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The 5 Best Asian Restaurants in Calgary for All Foodies 

Customer Reviews: Aside from trying the dishes myself, I made sure to interview their customers. Everyone has different palates, so diners’ opinions can make or break a restaurant.

I paid attention to comments on the quality of ingredients and the service experience.

Ambience and Culture: I chose places that created an inviting atmosphere that reflected their culture. I looked at the restaurant’s vibe—everything from decor to music and even the staff’s demeanour.

Menu: I was on the lookout for restaurants that offered a broad range of dishes from their respective cuisines. It’s easy to stick to the popular items, but I looked at the menu to see if they showcased lesser-known dishes, too.

Authenticity of Cuisine: I checked if the restaurants stayed true to their roots. I sampled dishes that are often considered staples in their respective cultures to gauge how well they represented the cuisine.

A few months ago, I went out for lunch at what I thought was an authentic Asian restaurant.

But what arrived at my table was a sad, soggy rendition of Pad Thai that even a microwave wouldn’t touch. The only thing authentic about that meal was the feeling of betrayal.

Since then, I’ve done my research around town by eating at more than a few Asian restaurants to determine the best. I had more dumplings and spring rolls than I can remember, but I’m not complaining! 

Here’s who made it to my list of best Asian restaurants in Calgary, so you can avoid any dining disappointments. 

How much does it cost to eat at an Asian restaurant in Calgary?

It costs at least 10 CAD per dish to eat at an Asian restaurant in Calgary. The actual cost varies depending on the dishes you order, the restaurant you choose, and whether you order takeout. 

1. Claypot Asian Food Kitchen 

claypot-asian-food-kitchen-logo

Address: 2122 Crowchild Trail NW

Contact details: +1 (403) 452-9855

Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – Noon to 10 PM

Website

The first thing that caught my eye at Claypot Asian Food Kitchen was their changing video wall that brings ancient China to life. One minute I was staring at serene mountain scenes. Next, I was immersed in vibrant village life. 

On their menu, they have everything from crispy soft shell crab to BBQ pork rib

However, what really steals the show here is their clay pot rice. I went for the smoked black pepper duck breast with shimeji mushrooms and red onions, all nestled in that glorious rice.

The duck was smoky, tender, and packed with flavour. The black pepper gave it that nice kick, while the shimeji mushrooms added an earthy richness.

To complement my meal, I paired it with their stir-fried mixed vegetables. A lot of people I interviewed told me about this must-try addition. 

You’ve got everything in there: Shanghai bokchoy, broccoli, and carrots. Each veggie was cooked just right—honestly, I could’ve eaten a mountain of it.

Unfortunately, the service was a bit on the slow side—it took over half an hour to get my meal.

Pros

  • Creative interior
  • Authentic Chinese dishes 
  • Delicious smoked black pepper duck breast
  • Tasty stir-fried mixed vegetables 

Cons

  • Slow service

Food was fresh, flavourful, delicious and different

“We’re so happy we chose to come here for dinner! We picked it based on the reviews and weren’t disappointed! The food was fresh, flavourful, delicious and different! We started with dumplings- perfection- and the cured salmon & tuna, which was served with a spectacular flair. Then we finished with 2 of the clay pots – full of flavour and so warming on a cold night! Plus the service was thoughtful and very helpful, and the video decor is amazing. Definitely highly recommended!”

– Petra Fisher, Google Reviews 

It was absolutely YUMMY!

“I finally got to try here tonight for dinner and I enjoyed it so much! Here’s what I had – if you like pork belly, try the pork belly pinwheel, but beware it’s a little spicy. The soft shell crab was good but make sure you eat it with all the delicious fixings!  My sister and I tried the beef brisket with mozzarella and cheddar cheese clay pot! That was so good,  but when you add the sauce, it makes it 100% better! The star of the show tonight was definitely the sake cured salmon and tuna! It was absolutely YUMMY!

For dessert we had the fried milk and the green tea tofu pudding!

The projector screens make it so fun to have dinner too! We really enjoyed everything tonight!”

– Liane Wong, Google Reviews

2. Thai Sa On

thai-sa-on-logo

Address: 351 10 Ave SW

Contact details: +1 (403) 264-3526

Operating hours: 

  • Monday to Thursday –  11:30 AM to 2 PM & 4 PM to 9 PM
  • Friday – 11:30 AM to 2 PM & 4 PM to 10 PM
  • Saturday – 4 PM to 10 PM
  • Sunday – 4 PM to 9 PM

Website

Stepping into Thai Sa On, Thailand vibes hit you right away. The walls are adorned with wooden carvings of Thai Buddha that make you feel all zen. 

