You have to be looking for Masala to find it. A couple of U-turns off of 52nd St are required if you miss it off of Memorial Drive. We walked into a fairly plain setting. The walls are devoid of character and the fluorescent lighting does nothing for the ambience. Do not expect a dining experience here.

We were welcomed into what appeared to be a family run restaurant by their teenage son. The father was on a laptop in the dining area and mom and siblings behind the scenes. The boy, friendly and well spoken, seated us immediately and passed the menus around. The menu covers the standard Indo-Pakistani dishes and is augmented by a host of South Indian and Sri Lankan dishes.

Our order of vegetable samosas, chicken tikka, beef kebab, naan, chicken biryani, butter chicken, chicken curry, beef kothu and masala dosa was taken without much fuss. There was a bit of confusion with the ordering of the sweet, plain lassi and the mango lassi (always is, it seems – mango lassi seems to be the preferred selling choice).

The lassis arrived right away. Both the sweet and mango lassis were best described as healthy tasting; fresh and not too sweet. A short while later the samosas arrived. These triangular, deep fried pastries were hot and steaming. They appeared to be right off the fryer, though they were not greasy at all. Stuffed with peas, potatoes and an assortment of spices, they were a delight. A crispy bite combined the light sweetness of the peas with the spiciness of the potatoes, all of which was complimented by a tamarind sauce. In short mmmmm.

The second appetizer was the beef kabab. Spiced ground beef infused with coriander leaves and cooked in a clay oven, it is usually quite good most places. Here it was tender, melt in the mouth goodness, with a kick at the end. There were some accompanying chutneys which were not necessary and bland.

The chicken tikka arrived. This dish, also cooked in the tandoor (clay oven), had a nice charcoal flavour to it. The moist pieces were quite enjoyable.
The main courses started to arrive in succession. The naan was fresh and crispy and definitely a more than adequate accompaniment to the curry dishes.

The chicken biryani was very good. The individual flavours of the cinnamon, tamarind and cloves were quite strong and made for a very flavourful dish.

Of the two chicked curries, the butter chicken was decent, while the chicken curry was not. The butter chicken had a slight lemony tang to it and was very
creamy. The curry, unfortunately, was cold and overwhelming. The spice balance was all wrong.

The two Sri Lankan dishes we ordered were exceptional. The masala dosa was beautiful in presentation. A golden brown folded crepe, inside which the masala (spiced) potatoes were hidden. It is accompanied by a lentil curry dip which makes this a fun and flavourful dish to eat.

The kothu is traditionally a staple dish consisting of cut up roti, spices and, in this case, beef. It is pleasing to the eye and brought out with wedges of lime (lemon). Squeeze the fresh lime over it and enjoy the multitude of flavours emanating from the various ingredients. There are very few places in Calgary serving this dish and in the opinion of our resident SriLankan, “Definitely reminds me of home!”. I liked it too!

Masala has a friendly atmosphere and good food. Lacking in ambience, it’s draw is the promise of authentic cuisine. Try a dine-in visit, but at the very least do get some take out.

We arrived in the early evening to find the place fairly deserted, there was but one occupied table. The staff was not very conspicuous and we had to seat ourselves. When the waiter finally arrived, he was very quiet and left behind a solitary menu for us mull over (between 6 people).

The ambience is drab at best. Dark curtains and upholstery cover the windows and the booth-style seating. The tables required a wipedown and we had to specifically request it. There was also no ambient music which only to the coldness of the atmosphere. On the bright side, once we settled in, a few take-out patrons came and went, suggesting some hope. It is definitely a hole in the wall!

We ordered the seekh kabab, chicken tikka, bhindi masala, butter chicken and chicken and goat karahis accompanied by naan and lassi (mango and sweet plain).

The mango lassi was quite tasty but with a watery consistency while the sweet lassi was thick, frothy and very good.

Our plates arrived prior to our meal and we had to send them back. The plates were covered in grease and grime and appeared unwashed. The second batch of plates were an improvement but definitely not satisfactory. However, we soldiered on.

The food arrived all at once except for the naan. When the naan came it was worth the wait. Fresh and crispy with a light slick of ghee, seemed to be right off of the hot clay walls of the tandoor (clay oven).

