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Padmanadi Vegetarian Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Vegetarian Restaurants Indonesian Restaurants Vegan Vegetarian, Indonesian, Vegan [Edit]
10740 101 StEdmonton, AB T5H 2S3
(780) 428-8899
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 4 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
52 reviews for Padmanadi Vegetarian Restaurant
Review Highlights
"So far my favorite is the ginger beef."
(in 14 reviews)
"The veggie curry chicken with potatoes is amazing."
(in 6 reviews)
"And the decor at the new location is very nice."
(in 5 reviews)
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52 reviews in English
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Review from Sara M.
2/2/2012 3 photos
After endlessly fantasizing about this place, I thought my expectations would end up being way too high. NOPE. HOLY CRAP THIS PLACE IS AWESOME.
Saturday night dinner.... the place was PACKED! Which is always a pleasant sight when trying out a new restaurant.
My dining companion and I were super pumped to try the wontons, but alas, they were out. Heart broken, but an excuse to come back as soon as possible. We replaced them with spring rolls, which were tasty but not anything mind blowing. Enter Ginger Beef, Kung Pao Chicken, Coconut Rice and some Broccoli Cauliflower thing. Outstanding! I was a little nervous about all the fake "meat" as I am usually not the biggest fan.... but YUM! There is a reason people are raving about the Ginger Beef.
Naturally we ordered too much food and had to take some home, which was just as tasty as left overs. Win.
After having such a great meal and experiencing such wonderfully genuine service... we decided to come back the very next day for Sunday Brunch.
First lets talk about the heart saucer/apple cup combo that holds your coffee. AHDORABLE. Seriously, look at the photo. Traditional and Thai Benny's were shared and ooohed and aaaahed over. Presentation was lovely, the hashbrowns and fruit were delightful accompaniments. And I am not embarrassed to say that we both did everything but lick our plates clean.
Vegans please note: EVERYTHING is vegan. EVERYTHING. -
Review from David O.
Edmonton, AB
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
I experienced my first taste of Padmanadi at the Taste of Edmonton festival a few years ago. Their curried 'chicken' was very tasty and very deceptive... That chicken was tofu and as a self-described lover of all things meat, I was shocked at both the great taste and great texture of this faux-chicken.
I had to find out more and decided to try out their restaurant on 101 St between 108 & 107 Ave. While not the best part of town, the trip was worth it. The interior of the restaurant was bright and colorfully decorated with an electic mix of Asian inspiration juxtaposed with contemporary photos of staff happily smiling around the entire restaurant.
The food was nothing short of great. The ginger 'beef', the curried 'chicken', the spicy eggplant, the fried Indonesian noodles, the count rice... The list goes on. All were incredibly tasty and all stood on their own as great eats.
If you haven't tried Padmanadi, don't be shy. If you fear that wet cardboard texture of tofu, don't be scared. Padmanadi has become one of my family's favorite places to eat in Edmonton. They do a great job serving up great food period. You won't know the difference! -
Review from Matthew L.
Edmonton, AB
1/28/2012
So, I tried to put together last-minute Unofficial Yelp Event for Padmanadi's once-in-a-while buffet yesterday. Aditya R. graced us with his presence as Sarah and I chowed down on all-you-can-eat goodness. And as far as vegetarian buffets go, I'd vote for Daawat's veggie selection over this one.
Still, I enjoyed almost everything I ate there, ranging from mongolian (fake) chicken (awesome!), to Tom Yum Mutton (Awesome!), to the chili tofu (fine, that falls into the meh, I've experienced better range).
Still, the buffet was a great event - it felt as if everybody in Edmonton who didn't care about having meat with their meal was there.
The space and service were very pleasant, and I look forward to trying Padmanadi again - when I can get the Ginger "Beef" made to order -
Review from John r.
