Bar Milpa Calgary: Quesabirria, Seared Cabbage and $12 Cocktails

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For our monthly girls’ night, we picked Bar Milpa. We’d heard Duncan Ly and a new crew had taken over the kitchen. And days earlier, the Calgary Herald ran a piece on the restaurant shakeup, which I took as a sign from the culinary gods. Before Milpa, we’d had wine at my place. I poured Kournikova, Betty, and Québécoise wines from my recent Metrovino tastings. For this post, let’s listen to Tame Impala – Dracula.

The room itself surprised me; it was a dark teal and quieter than I expected for a Friday. The last time we were here, we were stuck in the back corner by the bathroom, which felt like I was sitting in WestJet’s ultra-basic economy. This time we sat smack in the middle of the room.

Milpa focuses on Latin-inspired beverages. Betty, Kournikova and I started with Pineapple Nom-Nom, cold and bright, and refreshingly priced at only $12. I always order whatever Kournikova selects, as she knows her cocktails and doesn’t like them sweet. Québécoise picked Blue Drank with Tito’s vodka ($12).

The first dish to come out was the Tuna Tostada ($16). The tostada was crunchy, loaded with fresh tuna. It made for a great bite, salty, saucy, with a little heat underneath. I was pleased to see how much tuna they piled on. With seafood prices what they are, most Calgary restaurants aren’t this generous. This was everyone’s favourite dish of the night.

Betty’s second favourite dish was the Scallop Crudo ($22). The scallops were clean-tasting and not fishy. The pickled chilis added heat, and the rhubarb leche de tigre gave it a nice pop.

The Elote ($15), which is a shaved sheet of corn, came piping hot. Crunchy and cheesy, each nibble gave way to sweet, salty kernels.

For our second drink, Betty, Kournikova and I had the Patrón Margarita ($19), while Québécoise chose a Ma-W-Eh Hi-Ball ($12). The margarita was good too; citrusy, salty on the rim, potent yet smooth.

We ordered the 6 oz Flank Steak ($22) medium rare. It came out closer to well done, though the presentation was beautiful.

The Seared Cabbage ($17) fires off on all cylinders. The cabbage was hot and tender, yet still crispy. The whipped feta was decadent, the salsa macha smoky, and the candied peanut sweet. Nom, nom, nom! Milpa serves one of the best versions of charred cabbage in the city. I made a mental note to bring my friend Lululemon to Milpa. She’d appreciate the vegetarian dishes and the cocktails.

Another must-order is the Quesabirria Taco ($14). I dipped the taco into the steaming-hot consommé and bite through the crackly shell. I loved the blistered edges of the taco and the flavour bomb of the meat, salsa, and cheese. I had to suck back juices from the beef brisket. It was messy in the best possible way.

We were all happy with our experience. What I appreciated most was how hot each dish was and how fresh the raw appetizers were. It was also nice to enjoy twelve buck Pineapple Nom-Nom instead of the standard $20-and-up cocktails at most bars. Don’t get me wrong, I know alcohol is expensive, and restaurants need to make money to keep running. But whenever I see a well-priced drink, the inner student in me squeals with glee.

On the way out, we ran into Trevor Nguyen, the general manager, and André Bueno, the bar manager. We chatted with them briefly and thanked them for such a great meal. Congrats to Duncan and the team on the delicious revamp of the menu.

Want more like this? Check out my running list of Calgary’s best restaurants, date nights, and cheap eats.

Delta · Mexican · Restaurants

Four Winds Brewing Co. Taproom Review: Tacos in Delta, B.C.

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Chew Steel and I returned to B.C. to visit my family and stayed with my brother, Narc. Shortly after arriving, we took my nephew and niece, Roblox and Jellybean, to Four Winds Brewing Co. Taproom for tacos. Let’s listen to “Raining Tacos” for this post, a song Roblox likely knows all too well.

The taproom sits in a strip mall in an industrial area in Ladner. There isn’t much to look at outside, but inside, the room was busy with locals and people stopping in during their work breaks.

Chew Steel and I left the kids at the table while we went inside to order. Before leaving, I reminded them not to talk to strangers, then noticed the two men sitting at the next table. I hoped they didn’t take it personally. I just wanted to return both children safely to my brother.

We ordered at the counter, where the friendly staff told us they would bring everything to our table. We ordered lemonade ($3.95), an Original Saison ($7.50), salsa and chips ($10), five pork carnitas ($5.75), two Baja fish ($6.50) and four Bang Bang shrimp ($6.50) tacos.

