Manito Ahbee Festival
472 Madison St. WINNIPEG, MB R3J 1J1
Posted: April 01, 2026 | Author: Brenna Holeman | Estimated Read Time: 7 minutes
From traditional recipes to modern fusion, you’ll find numerous Indigenous-owned and operated restaurants in Manitoba. Here are a few for your next foodie adventure!
Feast Cafe Bistro serves “modern dishes rooted in First Nations foods.” Featuring seasonal yet bold flavours that highlight the best of Manitoba’s ingredients, owner and executive chef Christa Bruneau-Guenther has spent two decades expanding her knowledge of Indigenous foods. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, you’ll find an amazing array of meals featuring Indigenous foods with a twist; a great example is their eggs “banny,” which consists of two poached eggs served on traditional bannock with the option to add maple bacon, bison sausage and more. Other standouts include bannock pizza, “tipi” tacos, Manitoba pickerel sliders and bison chili.
Found only a short drive south of Winnipeg, Métis-owned Prairie Berry is home to The Patch, Manitoba’s only spot for farm-to-table dinners held in a berry patch. While the farm was once home to a u-pick field, owners Matt and Jen now focus on specialty dining experiences every summer. The window to enjoy Prairie Berry in all its glory is short - dinners are only held in the two-to-three-week picking season at the beginning of July - but it is absolutely worth it to experience a delicious meal in a field bursting with strawberries. The four- to seven-course meals are prepared by local chefs who feature Manitoba ingredients; past dinners have included bison cutlets, bannock and, of course, strawberries.
Ojibway-owned and operated, Sharecuterie is an artisanal charcuterie café and wine bar featuring seasonal, locally sourced ingredients (such as Manitoba-made Smak Dab mustard). Owner Cassandra Carreiro wanted to share her love for local food while creating a space for people who enjoy culinary craftsmanship and fine wines, leading to Sharecuterie’s grand opening in 2023. New in 2026, another Sharecuterielocation has opened at The Forks, perfect for a date night or evening out with friends.
If you’re craving comfort food with an elevated twist, Bistro on Notre Dame in Winnipeg’s West End is the place to be. Featuring local, sustainable and responsibly sourced food, owner and chef Dean Herkert aspires for Bistro on Notre Dame to bring together people from the local community.
On the menu, you’ll find unique dishes that blend international flavours with Indigenous ingredients, such as chilaquiles verde made with bison chorizo. Dishes like the bufloo sandwich simply explode with prairie flavour, consisting of bison, bannock, smoked onions and a Manitoba berry barbecue sauce. And make sure to save room for dessert, especially the mouthwatering peanut butter and chocolate chess pie!
Launched in 2021, the Indigenous Eats Food Truck started as a project of the Brandon Friendship Centre. Focusing on bannock as a staple in both meals and snacks, the truck can be found in downtown Brandon but often travels to nearby spots for festivals, fairs and other events; in past years, the Indigenous Eats Food Truck has been in Virden, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and Carberry. Enjoy quick bites such as taco in a bag, a fried bologna sandwich or baked bannock, while the Bannock Bison Burger remains a bestseller for a reason!
Head to the heart of St. Boniface for a taste of Métis cuisine. Aiming to bring the flavours of their French-Métis heritage to life, Promenade Brasserie features meals made with only the freshest ingredients from across the province. Producing dishes that combine tradition with sustainability, you can expect owner and Red Seal Chef Jay Lekopoy’s menu to be full of locally sourced items, including bison tartare with pickled beets, arctic char with roasted cauliflower puree and wild rice risotto with squash, corn and edamame. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, don’t miss the weekend specials, which include the Eggs Benedict with smoked trout served on bannock or the unbelievably delicious chicken and waffles.
Owned and operated by Vince Bignell, a member of Mathias Colomb First Nation, Shelley’s Indigenous Bistro in Winnipeg's north end has quickly become a go-to spot for locals. Known for its friendly service and hearty portions, the restaurant serves pizza, burgers, wings, poutines and “riceys”, which are fried rice dishes. Many of the dishes combine Indigenous flavours with a modern-day angle; take, for example, the Bannock Taco or the BMac on Fry Bread. There’s also a North Ender pizza made with bannock and Ukrainian kubasa, a true blend of Winnipeg’s flavours; as their website says, every dish tells a story. The restaurant also focuses on hiring Indigenous and has had a majority Indigenous team since opening in 2023.
