Best Shawarma or Banh Mi in Calgary

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by Komskies

I saw this on reddit a couple of days ago. I can't verify their findings but thought the technical analysis was pretty funny.

https://www.documentcloud.org/docume...donairs-1.html

Ha, this is awesome. I need to find this Pita Express place.

[station]

When I had my studio near Kensington we used to go to Shawarma and Falafel City all the time. That place was amazing, they used a pita but also wrapped the whole thing in a really thin kind of sweet bread wrap that they made in house. Does anyone know if it’s still good? I haven’t been in a couple years but I’ll be visiting Calgary this summer. One of the worst parts about living in a small town is the diversity of food options.

[CRXguy]

Originally Posted by nik-

Siagon Deli in the strip mall beside Lucky Supermarket?

That place is really good too.

Another vote for Saigon Deli. Grab the appetizers they have as well.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

On Trung Nguyen:

My wife and I both ordered the chicken satay banh mi.

The vegetables were mostly very good, but the onion could have been marinated a little longer to soften it more.

The baguette was perfect. Crispy, but didn't cut the roof of my mouth when I bit into it. Soft and delicious insides.

The cheese and sauce were top notch. They really played off each other.

The chicken was a little squishy in terms of texture, but overall, pretty good flavor.

My one problem was that they used sliced jalapenos for the peppers instead of the little thai chilis that Thi Thi uses. For that reason, it's just a hair worse than Banh Mi Thi Thi as far as this food critic is concerned. Still a 9.5 out of 10.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by _Q_

Jimmy's is horrible. That place gets by on reputation only.

Having tried a selection of spots, Jimmy’s is good. Great food across the board in my opinion, great people.

The best? That’s subjective, people are going to like what they like and prefer different things. But horrible Jimmy’s ain’t. It gets by not on reputation, but because when people go to it, they enjoy it, so they go back.

You see a lot of familiar faces at the beltline location during the lunch rush. We’re not there because it’s called “Jimmy’s.”

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by bossy22

Ha, this is awesome. I need to find this Pita Express place.

In the +15 directly south of shell Center.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Weitz

In the +15 directly south of shell Center.

Oh that's Pita Express? I've eaten there before, it's good, but not my favourite. I seem to recall their pita being kind of weird, thin and borderline cracker like?

[Kswiss]

Originally Posted by nik-

it's really all about Trung Nguyen for banh mi. I'm still partial to Chick Pea on 8th ave for shawarma, but I don't really eat them often.

Definitely the best in the city.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by nik-

Oh that's Pita Express? I've eaten there before, it's good, but not my favourite. I seem to recall their pita being kind of weird, thin and borderline cracker like?

I find it very hit or miss. When it hits though it’s great.

They have a newspaper article about that “research study” on the wall haha.

[TopChed]

The best shawarma for me is Little Lebanon by Westbrook mall, but Jerusalem Shawarma is pretty decent too.

I like Jimmy's, but they're always a mess to eat and the proportions of veggies to meat is way too small for me. I haven't been to Jimmy's much since they opened their second location though.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Jimmy’s is not good.

Best Shawarma hands down is Shawarma Knights on 14th st SW. I recommend the Lamb Shawarma. Get the Tahini and sweet sauce

[robbie111]

Out of all that I've tried in Calgary and surrounding area the best Shawarma is in Okotoks at Almiras

[tete]

Originally Posted by nik-

plus they have the duck sub, which I haven't seen anywhere else, and is ridiculously good

Their duck sub may be the best Banh Mi in the city.

Another place in the SE is really good - Banh Mi Nhu Y - same complex as Hong Kong Supermarket/Pacific Hut

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Having tried a selection of spots, Jimmy’s is good. Great food across the board in my opinion, great people.

The best? That’s subjective, people are going to like what they like and prefer different things. But horrible Jimmy’s ain’t. It gets by not on reputation, but because when people go to it, they enjoy it, so they go back.

You see a lot of familiar faces at the beltline location during the lunch rush. We’re not there because it’s called “Jimmy’s.”

Jimmy's is to shawarma as Taco Bell is to Mexican food.

Sure there's a time and place for Taco Bell, as there's a time and place for Jimmy's. Maybe, you're drunk/high and you want to go out with the bros to eat something enormous, sloppy and containing an indistinguishable sauce. Or maybe you're a broke SAIT student that needs to maximize his calories/$ spent ratio. Or you're hungry and there's nothing else around. Or maybe you just don't know better.

That doesn't change the fact that Jimmy's, as with Taco Bell, sucks.

Obviously this is all in jest. At the end of the day, food is subjective, you can all eat whatever you like. Doesn't mean that I won't judge you a little if you suggest Jimmy's is the best shawarma in the city.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Jimmy’s is not good.

Best Shawarma hands down is Shawarma Knights on 14th st SW. I recommend the Lamb Shawarma. Get the Tahini and sweet sauce

I remember Shawarma Knights as well. They are excellent. Jimmy’s is still pretty dang good though.

[OutOfTheCube]

Shawarma Palace on 17th Ave is great. We tried the new one in Airdrie and found it not as good. There's another one in Airdire called Pita Basket that we liked better.

[CRXguy]

Why oh why do people like cheese in their banh mi?????

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by CRXguy

Why oh why do people like cheese in their banh mi?????

Cheese is like bacon - everything is better with it.

[White Out 403]

Eat a pita on 17th and Forest Lawn makes delicious Shawarma & Donair

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by nik-

plus they have the duck sub, which I haven't seen anywhere else, and is ridiculously good

Had to make a trip to Trung Nguyen to try out the duck sub thanks to this thread I had been there once before -- it was fine IIRC -- but hadn't tried anything else on the menu.

The sub was not what I expected... in a good way! I was thinking it would by the duck meat/duck fat providing the flavor and texture. Instead, it was duck meat in a light hoisin sauce -- similar to Peking duck wraps -- which hit the spot for me (as someone who prefers a little sweet over just savory/spicy). The soft baguette and cucumber completed the "Peking duck" experience, with the carrots and onions adding a bit of crunch as well.

The only downside is that I ate half right away (delicious!) and took the other half back to the office; unfortunately, by the time I got there the baguette had gotten a little soggy due to the additional sauce.

P.S. My usual go to for DT Banh Mi is Thai Tai (just south of the Bay), but the place has been so busy the last two times I've gone that I ended up going somewhere else.