Winnipeg, MB
2/8/2012 3 photos
Wow this is almost worth the commute from Winnipeg to here. By luck ended up here during one of the buffets and wow most of the menu is there for you to try. And try we did after waiting about 40 min to get a seat (yes that crowded) and 10 more to get to the food it was all worth it. Found ever thing they offered to be really good, the service was up there as well. Additional the decorating including cute poses of the staff all over the Restaurant made this one of the best stops of the trip. The even served food to people waiting in line. I could go on, but lets leave it at if they have a buffet again and I am close (say 500K) I will be there, and other then that I will go there again when in town.
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Review from D Y.
12/7/2011
A lot of times, vegan restaurants attempt to make vegan food palatable or amenable to carnivore palates. That's not such a bad thing, but this place is unapologetically vegan/vegetarian cuisine. The integrity of the ingredients are preserved with the light cooking. And the ingredients are special.
We dined with Olivia, who provided us with exceptional service. She was polite and courteous, while still being engaging and warm. -
Review from Janine E.
Edmonton, AB
11/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here for the buffet they had on November 11th and I really enjoyed it. I generally like tofu and vegetarian food and I thought all of it was cooked wonderfully. Most of the dishes there you can't actually tell that they don't have meet in them! The only thing I found a little bit questionable was the dessert... (the cupcakes were good) but most of the other things I wasn't a fan of, and I'm a dessert lover!
Over all great restaurant, if you have never had vegetarian food you need to try this restaurant, you will be surprised... it's delicious! -
Review from Laurel P.
10/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I never thought I'd be giving a restaurant 5 stars when I gagged on my first bite of it but that's just how good Padmanadi was. Let me explain what I mean: as someone who hasn't tasted meat in a number of years and has tried her fair share of poor substitutes, Padmanadi was a real shock to my system.
On the recommendation of a friend we decided to start off the meal with the "Padmanadi Platter" which is an assortment of their vegetarian "meats". The first bite of "ham" I tried freaked me out. It tasted exactly how I remember the real thing and my brain couldn't comprehend why I was eating it. Even the omnivore I was with agreed that it was incredibly similar in texture, taste, and appearance. After getting past the initial shock and convincing myself that I wasn't eating the real thing I thouroughly enjoyed the rest of the platter.
For the main course we decided to go with one more faux-meat dish (Ginger Chicken) and one vegetable dish (Chili Green Beans). They were both fantastic. I especially recommend the green beans. They were cooked perfectly and well-seasoned.
My only complaint is that as a vegetarian I've gotten used to only having one or two choices on a menu so it's usually pretty easy to make up my mind. However at Padmanadi I had pages and pages to choose from. I'll definitely be returning to try some of the other dishes! -
Review from L M.
Edmonton, AB
11/16/2011
This restaurant is great. The atmosphere is pleasant and the food is good for vegetarians and those not afraid to experiment outside their usual fare. I am not a vegetarian and I always find this restaurant a treat. One of my good friends is a strict vegetarian and its a place we can both eat without limiting her to one choice on the menu and without me wishing for something with less bok choi.
The Soy Chai latte is delish.
I recommend trying something from the menu you have never tried. I am always pleasantly suprised. -
Review from Rachel F.
9/30/2011
The only problem with Padmanadi is that there are too many choices on the menu. At most restaurants, they only have one or two vegetarian options, so the choice is relatively easy for an indecisive person like me. But at Padmanadi, where everything on the extensive menu is both purely vegan and amazingly delicious, the decision-making process can be a bit daunting.
That said, I know I can always count on my two favourite dishes, the ginger beef and spicy eggplant. Both are outstanding. And the ginger beef even impressed my Argentinian friends and my Texan father. The last time I went, we got the curry mutton (always a good choice, too) and the kung pao chicken. The kung pao lacks a little "pow" for my tastes, but that is easily rectified with some chili sauce.
Also, the last time I was in, they had fried tofu balls as their appetizer special. These little bites of delectable delights were fantastic. And gave my favourite appetizer, the salty chicken strips, a run for their money. I highly recommend that Padmanadi add these to the regular menu, as they are truly magnificent (if they do, I suggest they serve them with a different sauce as the chili sauce overpowered the wonderful flavours of the tofu balls a bit).
