A lot has changed in the Calgary restaurant sector, and that’s a good thing. While still known as “Cowtown” because of the city’s heavy reliance on the beef sector and its correspondingly carnivorous cuisine, the city’s burgeoning food and beverage scene has changed dramatically in the last ten years.
As new and inventive culinary creations vie for attention, there is always something fresh and exciting to try in Calgary’s gastronomy scene. Regardless of what you consume, your taste buds will be delighted.
Regarding the quality of food, setting, and presentation, the following restaurants in Calgary consistently receive high marks from the city’s residents.
1. Bolsa
It’s one of Calgary’s most fabulous Vietnamese restaurants serving comfortable Asian cuisine. There is nothing better than an inexpensive, excellent meal at a family-run Thai restaurant than the Sauté Soup and Coconut Chicken Rice served here. You can go here to Calgary if you don’t want to spend much money. One of the most incredible things in Calgary is eating at one of the city’s best restaurants!
2. Blue-Star Diner
Blue Star Diner is always ready to welcome you, no matter what time of day it is. Take a break from fine dining and enjoy a simple meal with your loved ones. This eatery is renowned for its savory burgers and refreshing beverages for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Fresh ingredients and locally sourced fare are the focus of this Canadian cafe. While visiting Calgary, make sure to check out this restaurant.
3. Vintage Chophouse And Tavern
Located in the heart of Calgary’s Beltline district is a top-notch eatery. This steakhouse has been voted one of Calgary’s best for over a decade.
Book a table here to have a romantic dinner date at one of the city’s best restaurants. More than 600 wines from across the world and some of the best Alberta meats can be found at Vintage, a restaurant in Edmonton.
Salads and sides that are of their own go perfectly with your steak. The best chophouse in Calgary, if you ask us, is this one.
4. Shokunin
Look no further than the top Japanese restaurant in Calgary if you’re in the mood for some hip sushi, miso, sake, and shitake mushrooms. Shokunin is the place to go for a night out with your buddies!
The decor is straight from a New York City movie set, and the food is out of this world. I highly recommend it. Start with yakitori or ramen and sake-inspired beverages before moving on to the main course.
This is one of Calgary’s best restaurants, and reservations are strongly advised!
5. Notable
For the hungry people of Calgary, Notable aims to serve up some of the most incredible inventive Canadian food around. Everything here is produced from scratch, lovingly, and with local and sustainable products.
You’ll feel perfectly at home when you step in because it’s a modern and trendy space.
Foods like Seafood Risotto or Beef Brisket Burger will put a grin on your face from the first mouthful. Save room for a sweet treat once you’ve finished your meal. Notable specializes in hearty and healthy dishes.
6. Deane House
In the Inglewood neighborhood of Calgary, Deane House serves up market Canadian comfort food. As a bonus, this high-end Calgary eatery occupies the grounds of a historically significant building.
There’s even some local folklore about ghosts haunting the old home, which was erected in 1908. It’s the sole surviving structure from the senior Fort Calgary site.
Gardens abound, and two rivers meander nearby, adding to the tranquility. In addition, they grow a lot of their herbs and produce them on-site. These two dishes, Pancetta-Wrapped Halibut and Gruger Farm Oyster Mushroom and Chickpea Ragu, are outstanding examples of high-end eating in Portland. Classy high tea service is available at this establishment should you like to treat yourself.
7. Roy’s Korean Kitchen
There is a wide variety of food at Roy’s, from traditional Korean dishes to Korean tapas. Even while it isn’t essential, we highly encourage partaking in one of their imaginatively titled cocktails.
This is the place to go if you’re looking for an enjoyable fine-dining experience without all the pomp. Authentic rice and noodle meals, as well as the raw bar alternatives, are popular here.
The delectable offerings at Roy’s Korean Kitchen are the Seafood Curry Ramen Nest, Spicy Pork Shoulder, and Kim chi Stew.
8. Alloy
Alloy is, without a doubt, one of the best restaurants in Calgary for fine dining. The cuisine combines Latin, Asian, and Mediterranean elements inventively and modernly. Those who order a meal will be donating one to a person in need for everyone they eat.
The interior design is both modern and heavily influenced by Japanese aesthetics. The selection is limited, but it is delicious. Popular dishes at this restaurant include the Truffle Gnocchi and the Organic Salmon. Always inquire about wine pairings when you order a dish.
9. Nupo
Chef Darren MacLean’s latest endeavor, Nupo, is one of Calgary’s most extraordinary Japanese-inspired eateries in the city’s East Village.
It’s possible to get traditional sushi and plant-based alternatives from Nupo. Because of its focus on Japanese cuisine, Nupo has everything a sushi lover could want. You can get everything from traditional omakase sashimi and nigiri to tuna tataki here.
In addition, Nupo offers a variety of plant-based dishes, including BBQ mushroom bao and eggplant tostada that are both delicious and nutritious.
Cocktails made with Japanese tea are also on the menu at Nupo, and they’ve been carefully crafted. Nupo’s interior design has a classic Albertan atmosphere, with an abundance of wood and a rustic-yet-minimalistic feel.
