A cozy, humble restaurant that serves up pretty incredible Korean fare. Complimentary kimchi (amazing, with just the right amount of heat), seasoned bean sprouts (absolutely addictive), seasoned radish (refreshing and tangy), and deep fried tofu were quickly brought to the table. To start we ordered the panfried dumplings (10 for $10.95) - beautifully crisp exterior with a deeply savoury meat filling: really, really good. For our main courses we shared the pha jeon ($18.95) and beef bulgogi ($14.95). The bulgogi arrived sizzling on a platter, accompanied with plenty of fresh lettuce. The meat was meltingly tender and subtly sweet. The pha jeon was fluffy with deliciously crisp edges, stuffed with tons of delicious seafood. I'll definitely be back!
It's a small cozy family restaurant. 4 complimentary appies are all tasty especially the pickled white carrot and fried tofu. My husband really enjoyed Pork Bulgogi. And Yukkejang with rice is highly recommended if you don't mind spicy. Traditional Korean noodle soup is not bad if you want sth light.
This is a super friendly, family-run restaurant where the food is delicious and the prices are reasonable. I love eating here! It's one of our regular spots for a delicious, after-work meal.
One of my go to restaurants! The bibimbap and beef bulgogi are my favourites. The short rib bulgogi is also really good. Friendly service. Best to make a reso.
My friend had the Bow Bulgogi House on his restaurant wishlist for a while, so he made us a reservation for 7pm on a Friday evening and we checked it out. The strip mall is quite busy, with a lot of other businesses also open during the dinner hours so I had to park down one of the streets in the residential area – not a big deal – only a couple blocks walk. The small restaurant was packed, and all through the evening there were people waiting outside to come in. Based on the food I’m not surprised there was always a line of folks waiting for a table. At least they take reservations!
Korean and Vietnamese fusion place that switched owners a few times. I usually come here just for the spicy squid on rice and the vermicelli tomato noodle. That soup is perfect for a hang over. I order number 53. People should try it out! It's different than most of the other noodle soups. They mix it with fish balls, shrimps, fresh onions but fake crab meat.
It was good and tasty food! 👍🏾 Delicious beef bulgogi. Tiny restaurant so seating is limited, parking is also limited but you're inner city so it's expected.
Came here to try their iced noodle dish. I've seen pictures and noticed most restaurants offer it during the warmer seasons, and this seemed to be only place that offered it in November and year round.
All my years of eating Korean food, this was the dish that I have not ever tried, and I felt like being adventurous. Ordered the mool naeng myon. The iced juiced reminded me of alcohol. Its definitely an acquired taste. I wasn't a fan, and when the owner/chef lady walked by and saw that I didn't finish my dish, she asked if everything was ok, and seemed very disappointed that I didn't finish. I felt so bad! but still love the restaurant. I've tried their BBQ meats and truly authentic. Staff and service is fantastic.
Parking is limited though. Very small humble restaurant.
This is an easy and budget-friendly way to start eating healthy again after the binging of the holidays(no judgment!). I definitely imbibed, overate, over-drank(sorry liver!) and used my holidays to the max. I am pretty sure I have the 30-something equivalent to bed sores, but I am proud of reading 5 novels in 6 days and spending time with good friends going sledding, hiking, and cooking in the kitchen.
Such great food and service. The family that runs the place is great. I go every month or so to get my fix. The food pricing is reasonable and I've tried their beef and LA bulgogi and I am a huge fan. Their sides are delicious, they are included with your meals. You get rice, kim chi, daikon salad and bean sprout salad with the bulgogi plus lettuce wraps (except the LA style). I love the daikon salad, I always order an additional serving because it's just too good, I usually eat the whole thing before the main dish comes out. Their appetizers are all pretty good, I think the only things I wouldn't order again are the pancake and the deep fried shrimp. Try the roasted tofu, so delicious! I get it every time. Definitely going to keep coming, it's a big favourite!