The kids’ lemonade arrived in a modest pour, and both agreed it tasted a little like Gatorade. My saison was bubbly and fruity, with a crisp finish and enough depth to keep it interesting.

The salsa and chips were addictive. The thick-cut chips arrived warm and tasted homemade, while the salsa roja was thin and almost broth-like, with a gentle kick. Jellybean is sensitive to spice, so her tingling tongue confirmed that there was at least some heat.

The pork carnitas featured crispy roasted pork, charred pineapple salsa, radish, cilantro and cheese. The meat was juicy, with crisp, charred edges and a pleasantly salty flavour. A spoonful of leftover salsa brought everything together. Roblox enjoyed this taco, although he thought the kitchen could have been more generous with the pork.

The Baja taco came with a large piece of line-caught ling cod, coleslaw, chipotle aioli, green cabbage, pico de gallo and cilantro. The fish was crunchy, although the thick batter was a little oily. The house-made tortilla was soft and tasted fresh. This was the heartiest of the three tacos and the one I would order again.

The Bang Bang shrimp was topped with spicy sauce, guacamole, shaved red onion and pico de gallo. The shrimp was large and its batter crisp, while the toppings added freshness to each bite. I particularly liked the chunks of avocado and the sauces. Despite its name, I didn’t find it especially spicy. Jellybean disagreed, but she enjoyed her tacos.

Three tacos were enough to fill me up, but heartier eaters may want to order more. Roblox had eaten a late breakfast and still wasn’t full after three pork carnitas. With an early dinner ahead of us, he decided not to order another.

Four Winds may not offer much of a view, but the tacos were very good, my saison hit the spot, and the staff were hospitable. Come to this location for the food, not the scenery. If you want both, Four Winds also has a beach house location in Tsawwassen.

Want more travel recommendations? I keep a running collection of restaurant and travel guides organized by city.

Bars/Lounges · Curry · Indian · Mexican

La Hacienda & Himalayan Nepali Cuisine

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After Christmas and before my first chemo appointment, I wanted to go out for cocktails and a bite to eat. December was a month of indulgent platters from Peasant Cheese and memorable meals at Cassis Bistro, Sukiyaki House, and The Exchange Restaurant. January, by contrast, is about cooking nourishing foods, rest and gentle exercise. For this post, let’s listen to “Clean” by Taylor Swift.

Our first stop was La Hacienda, located in Calgary’s Marda Loop neighbourhood. This bar and its family of restaurants, such as Bar Rocca and DOPO, are difficult to find if you aren’t a regular or from the area. While locals may find this quirky characteristic charming, when the weather is -27, I was not amused. Lucky for us, our server/bartender, a man with large expressive eyes and floppy brown hair, offered us cocktails and conversation well worth the chilly adventure over.

We sat at a table between the bar and the washroom. The green print wallpaper, framed photos and lamps give a calming 1920’s vibe, like you’re sitting in your fancy aunt’s parlour, but it’s loaded with booze.

Our first round of drinks were nice, but it the second round, based on our server’s recommendation, was the winner. Tequila Margarita ($17, plus an upcharge for Don Fulano Blanco). I love a good margarita, but this one? Pure bliss. I didn’t see the bill, but it tasted like it was worth every nickel. More complex than a basic margarita but still dangerously easy to sip, with tropical vibes and a hint of grapefruit.

Our server ended the night with a taste from La Hacienda’s portfolio, a super damn delicious sake. It was light, with a softer, gentler flavour than most sakes I’ve tried. Next time I’m at Sukiyaki House, I’m going to show Judith this label and ask her thoughts on this sake.

We learned a lot from our server. He knew all about where these unique bottles were sourced and who the producers were. He also told us the food served at La Hacienda is created by the head chef at Penny Crown, formerly from DOPO. If you haven’t been to this cocktail bar, go! Hopefully, you will get the same experience we received.

Chew Steel and I were planning on dining at DOPO next, but our reservations got mixed up. Instead, we head back to our hood to the Himalayan. Ah, we could spot Himalyan’s clear signage a mile away, even with my poor eyesight. Despite arriving as the last customers of the night, our servers assured us to take our time.

I knew what we wanted: Machha Ko Jol ($26), Cha Chau Noodles with Chicken ($23), a side Daal ($6) and extra naan ($4). The Maccha curry is usually my favourite, but the pieces of fish seem more mushy and lack the tantalizing toothsome bite they had on previous visits.