They have wonderfully personable staff. And going to Padmanadi is always, always a treat. -
Review from Adam S.
Updated - 9/22/2011 ROTD 11/16/2011
I recently went to the new location of Padmanadi and it was better than ever! I think they've changed the menu slightly, but the food is still excellent. And the decor at the new location is very nice. Kasim and his crew have taken all of the charm and "family-ness" of the old location and gone upscale with it. It's a much fancier space than the previous one, but it still retains all of the friendliness.
On my visit to the new location, I went with my girlfriend and a couple of friends. We ordered the Dinner for Four and went to town. Everything was outstanding. I'm not a huge fan of the mushy, fried tofu (I prefer smaller chunks so my deep fried tofu is more crispy than mushy), but even the tofu and mushroom dish was great.
The "chicken" curry was excellent, but I still prefer the "mutton," and the ginger "beef" was fantastic!
I'm rarely a fan of mock-meat, but Padmanadi does an amazing job of it. Despite being a meat-eater, Padmanadi remains one of my favourite restaurants in the city (and a birthday dinner staple!).Listed in: Top Restaurants
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/18/2008
I don't remember how I first discovered Padmanadi, but I've loved it since the first time I went.… Read more »
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Review from Scott G.
1/21/2012
Experimenting with vegetarianism and thought I'd try a genuine experience. Had the curry "chicken" with coconut rice. SO frickin good. Had some black chai and chocolate lava cake for dessert. Incredible. Got there early (4:30) on a Saturday and the place filled fast behind me. Really nice atmosphere and a superb and friendly wait staff. Next time I'm in Edmonton I'm there. Lotta people ordering the ginger beef. Maybe I'll try it next time.
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Review from Maria F.
9/9/2011
I can't believe it's not butter!...I mean meat. Who would have thought that vegan meals could be so delicious and satisfying, and mock chicken and tofu can taste just like real meat?
Three friends and I (none of us are vegetarians) decided to be adventurous for a day and see if we could handle vegan food. Little did we know how impressive the whole experience of dining at Padmanadi would turn out to be!
We ordered lots of food: padmanadi platter, mushroom tofu, spicy eggplant, kung pao chicken, ginger beef, sweet and sour pork and a couple more items which I have trouble remembering since consuming all delicious food left me hazy:)
We all shared, so I got to try a bit everything. Mushroom tofu and kung pao chicken were particularly exquisite. The mixed "meat" platter was fun to consume - you get to try a variety of mock meats and dip them into all sorts of sauces. Good times!
I definitely recommend Padmanadi. Try it at least once to see if vegan food is your cup of tea. If it is - you'll surely be coming back. If not - at least you can say proudly that you've been there, done that and couldn't believe it wasn't butter...I mean meat. -
Review from Mark L.
Edmonton, AB
8/29/2011
Padmanadi is a tricky restaurant to find, but it's worth the search. It's in a fairly nondescript building, but it's actually quite nice and spacious inside. It's very bright and welcoming, as are the staff.
I don't normally like vegetarian food that tries to emulate meat too closely. I think vegetarian food can taste great without slavishly imitating meat. But Padmanadi pulls off the faux meat taste nicely. The ginger beef is particularly good. I tried the chicken at Taste of Edmonton and is was also quite good. The menu is ample; many countries are represented. I'll definitely be back to try a few more dishes soon. -
Review from Jason W.
Edmonton, AB
11/13/2011
I never, ever thought I'd say something like this about a vegan restaurant, but this place honestly has some of the best Asian cuisine I have ever had the pleasure of eating. If you have a vegetarian friend that you can't seem to go out with anywhere, go here! I can guarantee you will both go home pleased.
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Review from F M.
Edmonton, AB
1/9/2012
Very delicious vegan/vegetarian food that is appealing to both meat and non-meat eaters. The restaurant itself is very clean and welcoming. Buffets are offered regularly. I have also ordered take-out, which was well-packaged and remained warm until I arrived home.
