Tori Bar — Restaurant in Calgary

I think this might be the first real yakitori specialty restaurant in Calgary. There are a few other places, but they usually serve sushi and other things, so it doesn’t feel like they’re really focusing on yakitori alone.

The restaurant is very small, and even though they don’t use charcoal but electric grills, the skewers still come out surprisingly juicy. The floor staff were all friendly and polite.

Since it was the weekend, there was a two-hour limit, which made it feel a bit rushed—but that’s understandable. From what I saw, all the staff were Korean. Honestly, it’s a bit disappointing that Japanese people can’t seem to run something this well, as most of the popular “Japanese” spots here are actually operated by people from other countries.

One downside is parking—there’s no dedicated lot, so you’ll have to street-park. On weekends it’s packed, and it can take around 30 minutes of circling before you find a spot. The restaurant itself is also quite small, so making a reservation is a must.

Compared to Japan, the prices feel a bit high, so it’s not really a casual place I can just drop by anytime. Still, it’s definitely one of the places...

This cute little hidden gem is easily my favorite restaurant in Calgary. I was warmly welcomed despite showing up an hour to close with no reservations. The restaurant is small and cozy, with rich furnishings. These hard-working owners create absolutely magic with their grilled skewers. I tried many of them, from the beef rib to the chicken drum. They have mastered the art of grilling and know exactly how much to season, and how much to grill to get a slightly crispy exterior and moist flavorful interior. I also ordered the miso celery which was such a unique, delicious way to serve it. It’s a very unique dish, I highly recommend trying it. The owner walked around repeatedly ensuring patrons were happy and got whatever they needed from more food to drinks. The service itself was well-paced so they kept a steady stream of food coming with small breaks in between. I never felt rushed or had to wait too long for the next item. Overall, this is a terrific restaurant with loads of character and...

My hubby and I were at the Tori Bar for a date night and it didn’t disappoint. It is an intimate restaurant with a chill vibe, perfect for sharing a few drinks after work or for a date. The drink menu is not big but what it has are unique, especially for the sake lovers. We ordered the cold house’s sake – Brewmaster’s Choice Honjozo, and it is better than some of the house sake we had in other restaurants, and went really well with the food. We also tried the Adatara Jinjo which has a delicate aroma, and super delicious on its own or with food. Our favourite dishes so far are skin on thigh, chicken wings, tsukune, and negima (these are all Yaki Tori items). We also like the daikon salad, beef finger rib (it has a really good bite to it), the eggplant, and the grilled rice ball (to finish the meal, so yummy). Service was friendly and attentive; a great shoutout to Kelvin for his great recommendations. We will be back soon to try other items...