Steak
Rib-eye at Vintage Chophouse
Marbled steaks with rich, beefy flavour, aged well and cooked perfectly every time. Who needs side dishes?
320 11 Ave. S.W., 403-262-7262, vintagechophouse.com, @vintagechop
Elk Rib-eye at Second to None Meats
Locally raised, naturally and sustainably, this cut is leaner than beef with more protein and plenty of flavour.
2100 4 St. S.W., 403-245-6662, secondtononemeats.com, @second2nonemeat
Porterhouse Steak at Open Range
One cow, two porterhouses. A limited number of this cut is available from every animal, so don’t pass up the opportunity to order one at an iconic steak house.
1114 Edmonton Tr. N.E., 403-277-3408, open-range.ca
Bone-In Beef Tenderloin at Le Villa
The big bone attached to the signature beef tenderloin at Le Villa adds nuttiness and a Fred Flintstone zip to the beef – 12 ounces of pure decadence.
1851 Sirocco Dr. S.W., 403-217-9699, 1800 4 St. S.W., 403-453-3670, levilla.ca
Bistecca at Mercato shown with mushrooms and prosciutto-wrapped asparagus.
Bistecca at Mercato
A substantial steak in the style of Fiorentina, traditionally topped with arugula, lemon and olive oil, this one has to be shared
2224 4 St. S.W., 403-263-5535; and 873 85 St. S.W., 403-263-6996; mercatogourmet.com
Chateaubriand at Hy’s
Hy’s chateaubriand for two is old-school done right, with the perfectly grilled, tender filet mignon carved tableside and served with Barnaise sauce and red wine jus.
751 3 St. S.W., 403-663-3363, hyssteakhouse.com, @hys_steakhouse
Cassis Bistro
Steak Frites atA timeless combination executed well.
2505 17 Ave. S.W., 403-262-0036, thecassisbistro.ca, @cassisbistro
Chicken
Schnitzel Sandwich at Margarita’s Dishes
Lightly crusted and fried, slathered with mustard and topped with Margarita’s own sauerkraut on a baguette, the chicken breast schnitzel sandwich is a must-try for a quick and satisfying lunch.
Calgary Farmers’ Market, 403-244-4548
Model Milk
Fried Chicken and Waffles atThis dish keeps evolving, but the base remains the same: crisp and juicy fried chicken, with a side of waffles (or, in one iteration, waffle-like doughnuts) for soaking up gravy and syrup.
308 17 Ave. S.W., 403-265-7343, modelmilk.ca, @modelmilkbistro
Bowden Farm
Fresh Chicken atThe naturally raised chicken from Bowden actually tastes like chicken. Available fresh at Spragg’s Meat Shop outlets in farmers’ markets, it’s perfect for the rotisserie, the oven or the frying pan.
Olive Chicken
Fried Chicken atIn Korea, fried chicken and beer restaurants dot the landscape – it’s a perfect pairing of crispy and refreshing.
1324 10 Ave. S.W., 403-457-0649; 2807 17 Ave. S.W., 587-351-1111; olivechicken.ca
Silver Inn
Chicken and Cashews atKnown for its ginger beef, Silver Inn also does a killer chicken and cashews in yellow bean sauce – lightly sweet, savoury, loads of cashews and tender chicken.
2702 Centre St. N., 403-276-6711, silverinnrestaurant.com
Smoked Chicken Wings at Symons Roadhouse
14555 Symons Valley Rd. N.W., 587-296-4986, symonsroadhouse.com

Namskar
Tandoori Chicken atRolled in yogurt and spices and roasted in the tandoor oven, Namskar’s tandoori chicken is succulent and deeply spiced. If you like a saucier version, the butter chicken is worthy.
202 16 Ave. N.E., 403-230-4447, namskar.com
The Spicy Jamakin
Jerk Chicken atBuy it hot for a snack at the market or frozen to prepare at home.
Market on Macleod, 403-714-0305, thespicyjamakin.ca
Szechuan Restaurant
Crispy Chicken atThe mild version of Szechuan Restaurant’s crispy chicken consists of half chicken and half chilis. Bracingly hot, the chicken is tender and outstandingly flavourful, if you can handle the burn.
320 16 Ave. N.W., 403-276-8876, szechuanrestaurant.ca
Wurst
Bavarian Chicken Wings atWings are the ultimate bar food and sausage is a natural pairing for beer. Imagine the magic when these two are combined in this sausage-stuffed wing.
2437 4 St. S.W., 403-245-2345, wurst.ca, @wurstcalgary
Rotisserie Chickens to Go at Boxwood
The trick when ordering one of these juicy chickens is to make it home before tearing into it.
340 13 Ave. S.W., 403-265-4006, boxwoodcafe.ca, @boxwoodcalgary
Burgers
Dairy Lane Cafe
Burger atThe grass-fed, dry-aged beef makes for a juicy patty. Adding some local bacon makes us feel like the 100-mile diet never tasted so good.
