Vincci Tsui
El Charrito’s tacos are the real deal
Taste the world without leaving the city
Summer is just around the corner which for many means heading out of Calgary for a few weeks for vacation. Not everyone has the time or money to travel the world though so fortunately there are many places in the city where we can experience authentic ethnic food without hopping on a plane. Here are my top picks:
CHINESE
Szechuan Restaurant
(320 16 Ave. N.W.)
Calgary is home to lots of delicious and authentic Cantonese restaurants but good food from other regions in China is still hard to come by. Szechuan Restaurant serves authentic Sichuan cuisine known for its spicy dishes as well as its use of Sichuan peppercorn which makes your tongue feel numb when you bite into it. On my first visit several years ago even the mild had me sweating but the restaurant has since toned down the spice a little bit.
The layout of the space feels a bit strange given that it is in a former Italian restaurant but it is almost always packed full of diners filling up on Sichuan specialties like ma po tofu (spicy tofu with ground pork) eggplant in sour-sweet sauce boiled sliced basa in hot sauce soup and dan dan noodles.
Can’t take the heat? You can still order wonton soup or at least ask for dishes to be made mild.
MEXICAN
El Charrito Taqueria
(808 Edmonton Trail N.E.)
Tacos are really trendy in Calgary right now but a lot of the tacos on restaurant menus are focusing on creative flavours and ingredients — which are excellent in their own right — rather than the real deal. If you are looking for the latter head up to El Charrito. This family-run hole-in-the-wall on Edmonton Trail makes simple yet flavourful tacos. The al pastor (pork) is my favourite but the lengua (beef tongue) is certainly worth a try. Wash it down with a glass of horchata or jamaica. I would skip the tamales and chile rellenos but do come on the weekend which is the only time they make pozole (hominy soup) and menudo (spicy tripe soup). Now if only the prices could be more “authentic.”
THAI
White Elephant
(1808 19 St. N.E.)
Going to White Elephant feels like entering another world as you walk through the dingy lobby of a hotel into the brightly decorated restaurant filled with the smells of curry and other Thai specialties. Often billed as a “hidden gem” White Elephant is becoming more well-known and the tiny space is often packed even on weeknights so be prepared to wait — they no longer take reservations.
The curries are the most popular dishes on the menu and there are five base curries — red yellow green massaman and penang — served with your choice of meats or vegetarian. All of the recipes have been passed down through generations to chef/owners James and Nika; Nika’s great-grandmother was actually a chef in the Thai royal palace. Other well-known Thai dishes like pad thai pad see-ew and tom-yum goong soup are also delicious picks.
JAPANESE
Sushi Hiro
(727 5 Ave. S.W.)
While most Japanese restaurants in Calgary tend to go the “fusion” route one way or another Sushi Hiro stands out as a restaurant with a mostly traditional menu of sushi sashimi tempura noodles and donburi (rice bowls). Though known for their sushi Sushi Hiro also serves dishes that are not often seen in Calgary like shabu-shabu (Japanese hot pot). The Yosenabe hot pot is chock full of seafood and veggies like mushroom and cabbage and comes with a side of thick udon noodles.
