My mother, Boss Lady, wanted to check out a Chinese bakery. Last summer, I took her to Logos Bakery & Cake House at Central Landmark. This time, I suggested Maxima Bakery & Cake House, housed inside Lambda Oriental Foods Supermarket. I picked Maxima so she could have lunch at Sun’s BBQ, then shop at King’s Seafood for their frozen jumbo shrimp wonton. For this post, let’s listen to Shut Up.
When we arrived, our server pointed us to a booth by the window. Unfortunately, it was next to a table with one of the loudest talkers I’ve heard outside the Caesar’s Steakhouse lounge. Things improved a little once the restaurant filled up and the noise around us rose, but even then, their conversation carried over everything.
Pro tip: If you want service, just wave a server down. Staff are attentive, but they come over only when it’s obvious you need something. We ordered Steamed Pork Patty and Anchovies ($18.99), BBQ Duck and Roasted Pork Rice Combo ($18.99), and Steamed Tiger Prawns with Garlic ($20.99).
The BBQ combo came with hot herbal broth and blanched vegetables, which helped cut the heaviness of the meats. The duck was thinly sliced, but each slice stood tall. My favourite part was the crisp skin on top, then lean dark meat underneath. The meat tasted clean and rich, but not fatty.
I loved the roasted pork, a crispy pork belly. The skin was ultra-crunchy and shattered in my mouth. The fat underneath melted into the meat. Each bite was pure indulgence. Better than Kingwell’s, too, because the bottom isn’t oversalted.
Boss Lady wanted the tiger prawn dish. The tiger prawns came on a bed of rice noodles. The prawns were butterflied and a lot smaller than the menu picture promised. The noodles made up for it: fragrant, hot, and seasoned all the way through with garlic. I preferred them to the milder prawns. Boss Lady pointed out that BBQ meats and seafood are best steaming fresh. That’s why it’s better to eat in the restaurant than order takeout.
I’ve been following Get In Mah’s Belly for Chinese food recommendations. His friend Coco recommended the pork patty.
The steamed pork patty is not for the timid taster. It’s incredibly pungent from the anchovies. You smell them before you taste them, and they’re salty enough that you’ll want rice. The pork is spread flat on a plate and steamed, so it stays tender. Small shrimp add more briny salt, and water chestnut gives it crunch. I enjoyed it, but it’s not a dish for those who don’t venture past ginger beef and salt and pepper squid.
Boss Lady was happy with our meal. The food was fresh and tasty, while the service was efficient. She wants to come again to try some of the other seafood dishes. I want to take her to two more of Get In Mah Belly’s picks: Marko’s Kitchen and Central Grand Restaurant.
For more local favourites, check out Best Restaurants in Calgary (2026 Guide).