319 19 St. N.W., 403-283-2497, dairylanecafe.ca, @dairylane
Naina’s Kitchen
Stuffed Burgers atAlone, the patties that make up the burgers at this hidden gem would be enough of a draw, but when owner Erin Mueller stuffs them with anything from macaroni and cheese to poutine, the burgers become everything a burger dreams it could be.
2808 Ogden Rd. S.E., 403-263-6355, nainaskitchen.com, @nainaskitchen
Chuckwagon Cafe & Cattle Co.
House Burger atJuicy, well-spiced and topped with a tangy relish, marbled cheese, fried onions and mushrooms, the quaint barn-shaped caf’s burgers are well worth the drive to Turner Valley.
105 Sunset Blvd., Turner Valley, 403-933-0003, chuckwagoncafe.ca

Teriyaki Burger With Rice at Carino
The house-ground Wagyu beef patty makes this burger extra special, served with rice shaped into patties, forming a slightly crisp and chewy “bun.”
709 Edmonton Tr. N.E., 403-984-7534, carinobistro.ca, @carinobistro
Briggs Kitchen and Bar
Burger atTwo beefy patties with classic toppings and a secret aioli for the sauce, this is what happens when a classic French chef takes on a classic American dish.
317 10 Ave. S.W., 587-350-5015, briggskandb.com, @briggskandb
Buchanan’s Chophouse & Whisky Bar
Burger atA proper, freshly ground burger at Buchanan’s should be ordered at medium temperature. To ask for it warmer could be classified as meat abuse.
738 3 Ave. S.W., 403-261-4646, buchanans.ca
Burger 320
The Wickens atA classic, big, messy burger. A house-ground brisket patty topped with thick slices of bacon, cheddar, rhubarb and onion chutney, aioli and arugula, sandwiched between a fluffy, house-made bun.
814 1 Ave. N.E., 403-515-0035, newfoodorder.com, @burger320
Rocky’s Burgers
Burger atParked outside Crossroads Market is an old Calgary Transit bus, where the staff at Rocky’s grill thick, juicy burgers. Warning to first-timers: Order a “single.” You need to work up to a double here.
1235 26 Ave. S.E., 403-336-0405, rockysburgers.com
Everything Else

Gaucho
Everything on one plate atHuge skewers of sizzling meat – variations of pork, beef and chicken – are brought to your table and sliced onto your plate. Seasoned simply, they keep coming until you toss in the towel.
5920 Macleod Tr. S. 403-454-9119, 629 Main St., Canmore, 403-678-9886, brazilianbbq.ca
Wellington’s of Calgary
Beef Wellington atTrust that a restaurant named after a dish knows how to do that dish well. The classic Beef Wellington is a filet assembled with pt and duxelles and then wrapped in puff pastry and baked until golden.
10325 Bonaventure Dr. S.E., 403-278-5250, wellingtonsofcalgary.com
Silver Inn
Ginger Beef atA Calgary culinary claim to fame, this sweet and spicy dish is a piece of the city’s edible history.
2702 Centre St. N., 403-276-6711, silverinnrestaurant.com
Raw Bar by Duncan Ly
Beef Carpaccio atAn otherwise traditional dish of paper-thin slices of beef gets a Vietnamese makeover with the addition of herbs, red onion and spicy peanuts drizzled with a citrus-based nouc cham.
119 12 Ave. S.W., 403-206-9565, rawbaryyc.ca, @rawbaryyc
Shiki Menya
Char Siu Tacos atYes, yes, get the ramen too. But don’t overlook this little spot’s pork tacos with pineapple salsa.
827 1 Ave. N.E., 403-454-2722, shikimenya.ca, @shikimenya
Anju
Bo Ssm atPork shoulder so tender it falls apart just by looking at it. The only downside is waiting the 48 hours that are required notice to order it.
344 17 Ave. S.W., 403-460-3341, anju.ca, @anjurestaurant
Kaffir Lime
Beef Rendang atBits of beef simmered until tender in coconut milk with fragrant galangal and cinnamon and a little hint of spice, you can almost imagine you’re eating in a far more exotic locale than a farmers’ market food court.
Market on Macleod, kaffirlimeindonesiagrill.com
Crazyweed
Pan-Fried, Thick-Cut Pork Chop atThick, succulent pork paired with seasonal sauces. Need we say more? Okay, the pickled fennel and green apple slaw on top is a perfect match for the meaty chop.
1600 Railway Ave., Canmore, 403-609-2530, crazyweed.ca
Beef Bulgalbi at Bow Bulgogi House
Two words: meat butter.
3515 17 Ave. S.W., 403-686-6826
Duck Wings at Corbeaux Bakehouse
Meatier and duck-ier – unexpected lunchtime wing delight.