Nonsuch Brewing Co. is an award-winning brewery that is also a Métis-Francophone majority-owned business led by CEO Matthew Sabourin. Known for its delicious beer and absolutely gorgeous taproom in the Exchange District, you’ll often find items on the Nonsuch menu that are inspired by traditional Métis meals and ingredients. It’s also home to one of Winnipeg’s best burgers, simply named “Le Burger,” which is a must-try for foodies in the city. Always looking to give back to the local community, Nonsuch is involved in fundraising for Main Street Project, working with Métis Employment and Training and many other community outreach programs.
Buffalo Point Resort, found in Lake of the Woods, is a place where people go to golf, fish and take advantage of the beautiful natural surroundings. The resort is also home to a welcoming restaurant, Fire and Water Bistro, which is the perfect place to unwind after a day of activities. With numerous classic menu options, the view over the lake as you dine is absolutely stunning (especially if you snag a spot on the patio in summer). Enjoy hearty food such as a burger, wings, or a soup-and-sandwich combo. The resort is also a National Indigenous Award Winner for Inspiring Indigenous Culinary, so you know you’ll be tucking into a great meal while you’re there.
Located inside the Wyndham Garden Winnipeg Airport Hotel, Manoomin Restaurant is one of Manitoba’s most talked-about Indigenous restaurants. Red Seal Chef Jennifer Ballantyne’s menu is inspired by her childhood on Opaskwayak Cree Nation, and you’ll find many of the restaurant’s meals are made with bannock, pickerel, bison and local berries, grains and seeds. Standouts include the pow wow nachos, the fire-grilled elk burger and the bison meatballs and bannock crostini. Manoomin (an Ojibway word for wild rice) is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while the hotel is also home to the Onishkaan Café (meaning “wake up” in Ojibway), where you can pop in for a coffee and some warm bannock and homemade jam.
Head to Hambo’s Restaurant on Notre Dame Avenue for delicious Winnipeg classics that feature many local ingredients. First Nations-owned and operated, the cozy restaurant is the perfect place to stop in for breakfast or lunch. Try classics such as the daily soup and bannock, buffalo chicken poutine, the bannock burger or the Hungry Man breakfast, which features fried bologna. There’s also a good selection of comfort food such as wings, deep-fried pickles and chicken fingers. And don’t forget to check out the beautiful murals on the wall!
Grey Wolf Café, located 10 kilometres east of Winnipeg in Dugald, is much more than just a coffeeshop; according to owner Tanya Clarke, it’s “a space built on resilience, culture and community.” One of Manitoba’s newest Indigenous restaurants, the café regularly hosts cultural programs and community events, as well as being a platform for local artists. While there, enjoy mouthwatering bannock breakfast sandwiches and a wide selection of coffee and tea. Save room for dessert, as plenty of sweet treats are on offer, too, including cookies, muffins and ice cream. With a menu designed in part by Dana Constant, a Red Seal chef from York Factory First Nation, as well as design elements by Anishinaabe textile and interior designer Destiny Seymour, Grey Wolf Café is the kind of place that instantly feels like home.
If you’re looking for authentic Indigenous food in Winnipeg, look no further than Elsie Bear’s Kitchen, which is found in the basement of the Manitoba Métis Federation Building on Henry Avenue. This family-run, cafeteria-style restaurant serves traditional Métis and Indigenous cuisine that is sure to warm your soul (and fill your belly). Renowned for their lunch specials, tuck in to meals that have ranged from a bison burger with homemade fries, fried bannock tacos or sloppy joes with potato wedges. There’s always a tasty soup of the day, too. Craving some delicious comfort food? Eat at Elsie Bear’s Kitchen.
I'm Brenna, a travel writer who proudly calls Winnipeg home. After years of living & travelling abroad, I moved back to Manitoba only to fall in love with it even more than before. My favourite things are prairie sunsets, breweries & my son’s laugh.
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