It’s always great to eat and support local. But sometimes, it’s also fun to grab a bite at a popular chain restaurant or café to see what the buzz is all about or satisfy a particular craving.
These days, more Canadian and international dining chains are recognizing Calgary’s ever-growing food scene and expanding into the city with new locations. Here are some of the biggest food chain openings in Calgary in 2025.
Bodega by Sabor
Bodega by Sabor is a popular tapas bar from Edmonton, with seven locations in and around the city. This past June, it expanded outside of that area with its first Calgary location in the Mission neighbourhood. Bodega serves Spanish tapas-style dishes like croquettes, bone marrow with eggplant caviar and patatas bravas, as well as a few styles of traditional paella.
2204 4 St. S.W., 403-630-7108, bodegabysabor.ca
Chai Sutta Bar
Chai Sutta Bar is an Indian tea chain — one of the biggest in the world — that finally landed in Calgary this year. Its first Calgary location opened in July near the Calgary International Airport, followed by a second location in Saddleridge. Stop by for traditional Indian chai, as well as other tea-based drinks and food like papdi chaat, sandwiches and more.
4130, 4520 109 Ave. N.E., 403-775-0095 and 78 Saddlepeace Mnr. N.E., 587-333-1177, @chaisuttabar.canada
Cluck Clucks
Hailing from Toronto, Cluck Clucks is a chain offering Nashville-style hot chicken and waffles. The restaurant landed in Calgary in September (the first Canadian location outside of the Toronto area) and uses only halal chicken. Try the classic fried chicken on its own or sandwiched between two jalapeno and cheddar waffles with pickles.
50 Sage Hill Passage N.W., 825-205-5335, cluckcluckschicken.com
Craig’s Cookies
This Toronto-based cookie company has found a home in Calgary with the opening of its first Western Canada location on 17th Avenue S.W. on December 12. The cookie flavours, which range from Snickers to coffee, change daily, so you never know what you might find.
835 17 Ave. S.W., 416-519-5336, craigscookies.com
Dave’s Hot Chicken
What started as an L.A. pop-up in 2017 has grown into a massive worldwide sensation. Calgarians got their first taste of this hot chicken restaurant when the city’s first location opened in East Hills in July. Additional locations in Sherwood and Willow Park followed soon after.
Three Calgary locations, daveshotchicken.ca
Enoteca Monza Pizzeria Moderna
Enoteca Monza is a popular Italian chain from Montreal that opened its first Alberta location in November at CF Market Mall. At this new spot, you’ll find favourites like wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas and other Italian dishes.
J012, 3625 Shaganappi Trl. N.W., 403-930-0187, restaurantmonza.com
Fazoli’s
Already popular in the U.S., this fast-casual Italian chain opened its first international location in Calgary this past June, with 25 more Canadian locations planned to open over the next nine years. Stop by for pasta, pizza and the restaurant’s unlimited signature breadsticks.
80 Mahogany Rd. S.E., 403-452-1790, fazoliscanada.com
Heal
Heal is a Canadian acai bowl and smoothie chain that opened its first Calgary location in February 2025. Since that first opening, Heal has grown to six locations in the city, offering delicious acai bowls (and other superfood bowls like blue spirulina and dragonfruit) with a variety of toppings, as well as 17 superfood smoothies.
Six Calgary locations, healwellness.ca
Kinton Ramen
A Canadian ramen chain established in 2012, Kinton Ramen has opened three Calgary locations this year. Stop by any of them for an authentic Japanese ramen experience with a variety of broths, noodles and toppings.
Three Calgary locations, kintonramen.com
Krispy Kreme
True Krispy Kreme fans will remember the chain’s first Calgary location in Sunridge years ago, but the store closed in 2008. Now, after a long hiatus, Krispy Kreme has returned with its new Calgary doughnut shop that opened in June. It’s not uncommon to see cars lining up down the road for Krispy Kreme’s freshly made doughnuts.
9629 Macleod Trl. S.E., 587-355-3421, krispykreme.ca
Nani’s Gelato
Toronto-based Nani’s Gelato started in 2019 in a Dodge Sprinter van customized to be a one-of-a-kind gelato food truck. In 2020, the brand opened its first brick-and-mortar location and has been expanding ever since. Nani’s Gelato opened its first Calgary store in April, bringing handcrafted gelato with a blend of Asian, Indian and Italian flavours.
11630 Sarcee Trl. N.W., nanisgelato.com
Wingsup
This Canadian wing chain started in Ontario in 1988, and has grown to more than 37 locations. Wingsup opened its first Calgary spot in May, serving fresh, hand-battered chicken wings available with 17 different sauces. A second Calgary location is also in the works.
5809 Macleod Trl. S.W., 825-806-5855, wingsup.com