The seekh kabab was quite spicy but nothing spectacular, while the chicken tikka was excellent. Deep flavours, tender and not at all over cooked; it was definitely a good start.

Both the karahi dishes were very good. The cuts of meat were not choice but the beautifully marinated chicken in a thick gravy, garnished with caramelized onions and cilantro leaves, was quite the explosion of taste. The goat karahi was very spicy and had a strong ginger influence. Both dishes quite tasty especially with the naan.

The butter chicken here takes a different spin. Typically somewhat sweet and creamy, here it is tangy and tomatoey. Quite tasty!

The bhindi masala consisted of sauted okra, onions and garlic among a smattering of spices. This dish was rather bland by indo-pakistani standards but it helped bring out the taste of okra and was a welcome respite for some of our spice averse party.

The food here is good but the management need to make a concerted effort to lift the space; make it inviting and provide an environment that entices the palate rather than dulls. Service also leaves a lot to be desired. Take-out might be worth it but sit-in still has a way to go.

I arrived a little before my party at this Center Street eatery on the north side of the China Town bridge. I was immediately attended to and offered a large spacious booth adjacent to a pretty water fountain. The calming sound of falling water combined with the light ambient eastern music set a very relaxing, upscale mood. As I waited for my tardy party to arrive, I perused the dishes on offer which varied from the classic Persian kabobs to unique traditional Persian dishes I had not sampled before.

The space is tastefully decorated, with walls adorned with Persian artifacts and art. The classy black tables down the middle flanked by diner style booths give the place a character that would satisfy all walks.

We ordered the appetizer platter consisting of Kashk-e-bademjan, Mast-o-Khiar, Salad-e-Olivieh, and Dolmeh. The entire platter was accompanied by bite sized pieces of pita bread. The favourites were the Dolmeh and Kashk-e-bademjan.

The Dolmeh – a rice stuffed vine leaf, garnished with olive oil, mint and spices – is exquisite. Eaten in a single a bite, it releases a cacophony of flavours. The kashk-e-bademjan is one of the better eggplant dips I’ve ever had. The sweetness of the eggplant, caramelized onions and a hint of garlic ensure this dish is never left over. Every last bit was scooped up by the pita.

Our main courses consisted of Koobideh Kabob, Lamb Shank and Pomegranate Walnut Stew. All the courses were served with either saffron rice or dill and fava bean rice.

The Koobideh Kabob was also accompanied by some grilled tomato and onion. This skewered ground beef delicacy was tender and savoury and highlighted further by a light sprinkling of sumac (adds a lemony taste). Unfortunately, the flavours were too mild and didn’t leave a lasting impression.

The Lamb Shank was accompanied by the dill and fava been infused rice. The meat was tender, moist and fell away easily from the bone. The entire shank was served in a tomato based stew. It is a hearty and flavourful dish which leaves one yearning for another bite. It is well accompanied by the dill rice.

The Pomegranate Walnut Stew is a chicken dish. The ground walnuts release a fair bit of natural oil in a thirteen hour cooking process, which creates an oil slick over the entire dish. The chicken is so tender it literally falls apart with the nudge of a fork. The ingredients create a unique taste as the sweet and texture filled sensations intrigue and delight the taste buds. This dish is something else. I’ve never had anything quite like it, but I will come back for it.

The saffron rice that accompanied the majority of our dishes was disappointing. It is well cooked and presented, but the only hint of saffron is in the yellow tint of the rice. The large quantity served seems to compromise the saffron flavours and scents.

We ordered saffron ice cream, baklava and cardamom tea for dessert.

The pistachio infused ice cream, considered “One of the best 25 things to eat in Calgary”, is worthy of its claim to fame!

The sweet and nutty baklava, taken with the unsweetened cardamom tea, is also a fitting end to a very wholesome and flavourful meal.

The chef-owner of Shiraz regularly visits his patrons and shares his experiences. Strike up a conversation if you have time, he definitely has some interesting anecdotes.

Shiraz is one of the few halal places in Calgary that offers quality of service and ambience comparable to fine dining. It is a pleasure to dine here and the food will most likely have you coming back.

It was a glum and wintry Monday afternoon in Fort McMurray, as a huge sign beckoned me off of Franklin Avenue into a little strip mall. This is where one of the very few halal restaurants in Fort Mac, Mazaj, is located. The sign boldly advertised lunch specials which looked quite savoury as the hunger pangs began to exaggerate.

