
There’s never a bad time to eat pizza, and when eating it means you’re also helping a good cause, all the better.
Organized by Calgary Meals on Wheels, YYC Pizza Fest invites participating restaurants around the city to come up with a special pizza creation for a friendly competition from September 26 to October 13. Categories include the top rated pizza, the most popular, the most innovative and best crust. Votes can be cast on the YYC Pizza Fest website or app.
A slice of the profits from every featured pie will support Calgary Meals on Wheels, which helps make sure the stomachs of all Calgarians are filled with good, healthy food.
From peanut satay to Mexican street corn pizzas, there are a lot of options to try this year. Here are just some of the eye-catching offerings to consider (or you can check out the full list online).
The Zorba from Pizza Bob’s

Using Pizza Bob’s signature thin-crust dough, this pizza is made using a tzatziki sauce base (a family recipe) and toppings like red onions, spinach, tomatoes, olives, goat feta and a final dollop of tzatziki.
2610 Kensington Rd. N.W., 403-521-2627, pizzabobs.ca
Chicken Satay from Letty
This pizza is a little bit spicy and a little bit sweet with its combination of a peanut satay sauce-base, satay marinated chicken and candied bird’s eye chilis.
247 12 Ave. S.E., 587-393-1989, pizzaletty.com
Shrimp Scampi from Rendezvous Cosmopolitan Cuisine and Ultra Lounge

Taking its cue from the classic Italian dish, this pizza combines fresh Taber corn, house-made bacon and shrimp, all brought together with lemon zest and a cream sauce base.
3750 Market St. S.E., 587-349-8653, rendezvous.ca
Smoked Pork Belly & Fried Kimchi from JinBar
Kimchi and pork belly are classic Korean ingredients, and JinBar combines them both in one pie. Paired with the creaminess of the cheese, this is one tasty take on Korean-style pizza (bonus tip: this pizza pairs perfectly with an ice-cold beer from JinBar).
24 4 St. N.E., 587-349-9008, jinbar.ca
Beet the Odds from The Attic Bar & Stage

This plant-based pizza combines oven-roasted beets, roasted garlic cream and cashew-based cheese for an unexpected twist. Finished with pistachios, pickled red onions, arugula and a balsamic glaze, this pizza will leave you wanting more.
1413 9 Ave. S.E., 403-475-4741, theatticyyc.ca
Elote Mexican Street Corn and Spicy Pork Chorizo from Portland Street Pizza

Based off the famous Mexican street food, this elote pizza hits all the notes of sweet, salty and tangy with its roasted corn, Mexican queso and bold spices. Portland Street Pizza is located inside of Eighty-Eight Brewing Co., so pairing this pizza with one of the brewery’s hazy IPAs is a must.
Inside Eighty-Eight Brewing Co., 1070, 2600 St. S.E., 403-452-5880, @portlandstreetpizza
Philly Cheesesteak Pizza from Nick’s Steakhouse and Pizza
Inspired by the famous sandwich, this pie brings its own spin with a creamy cheese sauce, shaved roast beef and caramelized onions and peppers. Finished with pickled banana peppers and mozzarella, this pizza brings everything you would want from the sandwich in pizza form.
2340 Crowchild Tr. N.W., 403-282-9278, nickssteakandpizza.com
Tsiis Astoguts’inista (Duck Pizza) from Little Chief Restaurant

Inspired by Indigenous cuisine, this pizza features savoury confit Brome Lake duck paired with sweeter ingredients like caramelized onions, figs and balsamic reduction. The bechamel sauce and house-made ricotta bring the creaminess.
Inside Grey Eagle Resort and Casino, 3779 Grey Eagle Dr., 403-719-8777, greyeagleresortandcasino.ca/dining
Pizette alla Benno from Murrieta’s West Coast Bar & Grill
This pizza is Murrieta’s take on a classic Hawaiian pie, opting for speck ham for an extra smoky flavour and topping it with pickled Fresno chiles for a bit of a kick.
200, 808 1 St. S.W., 403-269-7707, murrietas.ca
The Haus Mac Pizza from 722 World Bier Haus

If you love a Big Mac, this is the pizza for you. For this year’s festival, 722 World Bier Haus reimagined the fast-food favourite in pizza form. Starting with a base of pizza sauce, ground beef and mozzarella, the pizza is topped with slices of American cheddar, shredded lettuce, onions and pickles. Finally, it’s finished with a drizzle of Thousand Island dressing and sesame seeds.
601, 722 85 St. S.W., 403-455-9950, worldbierhaus.com