The 9 Best Diners in Calgary That Locals Rely on for Classic Comfort Food
When I was a kid, the smell of breakfast was the only thing that could get me out of bed. I would devour eggs, bacon, and pancakes in a heartbeat.
Nowadays, I wake up too late to make breakfast for myself. On most mornings, my first meal of the day would be a cup of coffee paired with bread or a bagel.
But a while ago, I realized that I didn’t have to settle for a boring meal. Driven by the need for a good breakfast, I’ve found several great diners across Calgary that have helped me start the day right.
Most of these places are so delicious that I even drop by for lunch or dinner from time to time.
1. Blue Star Diner
– Media credit: bluestar_yyc
Address: 809 1 Ave NE
Contact details: +1 403 261 9998
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Monday – 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Tuesday to Saturday – 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Must-order: BSD Breakfast Bowl
Blue Star Diner is a cute eatery that’s very committed to being sustainable and supporting local. All their ingredients come fresh from nearby farms and suppliers.
They’ve got a huge menu, and yes, it’s inclusive. You’ll find lots of keto, vegan, and gluten-free items and alternatives. That’s probably why we haven’t met anyone who hasn’t enjoyed eating here.
We love their all-day breakfast options the most, and we find them totally life-changing. The BSD Breakfast Bowl, in particular, is something we’d love to have 3 times a day.
It comes with smoky ground chorizo, 2 poached eggs, cured bacon, cheese sauce, jalapenos, caramelized onions, sautéed kale, mushrooms, and hollaindaise sauce. If reading that didn’t make your mouth water, we don’t know what will.
| Pro tip: Blue Star Diner is pretty popular, so it gets busy during peak meal times. We suggest joining their online waitlist to get a table hours ahead of your arrival. |
2. Blackfoot Truckstop Diner
– Media credit: theblackfootdiner
Address: Petro-Canada, 1840 9 Ave SE
Contact details: +1 403 225 6030
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Must-order: Flapper Pie
Locals have been going to Blackfoot Truckstop Diner for over 65 years. When it first opened, it made history as the first truck stop within city limits. It became even more iconic when it decided to be the first 24/7 diner in Calgary.
You’ll find all kinds of people dining here, from truck drivers to CEOs. But as soon as you step inside, everyone is treated the same, like family. Just be prepared to get called dear and sweetheart while you’re here.
Most people choose this diner for its all-day breakfasts, which all have interesting names. They have dishes called Working Man’s Breakfast, Hungry Man’s Breakfast, Cowboy’s Breakfast, and so on.
All of these are fine and filling, but you definitely shouldn’t miss their legendary Flapper Pies. This is a sweet and creamy custard-filled treat with a thin graham crust, topped with light meringue.
Just hope that you’re lucky enough to get one before they’re sold out.
| Pro tip: For a dollar, you can get the music flowing in this old school diner. They have a working jukebox where you can play some vintage tunes. |
3. Angel’s Drive In
– Media credit: angelsdriveinyyc
Address: 8603 47 Ave NW
Contact details: +1 403 288 1009
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Must-order: Real Fruit Milkshake
Angel’s Drive In will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time. It’s impossible not to feel nostalgic in this diner. Everything about the place is so retro, especially the bright red Cadillac sitting on the roof.
Complete the diner experience and get one of their tasty burgers; they’ve got plenty to choose from. Apart from the classic cheeseburger, they have a fish burger, a Salisbury burger, a BBQ burger, a crispy chicken burger, and a veggie burger.
Just be sure to get one of their milkshakes as well. We lost count the last time we checked, but we think they have around 30 milkshake flavors. This includes bubble gum, butterscotch, coconut, hazelnut, maple, pumpkin spice, and many others.
The Real Fruit Milkshakes are the real showstoppers, though. Their banana, blueberry, mango, and strawberry flavors are mindblowing. They’re creamy, flavorful, and pair so well with the burgers.
| Pro tip: If you want to try something new, you can ask them to mix and match milkshake flavors. You can choose up to 5 flavors for your combo milkshake. |
4. Galaxie Diner
– Media credit: galaxiediner
Address: 1413 11 St SW
Contact details: +1 403 228 0001
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Must-order: Huevos Rancheros
Galaxie Diner opened in 1996, but the decor makes it seem like it’s been around for longer. They designed the restaurant to look like it was from the 1940s — complete with an open kitchen concept where you can see the cooks grilling your food.
Unlike other diners, though, you don’t have to be mindful of what you eat if you’re worried about staying fit and healthy. None of their food is greasy, and everything is made from fresh ingredients.
Trust us when we say that you haven’t lived until you’ve tried their Huevos Rancheros. You’ll get a huge savory tortilla dish full of salsa, rich eggs, green onions, tomatoes, and cheese.