I walked into a well laid out restaurant with ample seating and adequate yet mood-less lighting. In fact, there was even room to incorporate more serving or seating.  The ingredients’ display at the rear was an array of salads, sauces and three different types of rice. Everything looked very fresh and appetizing.

I approached the counter to order lunch. I found the lady at the counter very curt and she promptly informed that there were no specials. She also wasn’t willing to entertain my questions as I pondered my order and kept on pointing at a pictorial menu that was fairly nondescript. I felt rushed even though I was the only one in the queue. During my meal, I witnessed another unconvincing encounter with the same server and a group of customers. She was quite rude!

My order consisted of the shawarma platter with a side of roasted leg of chicken. I was curtly informed to sit as she prepared my order.

The restaurant is clean and each table is adorned with a cute purple table mat. Disposable of course. The 5-minute wait flew by as I observed the restaurant interior, noting the ethnic diversity of the patronage.

Two plates arrived, one with the solitary leg of chicken and the other the shawarma platter. The shawarma platter consisted of a clove and cardamom flavoured rice, a lettuce and tomato salad, pickled turnip, raw onion, hummus and garlic sauces, and a whole pita. Of course morsels of chicken off the rotisserie were also heaped on. The salad was topped with an italian vinaigrette and the hummus sprinkled with olive oil and garnished with paprika.

The leg of chicken was very good. It had a crispy exterior with a moist and tender interior. It did have a greasy quality to it, which led me to suspect that it may have been partially fried prior to being grilled – but it was too good for me to bother confirming it. The flavours were simple and very well accentuated by the charred, charcoal taste of the grill.

The shawarma platter was a very generous helping. Oil sands worthy! The chicken was good. Not too dry and not too tough, it went down quite willingly – especially when accompanied by the garlic sauce. The salad was fresh and crisp. The rice was overwhelmed by the taste of cloves though, a little dry and otherwise tasteless. It was especially disappointing because they do offer lebanese roasted potatoes as an alternative, but I wasn’t given the choice while she was preparing my plate. I imagine they would have been a more than adequate substitute. The pita was dry and served unheated; I didn’t even venture to taste it.

Mazaj also has wraps and some skewered kababs on the menu. Interestingly, they don’t serve donair or lamb shawarma.

The light Arabic music and decent food make this place one of the better options in Fort McMurray, only because it’s one of the city’s very few halal eateries. With some improvements in service and extra attention to their dishes, this place could begin to compare to big-city Lebanese eateries.

Slightly more than a handful of us walked in on a chilly Sunday, around midday, in search of a unique brunch experience. We sauntered into a deserted restaurant and had to find our own seats as there was no one to usher us in. There was a distinct air of disorganization in the restaurant as we then had to ask for the menu. This, after a member of the staff had finally acknowledged our presence and had been hovering around for a few minutes. It seemed they had just opened, although we were arriving two hours after the posted opening time.

There are no obvious halal signs posted in the restaurant but a quick conversation with the server, and later on with the owner, confirmed that all meats served are halal and the chicken is even free range. The menu boasts South Indian and Sri Lankan specialties, many of which were new to us. The server patiently responded to our questions as he served water at the table. The service by now had improved and the restaurant seemed to have “woken up”. We proceeded to order, reorder and modify our order for what seemed like an age. It was an exercise in patience for our waiter, but he did persevere. The order consisted of Masala Vada, Idly with Sambar and Appam as appetizers and entrees which included 3 different types of dosas and a few Sri Lankan dishes. We also ordered some masala chai (spiced tea) as a pre-appetizer.

The ginger infused milk tea had a calming effect on the group as everyone settled in after the ordering frenzy. The decor is a mix of tasteful pictures and artifacts from Sri Lanka and India, and a gaudy arch of artificial flowers over the main entrance further emphasized by the thin translucent curtains. It does have charm and one can see how it could have an ambience in a dimly lit setting. However, fluorescent lights prevail.

The food didn’t take long to arrive. Masala Vada, the first appetizer, resembles a patty. Consisting of chick pea flour, whole chick peas and flavoured with bay leaf and onions among other exotic spices, this deep fried patty was full of texture and flavour. The accompanying coconut and red chilli chutney are quite good and the red chutney ensures that the dish leaves you tingling.