Plus, their elephant-designed tablecloths are adorable, and their rattan chairs are surprisingly quite comfortable.

Service-wise, I can’t complain. The staff was friendly, and my food came out piping hot and fresh. 

Although they had classics like pad see ew, I went with their Sa-On Omelette, which features crab meat and ground shrimp. It was what everyone was raving about, so I thought I might as well try it. 

When eaten with coconut rice, it creates a dish with a perfect balance of sweet and salty. And you know what? I wolfed it down in a matter of minutes! 

Because I clearly wasn’t done indulging, I also went for dessert. 

While it sounded heavenly, the roti with condensed milk was over-fried and a bit too greasy for my liking. I mean, I’m all for indulgence, but I could feel the oil weighing me down. 

Pros

  • Authentic Thai ambiance
  • Comfortable rattan chairs
  • Quick service
  • Delicious Sa-On Omelette 

Cons

  • Greasy roti dessert 

Authentic Thai food in the heart of downtown 

“Thai Sa-On was an incredible treat! Authentic Thai food in the heart of downtown Calgary. The coconut rice was sticky and had tons of flavour. The Tom Yum soup was sweet & sour and had some tasty veggies inside. My favorite thing I ate had to be the drunken noodles, they were soft and had a tasty chili flavour, and the chicken was cooked amazingly. The green curry was also a hit. This restaurant is priced very fairly, so you can try lots of things. I can’t wait to come back!”

– Paxton Porter, Google Reviews

Amazing interior design, very friendly and welcoming staff

“My first experience with this restaurant was just randomly ordering Uber delivery with them and guess what? The food was amazing!!! It made me to search on Google maps and come & check it out in person. And here you go: nice location in downtown, amazing interior design, very friendly and welcoming staff. It was a great choose to have a dinner before attending a Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra concert. We’ll be back for sure!”

– Olena Pokachalova, Google Reviews

3. Tamarind Vietnamese Grill & Noodle House

tamarind-vietnamese-grill-noodle-house-logo

Address: 908 12 Ave SW

Contact details: +1 403-262-6644

Operating hours: 

  • Monday to Friday – 11 AM to 8 PM 
  • Saturday – 12 PM to 8 PM 

Website

Tamarind Vietnamese Grill & Noodle House is clean, peaceful, and has just a hint of Zen from their Buddha-clad meditation space. I was tempted to sit down and chill for a minute, but I was rather starving.

For starters, their menu is all vegan. They craft their own tofu and noodles, free of all those nasty preservatives and GMOs. 

Plus, they have everything from crispy spring rolls to laksa. And before you ask, of course, there’s pho too!

I ended up having bun cha gio thit nuong, which is crispy spring rolls with a flavorful meat alternative filling that just sings with umami. 

A lot of people who have tried this dish mentioned the delightful addition of the house vinaigrette on the side, as it ties the meal together. Plus, the fresh lettuce and pickled carrots give it that zing. 

I also had the pho dac biet (Tamarind House Special Noodle Soup). The mock beef and tofu were so flavorful I almost thought it was the real deal. 

Now, here’s the only bummer: the service was a bit on the slow side. It took a while for me to be seated and get my food.

Pros

  • Peaceful vibe
  • Has a meditation space
  • All-vegan menu 
  • No preservatives or GMOs

Cons

  • Slow service

It turned out to be delicious and veg

“Tonight I was surprised for dinner only being told we were going for Vietnamese food. I can not tell you how happy I was that it turned out to be delicious and veg. They suggested a couple things and I had never tried a Vietnamese sizzling crepe before. It’s a must! Wrap the crispy deliciousness in lettuce and add veggies, dip and enjoy. I couldn’t leave without the pad Thai because rarely do I get to enjoy this dish. I was impressed with every dish we were served and shared. Sadly my face was too stuffed to try the eggplant but my family couldn’t stop eating it, at the end my boyfriend tossed in the rice and devoured the last of it! The staff is excellent, everyone decided to come the same time and they handled it well. Hope you enjoy your eats 🤤”

– Oho Maskihkiwiskew, Google Reviews 

Amazing authentic Vietnamese food

“This is such a hidden gem – amazing authentic Vietnamese food. And all vegan. Wonderful staff too!!”

