Padmanadi Calgary: Indonesian Vegan Restaurant Review

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I took my parents out for lunch. I was initially going to take them to Pho Pham in Chinatown, but I noticed there were no vegetarian options. Boss Lady suggested Padmanadi so that Ludwig could have a wider selection of food. Let’s listen to Dai Dai for this post.

The last time I took my parents and in-laws out for dinner at Emerald Garden, Boss Lady complained that I hadn’t ordered enough lobster. I should have ordered two. That way, she said, everyone could eat lobster to their heart’s content. She was right. I tend not to order much because I don’t want to overeat. Boss Lady reminded me that I don’t have to eat it all. I just have to make sure there’s enough food for everyone at the table.

I took her unsolicited advice to heart when I ordered lunch. For the three of us, I picked: Satay with Peanut Sauce ($10), Deep Fried Tofu ($13), Roti Canai ($13), Curry Chicken ($22), Rendang ($20), Kwetiau Goreng ($19), Jasmine Tea ($3.75) and a small bowl of Jasmine Rice ($2.75). I didn’t order a fourth main dish because I wanted to leave room for dessert after Boss Lady spotted the deep-fried bananas with ice cream.

Our server, Hufsa, stood out for how genuinely thoughtful she was. Rather than having us order individual teas, she suggested we share a pot. I also appreciated the restaurant’s personal touches, from the bright yellow mugs with their sleek handles to the fresh lemon slices in our water glasses.

Ludwig watched eagerly as the food began filling our table. He quickly reached for a piece of tofu, but I barked that we hadn’t taken our pictures yet. He pulled his hand back, visibly annoyed, and sat looking a little sullen while we snapped a few photos. It was completely out of character for him. Normally, he sits back patiently and waits for Boss Lady to tell him which dishes are vegetarian.

I knew Ludwig would like the tofu dish. The plate was piled high with puffed-up, golden cubes of tofu. The outside was a thin, delicate layer while the inside was light and airy; it was like eating delicious, crispy air. The dipping sauce was sweet soy sauce, thick and dark like balsamic vinegar. Ludwig ate each piece like popcorn, a delighted smile stretching across his face.

I knew Boss Lady would enjoy the satay skewers. The faux chicken was soft and chewy, with crisp edges. The peanut sauce was generously applied and sweet, but not overpoweringly so. When I asked Boss Lady what she thought, she said everything was good. However, next time, she suggested skipping the chicken skewers and ordering the rendang instead, as she found the two dishes too similar.

The rendang was delicious, though it wasn’t as spicy as advertised. The faux meat was softer than beef, with a texture more akin to bean curd. Rather than swimming in curry, it was coated in an almost dry sauce with rich, nutty and roasted flavours. Some of the potatoes, however, were slightly undercooked.

Boss Lady closed her eyes with the first bite of kwetiau goreng, looking downright ecstatic. She pointed out that the bean sprouts were still crunchy and not overcooked. The thick, luscious noodles had the most delectable chew and were fragrant with smoky wok hei.

As Ludwig took a bite of the noodles, his face lit up. Gleefully, he announced that he was going to quote me, repeating a line I often use on my blog: “I would order this again!” I made a mental note to find some new material, though, in my defence, that’s genuinely how I judge whether a dish is good.

The yellow curry and noodles were my favourite dishes. The curry had a pleasant heat, and the mix of cauliflower, carrots and broccoli retained a clean, snappy bite. The faux chicken had a texture remarkably similar to the real thing, firm and springy, while the creamy curry was so good I could have drunk it. Boss Lady and I shared a bowl of jasmine rice to soak up the sauce.

The roti arrived piping hot. Ludwig tore into the bread with gusto. I enjoyed peeling apart its delicate, flaky layers before dipping each piece into the curry.

Boss Lady recalled the time she humoured Ludwig by going to a vegetarian restaurant in Richmond. Her assessment was blunt: the hostess looked mean, the restaurant was filthy, and she walked out. Padmanadi, she declared, was the exact opposite: modern, bright and spotless, with exceptional service. She’s right. Hufsa packed our leftovers, kept our teapot filled with hot water and, after noticing what messy eaters we were, brought us extra napkins. She even offered to take our picture at the end of the meal. Hufsa is the kind of server other restaurants should be trying to poach.

Ludwig noted that food goes down so smoothly when it’s vegetarian. I agreed though Boss Lady did not, as she moaned that she had eaten too much. She was even too full for her favourite dessert, deep-fried bananas with ice cream.

The food is so outstanding, Padmanadi is now on my list of best restaurants in Calgary. Boss Lady wants to bring my siblings here when they visit. Padmanadi also offers catering, something I’ll have to keep in mind for our next big family gathering.

