Deepak’s Dhaba
The year end is a good time to celebrate the people who own and work for all the great Calgary eateries and “drinkeries”. Here they are, in pictures.
Chelsea Kolke and her home-based Butter Bakes
Kathy and Jim Rockwell, Rocky’s Burgers
Two House Brewing
Calgary Momo House
Birdie
Last Best Brewing
Jorge and Carlos, Mexquisite
Sarah Lewoniuk, I’m Stuffed
Gus Elhowari, Damascus Fine Foods
Margaret Nemeth, Primal Soup
Rendezvous
Majce and Melihate, Erina Bakery
Maya, Padmanadi Vegan
Fab all-day sandwich at Krooked Provisions
In no particular order. As you can see, I’m partial to baked treats. Links are provided where there’s a website.
Eight styles of innovative pirogies at Krooked Provisions. Everything’s fabulous at this eclectic Avenida Market kiosk, my top Calgary eats pick of 2025.
Krooked Provisions owners Lyndon and Leeanne
Pour-over coffee at Q.lab. Choose your Chronicle-roasted bean, and get a free coffee when you buy beans
Q.lab Calgary’s best coffee
Epic Vietnamese-French beef dip and papaya side salad at Bonjour Saigon
Bonjour Saigon’s beef dip
Fusion “croissandwiches” at Poesie. Check out the truffle gouda
Terrific croissandwich at Poesie
Grilled chicken Vietnamese sub at Bee The BanhMi, in Avenida Market. The pho is pretty epic, too
Vietnamese sub at Bee The BanhMi
Pulled pork breakfast sandwich, on house-baked focaccia buns, at tiny, Elbow River-side Apprentice Cafe
Breakfast sandwich on house-made foccacia at Apprentice Cafe
Decadent brioche-based pain Suisse at Begonia Bakehouse, my favourite newish Calgary bakery
Begonia Bakehouse
Savoury cacio e pepe croissant, chased with an orgasmic lemon tart, at Otie Cafe
Like some lemon in that Otie Cafe tart?
No way this makes sense chocolate banana bread pudding muffin at heavyweight baker Butter Block
Divine chocolate banana bread pudding muffin at Butter Block
French choux pastries and roll cakes at baked pastry maestro Mari Bakeshop
Hugely popular Mari Bakeshop
Holy shit, who needs meat when you’ve got this vegan ginger chick’un wrap at Hearts Choices?
Slow-braised brisket birria tacos, grilled as a finishing touch, at Taqueria El Chefe
Taqueria El Chefe
Leaping-flame takeout pad Thai at ghost kitchen Hungry Thaiger in Oakridge Community Centre
Ghost kicthen Hungry Thaiger
Sushi lunch specials, with miso soup and yam tempura, at elegant Ryuko in Christie Estates
Japanese lunch specials at Ryuko
Chicken wings, smoked brisket sandwich and a Turntable lager at jumping Beltline brewpub Trolley 5
Trolley 5 is Calgary’s best brewpub?
Big-deal Indian meal of black lentil curry, superb veggie samosas and cups of masala chai at Deepak’s Dhaba
Fabulous Indian meal at Deepak’s Dhaba
Selecta divine box of dessert treats from TikTok sensation Creme Cream Puffs
Creme Cream Puffs
Wowser ramen at Shiki Menya
You won’t find a better French dip than at Bonjour Saigon
Vietnam and France have a long, complex history. So it should be no surprise the two national cuisines have influenced each other. And what better way to sample this fusion than at a lovely little northwest Calgary strip-mall restaurant named Bonjour Saigon.
Big taste in a small space
Yes, it hits all the Vietnamese standards like pho, banh mi and coffee. But what catches my eye are collaborative dishes like bo ham ($17), named after the chef’s grandmother, Mama Hoa. It’s a Vietnamese twist on traditional French beef stew, with braised brisket and flank steak in a slightly spicy coconut tomato broth, served with a baguette for dipping or a boatload of rice noodles.
Bo Ham stew
Another fusion plate is the best, most affordable ($16) beef dip I’ve ever eaten: copious amounts of braised, tender house brisket stuffed into a baguette with cheese sauce and then dunked into a crispy shallot dip fortified with mama’s stew. Oh, and it comes with a fine papaya salad.
