As we mark Savour Calgary’s fifth-anniversary issue, we’re reimagining our beloved “Favourite Things” feature to align with what our readers love most. This year, we’ve curated our “Fave Fives” across the categories you ask about most frequently, showcasing local gems, culinary inspirations and seasonal must-haves.

Now it’s your turn! We’d love for you to join the fun—share your own top picks with us and celebrate the local food scene.

Without further ado, here are Savour Calgary’s Fave Fives for 2024!

FAVE STEAKS

MODERN STEAK SOUTHPORT – 40 oz Tomahawk for 2
Psst. Over here. Don’t say anything, but with a few shared appies and sides, this steak is actually enough for four. Always cooked to perfection, this is our go-to
for double-date night.

CHAIRMAN’S STEAKHOUSE – 12 oz Striploin
Perfectly done by people who know what they’re doing in a beautiful dining room offering an upscale experience.

VINTAGE CHOPHOUSE – 14 oz Ribeye
When we don’t have the gas money to get to Chairman’s, we go to Vintage. We order this almost every time and it’s always done perfectly. Plus the servers are masterful industry veterans.

LONGVIEW STEAK HOUSE
There’s just something about enjoying a great steak while watching the sun set over the ranchlands it was raised on. A quintessential Alberta experience and one for the bucket list.

CAESAR’S STEAKHOUSE – Brant Lake Wagyu Gold Rib Eye
Caesar’s is a Calgary classic and it doesn’t get much better than Brant Lake Waygu. Expect all of the vintage favourites from table-prepped Caesar salad to cherries jubilee.

FAVE DISHES

JINBAR – Crispy Chicken Chips
We’re drooling just thinking about these salty, crispy, sinfully delicious snacks. Plus, Jinbar’s fried chicken is killer.

BOMBAY TIGER – Burrata Tokri Chaat
The crispy potato basket, tangy tomato chutney, creamy burrata and vibrant chutneys create such a unique flavour combination. It is surprising good and addictive.

CHEF’S EARTH – Banff Muesli
Fresh and delicious, this is a great way to start your day in a way your body will thank you for.

MILPA – Salsa Tasting
The corn, plantain and taro chips pair perfectly with the house-made salsas.

SALT & PEPPER RESTAURANT – Churro French Toast
When Mexico and France come together, it’s not just salsas. At Salt & Pepper, they do brunch in the form of Churro French Toast. And trust us, everyone wins

FAVE BARBECUE

JANE BOND BBQ – Chicken (and lots of other stuff)
Finding a piece of barbecued chicken that doesn’t require a gallon of sweet tea to wash down is a challenge. But Chef Jenny at Jane Bond has got the magic touch.

HAYDEN BLOCK SMOKE & WHISKEY – Beef Short Rib
This is a world-class treat that will serve two-to-three people so adjust your order accordingly. You’ll get smoky, fall-off-the-bone magic.

THE NOTORIOUS P.I.G. – Pulled Pork
We’re down with P.I.G.! The pulled pork is fantastic and keeps us coming back for more.

PRAIRIE DOG – Coterie Platter
This shareable platter is great for families with 1/2 chicken, 8-oz brisket, two sausages, chicken tenders, cornbread, fries and two sauces.

BIG SKY BBQ PIT – Ribs
In the summer, you’ll see dozens of motorcycles parked outside Big Sky just north of Okotoks on Highway 2A. They’ve told their spouses they’ve gone for a long ride on the 22x, but they’re really eating ribs at Big Sky. And that’s ok. Because they’re worth lying to your partner for.

FAVE TACOS

NOTORIOUS P.I.G. – Pulled Pork Tacos
Packed so full of pulled pork we can hardly eat three of them! But we do. Because we’re professionals.

MESTIZO – Suadero
The fish tacos are a crowd favourite, but we love the suadero tacos at this Fresh & Local Market + Kitchens hot spot.

TACOS MEXICO  – any taco on the menu
While tacos here have become Calgary’s worst-kept secret, they’re still very much worth the wait at their hopping Memorial Dr. location.