Padmanadi: Vegan Takeout

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My father is back in town! To celebrate this joyous news, Chew Steel and I brought takeout to my parents’ house. I thought long and hard about where to order from and decided on Padmanadi, a vegan restaurant in Calgary’s Heritage / Kingsland area. Let’s listen to If You Leave by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark for this post.

I’ve eaten from Padmanadi Restaurant and Eatery at work events. I still remember how shockingly delicious their faux chicken drumettes and satay skewers were in 2024. This was the first time Chew Steel and Boss Lady had ever eaten at a vegan restaurant.

I ordered noodles, the Kwetiau Goren ($19), Ginger Beef ($21), Curry Chicken ($22), Coconut Rice (four orders, $12), Mushroom Tofu ($18), Spicy and Savoury Eggplant ($18) and the Fried Enoki Mushrooms ($16). The prices were reasonable for the quantity and quality.

The employee on the phone recommended adding fried enoki mushrooms for texture. When probed, he responded that the mushrooms hold up really well in takeout containers. He’s correct. This dish did add a contrast to the softness of the curry and rice. Boss Lady stated she liked all the dishes, though she nibbled the most on the enoki mushrooms.

Chew Steel’s favourite dish was the ginger beef, made from soy beef strips. Ludwig noticed a meaty chew to the ginger soy, with strands that mimicked the toughness of flank steak. I reassured him it was not meat.

The flat rice noodles were slick and smooth, thick and chewy. There was a generous amount of mock meat, and crunchy strands of carrots and bok choy. Ludwig thought the noodles were superb. We all appreciated the spicy heat. The noodles are a winner.

I was especially impressed with the heavy coconut curry. The faux chicken even had ridges that reminded me of chicken breast texture. The vegetables still retained their freshness and shape. The rich sauce was beautifully absorbed by the fluffy coconut rice. I would get this again.

For me, the standouts were the noodles and the curry chicken. I also liked how the vegetables in all the dishes still had a clean bite. It’s no small feat to time them so precisely, especially for takeout. Even the snow peas snapped lightly, with a touch of sweetness.

Chew Steel remarked that all the dishes tasted distinct from each other. Neither he nor Boss Lady missed eating meat. Ludwig was overjoyed that he could eat everything, as he’s normally restricted by his diet. He went back for three rounds.

We’re already looking forward to our next meal. I’m thinking of adding soy beef redang, roti, and the sweet-and-sour ‘shrimp’ to our order. Thanks, Padmanadi you were a parental success! Hitting the Sauce gives Padmanadi two phat thumbs up.

Happy Hour · Vegetarian

Vegan Street Calgary Inglewood Happy Hour Review

June 2, 2022April 30, 2026 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

After our wine tasting at Brick’s Wine Company, Sunflower and I wanted to grab a drink and bite to eat. As Sunflower is a vegetarian, I suggested Vegan Street. It turns out she’s already visited, and she’s a fan of the margaritas and food. Let’s listen to “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne for this post.

As I was lugging six bottles of wine, I walked slower than usual. Sunflower offered to take my bag partway, but I told her I could use the exercise as I neglect weights in my daily workout routine. She’s seven years younger than me, so she doesn’t know about the trials we older broads face.

We made it just in time for happy hour. Every day from 3:00-5:00 p.m., Vegan Street offers five-dollar draft beer and tacos and six-dollar margaritas, house wine, and tall beer cans.

Sunflower recommended the Charred Pineapple ($6). Oh man, these vegans don’t mess around with their cocktails. This margarita was even better than Anjeo. My drink was sweet but not sugary. I could taste the roasted pineapple and fresh citrus. I would order this again. This is easily the best margarita in the city.

I ordered two tacos. The No-Fish taco ($5) consisted of beer-battered palm hearts. The smooth, buttery texture and taste mimicked white fish so well that I couldn’t tell it wasn’t fish. I also enjoyed the burst of flavour from the ripe mango and sweet corn garnish. This taco is a winner.

The Korean Fried Chickin was huge, piled high with sweet deep-fried soy curls. This taco was messy to eat – the spicy aioli and kimchi would drip down and plop onto my plate. Of the two, I preferred the palm heart taco because I could still taste the soy in the chickin. The litmus test for vegetarian food is if it even better than what it seeks to imitate.

Sunflower tried three tacos – the No Fish, Asada Portobello, and the Pulled Porque. Of the three, her favourite was the Asada Portobello taco. I’ll have to come back and try this one. I noticed the tacos were all generously stuffed. What makes these tacos stand out are the creative ingredients, such as the grilled pineapple salsa, watermelon radish, and lime crema. When vegetables taste this good, you don’t miss the meat.

Thanks, Sunflower, for treating me to this delicious vegetarian experience. I’m keen to come back again and check out their other dishes. Hitting the Sauce gives Vegan Street to phat thumbs up.