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Review from Andrew H.
8/4/2011
Who knew. Who knew vegetarian food would taste so fantastic!
Located in a pretty sketchy part of town, Padamandi's interior to a stark contrast of the run down dreary neighborhood.
Bright pastels with nice wooden accents add to the zen like ambiance that flows through the room.
i'm not sure if it was a particular night but the entire staff had that indie hipster vibe which made me feel really guilty of eating meat a few hours earlier.
We ordered the kung pao soy chicken, curry soy chicken, and stir fry egg-plant.
To be fair, the egg-plant didn't jump up and slap me in the face of flavors. It was actually a little mundane. Quick tip, for one of the best egg plant dishes, try Ling-nan. I have yet to eat a better egg plant dish.
However, the kung pao and curry chicken were top notch. Silky smooth curry and tangy kung pao made me believe it really was meat.
The coconut rice that came with it spoke to me in ways I wish some women did. In that moment, I would have done anything for that coconut rice!
I tried the fresh lychee blended drink. Although this was the one that took the longest to arrive, it tasted like someone had individually peeled every lychee and squeezed it with their bare hands into the cup. Very fresh. A tad expensive though ($5.00 for a cup).
Overall, the prices were slightly higher than most restaurants but really, where will you ever have simulated meat that tastes so so good?Listed in: 30 Days of Summer
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Review from Jessica L.
Edmonton, AB
8/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
I FINALLY made it out to try Padmanadi after meaning to for many years. Ironically, I stopped being vegetarian about a year and a half ago!
This restaurant was great! The interior was large, clean and comfortable with some very funky chairs. The food itself was good - tasty and fresh. My fiance (a meat eater through and through) ordered a "chicken" dish and found it very satisfying. I have a lot of experience with veggie chicken and found this "chicken" to be the best quality and consistency of any I have tried. I had the "Chili Tofu" which was delicious. It was spicy, but in a slow burn kind of way, with peas and fresh veggies and LOTS of tofu. I couldn't eat it all so ended up taking a good portion of it home, which then disappeared in the night. I filed a missing food report the next morning but no one in my house seemed to have any recollection of seeing it. Ever.
We have been wanting to go back ever since and try some more delicious meat alternative dishes. The dishes are big enough to share and they have some great "Dinner for __" options if you want to try a couple things and are in a group. -
Review from Carina Z.
4/26/2011 ROTD 6/18/2011
Yum! I cannot wait to go to a buffet... everything I have tried here is delicious and constantly find myself wanting more. During my travels abroad I have been to several of these types of vegetarian restaurants in Asia and craved it when I returned to Canada - now I find out I have one in my backyard?! How awesome is that!! Since I have discovered it I have been to the location twice and got take out once. Each dish that I have sampled is delectable and there is always enough food for leftovers, which makes it even better! So far my favorite is the ginger beef... but I want to try everything to be sure.
The ambiance is great! I would describe the décor as "earth-friendly-chic" - the chairs have a truly unique shape and are more comfortable then they appear, I like how open it is (you can see all the way to the back), very light and bright inside, and everything is clean. I also love that so many people can enjoy the same experience (from trendy-hipsters to Asian families); the market for this food seems quite broad.
There are two downsides that prevented me from rating it as 5 stars: parking and location. Street parking is hard to find and depending on the time and day you do have to pay at meters; they have some parking around back but not much and it always seems to be full. Even if you find a spot I am always worried my car could be vandalized because of the no-so-friendly neighbourhood that the restaurant resides in. Make sure you take your valuables with you inside and lock your car.
Overall: FABULOUS! Now I just wish they would open a location closer to work... I would be there at least once a week! -
Review from shawnna p.