NATIVE TONGUES TACQUERIA – Hongos
You couldn’t pack another molecule of flavour into that tortilla…and it’s vegetarian!

DON TACO – Pork Belly Chicharron
These are the geniuses behind what used to be Mikey’s Tacos. Since the music venue moved to Bowness, Chef Alli Said put his heart and soul into his 4th St. N.W. location. And you can taste the passion.

FAVE DESSERTS

STARBELLY – Doughnut
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. This is the best dessert for your dollar in town, and we’re here for it.

ITALIAN CENTRE SHOP – Tiramisu
Do yourself a favour: Head to the Italian Centre bakery, order a cappuccino and a tiramisu and thank us later.

THE GUILD – Carrot Cake
Served with a house-made caramel sauce and complemented with a scoop of butter-pecan ice cream,this carrot cake is golden.

HAWTHORN DINING ROOM & BAR – Cinnamon Crunch Crepe Cake
This stacked dessert has become the stuff of legend in Calgary’s sweet-tooth circles. Treat yourself to a gorgeous brunch at this beautiful dining room while you’re at it.

NATIVE TONGUES – Donas
Sure, you’re expecting a churro for dessert at a taco place, but you will not be disappointed in these delicious donas. And guess what! They come in churro as well as glazed flavours.

FAVE FOOD TRUCKS

MERAKI ON THE GO
The upscale menu is flavourful and diverse. You’ve got to try their hand-rolled Gnocchi with Truffle Cream, the ‘Nduja Arancini and the Wagyu Beef & Brie Sliders.

UZU ICE CREAM
Try any of the unique and flavourful small-batch ice creams – they’re so creamy and totally delicious!

KRAVE
Try the Italian Meat Combo sandwich for a taste of it all. Plus, the 6-oz Beef Chuck Burger with Blue Cheese and Bacon is … awesome.

WONTON NINJA
These ninjas offer the freshest wontons with your choice of shrimp, chicken or pork. The rest of their menu is pretty great too.

MUMBAI BITES
Authentic Indian flavours and made-to-order dishes. You can’t go wrong if you’re in the mood for a taste of Mumbai. Try the Crunch Samosa Chaat or their Mumbai Bites Poutine.

FAVE PIES

BLACKFOOT DINER – Flapper Pie
It’s a controversial pick, we know, but when it comes to Calgary favourties, this mile high pie enjoyed in the kitschy grit of the Blackfoot Diner is an experience all its own.

FLAVOURS OF QUEBEC – Tourtière
When you need your car fixed, you go to a mechanic. When you need your teeth cleaned, you go to the dentist. When you need tourtière, you go to Flavours of Quebec. ‘Nuff said.

ALFORNO BAKERY & CAFE – Lavender Apple Tart
You know when you see something in the pastry case and you think, “Hmmm, that’s interesting. I wonder if it’s good?” If it’s the lavender apple tart at Alforno, the answer is yes. We were so chuffed to find this surprise gem of a pastry.

PIE JUNKIE – Steak & Gruyere
This unassuming pie is an absolute flavour extravaganza. It’s one of those meals where you just “mmmmm” after every bite.

MA PIES – Mushroom Mornay Pocket Pies
You know what’s better than pie? Pie you can put in your pocket and save for later. This umami bomb of a savoury hand pie will leave you wanting more.

FAVE SANDWICHES

STACKED IN OKOTOKS – Full Monty Cristo
This is a new restaurant for sandwich fanatics and it lives up to its name. This take on a old favourite is the perfect blend of sweet and savoury
and the dill pickle pasta salad side is fabulous.

CARRIAGE HOUSE – Clubhouse
It’s a classic sandwich at a classic Calgary hotel. Always fresh, the turkey is cooked in-house and the ratio of ingredients is always perfect. Sometimes, if they’re feeling generous, they let us have it on challah.

