U & Me Calgary Review: Cantonese Dim Sum in Chinatown

Featured Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

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, and it was easy to see why. 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.

Banh Mi · Cheap Eats

Banh Mi Boy Calgary Review: A Late-Night Banh Mi Spot in Altadore

Featured Hitting the Sauce2 Comments

I’d just finished my appointment when L floated the idea of lunch. I wasn’t in the mood to sit down anywhere, so I suggested takeout. There’s a new spot that opened up in Altadore, Banh Mi Boy. I’ve been creeping on their Google reviews for months. I’m skeptical of Google reviews, but seeing John Manzo and Chung Niem gave me pause. That was enough to seal the deal for me! Let’s listen to Fight for Your Right by the Beastie Boys.

Banh Mi Boy is a small, tidy shop, brightened by a colourful mural and hanging paper lanterns. It’s mostly takeout, though there are two small tables and a standing counter if you want to eat in. Street parking out front makes it easy to pull up and grab your food.

The woman taking my order had the vibe of an owner, clarifying, double-checking, and writing everything down. She pointed me to the Crackling Pork Belly Sub ($13.50), which John and Chung both flagged on Google, but I’ve been told to avoid fatty foods. I settled on an Assorted Cold Cut ($12.50) and a Beef Sate Sub ($12.50 + $1.50 for cheese) for Chew Steel. Five minutes, and I was out the door.

The beef satay sub came warm, a touch smaller than mine, likely from being toasted. Chew Steel picked up on the slow creep of spicy heat in the beef, set against light, crumbly bread. He doesn’t usually comment on my banh mi orders, but this time he said he’d come back, and that it beat Bake Chef’s sate beef sub.

My sub had three layers of cold cuts. It had a more natural texture than Thai Tai’s, though not as thick and rough as Saigon Deli’s. A stack of crunchy carrots, spicy jalapeños, and chunky cucumbers cut through the generous smear of rich brown pâté. The cucumbers tasted especially fresh. I would get this again.

Size-wise, these subs are bigger than Trung Nguyen and Kim Anh but not as heavy as My Tho BBQ. For the area, it’s priced well, and the owners are certainly generous when it comes to filling up the subs. Banh Mi Boy deserves bonus points for its mixed pickled vegetables, something you still see more consistently in Forest Lawn than this far southwest.

It took me a while to try Banh Mi Boy. Being in Altadore, I assumed the flavours might be dialled back, but I stand corrected. The shop is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, making it an easy late-night stop after a night out.

Update (June 2026): Added notes from a return visit to reassess the cold cut combo after my taste buds recovered.

I went back to try the cold cut combo again because my taste buds were still a little off on my previous visit. This time, I could better appreciate the pâté. Its dark brown colour and smooth texture are distinctive, though its savoury flavour remains a bit of a mystery to me. It’s familiar, rich, and hard to pin down. The generous spread was nicely balanced against a pile of ultra-crunchy carrots, cucumbers, and jalapeños. My only qualm is that I couldn’t tell whether the homemade mayonnaise was added. If it was, its flavour got lost among the other ingredients.

At $12.50 for a sandwich that’s nearly a foot long, it’s one of the best values in Altadore. Banh Mi Boy has earned a spot on my list of Calgary’s top bánh mì destinations.

Photo note: If the bánh mì in the photo above appears to be floating in mid-air, that’s because I edited out my hand. The original shot wasn’t particularly flattering, but the sandwich looked great.

Looking for more hidden gems? See my guide to the best bánh mì in Calgary.

Cheap Eats · Comfort food · Fast Food

Cluck N Cleaver Calgary: Worth It on SkipTheDishes?

Featured Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

I still had a Skip the Dishes gift certificate from work, quietly begging to be used. A quick scroll through my options led me to Cluck N Cleaver in Calgary’s Beltline. I was surprised to see prices that rivalled fast food. Even better, the Skip markup was so minimal it barely mattered.

I’ve eaten here twice before, and each time the quality of the chicken has stood out. This is the kind of meat that actually fills you up, the opposite of the fleeting satisfaction you get from McDonald’s. I also noticed a few new additions, including under $10 light meals and Tuesday tender specials. For clarity, I’m listing pickup prices below. And before I forget, let’s listen to What’s On Your Mind by the Greyhounds.

