Where to eat freshwater fish in Yellowknife
Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories do not have unique food creations. At best, they offer an opportunity to try the local produce. Yellowknife is blessed with the second-largest lake in Canada and fishing tourism is booming here. Naturally, local fishes are the thing to try.
Guide to the fishes of Great Slave Lake
The basin of Great Slave Lake (they’re working to change the name for obvious reasons) is home to several species of game fishes, in order of commonness:
- Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis). Meaty texture.
- Inconnu (Stenodus nelma). Also called “connie”. Another meaty fish that is usually smoked and preserved.
- Burbot (Lota lota). Also called lake cod, lingcod, and loche. Firm and slightly sweet.
- Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush). Tastes like a very mild salmon.
- Pickerel (Sander vitreus). In USA, they call this walleye and pickerel refers to a different species. Light flavour, small flakes, versatile in different dishes.
- Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). Bright orange, fatty meat like salmon, but more delicate.
Bullocks Bistro
The number one place for fish in Yellowknife. No other restaurant has this many kinds of fish. It’s touristy and expensive for fish and chips, but they make one of the best in Canada.
You can have your fish deep-fried, pan-fried, or grilled. I recommend pan-fried, where it’s seasoned with a turmeric-fennel mix, coated with coriander pesto, and finished with their fabulous “teriyaki” sauce. The grilled version has the same treatment, minus the basting and flambéing on a pan. The deep-fried style misses out on these flavour enhancers.
My whitefish was perfectly cooked. Crisp on the sides and moist inside. I was struck by how much the teriyaki sauce elevated the dish. It was lighter and more runny and than a regular teriyaki sauce. As for the heaping mound of fries, they were good, not great. 8.5/10.
The other components were so-so. The salad’s main purpose was to add colour, though the dressing was delectable. The house tartar sauce was thick and could use a bit more acid.
Besides whitefish, they also have inconnu, burbot (lake cod), lake trout, pickerel, and arctic char. Subject to availability, of course.
Bullock’s Bistro is very popular, so make reservations, or arrive early or late.
Elke’s Table
This is a southern German restaurant where you can find the usual suspects like schnitzels and roast pork. However, they also have Yellowknife-style fish and chips (yes, I’m calling it that for lack of a better term).
The whitefish was heavily seasoned with turmeric and tasted a bit like curry. It made for an intriguing combination with the other major herb, dill. It was incredibly aromatic. The fish wasn’t as hefty as that of Bullock’s Bistro but it was well-cooked. Fries were ok. The salad dressing and tartar sauce were similar to Bullock’s, just a smidgen less bright. 8/10.
The restaurant is in a residential row and is both a home and restaurant. It has folksy decorations and 1970s German music.
Tuesday Farmers Market at Somba K’e Civic Plaza
Just outside city hall, this market happens only for 2 hours on Tuesdays, for 3.5 summer months. There may be a fish vendor present, like Fishy People or NWT’s Finest Fish.
NWT’s Finest Fish’s main food business is chilled and frozen fish fillets. When I visited, they were also doing fish tacos and candied fish. I bought a pack of candied inconnu and trout.
They had a pleasing smokey flavour and were mildly sweet. I could appreciate the textures of the different types of fish. They make for a high-protein trail snack on a cool day. 8/10.
Other places to check out
Unfortunately, there aren’t other fish specialists in the city. Some tourist restaurants offer fish in their menu of game meats, like Coyote’s Family Steakhouse.
The Wildcat Cafe is a historic venue run by the city. It’s leased to different caterers each year so the menu and quality is variable. It might be another option for local fish.
Where to eat game fish in Toronto
Arctic char and pickerel are easily found at Toronto fishmongers like Hooked Inc, Fair Catch, and many others. Cooked versions are rare. Restaurants dedicated to showcasing Canadian ingredients would have Arctic char, like Richmond Station. These restaurants are unfortunately on the higher end of the budget scale.
Affinity Fish has whitefish in Japanese preparations. Pickerel, burbot, and lake trout appear in seasonal menus of fine dining restaurants. Inconnu is not available in Toronto.
Verdict
Yellowknife does not have a large nor exciting food scene, but it sure excels in preparing locally caught fish. If more restaurants serve the same style of fish and chips as Bullock’s and Elke’s, it might grow to a Yellowknife specialty.
Practical information
Bullock’s Bistro
- Rating
- 8.5/10
- Prices
- Pan-fried whitefish: $31.50 (including tax)
- Address
- 3534 Weaver Drive
- Hours
- Monday to Saturday 1130h – 2000h
- Date of visit
- September 2022
Elke’s Table
- Rating
- 8/10
- Prices
- Whitefish and chips: $27.30 (including tax)
- Address
- 4911 47 Street
- Hours
- Monday to Saturday 1200h – 2000h
- Date of visit
- September 2022
NWT’s Finest Fish at Yellowknife Farmers Market
- Rating
- 8/10
- Prices
- Candied inconnu and trout mix: $5.00 (including tax)
- Address
- Somba K’e Civic Plaza, 4910 52 Street
- Hours
- June to mid-September Tuesday 1715h – 1915h
- Date of visit
- September 2022