The next two dishes were plain Appam and Egg Appam. Appam is best described as a hybrid between a pancake and a crepe made from rice flour. It has a unique soft and spongy texture and tangy taste to it. Add some coconut chutney and this dish melts in the mouth. The addition of a runny sunnyside up egg was unremarkable and in fact took away from the dish.

Idly with Sambar was the last of the appetizers. This looks like a compact Appam and is a steamed rice cake. It was topped with spicy coconut flakes for texture, and came with a coconut chutney and lentil curry for dipping and flavour. It was very good and but also very spicy!

The mains followed swiftly and before we knew it our table was over loaded with an assortment of dishes. The beautifully served Dosas were definitely the highlight dish in terms of aesthetics. The rolled, rice flour crepe served on a shiny silver platter was accompanied by the red chutney and lentil curry. The crepes are stuffed with an assortment of fillings. We ordered the Masala Dosa, the Minced Chicken Dosa and the Palak Paneer Dosa. The Masala Dosa is stuffed with diced potato, cooked in tomato with an assortment of indian spices including turmeric and garam masala. The Palak Paneer Dosa comprises of cubes of cottage cheese (paneer) and spinach, while the Chicken Dosa is filled with a stir fry of chicken, peas, onions and chillis. The crepe itself is very good. Combine this with the stuffing, a dip in the red chutney and lentil curry and its phenomenal. The best one was the simplest one which is also the classic – Masala Dosa. The others are also quite good.

The Sri Lankan Chicken Curry was next. It was served with rice and garnished with cilantro which made for a pretty dish. Unfortunately, the chicken was very tough and not at all enjoyable. When we did mention it, the owner did bring out another version of the same dish but with boneless chicken. The gesture was definitely a testament to the improving service throughout the meal.

The last two dishes we sampled were String Hopper and Lamb Kothu. String Hopper are vermicelli noodles assembled in the shape of a patty accompanied with Sri Lankan Lamb Curry. The curry overwhelmed the noodles but the lamb was soft and succulent. The recurring theme of poorly cut meat was present here too.

The Lamb Kothu is a melange of mutton, egg, vegetables, chillis, shredded corn flour roti and a wedge of lime. We squeezed some lime juice over the dish and dug in. The taste of the lamb accentuated by caramelized onions and hot chillis made this my favourite dish.

We also sampled some above average mango lassi and were treated to some friendly banter by the owner. She has quite the story, but only inquire if you aren’t in a hurry.

Canada Dosa Corner occupies a unique place Calgary’s ever diversifying culinary scene. There are definitely some excellent dishes on offer which you may not find elsewhere. The dosas are amazing and the Sri Lankan dishes a treat. An improvement in the service and some delicate decorative changes could make this place an icon in the South East. If you feel like something new, try this place.

Update: Lunch at the Edmonton Trail Location

This place doesn’t have much seating and the few bar stools along the window and a couple of two seater tables among some Middle-Eastern artifacts, make it feel a little cluttered. Traditional Lebanese and Mediterranean dishes are offered here and include all the regulars like donair, chicken, baklava, falafel, pastries, etc.

I ordered a chicken shawarma wrap with smashed falafel balls. Not many places in Calgary quite understand how to serve this, but this place didn’t require step by step instructions and he lay and smashed the falafels over the hummus and garlic sauce expertly. I also ordered the fetair pastry as an additional item.

At first bite, the a falafel is a bit salty, but as you progress through the pita, the well proportioned fixins combine well with the sauces and the chicken. A tasty pita!

The fetair’s pastry was soft and soggy; probably the result of being reheated in the microwave. The ground beef, infused with onions and assorted spices was lemony and flavourful. It could have been amazing had the crust been firm and crispy.

The service is quick, efficient and friendly.  The drone from the exhaust fan drowns out the tv and can be slightly annoying after a while. Unlike most shawarma joints where fresh ingredients are proudly on display, here they have covered the glass with a photo of the ingredients. This struck me as quite odd and doesn’t inspire much confidence. They do serve a decent shawarma which make for a healthy and fulfilling lunch.

Located where the 8th and 8th Deli Cafe used to be, this shawarma joint offers the downtown masses an early breakfast and coffee. It appears to be a satellite store of the popular Calgary Shawarma eatery on Edmonton Trail.

