RankedRestaurantsCalgary, Canada

Best Ginger Beef in Calgary

Ginger beef is Calgary's gift to the world. It was invented here in the mid-1970s at the Silver Inn Restaurant, where chef George Wong deep-fried shredded beef and tossed it in a sweet-and-spicy chili-ginger-garlic sauce as a snack to pair with drinks. Diners assumed the heat came from ginger and started asking other Chinese restaurants for 'ginger beef,' and a Canadian-Chinese classic was born. The real thing is crispy, sticky, not too sweet, with a high beef-to-batter ratio. This list honors the birthplace and ranks the best plates you can actually order in Calgary today. Note: the original Silver Inn closed in 2022, so it's listed here as the historic origin rather than a current pick.

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6 entries11 votesAdded Jun 30, 2026

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Silver Inn Restaurant (the birthplace — now closed)

Where ginger beef was invented in the mid-1970s by chef George Wong. Critic panels still rated its ginger beef the best in Calgary, praising the beef-to-batter ratio and that it wasn't too sweet. Permanently closed in October 2022 when the owners retired; included here for its historic status, not as a current dining option.

2 pros · 1 cons

Ginger Beef Peking House (Brentwood)

Part of the Ginger Beef family near the University of Calgary in Brentwood Village Mall. Crispy ginger beef is the signature order.

3 pros · 1 cons

Ginger Beef Bistro House

Calgary's best-known ginger beef destination among currently operating spots. CBC's critic panel praised the crunch and noted they were fastest to the table. Multiple locations across the city.

3 pros · 2 cons

Central Grand Restaurant

Centre Street Chinese restaurant that made CBC critic Elizabeth Carson's ginger beef ranking, noted for a solid batter-to-beef ratio.

3 pros · 1 cons

Ginger Beef Express

Quick, takeout-focused offshoot of the Ginger Beef brand for when you want the crispy classic to go.

2 pros · 2 cons

U & Me Restaurant

Long-running downtown Chinese restaurant on Centre Street with a well-reviewed ginger beef on the menu.

3 pros · 1 cons

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