Buchanans Chop House Bacon Cheeseburger in Calgary (Happy Hour Deal)

I’ve been meaning to try the bacon cheeseburger at Buchanans Chop House for ages. Chew Steel and I had a stressful afternoon, so we decided to treat ourselves to some premium burgers. For this post, let’s listen to Okie From Muskogee.

I’ve been to Buchanans a few times. Chew Steel’s colleague is a regular at this chophouse, and she hosts all her events here. The restaurant is old-school Calgary: white tablecloths, wooden chairs, and a huge wall of whisky for the oil and energy industry patrons.

Chew Steel ordered a Johnny Buchanans beer ($7.75) while I picked a glass of Mucchietto Primitivo Zin ($17). The wine list is full of jokes. One of the milder ones describes a Sauvignon Blanc as “That wild ex. Vigour, bright and sassy with serious melons.” I’ll leave the rest to your imagination. I got the sense that anyone who complained would be called a snowflake and given the boot.

John Mah from Get in Mah’s Belly has been praising the happy hour burger special for months. Every day from 3-6 p.m., Buchanans offers its $27 Bacon Cheeseburger for $16 with the purchase of any drink or other food item.

Buchanans grinds its beef in-house from whole cuts and cooks each burger to order. I asked our server how John Mah likes his burger cooked. She looked at me blankly. Clearly, she had never heard of John Mah. John has 2,000 followers on Facebook. She is not one of them. We ordered ours medium.

The toppings were stacked on the bun. The red onion was cut into thin, even rings, raw and sharp. The pickle, one long slender plank, lay smooth and flat across the bun. A slice of tomato and whole-leaf lettuce completed the burger. Two large, super-crisp pieces of bacon lay crisscrossed on top, cooked right to the edge of burnt. It shattered when I bit into it, with brittle, crackly edges.

The burger stood tall. I’d guess the patty was over two inches thick. The beef was juicy but not greasy. The patty itself was dense and firm, warm pink in the middle. The burger didn’t lean on ketchup, mustard or mayo for flavour, which I appreciated. With beef this good, the clean taste of meat should be the focus.

The fries were a dark golden brown. Hot and crunchy outside, soft as mashed potatoes inside. The orange-coloured aioli tasted a bit like tangy BBQ sauce. I enjoyed dipping each fry into the creamy sauce.

The portion of fries was so generous that I was stuffed and left more than half my burger. Two drinks and two premium burgers came to $60. That’s about what we paid two weeks ago at Flat Boy Burgers at Sea Change’s Skelly Club. Both were good meals, but very different burgers: a thin smash burger there, and a thick, beef-forward patty here.

Is it one of the best burgers I’ve had in Calgary? Yes, but it’s a steakhouse ground sirloin, cooked to order, so set your expectations accordingly if you’re used to the saucy, smash-type burgers popular in the city. Hitting the Sauce gives Buchanans Chop House cheeseburger two phat thumbs up.

For more spots like these, visit my Cheap Eats Calgary (Under $30) guide.

Cheap Eats · Italian · poke · Sushi

Pocket Holic & Scozzafava’s Deli: Calgary Quick Bites

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Neither visit was long enough for its own post, but both spots deserve a repeat visit: Pocket Holic and Scozzafava’s Deli. Let’s listen to Pocketful of Sunshine for this post.

Pocket Holic specializes in udon and inari, a Japanese dish of seasoned rice stuffed inside a deep-fried tofu pouch. I accidentally walked in before they opened, but the staff welcomed me anyway and told me not to worry and order whatever I wanted, even though the display case was empty.

I ordered the Pocket Sushi Combo, four pieces with miso soup ($14.99). I picked Scallop Pocket Sushi, Tempura Shrimp Pocket Sushi, Poke Tuna Pocket Sushi and Aburi Salmon Pocket Sushi.

Each pocket begins with a sweet, wet tofu skin wrapper. These babies are loaded with seasoned rice and generously topped with your choice of ingredients. The creamy scallop was so good, I could feel my eyes rolling into the back of my head. The combination of the silky chunks of scallop and the rich mayonnaise was decadent, like a savoury whipped cream.

The tempura offered the best textural contrast. The proportion of ebi to rice was 2:1. Each bite was so sensual: the warm, crunchy shrimp against the cool, juicy tofu pocket. I would order this again.

I was also a fan of the aburi salmon. The top was slightly charred from the torch, and you could taste the smokiness of the salmon. Rich and satisfying.

The poke had the cleanest flavours: soft, pink tuna cubes and firm, chewy rice. I was full after eating four sushi pockets and washing them down with miso soup. I plan on coming again the next time I’m in the neighbourhood.

