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
Ryuko
Ryuko is an innovative restaurant showcasing high-quality ingredients through traditional Japanese cuisine. At both locations, you’ll find a variety of dishes including soups like ramen, udon and soba; raw and cooked starters like Hokkaido scallops or seasonal vegetable tempura; or sashimi sets and sushi rolls. A standout, though, is the lunch and dinner omakase menus (dinner is currently only available at Ryuko West) — leave the decisions up to the chef with these tasting menus that show off chef Jun Young Park’s culinary skill.
13200 Macleod Tr., 403-815-1849; 3150, 40 Christie Park View S.W., ryuko.ca, @ryuko.yyc
Runners-up
Fuji Ramen and Sushi
If you’re craving ramen or sushi, this is the place to go. Warm up with a hot bowl of spicy miso ramen or dig into plates of sashimi, nigiri and feature rolls like the mango paradise roll. Fuji also offers a great space to enjoy it all in, with a custom red and black mural featuring scenes of Calgary intermingling with ramen, sushi and the Ang family, who own the eatery.
111, 12100 Macleod Tr. S.E., 587-352-5595, fujiramenandsushi.com, @fujiramenandsushi
Shokunin
Shokunin’s inventive dishes and drinks have been inspiring guests since 2016. Chicken is the star here — expect yakitori offerings with daily-butchered chickens — but other standouts include the wagyu pastrami sando, buttermilk chicken karaage and more. Pair your meal with the Okami Kasu, a sake-infused beer collaboration with Ol’ Beautiful Brewing made with rice koji and beer yeast, or a glass from one of the best sake menus in the city.
2016 4 St. S.W., 403-229-3444, shokuninyyc.ca, @shokuninyyc
Lonely Mouth Bar
The name Lonely Mouth references the Japanese concept of kuchisabishii: when you’re not hungry, but you eat because your mouth is lonely. Whether you’re hungry or not, your tastebuds will enjoy the sushi hand rolls, house-made udon, fresh tempura and other snacks here, not to mention the extensive drink menu featuring an array of sake and Japanese whisky options. All this can be enjoyed in the minimalist dining room that features mid-century wood panels, corduroy upholstery and low lighting courtesy of Frank Architecture and Interiors.
528 17 Ave. S.W., 403-990-5094, lonelymouthbar.com, @lonelymouthbar
OMO Teppan & Kitchen
OMO serves a tasty array of appetizers and a healthy dose of fun with its teppanyaki-style service. Choose from beef, chicken, shrimp, salmon or veggies to be grilled right before your eyes by a skilled and enthusiastic chef. The teppanyaki meals come with all the fixings, but if you want to elevate an already premium experience even further, opt for the Japanese wagyu menus instead.
5222 Macleod Tr. S.W., 403-764-3222, omoyyc.com, @omoyyc
