A Taste of Bündok: Elevated Dining in the Heart of Edmonton

This week, I had the pleasure of visiting Bündok, an Edmonton staple that’s been delighting foodies for the past eight years. Owned by Chef Ryan Hotchkiss, this contemporary restaurant is known for its seasonal small plates designed for sharing, and its creative, flavour-forward cocktails. When I say everything I tried was absolutely delightful, I promise it’s no exaggeration.

Interior

The overall design of the restaurant makes for a unique experience, with eye-catching light displays, an open kitchen that invites you into the action, and refined decor. the restaurant’s interior sets the stage for a sophisticated night out with a date or friends.

Cocktails

I started the evening with a Juniper Dreams, a cocktail built on gin, Grand Marnier, and Lillet – aromatic, smooth, and beautifully balanced. Next came the Sunray, another gin-based cocktail featuring Empress Elderflower Rose Gin. I love a sweeter profile, and the team was kind enough to tailor it perfectly to my taste.

Smoked Olives

While we sipped on our drinks we snaked on smoked olives: rich, savoury, and infused with an incredible umami depth from the smoke.

Fried Chicken Skins

Then came one of Bündok’s signature dishes: fried chicken skins with honey mustard. I’d never tried anything like it before, and it completely lived up to its reputation! They were crispy, flavourful, and irresistibly good.

Warm Bread

The warm bread with salted scallion and dill butter was another standout, simple yet elevated.

Fennel Salad

The shaved fennel salad was crisp, refreshing, and layered with flavour. The salad was composed with fragrant fennel tossed in a black garlic caesar dressing and topped with spiced crispy onions, which made for that perfect crunch in every bite.

Pan Fried Chicken & Steelhead Crudo

To finish, we shared the steelhead crudo and the pan-roasted half chicken. I cannot emphasize enough how incredible that chicken was. It was perfectly crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside, and complemented by a corn béarnaise sauce that we couldn’t get enough of.

From start to finish, Bündok delivers an elevated dining experience. If you plan to visit, I recommend deciding on everything you’d like to try and ordering it all at once. The chefs will pace each dish perfectly, ensuring there’s always something to enjoy from beginning to end for a truly seamless dining experience. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, Bündok is the kind of place that reminds you why Edmonton’s dining scene deserves to be celebrated