GRUMAN’S DELICATESSEN – Tuna Melt
Speaking of challah, something about this tuna melt gets us all…verklempt. But that’s Gruman’s for you. As Calgary’s go-to Jewish-style deli, you’ll find all of the favourites from matzo ball soup to lox and cream cheese.

MARKO’S KITCHEN  – Chevapi
This is the most flavour you can pack in a bun, bar none. The beautifully seasoned beef mini sausages were an instant favourite for us.

SPOLUMBO’S – Spolumbo Special
Any favourite sandwich list would be incomplete without a Spolumbo Special. It’s a no-fuss, all-flavour Italian sub with four meats, provolone and Spolumbos’ signature veggie spread on a Vienna roll.

FAVE FROMAGERIES

THE ITALIAN CENTRE SHOP
It’s our go-to for Parmigiano Reggiano – especially when Gino cracks open a new wheel!

SAY CHEESE FROMAGERIE
You’ll always find a great selection at a variety of price points here. The non-cheese items (charcuterie, crackers, vinegars etc.) are also thoughtfully curated by owner Isaac Bignell, who’s always ready with a warm smile, a quick joke and an epic knowledge of cheese.

SPRINGBANK CHEESE CO.
Carrie Lee and Adrian Waters are so knowledgeable about cheese, it’s a joy to visit and discover something new to try.

PEASANT CHEESE
With locations in Mission and Kensington, these cheese fanatics have a positively royal selection with more than 120 cheeses in the display case at any given time.

BRIDGELAND MARKET
This is a small-but-mighty cheese counter carefully curated by expert cheesemongers.

FAVE CHICKEN WINGS

BONASERA PIZZA & SPORTS BAR – Salt & Pepper
We sang karaoke here in the ’90s, but the chicken wings are why we go these days. Nothing fancy, just plump, juicy wings, salt and pepper and ranch on the side. Bonus: there’s no longer a trio of drunk 20-somethings singing “Total Eclipse of the Heart” while you’re eating.

BEST OF KIN – Smoked Chicken Wings
With a handful of flavours to choose from, they’re smoky, savoury, crispy and delicious. We can’t get enough of the Pickled Jalapeno Aioli that comes with every order.

MUGSHOTZ – Dill Pickle
It’s easy to get lost in the enormous Mugshotz flavour menu and it’s hard to make a choice. But once you do, you won’t be disappointed.

BUBBLEMANIA – Garlic Parmesan
We’ll let you in on a little secret: Some of the best wings in the city can be found at Asian restaurants. And some of the best of those can be found at Bubblemania. They’re big, they’re juicy and the Garlic Parmesan are our favourite. Try the Taiwanese Spice for something different.

LAST BEST BREWING – Korean Chicken Wings
These babies paired with Last Best’s Dirty Bird is just about as good as it gets.

FAVE KITCHEN STORES

ZEST KITCHENWARE
We could spend days in this store. And we have. Yvette and the team curate a beautiful selection of kitchenware and gifts, it’s a must when shopping for the home cook in your life.

BRITANNIA KITCHEN & HOME
In what might be one of the most delicious plazas in the city, you’ll find this home-cook’s heaven in the heart of Britannia and you’ll find a great gift for the foodie on your list – or for yourself.

THE COOKBOOK CO. COOKS
Founder Gail Norton opened this gem of a store 40 years ago! A culinary haven in Calgary, discover all kinds of kitchen tools, gourmet ingredients, even cooking classes to elevate your home cooking.

INSPIRATI
If linens are your weakness, Inspirati is your… in the most beautiful way. Find fine European dish towels, table cloths and more with a colourful collection of kitchen accoutrements you won’t soon forget.

LOCAL THRIFT STORES
We’ve discovered so many fabulous finds for our kitchens at Goodwill, Value Village, flea markets, antique stores and other purveyors of the weird and wonderful. Grab a friend and spend a day hunting for your next gem.

FAVE SAVOUR CALGARY COVERS

Thanks to Calgary’s talented community of artists, illustrators, photographers, food stylists and graphic designers, we’ve had some pretty great covers over the last five years.

