From top left: Chow mein with beef, pulled pork steamed bao and chicken balls at Taste of Edmonton on Thursday, July 16, 2026. Dave Breakenridge

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One of the things I always tend to hear about Taste of Edmonton is “it’s so expensive. “

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Look, I’m not saying dropping $70 on 40 tickets is a small amount of money, but it certainly is easy to get value out of your Taste of Edmonton experience

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Sure, there are some items that might be a little pricier like the five-ticket lobster roll I enjoyed. But you can also find yourself a relatively filling assortment of samples for less than 10 tickets.

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For instance, I was able to line up three Southeast Asian dishes for under 10; they would’ve made for a satisfying little meal, had I not also been gorging on other food on Thursday evening.

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Chicken Balls, Szechuan Paramount (Booth 32, 3 tickets)

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For starters, you have the chicken balls. These are nothing fancy, but they are in fact an old standby. I was really impressed with how well prepared they were. The batter was nice and crispy around the outside. There is a reasonable portion of chicken in the middle and that bright red, shiny sweet-and-sour sauce over top, gave exactly the right amount of tang to the dish.

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Special Chow Mein, Blue Willow (Booth 31, 3 tickets)

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The three-ticket sampling of chow mein served as a decent side.  The portion of beef may have been a little light, but the portion size was more than adequate. I just wish I had gotten it last in the group of dishes. I ordered so the noodles would’ve been warmer by the time I got to eat them.  Plan well, fellow tasters.

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Pulled Pork Steamed Bao, Hoang Long 888 (Booth 27, 3 tickets)

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The highlight of the sampling was this three-ticket pork bao, which serves as a decent ‘mini-main’ here. This handheld came stuffed with succulent pork, bright veggies, crisp cabbage and lettuce, and a delectable sauce that added the right amount of zip. The bao was pillowy soft and airy. Definitely anchored the meal.

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