The Cha Cha noodles were superb! The noodles were al dente and chewy, tangled up with crunchy cabbage and carrot strands. And the chicken was juicy and tender, nicely flavoured from what tasted like a high-temperature wok or grill. The chau chau noodles never disappoint, nor does the Himalyan Eggplant dish, which we usually order.

The next restaurant outing I have planned is Penny Crown, another restaurant part of the burgeoning empire of tiny restaurants. I waited 30 days before my birthday to book Penny Crown because it is so popular. Based on the buzz alone, I’m expecting something special —as in Bar Gigi, Sukiyaki House, Cassis level good. To be continued.

Want more like this? Check out my running list of Calgary’s best restaurants, date nights, and cheap eats.

Mexican

Masa Mama: Tacos in Calgary

January 11, 2025June 24, 2026 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

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 La Chona.

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.

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.

Want more like this? Check out my running list of Calgary’s best restaurants, date nights, and cheap eats.

17th Ave · Mexican

Milpa: Tacos time on 17th Ave

September 22, 2023April 12, 2026 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

On Friday, my friends Kournikova, Betty and Quebecois and I went out for dinner at Milpa, located in Calgary’s Beltline, right off 17 Ave. As per our tradition, we gathered at one of our houses for a drink before heading to the restaurant. Let’s listen to “About Damn Time” by Lizzo for this post.

When we arrived, Milpa was less than half full. We were seated in the back, right by the washrooms, which irritates me because it reminds me of when I get stuck with a bad seat on a plane. Unlike my fancy friends, I always fly economy. Our server was fine when I asked if we could move up to the middle of the room.

I noticed the majority of the crowd was a younger demographic. I can see the draw. Milpa is a lively restaurant on 17th Ave with reasonably priced food. For drinks, Betty selected an apple cucumber spritz ($8), I ordered a Palomina ($15), Kournikova tried the margarita ($15), and Quebecois ordered a gooder – a bottle of Vive la Loire Touraine Rose ($60). My icy cold glass sparkled with salt. I found my cocktail boozy from the Cazadores Blanco, which muted the grapefruit flavour.

I asked Betty to take pictures of the food, as the month earlier, I had gotten Kournikova to take the photos. Betty looked confused as to why I wouldn’t do it and Kournikova explained it was because I take horrible shots. It didn’t hurt when she said it because she’s right.

I was curious about the menu, as Kournikova told me her celiac hubby approved of the food. Our server guided us through the menu and ensured we didn’t over-order. We picked the coconut ceviche ($15), queso fundido ($17), el pastor ($45), pulpo al chentextle ($30) and for dessert, we requested all three cakes.

I thought there was seafood in the coconut ceviche, but after poking around, I realized it was vegetarian. The ceviche was cold and milky, and a touch sweet. I liked the tang from the pomegranate and the smooth bits of taro. Betty mentioned the coconut tasted clean and soft. She said she likes ordering dishes that she doesn’t make at home. The corn and plantain chips were delicious, fresh and crunchy.

I loved the queso fundido. The snow-white cheese was rich and melty, while the mushrooms were meaty morsels. The corn tortillas were warm and fragrant, with a nutty aftertaste. I liked how it was warm and heavy, so smooth to the touch it felt luxurious. I would order the queso fundido again.

The octopus was tasty, but it isn’t a must order. I did like the variation on the plate, from the pureed beans, grilled corn and spicy jalapenos.

Milpa nailed the fun factor in the el pastor. The pork was shaped like a mini roasted spit, which we carved ourselves. The pineapple was still warm and sweet. The flour tortillas were soft and pliable. We all agreed the el pastor was the winning dish of the night.

Kournikova complimented Quebecoise’s selection of wine, which she thought held up to the pork. Quebecoise retorted she always picks French rose, as it’s not usually sweet and goes well with spicy food. She also noted it was a reasonable price for a bottle at a restaurant.

We tried all the desserts and enjoyed them except for the vegan cake, which was good but couldn’t compete with chocolate, caramel and whipped cream.

After we paid our bill, our server brought us a little shooter of slushy deliciousness and Betty, our designated driver, a candy bar. We cackled and howled at this unexpected treat and, after toasting, merrily went back home. I plan to return with L in tow for more el pastor and non-vegan desserts.