International Avenue in Calgary: a food guide to 17th Avenue SE

Most visitors to Calgary know 17th Avenue SW, with its patios and bars. Fewer know 17th Avenue SE, on the other side of the city, which has a very different and arguably more interesting food scene. The stretch running through Forest Lawn, roughly from 26th Street SE to 61st Street SE, is known as International Avenue, and it is where you can eat your way around the world in an afternoon.

Where is International Avenue in Calgary?

International Avenue is the section of 17th Avenue SE in the city's east end, in and around the Forest Lawn neighbourhood. It runs for many blocks across the southeast. It is a long street, built for cars, so most people drive or take the bus between clusters of restaurants rather than walking the whole length. A business revitalization zone works to promote the area and its businesses.

What food can you find on International Avenue?

The avenue is home to restaurants, bakeries and grocers run by families from all over the world. You will find:

Region	What to look for
Vietnam	Pho, banh mi and rice plates
South Asia	Indian and Pakistani curries, kebabs, sweets
The Middle East	Shawarma, grilled meats, pastries
East Africa	Ethiopian and Eritrean injera with stews
Latin America	Salvadoran pupusas, Mexican tacos, Colombian dishes
The Caribbean	Jerk chicken, patties, roti
East Asia	Chinese and Korean restaurants
Europe	Portuguese and Eastern European bakeries and delis

Many of these places are small, family-run and in plain strip malls, which is part of the appeal.

What is Around the World in 35 Blocks?

Around the World in 35 Blocks is a guided food tour that the International Avenue business association has run for many years, taking groups to sample food at restaurants along the avenue, meet owners and see cooking demonstrations. It has become a popular way for Calgarians to discover the street. Tours run on set dates and often sell out, so check the current schedule if you want to join one.

How do you explore International Avenue on your own?

1. Pick a few cuisines you have not tried before.
2. Go at lunch, when many places offer good-value lunch plates.
3. Drive or take the bus between stops; the avenue is long.
4. Visit a grocery store or bakery for snacks to take home.
5. Share dishes with friends so you can try more.
6. Ask owners for their recommendation; many are happy to explain their food.

Is International Avenue good for cheap eats?

It is one of the best places in Calgary for affordable food. Many restaurants serve generous portions at prices below downtown or 17th Avenue SW, and bakeries and grocers sell snacks and pastries cheaply. Alberta has no provincial sales tax, so only the 5 percent GST is added to restaurant bills. Tip 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount at table service; at counters, tipping is optional.

Is International Avenue good for vegetarians?

Yes. Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurants have many lentil and vegetable stews, Indian and Pakistani restaurants have long vegetarian menus, and Middle Eastern places serve falafel, hummus and salads. Ask about ingredients if you are strict, since meat stocks and ghee are sometimes used.

Is International Avenue good for halal food?

It is one of the easier places in Calgary to find halal food, with Pakistani, Afghan, Middle Eastern and East African restaurants and halal butchers along the avenue and nearby. As anywhere, ask restaurants directly how their meat is sourced and certified.

What is Forest Lawn?

International Avenue runs through Forest Lawn, a neighbourhood in southeast Calgary that was once a separate town before it became part of the city in the early 1960s. It has long been a place where newcomers to Calgary settle, and that is why its main street now carries food from so many countries.

The area has had a reputation as one of Calgary's rougher neighbourhoods, and the community has worked for years to change that, with the International Avenue business association, street improvements and food tours. For a visitor, it is a busy, everyday commercial street: family restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries and markets serving the people who live nearby. Visit in daytime for the best choice, and treat it like any other city street.

What should you know before visiting?

Forest Lawn is a working, lived-in neighbourhood rather than a tourist district. Restaurants are spread out, some close on certain days, and hours vary, so check before you go. Parking is usually easier than in the inner city. Bring an appetite and some curiosity.

How did International Avenue get its name?

Forest Lawn has long been one of Calgary's most diverse neighbourhoods, home to many newcomers to Canada. Over the years, families from dozens of countries opened restaurants and shops along 17th Avenue SE. The business association adopted the name International Avenue to celebrate that mix and to draw people from across the city to the area.

On Mosey you can rate the places you visit on International Avenue and the dishes you ordered, with photos, follow friends who know the area, and keep a list of cuisines and spots to work through, one lunch at a time.

More guides to read next:

• A food day trip from Calgary to Canmore and Banff
• Kensington food guide: cafés, brunch and dinner in Calgary's village by the river
• Late-night food in Calgary: where to eat after the bars close

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.