And if that’s still not enough, you don’t have to look any further. Each order comes with endless toast and delicious bottomless hashbrowns.
| Pro tip: Make sure you have plenty of time before you eat at Galaxie Diner. It’s common to see a line of 5 or more people outside, even when it’s freezing cold. Don’t worry, though, they usually offer free coffee for the people waiting. |
5. Red’s Diner on 4th
– Media credit: redsdineron4th
Address: 1415 4 St SW
Contact details: +1 403 266 3448
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Must-order: Traditional Benny
As of now, Red’s Diner has four locations across the city. However, we can’t help but be partial and prefer the original one on 4th Street.
The building it’s part of has actually been around since 1928, but you won’t really notice. They’ve kept the diner in great condition. And it’s still as warm and inviting as it has always been.
You’ll also be greeted by the friendliest staff when you walk in. You might even find a new friend here, with how kind, talkative, and cheerful all the servers are.
If you ask them for a recommendation, we guarantee they’ll tell you to get one of the Bennies, specifically the Traditional Benny. You won’t regret it at all.
It comes with 2 poached eggs, sweet and savory Canadian Bacon, a toasted English muffin, and their fantastic homemade hollandaise. We’d have this for breakfast every day if we could.
| Pro tip: Red’s Diner doesn’t accept reservations, but they have an online waitlist. They’ll text you to come in once they have a table available. |
6. The Beltliner
– Media credit: thebeltliner
Address: 243 12 Ave SW
Contact details: +1 587 955 1555
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Must-order: Chicken + Waffles
If you’re looking for something less classic and more contemporary, you’re definitely going to love The Beltliner. They serve everyone’s favorite diner fare, but with a modern and gourmet twist.
They still keep it proudly Calgarian, though. They only use the best local, seasonal, and artisanal ingredients for their menu.
Their regulars always rave about the signature breakfast dishes, such as the avocado toast, breakfast poutine, and the ‘Beltliner Benny’.
But the dish we always get is their Chicken + Waffles — a well-seasoned buttermilk marinated chicken thigh and a crispy Belgian waffle, with a side of gravy and maple chili syrup. It’s honestly the perfect start to any morning.
| Pro tip: Make sure to get their bulletproof coffee with your breakfast. It’s not just delicious, it’ll also wake you up and get you ready for the day ahead. |
7. Phil’s Restaurants
– Media credit: philsrestaurants
Address: 2312 16 Ave NW
Contact details: +1 403 284 9696
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Must-order: Jumbo Golden Belgian Waffle
Phil’s Restaurants is the kind of place where you take your entire family on a Sunday. They make all the classics that grandparents love, along with seasonal specials that kids get excited about.
Ask any of their regulars and they’ll tell you that the food is just as good as it was when the diner first opened. They’ve been serving food since 1956, and at this point, the smell of waffles coming from their kitchen feels like home.
So, of course, we always end up getting the Jumbo Golden Belgian Waffle. These are incredibly light, tasty, and just the right amount of sweet.
And just in case you have any dietary preferences, you can ask them to make the waffles gluten-free just for an extra dollar.
| Pro tip: Phil’s Restaurants is the diner to go to if you love caffeine. They’ll provide a carafe of coffee along with your order so that you don’t have to ask for refills at all. |
8. Belmont Diner Marda Loop
– Media credit: belmontdiner
Address: #19, 2008 33 Ave SW
Contact details: +1 403 242 6782
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Must-order: The Chuck Norris
Belmont Diner has been keeping locals fed since 2000. Personally, we think their food is just like mom’s cooking, except better — but don’t tell our moms we said that!
We can’t help but make the comparison, though. This diner serves comfort food that’s both delicious and nutritious. Take their famous breakfast, ‘The Chuck Norris,’ as an example. It’s the perfect blend of protein and vegetables.
It comes with rosemary and garlic parmesan hash with your choice of smoked meat and veggies, topped with eggs and melted cheese. On the side, they’ll give you lots of their famous hot hollandaise sauce. All together, it’s the closest thing to heaven on earth.
| Pro tip: Belmont Diner is a great place to bring your kids to for breakfast. Apart from having a kids’ menu, the diner also does cute pancake art for the young customers. |
9. Diner Deluxe
– Media credit: dinerdeluxe
Address: 106 Mahogany Centre SE
Contact details: +1 587 482 9979
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Must-order: Breakfast Poutine
If you’ve ever passed by Mahogany Centre and seen a long line, there’s a huge chance that it’s for Diner Deluxe. This is a well-loved eatery that gets crowded pretty fast, especially on the weekends.
But what they lack in space, they make up for with service. The atmosphere is always warm and inviting, and the servers make sure to pay attention to all of your needs and requests.
Plus, you’ll think that the wait is worth it once you taste their food. Believe it or not, we shed tears of joy the first time we tried their Breakfast Poutine. We’ve never tasted anything like it.
It’s a rich and creamy dish that has a soft poached egg, cheese curds, rosemary hash browns, and plenty of buttery hollandaise sauce. And if you’re a meat lover, you can also ask them to add smoked bacon, BBQ pulled pork, or chorizo sausage.
| Pro tip: Fans of spice should try Diner Deluxe’s homemade hot sauce. Although it won’t make you breathe fire, it’s got plenty of flavor and a nice kick that complements most of the food. |