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.
The podium
— top 3 by community votes
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ginger Beef Express
Quick, takeout-focused offshoot of the Ginger Beef brand for when you want the crispy classic to go.
U & Me Restaurant
Long-running downtown Chinese restaurant on Centre Street with a well-reviewed ginger beef on the menu.
