Where is the best pho in Calgary?

Chinatown and Forest Lawn along International Avenue have many long-running Vietnamese restaurants, and there are pho shops across the suburbs.

What should I order at a pho restaurant?

Rare beef and brisket pho is a classic first order.

Pho uses rice noodles and is often gluten-free, but hoisin and some sauces contain wheat. Ask if you have celiac disease.

Do you tip at a Vietnamese sub shop?

At counters, tipping is optional. At table service, tip 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount.

Pho is a broth-based soup with noodles, herbs and lean meat, so it can be a balanced meal. The broth can be high in salt, so you do not need to finish it.

Dish guide

Pho and Vietnamese food in Calgary: where to go and what to order

Mosey · November 11, 2026 · 5 min read

Vietnamese families began arriving in Calgary in the late 1970s and 1980s, many as refugees, and they built one of the city's most beloved food scenes. Pho shops and sub shops are everywhere, from Chinatown to Forest Lawn to suburban strip malls, and for many Calgarians a bowl of pho is the default cold-day lunch. Here is how to find the good stuff and order well.

Where is the best Vietnamese food in Calgary?

Vietnamese restaurants are all over the city, but some areas stand out:

Chinatown, at the edge of downtown, with long-running pho restaurants and Vietnamese sub shops.
Forest Lawn and International Avenue, along 17th Avenue SE, where many Vietnamese families settled.
The northeast and northwest suburbs, with pho shops in strip malls.
Downtown and the Beltline, for quick lunches near offices.

What is a Vietnamese sub in Calgary?

In Calgary, banh mi are often called Vietnamese subs, and they are a local lunch institution. A crisp baguette is filled with grilled or cold cut meats, pâté, mayonnaise, pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber, cilantro and chili. They are cheap, filling and fast, and several sub shops have been serving them for decades, particularly in Chinatown. Expect a short line at noon.

How do you order pho?

On the menu	What it means
Tai	Rare beef, sliced thin
Chin	Well-done brisket
Nam	Flank
Gan	Tendon
Sach	Tripe
Bo vien	Beef balls
Dac biet	The house special, a mix of everything
Pho ga	Chicken pho

Rare beef and brisket is an easy first order. Add bean sprouts, Thai basil, lime and chili to taste, and try the broth before adding hoisin or sriracha.

What Vietnamese dishes should you try beyond pho?

Bun, rice vermicelli bowls with grilled pork, chicken or spring rolls, herbs and fish sauce dressing.
Bun bo Hue, a spicy lemongrass beef noodle soup.
Com tam, broken rice with grilled pork chop, often with a fried egg.
Goi cuon, fresh salad rolls with shrimp and pork.
Cha gio, crispy fried spring rolls.
Banh xeo, a crisp turmeric crepe filled with pork, shrimp and sprouts.
Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk.

How do you eat a Vietnamese sub?

Eat it soon after it is made, while the baguette is still crisp. Most shops let you choose your filling and how much chili you want, and some ask whether you want everything on it; say yes the first time. A combination or house special sub with several cold cuts and pâté is the classic, and grilled pork or lemongrass chicken are popular alternatives. Many people buy two, one for lunch and one for later, since they are inexpensive and travel reasonably well for a few hours.

Is pho a good choice in a Calgary winter?

It is one of the best. On a cold January day, a steaming bowl of pho is a Calgary ritual, and pho shops are busiest at lunch during cold snaps. Many places are quick, so it suits a short lunch break.

Is Vietnamese food good for gluten-free and vegetarian diets?

Pho uses rice noodles, and many dishes are rice-based, which makes Vietnamese food a good option for gluten-free diners, though hoisin and some sauces contain wheat. Vegetarian pho with vegetable broth and tofu is available at many restaurants; ask whether the broth is truly meat-free. Fish sauce appears in many dishes, so vegetarians should ask.

How much does Vietnamese food cost in Calgary?

Vietnamese subs and pho are among the best-value meals in the city. Alberta adds only the 5 percent GST to restaurant bills. Tip 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount at table service; at sub shops and counters, tipping is optional.

When is the best time to eat pho in Calgary?

Lunch is the busiest. Pho is traditionally a breakfast dish in Vietnam, and some shops open early enough for that. Many pho shops close earlier than other restaurants, so check hours for a late visit.

Why is Vietnamese food so popular in Calgary?

Calgary's Vietnamese community grew from the late 1970s and 1980s, when many refugees from Vietnam settled across Canada, including in Alberta. Families opened restaurants, bakeries and grocery stores, and many of them are still run by the same families, now joined by a second and third generation.

Calgary's cold winters helped make pho a staple: a hot, filling bowl of soup is exactly what the city wants for half the year. Vietnamese subs became a favourite cheap lunch downtown and in Chinatown, and they remain one of the best-value meals in the city.

How do you find your favourite pho shop?

Calgarians are loyal to their pho shops, and every neighbourhood has a favourite. On Mosey you can rate the places you ate at and the bowl you ordered, see where friends you follow go for pho, and keep a list of sub shops and noodle houses to work through.

Common questions

Where is the best pho in Calgary?
Chinatown and Forest Lawn along International Avenue have many long-running Vietnamese restaurants, and there are pho shops across the suburbs.
What is a Vietnamese sub?
Calgary's name for banh mi: a crisp baguette with meats, pâté, pickled vegetables, cilantro and chili.
What should I order at a pho restaurant?
Rare beef and brisket pho is a classic first order.
Is pho gluten-free?
Pho uses rice noodles and is often gluten-free, but hoisin and some sauces contain wheat. Ask if you have celiac disease.
Do you tip at a Vietnamese sub shop?
At counters, tipping is optional. At table service, tip 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount.
Is pho healthy?
Pho is a broth-based soup with noodles, herbs and lean meat, so it can be a balanced meal. The broth can be high in salt, so you do not need to finish it.