Ginger Beef Bistro House — Restaurant in Calgary

This was only my second time having dim sum in Calgary — the last being over 15 years ago — so I really didn’t know what to expect (or even what to order). Ginger Beef Bistro definitely made it a memorable return. The decor is elegant and modern, with a large window that lets in a flood of natural light, creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere.

We visited on a Saturday around 11 a.m., and thankfully, we had made a reservation. The restaurant was already bustling by then and only got busier as the morning went on. I went with three coworkers, two of whom are Chinese, so I left most of the ordering in their expert hands — a decision that paid off.

We ordered a wide variety of dishes. First to arrive were pork dumplings topped with shrimp and a soft chicken bun — both were delicious and almost like finger food in their simplicity and ease. Then came a duck and bamboo soup. The broth was rich and flavorful, filled with shredded duck, mushrooms (my favorite), and bamboo shoots. I expected the bamboo to be tough and crunchy, but it was surprisingly tender and easy to eat.

Next was a shrimp dish wrapped in what seemed like a rice noodle roll. It was decent, but not my personal favorite — probably the one dish I could’ve skipped. However, that was quickly forgotten when the fried squid arrived. It was one of my top picks: perfectly fried, lightly salted, with just the right amount of chew.

We also had a beef dish in a savory sauce — again, good, but not a standout for me. On the other hand, the fried noodle dish we ordered was excellent. It reminded me of the classic flavors you’d find in Western Chinese takeout — comforting and flavorful.

Then came the star of the meal: the Peking duck. And wow, it did not disappoint. They served it with what I can only describe as Chinese tortillas — soft thin wraps we used to wrap the duck slices, along with fresh cucumber and a rich, tasty sauce. It was fantastic. Even on its own, the duck was incredible — especially the crispy skin and the edges. Pure bliss.

The service was top-notch throughout. The staff were attentive and efficient, continuously bringing out dishes, clearing empty plates, and keeping our teapots full. They even brought me a fork without hesitation when I admitted I struggle with chopsticks — a small gesture that went a long way.

As for the price — very reasonable. All four of us left completely full, and our wallets didn’t take a beating. It’s easy to see why the place is so busy: great food, solid service, and excellent value.

I’ll definitely be coming back — and next time, I’m bringing family and friends now that I have a better sense of what to order. Ginger Beef Bistro is a gem, and I highly, highly...

My family and I have been coming to this location many times and this is the first time we have ever been treated so poorly and so rudely.

A waitress named "Jeena" (if that is even her real name) first roller her eyes at us when we didn't have a reservation. Mimd you the restaurant had a good 3 tables taken and the rest empty. She then refused to give take out Chopsticks which is a very very simple request that this restaurant has provided in all past experiences. She also then told us "to get it ourselves at the front." But, Oh, weird since she just said they don't have any.

However, this "Jeena" stated this restaurant doesn't have ANY take out Chopsticks and just tossed 2 forks our way saying to just use these. Then proceeded to walk away while scratching her derriere.

When we asked for her name, she clearly and confidently stated "I don't have a name." Well she might as well not have a brain either.

We tried to speak to a supervisor or manager however we were told no such title was around today and had to call (which we will). We were then told this server "may not have understood what we're saying." SHE VERY MUCH DID. We were just told "they would tell their supervisor/ manager and to just enjoy our meal."

I highly doubt any reprimanding will occur and this server will just continue strutting around with no name and brain. Thus...

Catered from this location for a Lunar New Year lunch at the office. They were efficient in taking the order and payment over the phone. We picked up our order; the food was ready on time in a cart to bring to the car.

For those looking for catering options, a large party tray is 8 orders and a small party tray is 4 orders. The large party tray is the 21x13x3 aluminum tray and the small is the 13x10x3 aluminum tray.

For 45 staff, we got 4 large party trays of ginger beef, sweet and sour pork, veggie fried rice and soy sauce chow mein, and 5 small party trays of ginger chicken, shredded beef with black pepper sauce, stir fry veggies, salt and pepper tofu and dumplings.

There was a lot of food leftover! Next time we would do a small tray of the sweet and sour pork and a large tray of the ginger chicken instead since the coating of the pork does not reheat well. We would also do 2 orders of the salt and pepper tofu and 6 orders of the dumplings (instead of the small party tray of 4 orders).

FYI: You will need to specify what needs to be vegetarian as they will add soy sauce automatically. Same with gluten free items, so they don't coat it with flour before deep frying. They can accommodate making a couple side portions of fried rice without soy...