– indiahat, Google Reviews

4. Shokunin

shokunin-logo

Address: 2016 4 St SW

Contact details: +1 403-229-3444

Operating hours: 

  • Sunday & Monday, Wednesday & Thursday – 5 PM to 10 PM 
  • Friday & Saturday – 5 PM to 12 AM

Website

Shokunin is a hip Yakitori Omakase chef’s bar service, which is the only one of its kind in Calgary. They serve up Japanese classics like karaage, gyozas, and wagyu sandos and tons of sake. 

Right from the start, the service was spot on. The chef wasted no time grilling up the mix of wings and thighs I ordered. 

The wings were juicy, with a char that gave it that perfect smoky kick. Meanwhile, the thighs were tender and flavorful.

I also had to try their paitan-style Shokunin Tori Ramen. This means the broth is luxuriously creamy and comes with soft chashu, pickled black mushrooms, and more.  And don’t even get me started on the 24-hour cured ajitama! 

I had to level it up with the wagyu fat chili oil and miso cured bacon, which added a nice heat and brought out the flavours even more.

Now, I couldn’t resist trying one of their sakes: Kaiun New Fortune Junmai Gingo. The honeydew melon aroma and the sweetness and clean finish won me over.

Despite the positives, the music can get a bit loud. This could dampen the experience of anyone looking for a chill dining experience. 

Some folks I interviewed mentioned the difficulty in having conversations due to the volume, so that’s something to keep in mind. 

Pros

  • Unique Yakitori Omakase experience 
  • Quick service
  • Luxurious creamy paitan ramen 
  • Great sake selection

Cons

  • Loud music

Service was very quick and food was very flavourful

“Our experience at shokunin was fantastic. Our server Jordan recommend multiple dishes and all were a hit! Everything was fresh. Service was very quick and food was very flavourful. The flavour combinations were spectacular & at the end of the dinner everyone was pleasantly surprised at how great the overall dining experience was. Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for something new and fresh to try & share family style.”

– Michael Czerniecki, Google Reviews 

Delicious and creative culinary experience 

“If I could rate HIGHER than 5 stars I would! Not sure if I have enough words to describe how unbelievably amazing this experience was! Friend and I sat at the bar, the place was packed, and  bartender Ashley was a true ROCKSTAR with THE best hospitality service provided ever! (And I’m in hospitality!) She guided us into the most delicious and creative culinary experience I think I’ve ever experienced and the vibes and music just amplified it all.  Must and will be back!”

– Nicole Martinez, Google Reviews 

5. Tibet Kitchen

tibet-kitchen-logo

Address: 318 10 St NW

Contact details: +1 (403) 270-8828

Operating hours: 

  • Monday to Thursday – 4 PM to 10 PM
  • Friday to Sunday – Noon to 10 PM

Website

Tibet Kitchen is the place to go for a taste of the Himalayas. This restaurant is clean and calm, with bright colours at the bar that pop against the wooden Buddha statues. 

The menu is filled with authentic Tibetan classics, from momos (dumplings) to thenthuk (a Tibetan pasta soup).

Now, I had to start with the Tibetan sha-bhaley—a popular deep-fried flatbread stuffed with flavorful ground beef and onions. Trust me when I say they’re the crowd favorite. 

The spicy dipping sauce kicked the whole dish up a notch. Meanwhile, the side salad balanced out the richness of the sha-bhaley.

I also tried the beef thenthuk, which has hand-pulled Tibetan flat beef pasta. It’s served in a hearty homemade broth that had me saying “yes, please” with every sip. 

To wash it all down, I got bohr-jha (Tibetan butter tea). It’s lightly salted and blended with milk, making it both creamy and comforting. 

That said, I wasn’t a fan of the server I had. He was a bit too rude for my liking—just a little off-putting. And I wasn’t prepared to pay for public parking.

Pros

  • Chill vibe 
  • Cool decor
  • Authentic Tibetan dishes 
  • Hearty and delicious 

Cons

  • Rude server
    Public parking fees

Thoroughly enjoyed the food and ambiance

“If you’re looking for some original Tibet-style momos or delicious chili chicken in a boutique restaurant setting, you have to visit this place. The restaurant owner, Tengsen, is from Greater Kailash, New Delhi, and he’s brought some amazing flavors with him. I loved meeting him—such a friendly guy—and thoroughly enjoyed the food and ambiance. It’s definitely a spot worth checking out!”

– Pawan Vaswani, Google Reviews

Delicious food

“This food was so delicious, and tasted even better than when I had similar items at a Tibetan refugee settlement in Nepal! The flaming veg momos were so delicious, and I love that they come out literally sizzling. Such a great presentation. I will definitely be back!”

– Anastasia Feschuk, Google Reviews

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