Interesting twists on appetizers
Even appetizers like the crispy spring rolls are delightfully different, as are the Saigon fries, dipped into a butter and sugar sauce.
In all, a lovely change of pace from the ubiquitous Vietnamese pho. But you might want a reservation to grab one of about four tables.
Bonjour Saigon
3616 52 Avenue NW
Weekends 9 am-6 pm, Weekdays 10 am-8 pm, except closed Tuesday
403-732-6072
Jorge (left) and Carlos at their Mexquisite torta shop
How often, when ordering a sandwich, do you ponder which meat to choose: beef, chicken or pork? Well, at Mexquisite, in southern Calgary’s Avenida food market, you can have all three in one massive torta called El Jefe (the chief).
It costs a whopping $23.50 but would probably feed you for a week. I only need a two-meal torta and so go instead for the fabulous Mixiote ($17.50), featuring slow-marinated shredded beef in chile sauce.
The monster El Jefe torta
Owner Jorge and brother Carlos bring recipes for tortas (sandwiches), tacos and the like from their home in Mexico City to this little kiosk. One detail I love is the use of authentic telera buns as the backbone for the six tortas on offer.
Mexquisite
12445 Lake Fraser Drive SE (Avenida Market)
Opens at 11 am Thursday to Sunday. Closed Monday to Wednesday
403-852-5496
Damascus Fine Foods owner Gus Elhowari
It’s rather hidden off the heavily trodden 17th Avenue SW path. But Damascus Fine Foods is a Mediterranean heavyweight, with owner Gus Elhowari employing some 40 people in expanded quarters that include a sit-down dining room.
They serve Damascene cuisine, featuring a balance of salty, tangy and sour flavours. Typical dishes are kebabs, mezza appetizers and grilled kibbeh, a mixture of ground meat and cracked wheat.
The shawarma station swings into action
Damascus’s popular shawarma wraps start with the conventional vertical rotisserie of shaved meats. But things then veer to unusual details like pomegranate molasses, garlic and pickles, relatively few vegetables and a final crisping on the grill.
My superb chicken shami ($15.50 large) is thinner than your typical shawarma, allowing me to focus on the spiced chicken and not be distracted by superfluous toppings. Great stuff.
My shami chicken shawarma is nicely crisped
Heading out the door, I grab a fine eggplant dip and, of course, a complementary piece of honey-drenched baklava.
A lovely eggplant dip to go
Damascus Fine Foods
4, 718 17 Avenue SW, Calgary
Opens 11 am weekdays, noon weekends
403-244-2424
The takeout boxes pile up early at Calgary’s Crispy Crust Pizzeria
Looking for something different than a blistered artisan pizza with scant toppings? Then check out Crispy Crust Pizzeria, in a southwest strip mall, which proudly proclaims the “cheesiest pizza Calgary has ever seen.”
It’s no idle boast, given Crispy’s 17 years in business and the steady stream of late-afternoon takeout traffic at this Woodbine neighbourhood pizzeria.
Inspired by Greek-style pizza, these thick pies feature a crispy top layer, with gooey cheese atop a crispy crust. “In crust we trust” indeed.
A true neighbourhood takeout pizzeria
Ordering by phone for pickup is the way to go, as I have a 25-minute wait for my on-the-spot order during pizza rush hour. But it gives me time to admire an efficient team of upfront servers and relentlessly busy cooks piling up the takeout boxes.
When it does arrive, my 12-inch Greek pizza ($27) weighs in at a hefty three pounds, enough for three moderate appetites. Though I could grab one of a handful of tables (and an on-tap beer), I join the parade of box-toting customers out the door.
Maybe the heftiest pizza I’ve ever eaten
But I only make it as far as the car, almost scalding my mouth on this volcano of pepperoni, Greek staples and a ton of mozzarella, surrounded by that devastating crust.
It’s not artisan pretty, but boy is it satisfying.
Crispy Crust Pizzeria
B, 464 Woodbine Boulevard SW, Calgary
Opens 4 pm Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Monday
403-251-3329
Marathon Mouth 