Calgary has a sizeable Korean population yet you don’t see a lot of Korean restaurants around. As a fan of Korean cuisine, it tortures me to not have authentic Korean food available to me all the time. (Oh, how I miss K-Town in NYC…) That’s how I picked up Korean cooking! Fortunately, there’s an ample of online resources and access to Korean grocery in Calgary
This is a very small place, but produce very delicious Korean cuisine. They didn't serve pork belly, which was very disappointing. Overall, the service and food is very good. A place that I will come again.
Saw the place in the corner of my eye on my way home. Glanced at the ratings on zomato and decided to give it a try. I ordered the beef, chicken and pork Bulgogi. I enjoyed all of him. It's good tasting Korean BBQ. They give kimchi and other sides as well which is nice. My only issues are it's very small and a tad over priced in my opinion. I'll be back for a return visit to try other menu items.
As a disclaimer, I haven’t eaten a tonne of Korean food, but what I have had in Toronto and Vancouver has mirrored my experience at Bow Bulgogi. Bow Bulgogi markets itself as a Korean/Vietnamese place, but it definitely leans on the side of Korean fare with a few Vietnamese dishes. It’s a small little place which seems to have undergone a bit of a facelift(inside at least)-it’s so small if you’re driving too quickly you could blow right by it(as a hint, it’s in a little strip mall on your left if you’re going north on 17th ave!)
Just went there for dinner and this place is great!!! Went with a friend who just came back from korea and he himself loved how authentic it was. I've never had authentic Korean bbq in Calgary and this place to me was amazing! We got the chicken and short ribs and it comes with all the sides (kimchi, rice, etc). The chicken was fantastic and the spare ribs were soo sweet and tender. To start we had miso soup (not Korean) which is also Great and it's not a tiny little portion. Seriously can't wait to come back and try again. My only negative comment is I wish they would have some music on as it's a small place so you feel like you have to whisper not to disturb other diners.
Calgary has a sizeable Korean population yet you don’t see a lot of Korean restaurants around. As a fan of Korean cuisine, it tortures me to not have authentic Korean food available to me all the time. (Oh, how I miss K-Town in NYC…) We arrived quite late that day, not in time to order the lunch special, which for only $10.95 you get a meal that includes chicken rice soup, BBQ short ribs & chicken, fried veggies, steam rice, and spring roll or dumplings. After some thought, we resorted to...
Not the best Korean food I've ever had and certainly not 100% authentic. We had the bbq short beef ribs and spicy beef brisket soup. Both came with a bowl of steamed rice, along with some traditional Korean side dishes. Portion was decent, but the taste was average. If you're looking for authentic Korean food, this is the wrong place. If you're looking for a quick fix, it would do the job.
As a disclaimer, I haven’t eaten a tonne of Korean food, but what I have had in Toronto and Vancouver has mirrored my experience at Bow Bulgogi. Bow Bulgogi markets itself as a Korean/Vietnamese place, but it definitely leans on the side of Korean fare with a few Vietnamese dishes. It’s a small little place which seems to have undergone a bit of a facelift(inside at least)-it’s so small if you’re driving too quickly you could blow right by it(as a hint, it’s in a little strip mall on your left if you’re going north on 17th ave!)
It's not the best or cleanest place in the city but the lunch special is bomb! For $12 you can't really go wrong. I also love the tofu it's so simple but really good.
One of the best Korean restaurants I have ever been to in Calgary. My wife and I go there at least once a month.
Staffs are really nice and friendly too.
Ann Valencia Alcaraz
+4.5
Hole in the wall type of resto and they have the best korean dishes. Very authentic! Love the tofu appetizer and la beef entree. Their soup is also to die for.
The Best Sizzlers Bulgogi. My wife and I decided for a Korean cuisine for our dinner date on Mothers Day. We order Beef Bulgogi for my wife and Pork Bulgogi for me. Before the main dish came we were served with four kinds of tasty appetizers with fresh lettuce, pickled dikon, sauted beans sprout and fried tofu We were amazed when the main dish were served not just because of its good taste but of big servings. This place is so small, reservation is a must.