The Boneless Bites ($9.25) come in at a generous 1/3 pound of dark meat. The coating is craggy, with a slightly crumbly finish that clings to the chicken in uneven, crunchy clusters. Inside, the meat is succulent and silky. If you’re a dark meat person, this is your lane. The honey mustard was solid, though it doesn’t dethrone the version at the Eau Claire Exchange, which is my gold standard.

The Chicken Tenders ($9.25) are equally substantial, four large pieces. The breading is more uniform here, giving you that classic crisp bite. Chew Steel and I weren’t sold on the ranch dip, a purely personal preference, but I’d happily come back and try the hot or house special sauces. I don’t like white meat, and this was so good, it’s an easy reorder.

The Chipotle Corn and Bean Salad ($5.95) delivers sweet bursts from deep yellow corn, hearty black beans, and a light acidity that keeps things from feeling heavy. Chew Steel picked up on the cilantro. I notoriously hate cilantro, and didn’t notice it. I would get this again. The fries are much better than McDonald’s too, crisp yet soft, with no overcooked dry bits.

We enjoyed the Rotisserie Chicken Salad ($7.50) the next day for lunch. It’s a creamy mix of mayo, celery, and green onion, rich and sturdy enough to hold up against a bed of crisp lettuce and sour dough bread. I wish I could make chicken salad this good.

Whenever I’m feeling sick, I’ve been leaning heavily on McNuggets and McFlurries. That ends today. When the price nearly the same, but the food more substantial, Cluck N Cleaver is an easy upgrade. If you’re looking for where to eat in Calgary without spending much, this is one I will keep coming back to.

Bakery · Cheap Eats · Comfort food · Mediterranean

Doughlicious and Doughboy in Calgary: Saturday special

Featured Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

I’ve heard great things about Doughlicious, a family-owned Mediterranean one-stop market in Calgary’s Greenview Industrial / McCall area, but didn’t venture in until this weekend. I’m late to the party, and that’s entirely on me. Let’s listen to Peaches and Cream by 112 for this one.

I recognized the owner, Mohamed, from Doughlicious Instagram account. I told him I’ve been enjoying his reels. He smiled, a little skeptically, and said some were better than others. He asked if I needed more time with the menu, but I already knew what I wanted.

I wanted to bring something back for my friend, Lululemon, who since the summer has been showing up with her famous weekly soups, plus a steady stream of thoughtful treats and gifts. Since she’s vegetarian, I ordered the muhammara and cheese pie ($6.99), vegetarian samosas (6 for $7.50), hummus (16 oz, $9.99), their famous homemade white pita and doughnuts ($11.99). She later texted me the samosas leaned more toward filling than shell, exactly how she likes them, and that they were the best she’s had in Calgary. For future parties, I’m officially switching from Nooren to Doughlicious, not just for the food but for the hospitality and the opportunity to grab other goodies in one stop.

Mohamed mentioned the homemade pita is his top seller. I can see why. It’s soft, pliable, and thin with just a soft little chew to it. It’s the kind of pita that actually feels alive, unlike the usual grocery store versions.

The hummus follows the same philosophy. It’s not overly processed or perfectly smooth, but textured in a way that lets each ingredient come through. Nutty, slightly tangy, finished with olive oil that ties it all together.

At the counter, there’s a wide range of options. Meat pies, vegetarian pies, samosas, wraps, and kebobs. The smoked chicken and brisket are available on the weekend-only. I ordered both for Chew Steel for our Valentine’s dinner, a whole roasted and smoked chicken ($28) and a pound of applewood smoked brisket ($30).

Mohamed asked for a few minutes to prepare everything and invited me to help myself to tea. I wandered around the shop, admiring shelves lined with tahini, spice blends, juices, and desserts. A steady stream of customers came through, many leaving with stacks of pita and trays of food.

I walked over to Doughboy, which shares the space with Doughlicious. There are two young staffers who were hustling to keep up with orders. The doughnut holes are fried fresh right in front of you, then assembled to order. I went with two combos, Bueno Supreme (dozen, $11.99) and Dubai Chocolate (dozen, $11.99). The doughnuts are superb. The shell shatters on first bite, giving way to a warm, airy interior that tastes clean rather than greasy. It’s that combination of light dough and well-handled oil that sets them apart.

