steinbach

taste the world

DIY food tour​

The OG Sando, light mild, brioche bun and 2 chipotle aioli sauces on the side from Chica’s Chicken (photo credit @chicas.chicken)

Steinbach

Steinbach is a city located in the province of Manitoba, Canada. It is the third-largest city in Manitoba, with a population of 17,806 as of 2021. Steinbach is located about 58 kilometers southeast of Winnipeg, the provincial capital. The city is part of the Eastman Region, which is a rapidly growing area of Manitoba.

Steinbach was founded in 1874 by a group of Mennonites from Russia. The city grew rapidly in the early 20th century, and by the 1950s, it was the largest Mennonite community in the world. Today, Steinbach is a diverse community with a population that includes Mennonites, Germans, Ukrainians, and people from many other backgrounds.

 

Burned Ends from Bigg Smoak BBQ Smokehouse and Grill (photo credit @diyfoodtours)

details

On this tour taste a spicy soup that originated in Huế Vietnam, classic French cuisine, a common dish from Jamaica, German cuisine made fresh in Manitoba, Kansas City style BBQ, Nashville style fried chicken and a dish inspired by the Ottoman Empire. 

Number of stops: 7
Number of tastings: 13
Tastings: Bún bò Huế “Spicy Beef Noodle Soup” (Stick Noodles, sliced rare beef, well done beef, tripe, and hand-made beef balls), Cheese Raspberry Crêpe, Oxtail (Seasoned, tenderized oxtail, slowly stewed in its own marinade), Bestje Dit enn Daut (sampler plate, cup of Komst Borscht, Foarma Worscht, two Vereniki smothered in Schmauntfatt, serving of coleslaw, a slice of stone ground whole wheat bread and plautz), Burned ends (Kansas City style, bite size cubes of tender caramelized brisket), The OG Sando (Nashville-spiced boneless fried chicken topped with slaw, pickles and Chica’s Sauce, served on texas toast, Classic Chicken Shawarma Donair (Chicken, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, hummus, pickled turnip, and feta cheese).

The Mennonite Heritage Village (photo credit @mhvillage)

Notable nearby

The Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach, Manitoba

The Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach, Manitoba is a living history museum that tells the story of the Mennonites who settled in the area in the late 19th century. The museum is open seasonally and features a variety of buildings and exhibits that give visitors a glimpse into the lives of these early settlers. It also contains a stop on the tour, at the Livery Barn Restaurant.

One of the highlights of the museum is the reconstructed village, which features 17 buildings that were typical of Mennonite farmsteads in the 19th century. Visitors can tour the buildings and learn about the different activities that took place on a Mennonite farm, such as farming, baking, and blacksmithing.

The museum also has a number of exhibits that tell the story of the Mennonites’ journey to Canada. These exhibits include a replica of a Mennonite ship that was used to transport settlers to Canada, as well as a collection of artifacts that were brought over by the settlers.

Here are some of the things you can do at the Mennonite Heritage Village:

  • Tour the reconstructed village and learn about the different activities that took place on a Mennonite farm.
  • Visit the exhibits that tell the story of the Mennonites’ journey to Canada.
  • See the replica of a Mennonite ship that was used to transport settlers to Canada.
  • Learn about the Mennonites’ culture and traditions.

Address: 231 Provincial Trunk Hwy 12, Steinbach, MB R5G 1T8, Canada
Website: www.mennoniteheritagevillage.com

diy food tour

Tasting types

There are 6 different tasting types. The first is a Must Try tasting, which means the dish provides a sense of pleasure, leaves an everlasting impression, evokes something exceptional, and will be remembered. The second is a Tasting Hack, that is for example, a tasting that is combined with another tasting on the tour, that together, create a better tasting experience. A Seasonal tasting is only available during certain times of the year. A Vegetarian tasting does not contain meat (only verified vegetarian tasting are identified). A Best-In-Class tasting is an identification of a top tasting destination. A Cook At Home tasting is where you purchase in store, but cook at home.

