Letty Pizza and Roy Oh’s Collab

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For my birthday dinner, I picked Letty Pizza. I saw on Instagram that Roy Oh was doing a collab. For those too young to know, Roy is one of OG Asian fusion chefs in Calgary, the other being Duncan Ly.

In 2011, I hosted a celebration dinner at Roy’s first restaurant, Anju, to mark my graduation. My family flew in for the occasion, and to make it even more special, I invited both my future in-laws and friends. Fourteen years later, they still rave about the generous portions and incredible food, despite most having never tried Korean cuisine before that night.

I still remember the first time I tried those gochujang wings, the whole pork shoulder with rice and lettuce, and the creamy, crispy tofu with pork belly. The taste was new yet familiar. I was so blown away by how amazing the food was that it inspired me to start blogging so I could relive the experience. For this post, let’s listen to “Can I Kick It” by A Tribe Called Quest.

Back to 2025. We arrived at Letty’s and sat with a bird’s eye view of Roy. I could have been not creepy and asked for a photo, but I took the coward’s way out and snapped one from afar without his permission. There he is – the grandmaster of Asian fusion.

I’m still doing dry January. Our server, Leila, did me a service and recommended a winner – Wild Folk Mezcal Margarita ($9). I would order this again. Poured over ice, the flavour was complex and mimicked mezcal so well that I didn’t miss the booze at all. Chew Steel drank an Eighty Eight lager ($8).

We ordered Roy’s famous chicken sliders ($8), which were even better than I remembered. The batter is flaky and ultra crunchy, coated in just the right amount of rich, dark red gochujang sauce. The chicken was piping hot, and the meat was toothsome. I’ll never be able to enjoy Popeye’s low-quality chicken burger again.

For a pizza, we picked Roy’s feature pie ($27), braised oxtail bechamel, truffle soy shaves parmesan and scallions, reminiscent of his signature oxtail tortellini. The beef was buttery, flavourful, and didn’t overpower that luscious grainy crust. I loved the fluffy, puffy, dry crust—so wholesome. The scallions added a nice pop of oniony flavour.

The star of the show was the Stuffed Chicken Wings ($14). Fack me – if wings were like a record, this one would go platinum. The wings had that signature crunch, while the lamb filling was seasoned with unique, unfamiliar spices. The sauce was tangy with a sharp bite and a spicy kick. The combination was unusual but worked so well. The sauce was so good I couldn’t help but keep licking it off my fork. Chew Steel mentioned he was surprised the portions were so big.

When the bill came, Chew Steel was shocked it was so inexpensive. I explained it was because I didn’t order my usual cocktail and glasses of wine. That night, I sent a DM to my new friend, Julijulihu, and told her to go the following day. I hope she enjoyed the food as much as I did. It’s been a long time since I was so excited about something I ate. Roy, I salute you! Hitting the Sauce gives Letty’s collaboration two phat thumbs up.

Banh Mi · Cheap Eats

Banh Mi Date #19 – Saigon Deli

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It’s my birthday weekend! I kicked things off with a banh mi from Saigon Deli, and completed my mission to go on 19 banh mi dates! Let’s listen to “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers.

My nickname should be the Fairy Food Godmother, because whenever I visit Forest Lawn, I bring treats for everyone. It takes us 22 minutes to get to Saigon Deli, so I made it worth it by picking up a cold cut banh mi ($9) for my mother, who now lives in Calgary, and my neighbours. I chose veggie subs ($5) for Bex Oxo and Valentina, thinking it would be the safest option for them. I considered tofu but was unsure, as Bex Oxo was too polite to mention any preferences when I texted her. I found out after she likes tofu, so I’ll get her that next.

This is my third time at Saigon Deli, and the best visit because I ordered like a pro. FoodKarma recommends either a cold cut and extra pâté and butter. I also asked for extra carrots.

It’s a busy spot, but man, those ladies can whip up subs in record time. This isn’t their first rodeo. The staff crafts each sub with an odd mix of generosity, love, and no-nonsense boss lady swiftness. I was hooked. Perhaps even in love.