Edmonton, AB
9/23/2011
If you are sensitive to MSG, beware. Those beautifully coloured veggies are enhanced. I thought they were delicious, but my hubby suffered a bit of an MSG attack. The yellow curried vegetables with tofu are exquisite. What gorgeous flavor and appeal. The goreng noodles with crisp green choy was plentiful and had great texture. We really liked the spicy green beans, until the MSG kicked in. This place really needs a bar. Our wonderful server agreed with us. It's a really huge dining area with great light. Very nice. I'd go again if it had a bar.
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Review from Kristin K.
Edmonton, AB
6/7/2011
I feel like i'm the only one who's not a big fan?
I first tried Padmanadi about 8 years ago when I moved here from Seattle - I was a Vegan at the time and accustomed to a plentiful option of vegan restaurants.
The atmosphere and service have always been good and I do applaud their effort at giving lots of choices.
However, I am not a fan of fake meat being deep friend.
There are soooooooo many delicious vegan or vegetarian dishes that can be made without throwing in fake meat.
I am definitely glad that we have this option in Edmonton and kudos to them on their new location!
No longer a vegetarian or vegan, I no longer see a reason to return to Padmanadi as I can order tofu or veggie entrees at any of my regular and favorite Vietnamese, Thai, or Chinese restaurants. -
Review from Mango M.
Vancouver, BC
11/3/2011
One morning last month I had a strange craving for Sweet & Sour Pork. This is strange for a couple of reasons: (1) I haven't eaten meat in 10 years. And (2) I don't even like pork. A friend had found Padmanadi online and recommended it a couple of days before. Not even knowing what cuisine they offered, we decided to investigate, and much to my delight found Sweet & Sour Pork on the menu. We were delighted to enjoy some of the best Asian food we've ever had.
Prices were a few dollars higher than I like to pay, but that's okay because the portions were large enough that we both had lunch for the next day. It's even good after being in the fridge overnight(!)
I asked about MSG and was told to avoid the Oyster Sauce. I did, and felt perfectly fine after the fact. We've already been back to Padmanadi once and look forward to returning when we visit Edmonton next. -
Review from Joanna F.
1/28/2011 ROTD 2/25/2011
Went here tonight for a UYE (Unofficial Yelp Event) and loved it. Finally can actually agree with my veg-head sister's view that 'fake meat can taste good!'
Boasting a great location and some terrific decor (including a waterfall/fountain faucet in the bathroom and a giant Buddha in the dinning area), the place is cute, welcoming and spotlessly clean.
There were 3 of us, so we ordered 3 dishes and an appetizer, and that was more than enough to make us all happy.
To start, we ordered ice drinks - 2 lychees and a pineapple. Apparently the pineapple was great, but the lychee was just amazing - it deserves 5 stars all to its own! Was just like drinking liquid candy it was so yummy (and yes, very sweet too).
We also got some spring rolls and they were great - a little bit more crunchy than 'regular' ones, but overall just the same (and in many cases, better) than the ones you'd get at any Chinese restaurant.
Just as we were finishing up the appies, our mains arrived. I have to admit, I was shocked by the speed of service here - you ask, and BOOM! it's there already. I think we waited all of 10 minutes between ordering and eating.
We decided to go on prior recommendations from other yelpers, and had ordered the ginger 'beef', nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice) and a 'ham' and broccoli dish.
Quite frankly, all were great. The ginger beef was especially good - it's not exactly how I remember 'regular' ginger beef, and in that regards I'd say it was better - not as cloying and had a better variety of spice - there was something in there (other than ginger) that gave it a really terrific depth. Nutmeg maybe? Regardless, it was awesome.
The fried rice was reminiscent of a Chinese chicken fried rice, and was loaded with veggies and tasted great. The Ham and Broccoli was probably the biggest surprise - I wasn't sure what I'd think of this going in, but it turned out terrific. It was filling, the 'ham' was just the right amount of salty, the broccoli was perfectly cooked, the sauce (oyster, I think) was a good compliment to the main ingredients, and there were also a bunch of other veggies, such as mushrooms and peppers thrown in.