Must try

Must try food tasting

Tasting Hack

Special manipulated tasting

Seasonal

Seasonal tasting

Vegetarian

Vegetarian tasting

Best-in-class

Top tasting destination

Cook at Home

Tasting you purchase in store, but cook at home

Tasting Menu

Bún bò Huế from Viet House Restaurant

photo credit @viethouserestaurant_

Viet House Restaurant

Vietnamese Restaurant

Must try: Bún bò Huế “Spicy Beef Noodle Soup” (Stick Noodles, sliced rare beef, well done beef, tripe, and hand-made beef balls)

“Bún bò Huế is a popular Vietnamese rice noodle (bún) dish with sliced beef (bò), chả lụa, and sometimes pork knuckles. The dish originates from Huế, a city in central Vietnam associated with the cooking style of the former royal court. The dish has a mix of spicy, salty, and savory flavors. The predominant flavor is that of lemongrass. Compared to phở or bún riêu, the noodles are thicker and cylindrical… Outside the province of Thừa Thiên-Huế, it is called bún bò Huế to denote its origin. Within Huế and surrounding cities, it is known simply as bún bò. The broth is prepared by simmering beef bones and beef shank with lemongrass, and then seasoned with fermented shrimp sauce and sugar for taste. Spicy chili oil is added later during the cooking process.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunbohue)

How to portion: One order can provide up to 5 tastings
Address: 20 MB-52 #107, Steinbach, MB R5G 2L2
Hours: Saturday 11 AM–8 PM
Sunday 12–8 PM
Monday Closed
Tuesday 11 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 11 AM–8 PM
Thursday 11 AM–8 PM
Friday 11 AM–8 PM
Website: NA
Instagram: @viethouserestaurant_

Cheese Raspberry Crêpe from Doener Grill Express

photo credit @doener_grill_express

Doener Grill Express

European Restaurant

Must try: Cheese Raspberry Crêpe, 

*Wednesday is Crêpe Night! ​(5pm-Close) 50% OFF ALL SWEET CREPES (dine in only)*

“A crêpe or crepe is a very thin type of pancake. Crêpes are usually one of two varieties: sweet crêpes (crêpes sucrées) or savoury galettes (crêpes salées). They are often served with a wide variety of fillings such as cheese, fruit, vegetables, meats, and a variety of spreads. Crêpes can also be flambéed, such as in crêpes Suzette… The standard recipe for French crêpe calls for flour, eggs, milk, salt, and butter. Sugar is optional. In the industrial production of crêpes, the dry ingredients are combined with eggs to form a dough. The rest of the wet ingredients are then added to thin the batter to a loose enough consistency to spread easily. The batter is added, one ladle at a time, to a hot, greased pan, cooked until golden, then flipped. Crêpe batter is characterized by its liquidity, making it easy to spread in a thin layer. Crêpes are also characterized by their quick cooking time, usually 20–30 seconds per side” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crepe)

How to portion: One order can provide up to 4 tastings
Address: 237 Lumber Ave A, Steinbach, MB R5G 0T6
Hours: Saturday 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Sunday Closed
Monday 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Tuesday 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Wednesday 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Thursday 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Friday 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Website: http://www.doenergrillexpress.com/
Instagram: @doener_grill_express

Oxtail from Di Reggae Grill Restaurant

photo credit @direggaegrillrestaurant

Di Reggae Grill Restaurant

Caribbean Restaurant

Must try: Oxtail (Seasoned, tenderized oxtail, slowly stewed in its own marinade)

*TEMPORARILY CLOSED*

*SPECIAL ORDER, NEED TO ORDER IN ADVANCE*

“Oxtail is a gelatin-rich meat, which is usually slow-cooked as a stew or braised. It is a traditional stock base for oxtail soup. Traditional preparations involve slow cooking, so some modern recipes take a shortcut using a pressure cooker. Oxtail is the main ingredient of the Italian dish coda alla vaccinara (a classic of Roman cuisine). It is a popular flavour for powdered, instant and premade canned soups in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Oxtails are also one of the popular bases for Russian aspic appetizer dishes, along with pig trotters or ears or cow “knees”, but are the preferred ingredients among Russian Jews because they can be kosher” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxtail)

How to portion: One order can provide up to 6 tastings
Address: 254 Main St, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Y8
Hours: TBD
Website: https://www.direggaegrill.com/
Instagram: @direggaegrillrestaurant

Bestje Dit enn Daut (sampler plate), cup of Komst Borscht, Foarma Worscht, two Vereniki smothered in Schmauntfatt, serving of coleslaw, a slice of stone ground whole wheat bread and plautz from Livery Barn Restaurant (photo credit @mhvillage)

LIVERY BARN RESTAURANT

Mennonite Cuisine Restaurant

*CLOSES DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, CHECK ONLINE

Must try: Bestje Dit enn Daut (sampler plate), cup of Komst Borscht, Foarma Worscht, two Vereniki smothered in Schmauntfatt, serving of coleslaw, a slice of stone ground whole wheat bread and plautz.

