Nearly a year ago, I extolled the excellence of Hungry Thaiger, a Thai ghost kitchen in Oakridge Community Centre in suburban southwest Calgary.
But owners Somp (chef from Bangkok) and Travis (Saskatoon) have just realized a bigger dream: opening a full brick-and-mortar restaurant, a stone’s throw from the original.
Before
That means sitting down to a steaming plate of pad Thai noodles instead of slurping them down in a parking lot. Ironically, for logistical reasons, takeout isn’t initially available in this new home.
After
Either way, the food is fresh and fabulous, from standards like tom yum soup to more exotic bird’s nest noodles. Indeed, it’s arguably the best, most affordable Thai I’ve enjoyed in Calgary.
Excellent drunken noodles
But I’m not the only one to discover this gem. After a surprise CBC radio visit, it was standing room only, especially on weekend evenings.
Pro tip: The quietest times are early lunchtime on weekends.
Hungry Thaiger 3109 Palliser Drive SW, Calgary Tuesday to Thursday opens at 4 pm, Friday to Sunday at 11 am. Closed Monday587-229-8386
Calgary Farmers’ Market – South is a great plaace to hang out with frieds and family
You recognize them as soon as you walk in the door. They’re gathering places, where people hang out with friends and families to share a leisurely meal or drink. They’re usually packed and abuzz with conversation.
With luck or good timing, you might find an empty table. Once you do, you probably won’t want to leave.
Here’s my list of the best such eat and drink “hangs” in Calgary. Let me know yours.
It’s in a corporate headquarters lined by freeways and primarily designed to feed office workers. But it didn’t take long for neighbouring residents, many of them seniors, to flock to this stunning, high-ceilinged building for coffee klatches and affordable chef-made breakfasts and lunches. Good luck finding a parking space.
Two strikes against it. It’s in the middle of industrial nowhere, and it lives under the perpetual threat of demolition. No matter. The Wild Rose taproom is generally packed with people in vociferous conversation while sharing a beer and a bite. The real star here is the World War II airplane hangar that houses the pub.
A Calgary coffeehouse that’s quietly been a neighbourhood institution for more than 35 years. Caffe Beano keeps things simple, with good, custom-roasted coffee, friendly, efficient staff, in-house baked pastries and fine Wayne’s bagel sandwiches. And a two-level layout that creates lots of nook seating choices.
But the critical element is the ambience. It’s a place where students, artists and neighbourhood regulars gather to read newspapers and have actual conversations. Caffe Beano is a true coffeehouse, not a coffee shop.
Over the years, scores of loyal Calgary Farmers’ Market customers have survived stroller Fridays, swarms of private-school students with lunch money, and more vehicles than parking spots. They keep coming back for the fresh produce, the serenading musicians and the meals and drinks, from dozens of kiosks, shared in spacious food courts.
Arguing that Cold Garden isn’t the coolest craft brewpub in Calgary could well draw howls of protest.That’s partly because the Inglewood brewery welcomes dogs inside its taproom. And on a busy Saturday afternoon, the canine cacophony adds to the general din of folks chatting over some seriously good pints. Mostly though, Cold Garden is just undeniably funky with vegetated walls, comfy couches and graffiti-covered bathrooms.
Every time I walk into this restaurant, I scramble to find a vacant seat. This is a true neighbourhood gathering place, where friends meet for morning coffee and legendary soups and sandwiches. Leave room for a slab of carrot cake and grab some frozen soup on your way out.
Lina’s is a mini Calgary empire with four locations to serve all your Italian food needs. The Mercato location’s spacious dining area is a popular place to meet friends over a coffee, breakfast sandwich or plate of pasta.
It may lack the cachet of a craft beer brew pub. But National Westhills more than makes up for that with dozens of local beers on tap and excellent burgers, pizzas and appetizers, often at happy-hour prices. The long, shared tables also encourage camaraderie among fellow diners and imbibers. No wonder it’s my go-to neighbourhood beer house.
Coffee and pastries, breakfast, lunch, glass of wine, dinner, fresh bread and groceries to go. Daily Brett has you covered. Add natural light streaming through high windows, and it’s easy to see why folks want to hang out here.