It was also really affordable - the bill came to $60 between the three of us (before tip).
My only (minuscule) complaint was that the food could have been served a bit hotter. It was fine to start, but considering how fast it cooled down vs how fast we were eating, it really should have arrived at a higher temperature. It was also a little greasy, but then, considering what I was eating (fried stuff), I didn't exactly expect anything different!
All in all, terrific experience, and great food. I'm now sold on the idea of veggie meats and I'm looking forward to coming back here (probably with my sister in tow) and trying out more things - perhaps next time I'll go after the Indian or Thai dishes!
Seriously, this is a great place, whether you're vegan, a meat lover, or just a regular omnivore looking to try something a bit different. It's well worth the visit! -
Review from Jenna G.
Edmonton, AB
5/11/2011
It doesn't matter if you're a vegetarian, exploring your options, or a full-blown meat lover, (and last time I went with all three,) Padmanadi is still delicious!
The new location on 107th avenue and 101 street is spacious and has a very open feel to it, with photos of regulars lining the walls. The servers are always friendly and helpful, regardless of how busy the restaurant is, and the food never seems to take too long to hit the table. We like to order a few things off the menu and share, instead of ordering one entree each, which is a good idea because the food tends to come out as it's ready, instead of all at once.
Highly recommended are the Ginger "Beef" and Curry "Chicken", but I've never had anything I didn't love at Padmanadi. Just be warned -- as delicious as the buffet is, the lines and wait times can be quite long -- it's a pretty popular place! -
Review from Shawn A.
Edmonton, AB
1/15/2011
I am seriously disappointed with the new location. It looks like they bent to western influence far too much. I miss the old Padmanatis.
This used to be the place my family went to for special occasions, now it tis the place we complain about on special occasions.
Sorry guys but the move was a bad one. -
Review from Brittany K.
Edmonton, AB
After my first try at the Taste of Edmonton festival, I'd been dying to check out the full Padmanadi experience.
The only difference I could tell between "real" ginger beef and Padmanadi's vegetarian version was the crispiness. But the texture and flavour were full and real.
I was very surprised by the spicy eggplant. Sadly, it wasn't spicy, but it was very tasty, dripping with sauce, and cooked to perfection. Rather than sugarplums, I think these will be the foods dancing in my head tonight!Listed in: Four-Stars, Lunch Break, Downtown Dining, Vegetarian and Vegan
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Review from Alycia H.
Edmonton, AB
4/17/2011
The first time I was there, I had an awesome time. The food was unbelievable. I would never think that vegan food could taste this good. My friends and I loved the food. Since then, I have been dying to go back.
I went again last Friday, it was a buffet. The line was crazy, We waited for 30 minutes. this time, im not sure what it was but the food tasted like chinese fast food - the kind that you get from the food court. I felt so thirty during and after the meal. My mouth also felt really dry afterwards. I think the food is just too salty and too much MSG.
I will go again but not for the buffet -
Review from Aditya R.
Padmanadi is such a nice vegetarian restaurant! I thoroughly enjoyed the food here. The focus of the menu is very Asian with food from China, Thailand, Indonesia and perhaps others, giving it a sort of eclectic feel to Asian cuisine. The restaurant seems to promote a healthier form of eating, which it exhibits well with bright colors and semi-urban feel to the interiors.
It's worth mentioning that most of the items on the menu are actually imitation meats. In fact, I had a glance at the brunch menu online and they also have imitation eggs bennies! Now that's pretty hard to pull off. (and I'd have to try that to convince myself)
The imitation meat is reasonably good and I will go out on a limb and say that you might be able to satisfy a beef craving with this imitation beef! The ginger beef is pretty good, though I found that the sauce was a little too strong, but then again, I'm not a ginger beef expert.
The next time you come here - DO YOURSELF A FAVOR - try the Iced Lychee drink ..... it is soooo good. I took a sip of the iced pineapple drink too, but given that Lychee is so exotic - I'd say, go with it!