We gathered the team and asked everyone what their top five favourite covers in five years were.

Find them all here: Savour Calgary Favourite Five Covers in Five Years

FAVE PIZZAS

PIZZA CULTURE – Quattro Formaggi with Truffle Honey
Three reasons to eat at Pizza Culture: It’s on the list of the world’s 100 best pizzerias, this quattro formaggi is a dream and the arancini is shockingly delicious.

AZZURRI PIZZERIA – La Testarossa
Mom Terry, and sons Faustino and Alessandro Ricioppo create authentic Italian pizza Napoletana and one of our favourites is the La Testarossa made
with spicy Calabrese salami, and spicy capicola.

MATADOR
SPIROS
Depending on where you grew up –in the north or the south – you either had Matador or Spiros as your favourite pizza joint. So, these two Calgary neighbourhood classics get a tie.

ACME PIZZA – Ananascosta
We love the balance of spice with pineapple. Yes, pineapple on pizza. We’ll fight ya.

NOBLE PIE – Saucy Mama
Noble Pie started as a back-alley pop up and has been a crowd favourite ever since. The Saucy Mama is a little tangy, a little spicy and a lot delicious.

FAVE LOCAL CHOCOLATE BARS

COCOCO CHOCOLATIERS – Rosemary Fusion Tablette
We thought it would be weird. We were wrong. This sweet and savoury bar is a rock star on charcuterie boards.

COCHU CHOCOLATIER – Candy Bar
We can’t resist this delightful mix of sweet & sour gummy candies in a chocolate bar.

SWEET BELLA CHOCOLATE
With so many innovative flavour combinations, we’ve never had one we didn’t like. The absolute perfect bar for s’mores.

SWEET GYPSY – Pretzel and Chips Dark Chocolate
Pretzels and chocolate are the perfect pairing and we can’t get enough of this dark beauty.

ALBERTA CARES – Chocolate Package
Thanks to Karen Anderson at Alberta Food Tours, we don’t have to look for the best of Alberta, she’s done it for us. Thanks, Karen. You’re the best!

FAVE BURGERS

BUCHANAN’S CHOP HOUSE – Bacon Cheddar Burger
We’ll be honest. We were sad when this burger was finished and we were staring at our empty plate. It was everything it promised and more. AND at happy hour, it’s just $15 (regular $25).

BOOGIE’S BURGERS – Don’t Fear the Reaper
Sure you have to take it apart to eat it, but it’s sinfully delicious, it’s got a great name and….Boogies.

PIGOT’S BURGER CLUB – Any pick
Moist, cheesy and made in smash burger style, these burgers ooze flavour.

CLASS CLOWN BURGERS – California Classic
A simple menu ensures great quality and ingredients and we regularly dream about the California Classic burger.

THE EDEN – The Eden Burger
When the ingredients are solid, the execution doesn’t need to be fancy and with ground chuck at the foundation of this excellent burger, it needs nothing but classic toppings to make it one of Calgary’s best.

FAVE FARMERS’ MARKET FINDS

KROOKED PROVISIONS – Dill Pickle Sauerkraut
Fresh & Local Market + Kitchens
The kraut is tasty on burgers and dogs. Or on a fork, right out of the container.

OXFORD BAKE HOUSE – Sausage Roll
Crossroads Market
The best sausage rolls, plus authentic and delicious Victoria sponge!

CHONGOS – Heirloom tomatoes
Crossroads Market
Grown in the southern Okanagan, these tomatoes add multicoloured brightness to any recipe.

2 GREEK GALS – Greek salad dressing
Calgary Farmers’ Market
Not only is it the best dressing for a Greek salad, we sautéed some leftover chicken in this for a midnight snack and it turned into midnight lunch because we couldn’t get enough.

TOTALITEA – We Goji Together
Calgary Farmers’ Market
Goji berries combined with Guava go together making this a refreshing tea. We buy this tea every single month, brew it, cool it and enjoy it over ice.