730 17 Ave. S.W., 403-474-9214, corbeaux.com, @corbeauxbake
Tubby Dog
Sherm’s Ultimate Gripper atA deep-fried, bacon-wrapped dog topped with ham, chili, cheese, more bacon and a fried egg.
1022 17 Ave. S.W., 403-244-0694, tubbydog.com, @tubbydoghotdogs
Jamon Iberico at Black Pig Bistro
Special black pigs fed only grain and acorns and aged for at least 24 months produce the world’s best cured ham.
825 1 Ave. N.E., 403-460-0350, blackpigbistro.com, @blackpigbistro
Spragg’s Meats
Linguica atIt’s Portuguese smoked pork sausage with garlic and paprika.
Symons Valley Ranch Farmer’s Market, 14555 Symons Valley Rd. N.W., 403-378-3800, spraggsmeatshop.blogspot.com
The Wiener Schnitzel Haus
Jger Schnitzel atGerman food is often derided, but this dish is a perception-changer.
4703 Bowness Rd. N.W., 403-288-2230, wienerschnitzel.ca
Beef at The Better Butcher
A good cook needs a great butcher and Randy Hnatuk, owner of The Better Butcher fits the bill with his well-raised, perfectly aged and precisely cut meats.
377 Heritage Dr. S.E., 403-252-7171
Sage Bistro & Wine Lounge
Rosemary Port-Braised Lamb Shank at1712 Bow Valley Tr., Canmore, 403-678-4878, sagebistro.ca
Grumans Catering and Delicatessen
Old-Fashioned Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich at230 11 Ave. S.E., 403-261-9003, grumans.ca

Beef and Veal Meatballs at Bocce
Like mama would make, if your mama was Italian. And liked things a little bit spicy.
2207 4 St. S.W., 403-516-6162, eatbocce.ca, @eatbocce
The Nash
Elk Osso Bucco atBraised in red wine, The Nash’s elk osso bucco is rich, flavourful and fall-off-the-bone tender. That’s not all – the elk is served with fatty marrow bones, meaty grilled king oyster mushrooms and a creamy risotto infused with the perfume of kalamata olives.
925 11 St. S.E., 403-984-3365, thenashyyc.com, @thenashyyc
Roast Duck on Rice at Vic’s Hong Kong Style BBQ & Cafe
100 3 Ave. S.E., 403-237-7321
Vero Bistro Moderne
Veal Cheeks atPure decadence is plated up as chef Jenny braises supple veal cheeks in rich Barolo wine.
209 10 St. N.W., 403-283-8988, verobistro.ca, @verobistro
Booker’s BBQ Grill and Crab Shack
St. Louis Ribs at316 3 St. S.E., 403-264-6419, bookersbbq.com, @bookersbbq
PaSu Farm
Boerewors Sausage atLocated just outside Carstairs, PaSu Farm hosts a South African barbecue (braai) every Saturday evening during the short Alberta summer. The standout dish in the plentiful, meaty spread is the boerewors sausage – house-made with a mixture of pork, elk and lamb.
403-337-2800, pasu.com
Calypso’s Taverna
Lamb Kleftiko atA generous portion of moist, fall-off-the-bone braised leg of lamb with those lemony Greek potatoes that seem impossible to make at home.
2101 Centre St. N.W., 403-250-5533, calypsostaverna.com
Co-op
Perfect Meats atEating local doesn’t have to be pricey or pretentious. Co-op offers locally raised beef, chicken, pork and even goat at all of its locations.
Multiple locations, calgarycoop.com, @calgarycoop
Thai Sa-On
Larb Nua atFor a blast of flavour-filled heat, the larb nua at Thai Sa-On can toast the tonsils. It’s sliced, spiced (as in heavy chilis) beef served room temperature with roasted rice and a mouth-puckering lime dressing.
351 10 Ave. S.W., 403-264-3526, thai-sa-on.com
Beef Seekh Kabab at Faisal Kabab Hut
Ground beef is mixed with onion, coriander and spices before being moulded onto a skewer and grilled until just tender. Served on a sizzling platter with a scatter of onions and a lemon wedge to squeeze on top.
5120 47 St. N.E., 403-590-7101
SA Meats
Biltong atIt’s South Africa’s preferred snack: dried cured meat sliced into strips or thinly shaved.
2120 Kensington Rd. N.W., 403-270-0739, sameatshops.ca
Chinese Barbeque Pork at Feng Kee Bbq House
30 Country Hills Landing N.W., 403-730-8333
The Libertine Public House
Whole Roast Pig atGather up 20 of your closest friends for the whole roast pig at Libertine. Choose from fatty belly, crispy cracklin’ or lean loin, served with fresh slaw, warm buns and sauces.
