When two culinary careers that span Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Canada land in Calgary, a worldly menu grounded in Alberta ingredients comes to life. That’s what father-and-son chef team Joel and Jeff Matthews have created at IBU Restaurant, Patio & Bar.
Although born in Alberta, Joel was raised in Asia for the majority of his life, following in his father’s culinary footsteps and starting a career as a chef in Bali and Australia. Jeff’s culinary expertise spans decades and countries, too, working in famed restaurants across Canada before moving to Jordan, and finally, to Southeast Asia, where he was a chef for over 30 years.
Today, Jeff and Joel share their multicultural culinary expertise in Calgary at the recently opened IBU, using food as a connector for people, cultures and stories.
A chef-driven, neighbourhood restaurant
Located on 14th Street S.W., IBU was born from a desire to bring authentic Asian and global influences to contemporary western cuisine. The name IBU, which means mother in Indonesian, pays homage to Joel’s late mother and serves as a nod to the women in Asia who shared their recipes with Joel and Jeff.
“In most Asian cultures, many recipes are passed down to the women of the family, so from the grandmother to the mother to the daughter and so on,” says Joel. “We wanted to celebrate the recipes that we have today. It’s because of all the women that we are cooking these things.”
Although IBU reflects Joel and Jeff’s nomadic journeys, it also appreciates the importance of being where your feet are — the menu offers dishes rooted in Alberta ingredients and Joel and Jeff are careful to ensure the restaurant has a welcoming “neighbourhood spot” feel, where Calgarians are encouraged to visit frequently.
IBU’s has a polished yet relaxed atmosphere, suitable for a visit midweek through the weekend. “Our tagline is casual dining, serious food,” says Joel. “Come as you are. You don’t have to get dressed up in a suit and tie to come dine with us, but we do want to ensure the food blows your socks off. Everything is heavy on the flavours. Not everything is spicy, but everything has spices, a lot of ginger and garlic, star anise, bay leaf, Thai lime and so on. We just want people to leave thinking, ‘What was that? It was amazing, and I can’t wait to come back.’”
Something to discover
IBU delivers both comfort and discovery in the same sitting. It’s the kind of place where you can order something you know, alongside something you didn’t expect to find. The menu balances familiar dishes like pasta, steaks and burgers, with elevated Asian flair.
“We do a smash burger with pickled yuzu cucumbers, our spicy tiger mayo, crispy shallots, and we do carbonara pasta with truffle, black garlic and charred chili garlic. It should sound familiar, but what you’re getting is, hopefully, a different experience than anything else you’re getting in Calgary. We put a bit of a twist on classic dishes,” says Joel.
Signature dishes like the slow-cooked beef rendang showcase richness and tradition, while the tiger cauliflower delivers bold flavour and contrast with its house-made tiger aioli. Each plate reflects a consistent focus on technique and flavour rather than trend.
With spring around the corner and warmer weather on the horizon, IBU will soon open its 75-seat patio, offering a relaxed, social extension of the restaurant — dog-friendly, sun-filled and ideal for a glass of wine, shared plates and long Calgary evenings.
Reserve your table today, visit ibuyyc.com
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