10. Cassis Bistro
As one of Calgary’s best French restaurants, Cassis Bistro serves seasonal and locally sourced cuisine inspired by the flavors of the South of France. If you’re in the mood for beef tartare au couteau, this dish is for you. Steak Frites made with Alberta beef striploin and beef cheek á la Bourguignonne are two of the most popular entrees.
Cassis Bistro is your best bet if you’re dreaming of sitting on the French Riviera with a bottle of wine and a delicious lunch on the way.
11. Flores & Pine
One of the best places to get the perfect steak is Flores & Pine, described as “elevated casual.” From pasta to prime striploin, even the most discerning diners can enjoy their meal at Flores & Pine because of its wide variety of cuisines worldwide.
At Flores & PIne, despite the high caliber of the food, they don’t care about pretentiousness and welcome people to come as they are.
12. Orchard Restaurant
At Orchard Restaurant, you’ll be in for a treat from the moment you walk through the door. Chandeliers, modern furniture, and a lot of greenery adorn Orchard’s interior, and the cuisine is as good as the ambience.
Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will find a wide variety of options, including the Icelandic cod, the cauliflower gratin with sumac, and the yellowfin tuna sandwich for lunch. You may be sure that whatever you choose to eat at Orchard Restaurant will be delicious.
13. Bonterra Trattoria
One of Calgary’s most fabulous Italian restaurants, Bonterra Trattoria, serves up modern Italian fare like pasta, risotto, and meat dishes in a cozy Tuscan-style setting complete with a lovely patio and outdoor dining area. You don’t have to travel to Italy to eat authentic Italian fares like Bruschetta and Tagliatelle Bolognese.
Tiramisu, Lemon Olive Oil Cake, and Flourless Dark Chocolate Torta are some of the best desserts to end the night.
14. Model Milk
Model Milk is one of our favorite eateries in Calgary. This warm and inviting restaurant is the perfect place for a night out on the town. One of Calgary’s most inventive menus, featuring an extended range of items sure to blow you away. Starts include roasted shishito peppers, mortadella, cheddar donuts, and fried buffalo sweetbreads; you can even construct an entire meal out of shared starters with friends. Aside from those dishes, don’t forget about the enormous plates of Model Milk hot fried chicken with crispy maitake mushrooms and Alberta rainbow fish. They are all fantastic. It’s rare to find a restaurant that can do what Model Milk does.
15. Santorini Greek Taverna
As one of Calgary’s most popular Greek eateries, Santorini Greek Taverna has long been regarded as one of the most incredible places to eat authentic Greek cuisine. Papoutsakia (roasted zucchini stuffed with beef), mithia (mussels sautéed in butter and fresh tomato), and soutzoukakia are just a few of the unique appetizers available at this lunch and dinner establishment (lightly spiced meatballs). Your main course should be one of Greece’s most popular meals: a fantastic seafood dish like grilled octopus or roasted lamb chops. If you still have room, try some of the house-made, sweet baklava as a treat.
16. Foreign Concept
Visit Foreign Concept for a meal showcasing the best of Pan Asian cuisine. Because Chef Duncan Ly hails from China and Vietnam and uses French cooking traditions, you can expect a memorable dinner at this fusion restaurant. These include the squid ink spaghetti, the Vietnamese chicken clay pot with bok choy and shiitake mushrooms, and the beef bulgogi sliders. In addition to the “Japan Manhattan,” created with Suntory Toki Whiskey, beignet enthusiasts should try the Lemon Curd Beignet or the Chocolate “Cosmic” Brownie Cake as a delicious ending to their meal.
17. Rouge Restaurant
Rouge Restaurant, one of Calgary’s finest fine dining establishments, serves rustic urban cuisine focusing on farm-to-table ingredients. Menu items include rabbit two ways, duck a la orange, and foie gras. A six-course tasting menu with wine pairing is also available. At the end of the dinner, we recommend saving room for a sampling of Canadian cheeses.
18. The Himalayan
At The Himalayan, you’ll find delicious Nepali cuisine. We recommend a trip to Nepal if you’ve never had Nepalese cuisine before. The Himalayan offers a culinary experience unlike any other in Calgary, thanks to its local ingredients and Nepali techniques and flavors. Momos are famous street food in Nepal, and you may start your dinner with a platter of these dumplings at the restaurant.
19. Ten-Foot Henry
Ten Foot Henry is a fantastic vegetarian alternative and deserves to be included in this list. Ten Foot Henry This trendy cafe serves family-style dining and a “vegetable anchored” menu in an airy, rustic environment. Spicy cauliflower with gochujang is a favorite, as is pasta cacio e Pepe and the hamachi with fennel and grapefruit-yuzu sauce. Try the sourdough pancakes or the four-egg omelet with whipped goat cheese on the weekends. With Ten Foot Henry, we’re sure you’ll fall head over heels in love with it.
20. Minas Brazilian Steakhouse
Minas Brazilian Steakhouse in downtown Calgary is recognized for its delicious Brazilian cuisine, including the tableside carving of meats. Chef Jose Montes, who hails from southeast Brazil, serves up classic dishes in a contemporary atmosphere, whether you’re in town for a business lunch or a family supper.
Choose from traditional sides like farofa (toasted cassava flour), fried sweet plantains, or black bean stew accompanied with barbeque cuisine presented on skewers. Cocktails and fine wine selections are also available at this establishment.