I recently visited Scozzafava’s Deli. Before they opened their deli, I remember seeing Instagram posts of people lining up at one of their pop-ups. Turns out I’d been sleeping on a gem: the food is worth the wait.

Aesthetically, their hoagies are gorgeous, generously stuffed with colourful fillings and meats, all tucked into a crusty bun. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan ($17) for Chew Steel and me to share. Although there was no line, I still waited for my sandwich, since the cutlet is made fresh for each order. There’s some serious action in the kitchen; I could see at least three cooks working intently. The person at the front was engaging and made sure the guests eating in were happy with their meals.

When I received my foil-wrapped sandwich, I could feel its warmth and weight. A bit smaller than a footlong sub, but heavier than a hefty banh mi, this puppy was loaded with meat. The white chicken cutlets had a fine, tight crumb and were juicy despite being fried. The fresh mozzarella was soft and mild, with a zip of pesto and spicy marinara. The sesame bread was light and crusty, and soaked in that red sauce, it reminded me of pizza. There’s so much chicken that half a sandwich made a satisfying lunch. Delicious and worth every nickel.

Tofu pockets and Italian hoagies: two very different but excellent handhelds, and both worth going back for. Both meals came in well under $30. For more spots like these, visit my Cheap Eats Calgary (Under $30) guide.

Cheap Eats · Chinatown · Chinese

Sun’s BBQ Review: Calgary Chinese BBQ Worth Eating In

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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).

Bars/Lounges · Cheap Eats · Happy Hour

Mount Pleasant Vintage Calgary: Happy Hour Review

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Divine Offering wanted to check out Mount Pleasant Vintage, a new restaurant that took over the former Home and Away space in Victoria Park. I’m glad she suggested it, as it’s a refreshing addition to Calgary’s restaurant scene. Let’s listen to A Bar Song (Tipsy) for this post.

Mount Pleasant Vintage is both a restaurant and a shop selling second-hand furniture, décor and merchandise. Even the table and chairs we used were for sale. I settled into a comfy green leather chair overlooking the patio and front of the restaurant.

Divine Offering ordered a cocktail and was ID’ed by our server. She was flattered, while my mind drifted far, far back to the days when I was last ID’ed. I ordered the Colterenzio Pinot Grigio (HH $8; regular $14), a full-bodied, fruit-forward wine with a sharp tang on the finish.

The music didn’t match the crowd’s age. I recognized an old Usher song playing in the background. The customers, much like the staff, skewed young, mostly mid-twenties and under with a few old fogeys scattered about. The menu is priced accordingly, with some mains in the low $30s and sandwiches and casual plates in the low $20s. I recognized two bottles on the wine menu: Testalonga Stay Brave Orange Chenin Blanc ($15, $68); and Clos Chibonne Tentations Rosé ($15, $68), both from Juice Imports‘ portfolio. The latter retails for $35–$40, making its $68 restaurant price a relatively low markup.

We ordered the OG Snappy Dog (HH $1.50, Reg $6), Tater Tots (HH $4, Reg $7), Beef Tartare (HH $10, Reg $21), and Aguachile Verde (HH $12, Reg $24), as well as sides of cheese sauce ($2), onions (50 cents) and sauerkraut ($1). Happy hour runs daily from 2:30–5 p.m. and again after 9 p.m.

The juicy, flavour-packed OG Snappy Dog is a must-order. Topped with onions and sauerkraut, it reminded me of Costco’s all-beef dog, only grilled instead of steamed. During happy hour, it’s the same price, too. I’d pass on the cheese sauce for the tater tots though, as I found it pretty bland.

The beef tartare was tasty. The dark orange egg yolk was incredibly thick, coating the well-seasoned beef as I mixed it in. The beef had a pleasantly chewy texture, though the grilled sour dough bread could have been crispier. I preferred using the chips from the aguachile verde, as their crunch provided better contrast and brought out the beef’s smokiness. I would order this again.

For my second drink, I picked Campo Viejo Tempranillo (HH $8, Reg $14). The red wine was drinkable, with berry notes and tannins that puckered my mouth a little. It was served a bit warmer than room temperature, and I would have preferred it to be cooler.

The tuna aguachile verde was another hit, layering soy sauce, avocado, garlic aioli, cucumber, pickled and raw red onions, citrus and heat with the tuna. We preferred it with the bread from the beef tartare, as its simplicity allowed the tuna’s texture to standout.

The service, from the hostess to the bussers to our server, was exceptionally friendly and efficient. Despite the packed restaurant and constant turnover, staff kept everyone’s water topped up and checked that we were happy with our food.

Divine Offering loved everything about Mount Pleasant Vintage and plans to return this week with her friend. Maybe they will get ID’ed again.

