletes, coaches and officials from across Alberta will arrive in Leduc for the Alberta Summer Games. Competitors, ranging in age from 11 to 17 years old, will participate in 14 different sports at the Leduc Recreation Centre. Whether you’re a spectator or one of more than 2,000 volunteers visiting the city, you can find delicious eats at these local restaurants. [Image credit: iStock.com/ALLEKO]
This popular Mexican restaurant is known for its yummy food and fun atmosphere. Located just off of Main Street, the restaurant serves up amazing wings and tortilla soup, as well as burgers, sandwiches, tacos, burritos, enchiladas and more. Their crispy carnitas are my favourite – a massive helping of corn tortillas stuffed with very tender pork and topped with onions, salsa verde and cilantro. It comes with cilantro rice (so good!) and refried beans. This licensed restaurant is all ages and offers a kid’s menu, too.
The first full menu sushi restaurant in Leduc, The Sushi Factory is open 11 a.m. till 10 p.m. daily. You’ll find everything from sashimi to bento boxes, plus plenty of rolls, tempura and nigiri. They also have a robata grill, serving up delights like bacon and prawns or beef and asparagus. Their special rolls range from the Angry Bride roll (a dynamite roll topped with tempura crumbs and cooked baby scallops in cream sauce) to the Night Blossom roll (a double prawn tempura, avocado, cucumber and cream cheese roll topped with smoked salmon, tobiko and cream cheese drizzle).
Located inside the Best Western Plus Denham Inn & Suites, O’Brian’s is a family-friendly restaurant that offers fantastic service and good food. They offer a popular salad bar, daily lunch buffet and a weekend evening buffet (Thursday through Sunday). The evening buffet includes items such as barbecue pork ribs, roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, honey ham, sliced pork loin, herb chicken and turkey with stuffing. They also have a full a la carte menu and a kid’s menu. Plus, Sunday brunch runs from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m.
A staple in Leduc for more than 30 years, Kosmos is a family-friendly restaurant with a separate 18-plus lounge, plus a small patio. They have a huge pizza menu (with free delivery), plus pasta, prime rib, salads, chicken souvlaki and more. The restaurant is located on Main Street, right before 50 Street and 50 Avenue intersect, so it’s popular and easy to find (but the small parking lot fills up fast!).
This Vietnamese restaurant started in Leduc in 2011, and has since expanded to include several locations in Edmonton. Sample everything from green onion cakes and salad rolls to curry shrimp or pad Thai with chicken or beef. Of course, they have a huge list of pho varieties (15, to be exact), plus vermicelli noodle bowls and rice plates – and you definitely can’t go wrong with a steaming hot bowl of pho, even in summer. The menu includes some vegetarian options, and they are also licensed to serve beer, wine, highballs and a few specialty cocktails.
Located in the Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel, Halo serves up casual but hip comfort food, such as turkey confit and goat cheese salad, cheese perogies and rainbow trout soft tacos. They offer a daily quiche at lunch, as well as sandwiches, donairs, paninis, burgers, pasta and steak. For dinner, indulge in some small plates with Canadian influences, like the Alberta prime rib meatball slider or the Banff ice vodka steamed Vancouver Island clams. Bonus: They’re open for breakfast, too, with dishes that feature local duck eggs from Greens, Eggs and Ham, and Fairwinds Farm goat cheese.
A recent addition to the dining scene in Leduc, the Sawmill is located on Sparrow Drive, close to the Edmonton International Airport. They serve up classic, hearty dishes, such as Alaskan king crab dinner, Mediterranean-style fettucine, chicken Cordon Bleu, rack of lamb, barbecue ribs, pan-roasted centre cut salmon filet and crispy lemon chicken. There’s also a big Sunday brunch, available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They offer a good wine list, as well as a kid’s menu for children 10 and younger. For dessert, they serve everything from gluten-free cheesecake to brownie sundaes and lemon tarts.
Located in the Leduc City Centre Mall, Leduc Diner has been a mainstay in the community for decades. This casual, laidback restaurant is all ages, and licensed. They have a huge menu, including every kind of pizza you could ever dream of – all atop a thick, fluffy crust. You’ll also find classic comfort food, such as lasagna, chicken fingers and steak. It’s not fancy, but it always hits the spot.
This classic pub came to Leduc a few years ago, bringing with it their reliable menu of tasty grub and good drinks. This restaurant is adults-only, and boasts a very pretty patio. They offer a gluten-friendly menu, which includes a killer grilled salmon burger. Their other burgers are always a hit, as are the salads. Each entrée comes with two generous side dishes – go for the sweet potato fries and the zesty quinoa salad. They also serve brunch on Saturdays and Sundays!