The toppings are just as thoughtful. Chew Steel gravitated toward the sweeter option, milk chocolate and pistachio butter, drizzled over crisp phyllo and crushed pistachios. I preferred the more restrained combination of Bueno wafers, Nutella, and fresh strawberries. I expected the toppings to tip things into overly sweet or soggy territory, but they didn’t. At $9.99 to $11.99 per order, these are standouts you expect to see featured in Avenue Magazine.

We saved the meat for dinner at home. The brisket arrived in clean, even slices, showing off its marbling. It held together beautifully. No masking with a heavy sauce. Just well-executed, tender pieces of beef. The garlic sauce, served cold and silky, added a smooth, rounded richness without overpowering.

The chicken was just as impressive. Full, generous pieces of meat, intact and beautifully cooked. No dryness, no gross blue or red stringy bits. It’s the kind of chicken where you notice the quality right away. This doesn’t taste like a grocery store chicken, nor should it, as it’s almost double the cost, and worth every extra nickel.

Doughlicious and Doughboy are busy, and for good reason. There’s a disconnect in the best way for the customer. The kind of quality you expect to pay more for, at prices that are understated. They could charge 18% more, and I’d still come back, just not as frequently. At these prices, you don’t need to save it as a treat.

At this price, Doughlicious overdelivers, the kind of place that makes you rethink what counts when you’re choosing where to eat in Calgary. Just a heads up, the parking lot can get a little lively, so bring a bit of patience on the way in and out. It’s a popular spot, and everyone’s just very enthusiastic about snagging a space.

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

Cheap Eats · Chinese · Dim Sum

Phoenix Gate Chinese Cuisine – Seven takeout boxes later

Featured Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

On Beep Beep’s last day in Calgary, we went for dim sum at Phoenix Gate. My previous two visits had been great, so I figured the third would be just as good. Let’s listen to Love and Happiness by Al Green.

I ordered: BBQ Pork Rice Roll ($6.25), BBQ Pork Baked Buns ($6.50),
Sui Mai ($7.50), Stir-Fried Flat Rice Noodles with Beef ($15.95), Stir-Fried Turnip Cake in XO Sauce ($7.50), Peanut and Meat Steamed Dumplings ($6.50) and Seafood Fried Chowmein ($18.95). Our feast was too big for our two-seater table. I had to strategically stack the half-eaten bamboo steamers and plates to make room for all the abundance of food.

The fried turnip cake was my favourite. The exterior was crispy and chewy, while the delicate, wobbly middle melted in your mouth. I also loved that hit of fried garlic and punch of XO sauce. I would order this again.

The rice rolls really hit the spot. The soft, delicate wrappers were filled with tasty BBQ shavings. There wasn’t as much filling as the last two times I came, but honestly, we still loved it and would order it again. The rice rolls were my second favourite dish.

The siu mai was enormous, like a meatball topped with a massive crowning of shrimp and tobiko. Unfortunately, the wrapper fell apart when I picked it up, and the filling leaned a little dry. Still, very tasty.

The BBQ bun was huge, but too doughy, like it wasn’t baked long enough. The filling wasn’t too sweet, which I prefer. I brought them to work the next day and baked them in the toaster, which really improved the texture.

One disappointment was the pork and meat steamed dumpling. The wrapper fell apart too easily; it was so moist and fragile that it broke apart with just a touch of my chopsticks.

The stir-fried rice noodles with beef were missing that smoky wok hei aroma, but the bright white bean sprouts added a refreshing crunch against the soft beef slices and slick noodles. Interestingly, when Chew Steel reheated the leftovers the next day, he thought they tasted even better.

The chow mein had scallops, squid, prawns, and glossy bok choy, all intermingled with a clear sauce. The noodles on the side of the plate were crispy, whereas the middle ones were more soaked through. I wanted a little salt or MSG to liven up the flavouring. When Chew Steel ate it later that afternoon, he disagreed, saying it was delicious, though the noodles were very saucy.

There was so much food left over that I had to buy seven takeout boxes. Five went to my mother, Boss Lady, who skipped our invitation at the last minute because she was too busy snoopervising, and the other two boxes went to Chew Steel.

I know I nitpicked a few dishes, but Phoenix Gate still delivers some tasty eats. The portions are generous to a fault, and everything arrives piping hot. Next round, I’m heading back for dinner and going straight for the Peking duck, lobster, and stuffed crab claws. To be continued.