If I were younger, this is where I’d regularly hang out. It’s lively rather than shout-to-be-heard loud, though anyone who relies on a hearing aid may find it challenging. Regardless of age, there’s a lot to like about this new addition to Victoria Park. I’ll be returning, as I’d like to try the main dishes, like the charcoal-grilled chicken teriyaki ($30) and the teriyaki chicken thigh banh mi ($21). Hitting the Sauce gives Mount Pleasant Vintage two phat thumbs up.

For more budget-friendly finds, see my guide to Calgary’s best cheap eats.

Cheap Eats · Chinatown · Chinese · Dim Sum · Restaurants

U & Me Calgary Review: Cantonese Dim Sum in Chinatown

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Boss Lady and Ludwig invited me out for dim sum at U & Me, their go-to spot in Chinatown. Inviting someone there for the first time always leads to confusion.

“Want to go to U & Me?”

“You and me? What do you mean? Go where?”

“No, U & Me is the restaurant.”

“Oh.”

As I walked up the stairs, I noticed soothing spa music playing in the background. Let’s listen to some similar music for this post.

It had been years since my last visit to U & Me, and I was surprised to see the restaurant redecorated. Pink blossoms and lanterns hung from the ceiling.

Lo and behold, when I was shown to my table, I ran into my old colleague, Office Dad. It felt oddly appropriate introducing Office Dad to my actual dad, Ludwig. After a studied glance, Office Dad declared that I looked exactly like my mother, Boss Lady. My mother and I warily observed each other.

Boss Lady always orders too much. We picked six dishes: Meat & Peanut Dumpling ($6.55), Shrimp BBQ Pork Rice Roll ($6.95), Shrimp Leek Dumpling ($6.55), Chinese Donut Rice Roll ($7.55) Vegetarian Bean Curd Roll ($6.95), Gai lan / Chinese broccoli with garlic sauce ($10.95), and Beef Soy Sauce Flat Noodles / Chow Fun ($14.25). A nice perk, U & Me serves tea free of charge.

The first dish to arrive was the beef chow fun. Ludwig noted there was a generous amount of beef, and he was right. I was surprised by the number of large slices scattered across the noodles. The noodles were slick and glossy, generously coated in soy sauce. The beef was both chewy and tender. I would order this again.

As a vegetarian, Ludwig was assured by Boss Lady that she would only serve him the vegetables and noodles. At my mother’s encouragement, I spooned some into his bowl. He immediately scowled and accused me of slipping in an offensive piece of beef.

Unmoved by my cries of being falsely accused, he waited for a second opinion. My mother came to my defence and poked through the noodles in his bowl, confirming there was no meat. Ludwig nodded, satisfied by her verdict. I decided from then on that he could get his own damn noodles.

I liked the Chinese doughnut dish, particularly the contrast between the crunchy doughnut, the soft, chewy centre, and the silky rice noodle sheets. The real pop of flavour comes from the sauces, a peanut-based sauce and hoisin, which add sweet or nutty notes to every mouthful. This dish is a winner.

The gai lan arrived next, the leaves and stems cooked through, soft and saturated from the garlic sauce. I would have preferred the greens with more of a bite, like Central Grand’s version.

The white rice wrapper in the shrimp and pork rolls was wrinkly thin. I enjoyed the meaty cubes of char sui, though I found the shrimp extra salty. Surprisingly, the shrimp and pork roll tasted even better the next day.

The peanut and pork dumplings are usually one of my favourite dishes, but this time I found one part of the filling mushy. That said, the wrapper remained pleasantly firm, and the peanuts added a satisfying crunch.

The shrimp and chive dumplings contained crunchy shrimp with a satisfying snap. The chives added a pleasant herby savouriness to the filling, a nice change from the plain old shrimp haw gow.

I couldn’t help but marvel at my dad’s appetite. For such a skinny man, he can really pack the food away. When he reached for another Chinese doughnut, I lifted the plate toward him, as it was across the table.

Boss Lady complained that I was causing more trouble than I was helping, and to let him get it himself. I glanced over at Ludwig, expecting some reaction, but his expression never changed. Completely unfazed, he happily speared another piece of gai lan and carried on eating.

Ludwig’s favourite dish was the vegetarian bean curd. The exterior was crisp and crunchy, while the inside was packed with wood ear mushrooms and carrots, giving it plenty of texture. I enjoyed the process of dipping the bean curd into its accompanying soy sauce, the mustard, and the red sauce. I would order this dish again.

The service at U & Me was efficient. Our tea was regularly refilled, and extras like red and yellow mustard, takeout boxes (25 cents each), and a bag arrived promptly when asked. The food was hot, fresh, and well-priced. It’s easy to see why U & Me remains popular with my parents and the downtown office crowd.

Looking for more restaurants and longtime Calgary favourites? I keep a running list of spots worth revisiting.