Strawberry_creampuff
+4.5
Neat little Korean corner. The restaurant is small but the staff is friendly and efficient, so the wait time isn't bad even though they are busy. Food was good - flavorful, refreshing and extremely filling. I'd definitely return again.
This place is not that cheap. Not sure why this is a bargain??!
Lived up to recommends by friends.. Friendly, attentive staff. Lot's of flavour. Quiet atmosphere. Loved it!
Delish!. Okay, what do they put in that beef? It's freaking so good I just about got another round of take out...I've lived in the neighbourhood for 8 years and this is my first time. Now I'm gonna be a regular...
Delicious !!! Friendly staff. Amazing food ! Beef and short ribs were incredible. Would highly recommend this restaraunt.
So Good!!. Best Korean food I have eaten in the city bar none! Some of my fav's are the Beef bulgogi, bi bim bap bowl, kimchi and pickled salads, very reasonably priced, great service. Consitently great all around!
Best Mom & Pop Korean Resto EVER!. I have been going to this restaurant since the beginning of time and they have never failed at bringing me the best Korean food that I have ever tried! It's a bit run down looking, the décor is dated and they have no air conditioning, but the service and drop dead amazing food makes up for all of that! You would be silly not to go to this place! Make sure that you get a reservation, as each time I have ever been to this place their is always a line-up out the door!
Scrumptious. Every morsel was a tasty treat! We ordered beef bulgogi - super tasty. We ordered extra kimchi not realizing the meal came with it - two salads, deep fried tofu, Kimchi and rice. Well worth the money spent. Every seat was taken too. So reservations aren't a bad idea.
One of my Favorites!. I have been going to this restaurant for over a year now and it is one of my favorites. This is my kind of restaurant: unpretentious, family-owned, with good food. Don't go here for the atmosphere, go for the deliciousness! My personal go-to dishes are the beef short rib (galbi), squid bulgogi, and spicy beef soup (yukgaejang).
Beef Bulgogi!!!! I have been here many times! Place is small! Decor outdated, but great friendly service and the wraps you make yourself are outstanding!!! If you love fried Tofu, get a larger order because you will eat it all waiting for the beef plate to come. Yummmmy!!!
Best Korean BBQ in Calgary!. This place is fantastic, the food is delicious and is a great place if you want great food and a good price and quick service. I always get the beef Bulgogi, it comes with been sprouts, pickled radish, kimchi and the most amazing tofu i'v ever had (and I usually dislike tofu) I never get sick of this place and i'v been going there for years. I highly recommend Bow Bulgogi.
Always great!!!. Delish!!! Just make sure you make a reso.
I've been to the bulgogi house once. It was very busy when we got there and had to wait about 15 minutes to get in even though we had a reservation. We also had to wait about half an hour for our food. It was a little annoying waiting so much, but it was worth it! The food was delicious. I never had Korean food so I wasn't sure what to expect. I got the chicken bulgogi and it was to die for! A couple of my friends got the beef bulgogi and they loved their food as well. If you don't mind waiting awhile to get your food, this place is a must eat restaurant! Just make sure you make a reservation before hand, otherwise you'll be waiting forever to get in.
A fine place to eat!. As three senior guys with a monthly mission to find good (and potentially unusual) eating in Calgary we happily recommend the Bow Bulgogi. The food is tasty, Korean, and served with a lot of honest concern for our dining enjoyment.. With only a handful of tables and a good reputation the line-ups can be longish but the wait is well worth it..
It is one of the repeats on our list.
Everytime I go to Calgary, this place always makes the list. Tofu appt? Divine! Chicken? Heavenly! Always a winner. You'd be a fool not to go.
Good Korean food. I went here once for my friend's birthday. It's a small place on 17th, but with parking (thank god!). I didn't have much expectations for this place, but they definitely showed me. The food was actually pretty good, I loved the pancakes, it was really delicious. Service was decent too. I haven't gotten a chance to come here since but maybe when I'm in the area again maybe I'll try it again.
