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
JinBar
This restaurant is all about Korean-influenced fried chicken, pizza (like the Korean beef bulgogi pizza), snacks and drinks inspired by owner/chef Jinhee Lee’s childhood in South Korea. Don’t miss chef Hyungjae Lim’s picks like Hyungjae’s chicken sandwich or ahi tun crudo, either. With its minimalist decor and open-concept kitchen inside of a heritage building, JinBar is a cozy space to enjoy comfort food, while the bar’s high-top seating and colourful wall of spirits also make it a great place to meet friends for after-work drinks.
24 4 St. N.E., 587-349-9008, jinbar.ca, @jinbaryyc
Runners-up
Hankki
This local street food eatery has seven Calgary locations, plus five more across Alberta. This is a testament to the popularity of its easy-to-eat and filling Hankki bowls, which are filled with a protein (like sweet and savoury pork or bulgogi chicken), rice, veggies and fried dumplings. Its Korean-inspired hot dogs are also well-loved — try the whole mozzarella hot dog, which features deep-fried mozzarella that’s breaded like a corn dog and served on a stick.
Multiple locations, hankki.ca, @hankkicanada
Korilla Korean BBQ
This 17th Avenue S.W. spot has it all, including table grills, barbecue, three basement karaoke rooms and a rooftop bar. Chef and co-owner Simon Park (who is also behind the chain Hankki) serves up a blend of Korean dining and nightlife here. The menu includes highly marbled, imported pork, beef and wagyu (available in platters or individually to be cooked on the table grills), noodle soups, gluten-free and vegetarian dishes and more.
1410 17 Ave. S.W., 825-540-1410, korilla.ca, @korilla.kbbq
Roy’s Korean Kitchen
Led by chef Roy Oh, this innovative Korean spot has called a few different places home over the years, but has maintained a consistent reputation in Calgary’s dining scene as a source of delicious and interesting Korean fare. Try yummy snacks like soy maple brussels sprouts, small plates like the oxtail tortellini, comforting bowls of soup, rice and noodle dishes and more.
170N, 8500 Macleod Tr. S.E., 403-452-0811, royskoreankitchen.com, @royskitchenyyc
Bul
Bul, which means fire in Korean, serves Korean-inspired dishes like sweet chili shrimp dim sum, spicy octopus, angus AAA katsu and more. The dishes are presented beautifully here, creating tasty works of art for your table to enjoy.
1244 17 Ave. S.W., 825-413-8273, bul-canada.ca, @bulcanada
Sot
Head to Inglewood to try this spot that combines Korean cuisine with locally sourced ingredients. At Sot, which in Korean is the traditional heavy pot used to cook rice, soups and stews, expect to find dishes like the Sot specialty rice made fresh to order with house broth, arctic char, beef bulgogi and more. You can also partake in the chef’s tasting menu, a five-course experience with an optional wine-pairing add-on.
1216 9 Ave. S.E., 403-690-1715, sotyyc.com, @sot_yyc