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
Roy’s Korean Kitchen
Head to The District at Beltline food hall to fill up innovative Korean cuisine from Roy’s Korean Kitchen, which is led by chef Roy Oh. The food hall offers plenty of seating where you can enjoy dishes like ramen carbonara, bibimbap, chicken curry, soy maple Brussels sprouts and chicken wings.
227 11 Ave. S.W., royskoreankitchen.com, @royskitchendistrict
Runners-up
JinBar
This restaurant from acclaimed chef Jinhee Lee is all about Korean-influenced fried chicken, pizza (like the Korean beef bulgogi pizza), snacks and drinks inspired by Lee’s childhood in South Korea. 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
Hankki
This local street food eatery has nine locations across Alberta, including in Cochrane, Banff and Lethbridge. 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. hotspot has a bit of everything, 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 and dishes like a seafood pancake, spicy pork skillet, galbi chicken wings and more.
1410 17 Ave. S.W., 825-540-1410, korilla.ca, @korilla.kbbq
