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
Kama
Kama’s take on Mediterranean cuisine draws influences from Spain, Greece, North Africa and the Middle East, resulting in a menu of small plates and tapas-style bites that have pleased Calgary foodies since it opened in 2022. Kama’s colourful dining room creates a great ambiance to tuck into dishes like popcorn octopus, Turkish prawns and cumin grits or chicken souvlaki.
211 11 Ave. S.W., 403-266-7062, kamacalgary.com, @kamayyc
Runners-Up
Aida’s Bistro
Since 2000, this Mission restaurant has served up traditional dishes from owner Aida Abboud’s home country of Lebanon. In fact, you’ll still find the restaurant’s namesake running the kitchen from time to time. Pop by for classic Lebanese dishes like tabbouli, lamb kabob and share plates piled with hummus, grape leaves, falafel and more. The sweets are all made in-house as well, like baklava or kashtaliey, a milk pudding topped with pistachio and rose water.
2208 4 St. S.W., 403-541-1189, aidasbistro.ca, @aidasbistro
Jerusalem Shawarma
Jerusalem Shawarma has been a go-to spot for shawarma and other Mediterranean fare for over a decade. The Calgary and Edmonton restaurants are known for their generous platters of shawarma, kababs, donair, falafel and more paired with freshly baked pita. Stop by any one of the 12 locations to grab a bite or get catering from them for your next event.
Multiple locations, jerusalem-shawarma.ca
Park by Sidewalk Citizen
While Park By Sidewalk Citizen’s incredible solarium may be the first thing that draws you into this restaurant, the menu of shareable plates — which includes a variety of Mediterranean dishes, grilled skewers and dips — is the main thing that keeps guests coming back. Park also hosts a number of events, such as cooking classes, salons and food talks.
340 13 Ave. S.W., 403-263-2999, parkbysidewalk.com, @parkbysidewalk
Beirut Street Food
Beirut Street Food offers a delicious dining experience centered around authentic flavours from Lebanon. The restaurant uses charcoal spits to infuse meats like its beef and chicken with a smoky flavour. Visit the casual, open dining space for a chicken or beef shawarma wrap or one of the delicious platters with a fattoush salad or side of za’atar seasoned fries.
7220 Fairmount Dr. S.E., 403-512-7772, beirutstreetfood.ca, @beirutstreetfoodyyc