We arrived for an early breakfast in an attempt to ensure an excellent work day ahead. The breakfast menu was a chalkboard outlining about eight breakfast dishes, varying from pan fried eggs to eggs benedict and everything in between.

The service was friendly, familiar and very patient. He had to be, as we ordered the breakfast burrito and the two eggs hash browns and toast meals, but insisted on having some of his donair meat added on as a side. After some convincing he caved and put some fresh donair meat on the rotisserie for us. We settled down with some tasty medium roast coffee, excited by the prospect of having meat served with our breakfast.

The breakfast burrito was very enjoyable. The eggs, fresh green pepper, onions and other assorted veggies were cooked to perfection and wrapped in a sumptuous tortilla. Some donair meat added to each mouthful and the dish went from being excellent to heavenly.

The pan fried eggs were slightly more than over easy and the quality of toast could have been better. Nonetheless, it’s hard to go wrong with eggs, toast and hashbrowns. Top that off with slices of donair and it was delicious. An assortment of jams helped the toast out and the entire meal was devoured in minutes.

Good coffee, good food, friendly service and fair prices make this an ideal pre-work stop. They also carry baked goods for those in a rush. One can only hope the donair meat addition catches on, otherwise make sure to ask! If the breakfast is anything to go by, I must return for the shawarma.

On the border of Alberta and Saskatchewan, among a multitude of fast food restaurants and diners, this was the only place which could possibly offer halal food. The windows advertised typical mediterranean dishes ranging from wraps to platters and skewers. Unfortunately, the restaurant only offered chicken and donair shawarma wraps. When asked about whether the food was halal or not, the server did not hesitate to confirm the ‘halalness’ of the food. There was no visible signage.

I ordered a mixed shawarma which comprised of chicken, strips of donair, lettuce, tomato, onion, and hummus, garlic and tzatziki sauces. There were other ingredients available but the very well known and almost expected tahini (sesame) sauce was not. The donair meat was tasty and spicy while the chicken was good but a tad salty. Overall, the fresh ingredients, decent meats and fast service make this a good shawarma place, especially for Lloydminster!

This beautiful, lakeside restaurant nestled in the picturesque Well Gray Provincial Park serves the town of Clearwater and its seasonal guests.  The several amazing waterfalls and pristine lakes in this region make it a must visit, yet halal food is not very easy to find if at all. In these situations we tend to default to fish and vegetarianism.

The restaurant is very cozy and quaint. A wooden patio, with radiant heaters for the chillier nights, overlooks the Dutch Lake and sets the scene for a lovely backdrop. The ‘halal’ entrees on the menu comprise of a couple of fish dishes and some vegetarian pasta.

The rainbow trout and vegetarian ravioli were ordered. The rainbow trout arrived topped with crusted cranberries and walnuts. The plating was quite pretty and the already whet appetites began to crave. The cranberries and walnuts added a lovely texture and a soothing lingering sweetness but unfortunately the trout was overcooked and flaky. The sides though, were exceptional! The fresh local sweet roasted red pepper, half boiled carrots and a baked potato with sour cream and green onions, almost redeemed the meal. A little more care and this dish would be one to remember.

The vegetarian stuffed ravioli was quite tasty. Served with a creamy sauce, parmesan and stuffed with cheese and veggies, it was quite enjoyable.

Finally, to stuff the already full, we ordered from the array of desserts. They were quite tasty and were a fitting filling end to the meal.

The Painted Turtle is beautifully located, elegantly simple and topped off with good service. This is a definite stop when in the area.

Lying just off the main uptown strip, on the corner of 17th and 10th, Tarboosh is a regular stop for late night revellers and those looking for a quick healthy bite to eat. I wandered in over the lunch hour and was surprised to find less than a handful of customers. The place is clean, spacey and has a pleasant ambience which encourages one to stay for the meal.

I ordered a chicken shawarma sandwich with Ayran (yoghurt drink) to wash it down. The lady at the cash was hesitant and seemed unsure of herself yet she was quite pleasant. The shawarma was prepared fairly briskly by a different, more curt lady. I did not understand the hurry seeing as I was the only one there. I requested pickled chilli peppers in my sandwich but she refused accommodate me, citing a barrage of unconvincing reasons. She did however, bring me a couple on the side once I had commenced my meal and redeemed herself.