“Komst Borscht, soup made from hearty meat broth, cabbage (komst), onions, potatoes, pieces of sausage flavoured with the distinctive taste of dill. Foarma Worscht, locally made smoked pork sausage, lightly seasoned. Vereniki, boiled pockets of soft dough filled with cottage cheese. Schmauntfatt, rich savory cream gravy. Stone ground Broot, home-made bread made from stone ground whole wheat flour milled at the museum’s wind-driven grist mill, Plautz, a delicious cake-like dessert with a crust, fruit filling and crumb or streusel topping.” (https://mennoniteheritagevillage.com/livery-barn-restaurant-3/).

“Mennonite cuisine is food that is unique to and/or commonly associated with Mennonites, a Christian denomination that came out of sixteenth century Protestant Reformation in Switzerland and The Netherlands. Because of persecution, they lived in community and fled to North America, Prussia, and Russia. Groups like the Russian Mennonites developed a sense of ethnicity, which included cuisine adapted from the countries where they lived… most of the dishes being variations on recipes common to the countries (Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Latin America) where they reside or resided in the past” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mennonite_cuisine).

How to portion: An order can provide 2 tastings
Address: Located in Mennonite Heritage Village, 231 MB-12, Steinbach, MB R5G 1T8
Hours: Sunday 11:30AM–2:30PM
Monday 11AM–2PM
Tuesday 11AM–2PM
Wednesday 11AM–2PM
Thursday 11AM–2PM
Friday 11AM–2PM
Saturday 11AM–2PM
Website: mennoniteheritagevillage.com/livery-barn-restaurant-3/
Instagram: @mhvillage

 

Burned Ends from Bigg Smoak BBQ Smokehouse and Grill

photo credit @diyfoodtours

Bigg Smoak Bbq Smokehouse & Grill

Southern BBQ Restaurant

Must try: Burned ends (Kansas City style, bite size cubes of tender caramelized brisket)

“Burnt ends are flavorful pieces of meat cut from the “point” half of a smoked brisket. When brisket muscles are separated, the lean “first cut” or “flat cut” is the deep pectoral, while the fattier “point”, also known as the “second cut”, “fat end”, or “triangular cut”, is the superficial pectoral. A traditional part of Texas barbecue, burnt ends are considered a delicacy in barbecue cooking. Either the entire brisket is cooked whole, then the point end removed and cooked further, or the point and flat are separated prior to cooking. Due to the higher fat content of the brisket point, it takes longer to fully cook to tender and render out fat and collagen. This longer cooking gave rise to the name “burnt ends”” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnt_ends)

How to portion: 1/2 lb can provide up to 7 tastings
Address: 375 A N Front Dr, Steinbach, MB R5G 0X7
Hours: Thursday 10:30AM–9PM
Friday 10:30AM–9PM
Saturday 7AM–9PM
Sunday 7AM–9PM
Monday Closed
Tuesday 10:30AM–9PM
Wednesday 10:30AM–9PM
Website: www.biggsmoakbbq.ca
Instagram: @biggsmoak

The OG Sando, light mild, brioche bun and 2 chipotle aioli sauces on the side from Chica’s Chicken

photo credit @chicas.chicken

Chica's Chicken

Restaurant

Must try: The OG Sando (Nashville-spiced boneless fried chicken topped with slaw, pickles and Chica’s Sauce, served on texas toast (choose your heat level) (sub texas toast for brioche bun +$1))