Hook up with some buddies at this hopping Beltline brewpub to watch a Flames game on a big screen TV. The pints are cold and the wings, burgers and pizza first rate. As a younger friend reminds me, “It’s not loud, it’s lively.”
For three decades, it’s been a popular Parkdale meeting spot for coffee, breakfast, lunch and dessert squares. Lazy Loaf’s signature feature is the thick slabs of fresh-baked, nine-grain, no-dairy kettle bread that envelope its hearty, build-your-own sandwiches.
It’s mid-morning, mid-week in late February, and Blue Star Diner is jumping; I’m lucky to grab a vacant counter seat.
“It’s the community,” explains my seat mate, a frequent customer. Yes, Blue Star is smack in the middle of the inner-city Bridgeland neighbourhood. And yes, the tables are full of friends happily chatting away, creating a warm morning buzz.
But it doesn’t hurt that Blue Star offers arguably the best breakfast in Calgary, from novel takes on bacon-and-egg classics to innovative bowls.
My idea of a neighbourhood coffeehouse, with folks from the southwest community of Lakeview congregating in this narrow space to chat over good coffee and scones. Other great neighbourhood coffee hangouts: Friends Cafe in Edgemont and Higher Grounds in Hillhurst.
Want a facial with that latte? Distilled Coffee House (2408 34 Avenue) is a combination coffee shop and beauty bar. Order a Rosso Roastery coffee and fresh-baked cookie.
Distilled Coffee House
Bonjour Sandwich Shop (1909 34 Avenue) is a tiny space churning out big, European-style sandwiches. The menu is roughly split in two. There’s the French lineup—think cultured butter, prosciutto and torched cheese—served on baguettes. And then there’s the Italian offerings, such as a spicy Calabrese salami on a Tuscan flatbread. known. as schiacciata.
Bonjour Sandwich Shop
Le Comptoir, by Francois (1928 34 Avenue) is a genteel French retreat, with seating on an elevated patio shaded by a large poplar and warmed by an outdoor fireplace. Sip a latte and indulge in a slab of quiche Lorraine or slice of carrot cake.
Lee Comptoir
Tat’s Treats (115, 1934 34 Avenue) advertises itself as “cereal-infused soft serve”. In other words, ice cream blended with, say, Cheerios or Fruit Loops.
Tat’s Treats
Wow Bakery (2002 34 Avenue) is truly an international cafe, with Korean, Japanese and French influences. The eclectic menu ranges from red bean buns and sweet potato bread to cream-filled doughnuts and condensed milk baguettes.
Wow Bakery
Tres Marias (2006 34 Avenue) is arguably the best Mexican food market in Calgary. Many of the grocery items—organic corn tortillas, multi-colour tortilla chips, fresh salsas and guacamoles—are produced in house. You can also order hot meals like burritos, tacos, tortilla soups and tostados.
Tres Marias
Marda Loop Brewing (3523 18 Street) is a neighbourhood brewpub with an expansive covered, heated patio. Quaff a Big Juice NE IPA alongside a large selection of chicken wings.
This might be the perfect spring trifecta in Calgary. Pints on a sunny, funky brewpub patio. A hot dog festival. The finish of a marathon road race, with all its thirsty competitors. Oh, and a fourth: a welcome “mat” for real dogs to lounge on, inside and outside the brewery.
Mix it all together and you’ve got a (barley) mashup called Dog Days Festival, a two-week (May 23-June 6) celebration of innovative hot dogs created by 45 participating restaurants.
What better place to launch it from than Inglewood’s Cold Garden Beverage Co, Calgary’s coolest brewpub with its festive lights, comfy couches, local art, gender-shared bathrooms and huge shaded picnic table patio. And a place that celebrates furry guests with the same reverence as its human customers.
Cold Garden doesn’t serve prepared meals. But who cares when several food trucks, likeThe Dogfather, are happy to offer curbside takes (like olives and crushed Doritos) on hot dogs for festival goers?
Other festival participants include Palomino Smokehouse, Posto Pizzeria and Village Brewery.
Marathon Mouth 