The chicken was a little better than ordinary and it combined well with the garlic, hummus and tahini flavours. The fixings, comprising of lettuce, tomato and turnip, were fresh and tasty. There a was hint of sweetness in the meat which was further emphasized after a bite of the pickled chilli pepper.

The wrap is prepared from a combination of pita and a house made pastry  - margoog dough. The shawarma was served tightly wrapped on some wax paper on a tray. I feel that at least one of the ends should have been put into a bag to prevent leaks while eating it, just like they did for take out wraps. The wrap was not grilled long enough and instead of being mildly crunchy the margoog was chewy. The salty/sour Ayran was served cold and was quite tasty.

Tarboosh is a typical mediterranean restaurant offering fresh food. The staff are still learning it seems – a request for wholewheat pita was not easily understood. The service is ok and the food is decent.

Just north of Falconridge, in the increasingly expanding Saddletowne area lies this recently opened, clandestine gem of an eatery. It’s a small place, with only six tables and a front counter. It has the aura of a take-out restaurant and, indeed, while we were there most of the walk-in customers did not stay.

The in-table menu (the menu was literally under the glass tabletop) is quite elaborate, with dishes ranging from the classics – butter chicken, karahis, etc. – to hakka cuisine. We were greeted by a pleasant and knowledgeable server who helped us with the selection of dishes. A whole day of fasting had gotten the better of our decision-making abilities, and his advice helped immensely.

We ordered the BBQ platter which consisted of a variety of kababs and tikkas as an appetizer. The entrees were butter chicken, mutton karahi and chilli chicken accompanied by naan. To combat the imminent spiciness, we also got some mango and sweet lassi.

As we waited for the food to arrive, a closer look at the menu informed of a halwa puri breakfast special available on the weekends. A glance at the display counter revealed an array of Pakistani sweets that are imported directly from Karachi (featured on CBC).

Our food finally arrived – all of it. Unexpectedly, the appetizers were served at the same time as the entrees. The naan was fresh, hot, fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. The salad and chutneys accompanying the meal were good, but the presentation of the chutneys was weak. There was stray chutney all over the edges of both bowls.

The BBQ platter was mouthwatering at first glance and did not disappoint. The platter consisted of tikka boti, chicken tikka, seekh kabab, behari kabab and reshmi kabab. The tikka boti was amazing! The soft, succulent beef cubes, mildly spiced and slightly tangy literally melted in the mouth. The boneless chicken tikka was just shy of excellence, as it could’ve used a little more salt. Still, the deep, red colour and tenderness of the chicken was both a sight to behold and a taste to savour and devour. The seekh kabab was above average, but there is definitely better out there. The behari kabab is a thinly-sliced steak prepared on a skewer. It was lightly charred and had a smoky aroma and flavour. It showed promise, but the meat was tough and chewy. It was my first time eating reshmi kabab, and it was good. Infused with whole cumin and corriander, this minced chicken delight was well prepared and tasty.

Butter chicken! Yes, the excitement had been building. It’s not bad here. Hearty helpings of chicken were definitely a plus. The sauce however, was slightly tangy for butter chicken. I like mine a tad on the sweet side and definitely creamier.

The chilli chicken reminded one of chicken jalfrezi. The ‘chilli’ in this dish was evident. The hakka flavours were enhanced by the heat and resulted in better than adequate dish.

The final entree, mutton karahi, was excellent. The tender meat was drowned in a thick and savoury curry. Slivers of ginger garnish and the crispy naan as a complement, complete this tasty dish.

The sweet lassi was very good and provided respite from the spices. The mango lassi was average and did not possess the soothing qualities of the plain yoghurt goodness.

The gentleman serving us insisted that we order their famous faluda for dessert. Faluda consists of ice cream, vermicelli noodles, rose syrup and assorted fruits served in a glass with a sprinkling of crushed pistachio and basil seeds on top. His insistence was justified, as the dessert was a fitting end to an enjoyable meal. A few icy chunks of ice cream were the only complaint.

Royal Tandoor is relatively new at 4 months old. This unassuming restaurant offers friendly service and amazing food. We even ordered additional take-out to bring home. If you’re looking for good Pakistani food, this is the place to go!