The bread was soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. I liked that the baguette wasn’t too crumbly, like cheaper, commercially made bread.
No other banh mi spot beats the freshness of the veggies—crunchy carrots, snappy cucumbers, and jalapeños that tasted like it straight from the garden.

Every bite was refreshing and satisfying, an abundance of cold cuts, homemade mayo, pâté, and spanking fresh crudités. The pâté was so intense, so I might stick with the standard amount and ask for extra mayo next time. I loved the pops of saltiness from the Maggi sauce.

Bex Oxo enjoyed her sub, highlighting the sweetness of the buttery mayo and the freshness of the veggies. We both enjoyed the occasional kick from the jalapeños. Even my mother approved, texting me of the deliciousness of her banhi mi.

When I first visited Saigon Deli, the subs were $6 or $7. Now they’re $9, and I’m glad they raised the prices—it’s well worth it. I hope they keep doing what they’ve been doing for decades. Hitting the Sauce gives Saigon Deli two phat thumbs up.

Mexican

Masa Mama

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Since my last post in 2024, I’ve had some pretty fantastic meals— Juice Import’s event at Our Daily Brett, girl’s night at Bridgette Bar, and most recently, Paper Lantern x Francine’s collab. But despite eating all that delicious food, I lost my mojo. However, I can feel it start to trickle back. Let’s listen to “Beautiful Stranger” by Madonna for this post.

Last Wednesday, Chew Steel suggested we go out for dinner. We landed on Masa Mama Taqueria in Marda Loop. I made a last-minute reservation, and we arrived for an early seating.

Do make a reservation. Mid-week and at 5:30 p.m., the restaurant was already completely booked and not accepting walk-ins. The room is small and packed tightly with tables and bar seating. We noticed more than half of the guests were of the silver fox variety. Chew Steel quipped it must be seniors’ night at Masa Mama. I’m not complaining. For once, it was refreshing to be part of the younger demographic.

As I’m doing dry January, I picked a non-alcoholic beer. I ordered the Collective Arts IPA ($8). On its own, I found it citrusy with tropical notes. The carbonation wasn’t as bubbly as I prefer, but it paired well with the tacos.

We shared the Masa Guac ($16). Do order this. The avocado was buttery smooth, peppered with halved ripe cherry tomatoes and a nutty toasted oil. The tortilla chips were thin, fresh and crunchy, though overly salted. The guacamole to chips ratio was generous, meaning every bite was a perfect balance of dip to chip. I would order the guac again.

We each ordered three tacos, two four-inch and one six-inch. We both picked al pastor ($6) and chicken tinga ($6), and for the larger taco, I chose the Mac Mama ($8), and Chew Steel opted for the Baja Fish Taco ($9).

Al pastor is always a satisfying combination of sweet and savoury. This version cradled a mixture of tender grilled pork and small pineapple pieces. I appreciated the tortilla held up to the filling and didn’t get soggy and break mid-bite.

The chicken tinga stood out. I loved the crispy skin’s crunch and the spicy roasted chicken pieces. The cool, smooth drizzle of crema added a drippy succulence to each bite. I would get the tinga again.

The larger tacos are made with a flour tortilla. The Mac Mama was lukewarm by the time I got to eat it. It tasted like a decadent McDonald’s Big Mac but in a quesadilla form. I enjoyed it, but Chew Steel’s Baja Fish Taco ($9) was my favourite. I wasn’t expecting the fish to be so large. The fillet was meaty and flaky, while the batter was crunchy and hot. Masa Mama makes one of the best fish tacos in the city.

For a regular appetite, a shared appetizer, two small tacos and one large taco would suffice for a meal. We were both stuffed after our feast.

I’m a big fan of Masa Mama. When we return, I’m open to trying new dishes, but the guacamole, chicken tinga, and fish taco will always be my go-to order. Hitting the Sauce gives Masa Mama two phat thumbs up!