“Hot chicken (or Nashville hot chicken) is a type of fried chicken that is a local specialty of Nashville, Tennessee, in the United States. In its typical preparation, it is a portion of breast, thigh, or wing that has been marinated in a water-based blend of seasoning, floured, fried, and finally covered in a paste or sauce that has been spiced with cayenne pepper. This method of preparation originates within African American communities in the Southern United States. A richly pigmented seasoning paste gives the fried chicken its reddish hue. Spice blends, preparation methods, and heat intensity vary from recipe to recipe or depending on the chef… It is served atop slices of white bread with pickle chips” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_chicken)

How to portion: One order can provide up to 4 tastings
Address: 155 Main St #3, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Y5
Hours: Wednesday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Friday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Monday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Tuesday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Website: https://www.chicaschicken.net/
Instagram: @chicas.chicken

The OG Sando, light mild, brioche bun and 2 chipotle aioli sauces on the side from Chica’s Chicken

photo credit @officialprairiedonair

Prairie Donair

Sandwich shop

Must try: Classic Chicken Shawarma Donair (Chicken, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, hummus, pickled turnip, and feta cheese)

“Doner kebab, also spelled döner kebab, is a type of kebab, made of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie. Seasoned meat stacked in the shape of an inverted cone is turned slowly on the rotisserie, next to a vertical cooking element. The operator uses a knife to slice thin shavings from the outer layer of the meat as it cooks. The vertical rotisserie was invented in the 19th-century Ottoman Empire, and dishes such as the Arab shawarma, Greek gyros, Canadian donair, and Mexican al pastor are derived from this… A variation known as donair was introduced in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the early 1970s. There are competing claims about the origin, but according to Halifax resident Leo Gamoulakos, his father, Greek immigrant Peter Gamoulakos, started selling Greek-style gyros at Velos Pizza in the Halifax suburb of Bedford. It did not catch on with the public, so in 1972 he modified the customary pork and lamb recipe by using spiced ground beef, Lebanese flatbread, and inventing the distinctive sweet donair sauce made with condensed milk, vinegar, sugar, and garlic. He called it by the doner name rather than gyros, but it came to be pronounced, and spelled, as donair. In 1973 Gamoulakos opened the first King of Donair restaurant on Quinpool Road in Halifax. In 2015, Halifax named donair the city’s official food. Historically found only in Atlantic Canada, the dish’s popularity has expanded to other parts of Canada” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doner_kebab#)

How to portion: One order can provide up to 4 tastings
Address: 178 MB-12 Unit 32C, Steinbach, MB R5G 1T7
Hours: Sunday 11 AM–8 PM
Monday 11 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 11 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 11 AM–9 PM
Thursday 11 AM–9 PM
Friday 11 AM–9 PM
Saturday 11 AM–9 PM
Website: https://prairiedonair.com
Instagram: @officialprairiedonair

Notable nearby

photo credit @mainbreadandbutter

Main Bread & Butter Company

“Main Bread and Butter Company was started in 1997 by two brothers, Chris and Robert Goertzen.

Local food products were quickly becoming difficult to find in Steinbach due to the rapid changes in the local grocery market and Main Bread & Butter set out to provide these products for the Steinbach area.

The business has since developed into a busy meeting place for people to pick up their local products as well as unique food items from around the world. Known for its fresh breads, cheeses and deli meats, Main Bread and Butter also has become a popular lunch spot where you can pick up delicious soup and a sandwich or fresh pasta meals, made right in the store everyday.” (https://mainbreadandbutter.ca/our-store/)

Address: 253 Main St, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Y9

photo credit @homestylekitchendeli

Homestyle Kitchen & Deli

Deli & Catering Service

Address: 478 Main St, Steinbach, MB R5G 0L7

photo credit @cdo.oriental.store

CDO Oriental Store

“Located in the heart of Steinbach, MB, CDO Oriental Store is run by your local, asian family. The business was established in 2012 and has grown continuously ever since. Open 7 days a week, our store offers fresh Asian specialty products, ingredients, snacks, and even cooked food! CDO Oriental Store is also known for its remittance services, connecting loved ones all over the world.

Operating a small business is no small feat. Though with a lot of hardships and trials, we have continued to exist because of our patrons, old and new.

When you’re craving for Chinese, Filipino, Korean, or Japanese food, think of CDO Oriental Store. We got you.” (https://cdostore.square.site/about-cdo)

Address: 20 Brandt St, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Y2

COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS/UPDATES

Email: Matt@diyfoodtours.com