Can't wait to try the hundreds of different items on their menu! Unfortunately (or fortunately) the serving sizes are quite big and might end up having to go 100 times! -
Review from Garnett S.
Edmonton, AB
11/22/2010
This place is a vegetarian shangri-la.
I never thought that vegetarian ginger beef could be better than real ginger beef. Prove me wrong, Padmanadi, you did.
Non-vegetarians of Edmonton owe it to themselves to try this place and see how good vegetarian cuisine can taste. -
Review from Bernie G.
Edmonton, AB
8/9/2011
I haven't been there in over a year. I thought it was a bit cramped before... but now they've moved and it's fantastic! The place is gorgeous, the food is excellent, and an already excellent restaurant has become better. I seriously plan on becoming a regular!
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Review from Toquester C.
Edmonton, AB
8/2/2010
The inexplicable popularity of this place is proof positive that Edmonton needs more vegetarian restaurants. You don't need all that fake meat to make good vegetarian eats.
That said, the desserts are great. -
Review from Cathy H.
Edmonton, AB
3/10/2011
I've never been to a vegetarian restaurant before, and since I'm always up for trying new food, this was a great opportunity! Usually you think, how can they possibly make fake meat taste good (or at least I think this)? I was pleasantly surprised! The ginger beef tasted amazing and even though it wasn't crunchy like normal ginger beef it was still really tasty! As an outsider you would have never known it wasn't real beef. Another dish I tried was a spicy eggplant, it wasn't spicy but still very tasty! Sharing two dishes with a friend along with a bowl of rice each was more than enough food! Next on my list to try there is any of their "chicken" dishes and some rice pudding! I can't wait to go back to this restaurant, especially on a Friday for their all-you-can-eat buffet!
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Review from Alouise D.
Edmonton, AB
5/7/2011
I'll be the first to admit that I am not a vegetarian or a vegan, but I'd heard so many good things about Padmanadi I wanted to give them a try. It's funny how preconceived notions can be. For some reason I was picturing a little hole-in-the-wall type of restaurant cramped with dingy lighting. This is the complete opposite of the actual restaurant. Sure on the outside it doesn't seem like anything special. But in side the space is large, open, spacious, colourful and cheerful. It is a very inviting atmosphere.
Padmanadi is 100% vegan, but the owners seem to know that many carnivorous people are not going to be convinced to order kale and tofu dishes. Instead they creatively make dishes using 'meat' like ginger beef, BBQ pork and sweet & sour chicken. Don't be afraid that your meal will be a bland piece of tofu and rice, because it won't. I ordered an lychee drink, which was delicious and creamy, maybe they used soy milk. I then ordered the mushroom chicken, which had a variety of mushrooms and soy chicken. Now here's the thing some people will tell you that you won't be able to tell the difference between this and eating actual chicken. Well that's not true. I could tell I wasn't eating real chicken, it didn't taste quite the same. But the texture was very close, and it's not like this was a bad taste - the whole meal was delicious. The prices are decent and the portions are good. I really loved it here, and look forward to going a again. I definitely think everyone should give this restaurant a try. -
Review from KAT N.
Edmonton, AB
5/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Singing "Peanut! Peanut butter and jelly!" I love peanut butter and jelly, but how much can you eat? As a Buddhist, being vegetarian can be tough if you don't have much options. But don't look any further, there's Padmanadi! They have items like Ginger beef, sweet n sour soup, satay with lemon and peanut sauce, and bean curd drum stick that taste like chicken! Oh! The menu is endless and you'll never have to think about another peanut butter and jam sandwich again!
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Review from Betty D.
Spruce Grove, AB
11/30/2010
Absolutely fantastic! I crave Padmandi's for days after eating there...
The service is amazing. Its a very friendly place, and the food is amazing, bar none -
Review from Tess R.
1/15/2011
Fantastic vegetarian menu! Wish they were licensed as beer would go great with their fare.
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Review from Jeremy and alaka F.
