For comfort cuisine, visit these greasy spoons in Calgary

Far from being a put down, the term greasy spoon is used as a term of endearment. When you just want simple, down-to-earth dining in a place that’s warm and friendly, these are the sorts of places that satisfy. Typically serving Prairie diner fare from bacon and eggs to hot hamburger sandwiches, many also serve Asian restaurant favourites, donairs, subs and more.

For comfort cuisine, visit these greasy spoons in Calgary
Ian Doig By

Japanese Restaurant

1
1201 9 Ave Se, Calgary, AB T2G 0S9

On the south side of the Inglewood strip, Delightful Cafe serves diner grub as well as western Chinese dishes and a full Vietnamese menu. A bright room with big west- and north-facing windows, this is a pleasant spot to people watch. If you’re in a comfort-food frame of mind, enjoy a basic Western breakfast, toasted fried-egg sandwich or roast beef with mashed potatoes and garlic toast.

Deerhead Cafe

2
3704 Edmonton Trail NE, Calgary, AB T2E 3P4

This shed-like diner on Edmonton Trail and 36th Avenue Northeast is known both for its wall-mounted namesake trophy buck and its loyal clientele. The eatery’s spare, wood-panelled interior gives it a comfortable, lived-in rec-room feel. The menu is 100 per cent small-town Prairie fare featuring entrees from the hot hamburger sandwich and clubhouse with fries to fish and chips and the double mushroom deluxe burger.

23rd Street Cafe

3
114B-2323 32 Ave NE, Calgary, AB T2E 6Z3

This busy little hole-in-the-wall eatery in Airways Mall serves a concise menu of Prairie diner breakfast and lunch favourites plus subs and donairs. Get yourself a clubhouse or any one of a number of satisfying sandwiches from fried-egg or chicken, to ham and cheese or corned beef.

Omega Cafe

4
5011 11 St Se, Calgary, AB T2H 1M7

Located in the Alyth-Bonnybrook-Manchester industrial area, the sparsely decorated eatery is done up in an understated ocean theme, its blue walls hung with netting and starfish. The prices and portions are just right: the former small and the latter substantial. Visit for Western breakfasts including a way-cheap sirloin steak with eggs. And drop in for lunch features such as steak sandwich, grilled cheese or a cheeseburger with bacon. Asian selections include wor won ton soup and Vietnamese spring rolls.

Dell Cafe

5
28-7930 Bowness Rd NW, Calgary, AB T3B 0H3

Bownesians are mighty fond of friendly little Dell Cafe, a neighbourhood Chinese and Western restaurant on Bowness Road Northwest. Favourites here include steaming bowls of wor won ton soup, ginger beef and chicken chow mein. Also order full breakfasts, burgers and oldies but goodies such as the Monte Cristo sandwich and beef liver with onions.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Oliver's Cafe

6
4099 Ogden Rd SE, Calgary, AB T2G 4P9

Cheap and cheerful, Oliver’s Cafe in Ogden serves a selection of Chinese and Western dishes. Choose from custom variations on wor won ton soup and ditto the humble cheeseburger. Slightly up-scaling the familiar greasy spoon menu, burgers, donairs, BLTs and such are served with home-cut fries. The place also serves Western breakfast combos and omelettes.

More from Ian Doig Ian Doig
Ian Doig’s week may include dim sum lunch with friends, rummaging through indie bookstore shelves as well as scribbling in his notepad at Calgary shops and farmers’ markets. It most often concludes with a relaxing Friday evening pint of locally brewed craft beer.
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