Each year, we ask Avenue readers to vote for their favourite restaurants in Calgary in our Best Restaurants readers’ choice ballot. These are some of their favourite places in the city.
Winner
Amihan Grill + Bakeshop
Amihan Grill + Bakeshop’s two Calgary locations in Sunridge and the Beltline serve a wide range of Filipino fare, including barbecue mains, rice or noodle bowls, street food favourites and more. Order the starters platter to try all of the restaurant’s bestsellers at once, try meaty dishes like the pulled pork adobo or dig into a noodle bowl like the pancit canton. Both locations also offer a bakeshop filled with house-made baked goods that will round out your meal, including mango loaves and ube macapuno cake.
208, 3132 26 St. N.E., 403-455-6050; 100, 1011 1 St. S.W., 825-540-1211, amihan.ca, @amihan.grill.bakeshop
Runners-up
Maria’s Kitchen and Grill
Treat yourself to some delicious Filipino fare at Maria’s Kitchen and Grill. Alongside traditional Filipino favourites, this restaurant also focuses on authentic Ilonggo recipes like Kansi, a beef savory soup, or Pancit Molo with dumplings and shredded chicken in a flavourful broth. And don’t miss out on side dishes like spring rolls and steamed siomai.
4, 1704 61 St. S.E., 587-496-0336, mariaskitchenandgrill.ca, @mariaskitchengrill
Lola’s Cluck + Oink
Located within Fresh and Local Market & Kitchens, Lola’s Cluck + Oink offers a small yet mighty menu of tasty Filipino snacks and mains. The Oink Adobo is a great option to try on your next visit, as well as snacks like crispy chicken skin, lumpia (spring rolls) and wings. Best of all, you can take home some of the restaurant’s signature jarred sauces that come in flavours like Chilli Garlic, Fire and Ice, and Bagoong.
12445 Lake Fraser Dr. S.E., 587-577-1380, @lolasclucknoink
Lola’s Filipino Kitchen
Focusing on traditional flavours made with quality ingredients, Lola’s Filipino Kitchen features a variety of authentic Filipino dishes. Try the beef kare-kare with vegetables in peanut-based stew, or one of the special bowls like lechon kawali (pork belly) or boneless fried milkfish served over vegetable garlic fried rice. Round out your meal with bilo-bilo, a classic Filipino dessert with jackfruit, pearls and glutinous rice balls in sweetened coconut soup.
255 28 St. S.E., 403-235-1210, lolasfilipinokitchen.com, @lolasfilipinokitchen
Chopstix Filipino Restaurant
With locations along International Avenue and Macleod Trail S.W., Chopstix provides easy access to fresh Filipino cuisine. Start your day with one of the all-day Filipino breakfast combos featuring everything from longsilog (Filipino-style sausage) to bangsilog (deep-fried milk fish), or pop by later for dishes like fresh lumpia, sinigang (a soup with a range of protein options), mixed seafood kare-kare and more. Pair your meal with drinks like buko juice and sago’t gulaman.
9737 Macleod Tr. S.W., 403-251-0740; 5315 17 Ave. S.E., 403-235-1682, chopstixrestaurant.com, @chopstixfilipino