6/1/2010
Raised a vegetarian, and a vegan since 14, I'm always on the lookout for good food. I love to cook, but sometimes I want good food without having to make it, and without having to ask people all the time about the ingredients in the food they serve (it gets exhausting!). I also certainly don't like "rabbit food," so to speak, anymore than the next person... in fact I don't like raw tomatoes, nor salad! Enter Padmanadi.
All vegan. Friendly and funky atmosphere. KILLER food, and free tea (which they refill --- a lot!). My boyfriend and I went there several weeks ago, and ordered the iced lychee drink and roti with curry dipping sauce to start. We then ordered the "chicken" potato curry dish and the ginger beef (not on the menu, so you have to ask for it), a side of rice, and a chocolate banana cheesecake slice for dessert. It was all FANTASTIC. Although they do not make the best chicken potato curry I've had, it was still very enjoyable, and tasty. The ginger beef was unique and wonderful, and the appetizer and drink were to die for. I would not, however, order the cheesecake again. I was really looking forward to a traditional vegan cheesecake made from vegan cream cheese... but this had a whipped texture and didn't really taste like cheesecake, even though it looked like it!
There were so many dishes that sound great, I would definitely go back again! Easily some of the best vegan food I've had in Edmonton. The price is right, as well. Despite all we ordered, the bill only came out to about $40. Doesn't look promising at all from the outside.. but what in Chinatown ever does? Can get very busy on the weekends, so I recommend calling ahead (even just by a couple of hours) to reserve! -
Review from Jeanette B.
Edmonton, AB
9/30/2008
Padmanadi was another restaurant I was just dying to try. I think we were lucky when we arrived, because it was the last table that was free, and there were people waiting in line, when we sat down.
This is an Indonesian restaurant with a very extensive menu. We ordered the Wanton Soup, the Nasi Goreng rice, and the Veggie Sweet Sour Chicken. Everything, and I mean, everything tasted amazing. I could barely tell that it was vegetarian, and the flavours were so perfectly tasty. This was actually a bit too much food for two people--we were so incredibly full. I think that it would be more economical to go here with at least 3 or 4 people, so that you can share plates of different foods.
The only thing that bothered me about this place was the slight air of pretentiousness. Everyone in the whole restaurant was eating with chop sticks (it was like this place was anti-fork), so my friend felt a bit awkward, when he asked for a fork. The waitress did seem a bit surprised that he wanted a fork, and it actually took a long time before he did get his fork. Although I like eating with chop sticks, I ate with a fork too, so he wouldn't feel singled out. -
Review from Kerri W.
Banff, AB
11/21/2008 1 photo
I came here for the birthday of a friend's friend. I'm not a vegetarian but am always up for trying something new. My main concern was soy. Any of the pseudo meat dishes are made with tofu. So, I avoided those and was shown a page of veggie dishes prepared without soy.
I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed my food. I arrived a bit late and someone already had some roti going so I tried that and it was delicious! They also were featuring squash soup. So, I ordered roti for myself and a big bowl of squash soup. I also had some of the coconut rice that was shared. I was comfortably full and completely satisfied. The flavours were awesome and I felt really good afterward.
The staff were really easy-going and informative. They really create a family atmosphere. I felt totally welcome despite the fact I'd never been there before. I love the photos that line the walls of patrons who keep coming back. -
Review from H A.
Edmonton, AB
9/11/2011
The curry "chicken" is amazing, as is the mushroom tofu. In addition, we went with friends that didn't read the menu that close, and had no idea it was vegetarian! We didn't fill them in until after they kept raving it was one of the best Asian dinners they'd had.
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Review from Lynn P.
Jasper, AB
10/4/2010 1 Check-in Here
So many options! I choose the Curry mutton (gluten free) they made it spicy for me! Loved loved loved it. The hubby had the curry chicken and the Tom Yum soup. We were very impressed. The restaurant itself is beautiful, pics of regular customers on the walls. I would highly recommend to all of my veggie friends.