223 8 Ave. S.W., 403-265-3665, thelibertine.ca, @libertinepublic
Spolumbo’s
Meatball Sandwich atAmong the many meaty delights of Spolumbo’s, the meatball sandwich stands large – both physically and metaphorically. Huge meatballs, tangy tomato sauce, crusty roll … drippy, messy and gorgeous.
1308 9 Ave. S.E., 403-264-6452, spolumbos.com
Ogam Chicken
Grilled Pork Belly atThe grilled pork belly at Ogam Chicken is moist and tender, simmering in a flavourful, sweet and savoury sauce. Always served with a rotating selection of kimchi and other pickled Korean goodies.
6008 Macleod Tr. S., 403-454-6101, ogamchicken.com
Spragg’s Meat Shop
Ham atSpecializing in pork, Spragg’s Meat Shop has a tantalizing range of chops, roasts and sausages. But it’s the ham that calls out as a premium product – dense and smoky and not overly salty.
Calgary Farmers’ Market, Kingsland Farmers’ Market and Symons Valley Ranch, spraggsmeatshop.blogspot.ca
Atlas
Kebabs atChunks of beef or chicken are skewered on long metal rods and flame-broiled at Atlas (ground beef is pressed onto the skewers and cooked the same way) and served over saffron rice with fine Persian flavours.
1000 9 Ave. S.W., 403-230-0990, atlascalgary.com
Daruma
Teriyaki Pork Ribs atJapanese cuisine is not just sushi and ramen. The sweet and sticky teriyaki pork ribs at Daruma will definitely stick to your ribs.
630 1 Ave. N.E., 587-352-7568, darumacalgary.com
Second to None Meats
Turducken atWhether celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just trying to re-enact the latest episode of Epic Meal Time on YouTube, serving a turducken will definitely be a conversation starter.
2100 4 St. S.W., 403-245-6662, plus two other locations; secondtononemeats.com
Palomino Smokehouse
Beef Brisket at109 7 Ave. S.W., 403-532-1911, thepalomino.ca
Fleur de Sel
Cassoulet atFew places do the French classics like Fleur de Sel. The deeply baked cassoulet of white beans with smoked ham, sausage and duck confit is a trifecta of great French meats.
2015 4 St. S.W., 403-228-9764, fleurdeselbrasserie.com
Spud
Lamb Leg Roast at Lambtastic Farms viaRub this bad boy with a mixture of garlic and rosemary, then brown it before sticking it in the slow cooker for the day. Before you know it, dinner is ready.
Order at spud.ca

Presunto at Mimo
Many are the meaty treats at Mimo, Calgary’s only Portuguese restaurant. But the house-cured presunto, similar to prosciutto, is a salty-savoury delight.
4909 17 Ave. S.E., 403-235-3377
Marathon
Yebeg Wat atLamb marinated in Ethiopian spices and cooked in a buttery, chili-infused berbere sauce scooped up by hand in the soft, crepey injera bread is a staple at every visit to Marathon.
130 10 St. N.W., 403-283-6796, marathonethiopian.com
Ewe-Nique Farms
Lamb Shoulder atLushly pastured lamb is raised near Champion and is available in many shops around Calgary. Braise a shoulder or grill some chops and enjoy sublime Alberta lamb.
403-897-3737, eweniquefarms.com
Santorini Greek Taverna
Arni Kleftiko atSlow-roasted lamb shoulder, a simple spritz of lemon, some roasted potatoes, and you have a sublime Greek dish that hasn’t changed for centuries. Santorini’s is the best in town.
1502 Centre St. N., 403-276-8363, santorinirestaurant.com
Charcut Roast House
Prime Rib Sandwich atIt’s all meat, all the time at Charcut – house-made sausages, pig-head mortadella and boards of fresh-cured charcuterie. But the prime rib sandwich is definitive of the genre. Period.
899 Centre St. S., 403-984-2180, charcut.com
Pho at Pho Binh Minh
There’s pho and then there’s pho at Pho Binh Minh – rich beef broth, fresh greens and herbs, slices of rare cooked beef, lime, chilis, vermicelli in 16 versions. This is pho at its best.
4710 17 Ave. S.E., 403-235-2521
Longview Jerky Shop
Honey Garlic Pepperoni atCome for the jerky, stay for the pepperoni. Longview’s honey garlic pepperoni is a perfect mix of sweet and savoury.
148 Morrison Rd., Longview, 403-558-3960, longviewjerkyshop.com
Simple Simon Pies
Wild Rose Beef Pie atInside the flaky pastry of these beefy pies is a rich stew of cubed sirloin, highlighted with the flavour of Wild Rose Brown Ale. But don’t be tempted to microwave them – they’re much better cooked in the oven.
Available at several farmers’ markets, at all Calgary Co-op stores or online for delivery at simplesimonpies.com