Oh my! The flavors abound at the Bow Bulgogi house. Be sure to go for the full BBQ experience and order the beef, ribs, pork, chicken, and squid. I have had my share of Bulgogi and I can safely say that this is the best. All of the side dishes nicely complement the meal as well.
Good and different. We can never remember what we order here, and sometimes just get the waitres to bring us stuff. The food is always really good and we're always pleased with what comes to our table, even though we don't always know how to eat it.
There's alot of scissor-cutting and mixing food at the table, and even if we eat it the wrong way, it still tastes good. Often we get the beef ribs, which come with some lettuce leaves and condiments, and some other random noodle dishes and meat dishes.
The place is small, and family-run, so its a good idea to make a reservation.
Essentially one of the best Korean restaraunts in Calgary. However if you prefer fancy table linen and ingratiating service staff over excellent cuisine this is not the place for you.
Worth a visit. Fast, friendly and really good
Well spiced. It took us a long drive down 17th ave. to find this restaurant. My mom hadn't been here for a few years now, but my auntie was in town, so we went on a little adventure to find it.
It was so busy, and felt just a bit claustrophobic inside because of all the people. But once the food came, that didn't even matter. The beef bulgogi was so amazing; it had just enough spice and flavour. The chicken bulgogi was a bit spicy, but that was overcome quickly. Lastly, our beef bone soup had such a kick to it. It was a mild spice, and had bean sprouts which tasted well seasoned.
I thought the pancakes were a bit too thick, and it was a let down that they didn't have the garlic potatoes. Apart from that, everything else was great.
BEST BULGOGI IN TOWN. Went astray and tried to eat at sura in the nw; BIG mistake. once you have experienced the genuine service and simply delicious food at bow bulgogi house, you will fail at having anything positive to say about any other korean restaurant in town. TRULY THE BEST IN CALGARY!!!!!!!
It's unfortunate, this tiny, cozy establishment on 17th Ave used to be an absolute "can't miss" as little as a few years ago. I'm not sure what happened or when, but Bow Bulgogi House has undoubtedly been surpassed as far as Korean fare goes in Calgary.
The service is warm and friendly, much more so than I remember. However, the prices are WAY up, I remember a beef bulgogi ringing in around $11. During my most recent visit it was up to $15. Yeah, yeah, inflation happens, but with other options available in that $11 price range in the area, it makes the $15 bulgogi less attractive.
As far as quality goes, I'm not sure if it's changed that much, but I think it's just been surpassed by other Korean places. I live close by, but I'll drive the extra 15 minutes to Sura. In fact, since I discovered Sura a year and a half ago, I've been back to Bow Bulgogi House only twice. I guess the title, "Not as good as it used to be" might be a little unfair; that should read, "Not as satisfying as it used to be".
Tasty bulgogi. A tiny restaurant with very friendly staff.
We ordered two beef bulgogi and a large beer. The deep fried tofu and daikon and sprouts were delicious and complimentary. Ate the beef with lettuce, rice and sauce - heaven! I think there is a lot of garlic - we both ended up burping for most of the night. I love the food but find it quite pricey for what it is.I noticed they do a lot of takeout orders.
Always good.... Great place to eat and so yummy. good and quick service. very small space. warning - be ready to smell like the restaurant the rest of the day as it gets into your clothes, hair, etc...
DELICIOUS!. A great little place with FRIENDLY staff, and delicious korean food. I've tried quite a few items on the menu plus the lunch deal = AWESOME!
Fun, casual night out!. The service at the Bow Bulgogi House was excellent, the waitress was friendly and helpful. The food was absolutely delicious. I can't wait to go again, we will certainly be regulars!
Great Spot!. Great food, cheap prices. Other than the fact it's hard to get a table sometimes, I'd definitely recommend Bow Bulgogi House. Try the lunch special if you're there during the day!
Service was great. Portion were also good size. Most importantly everything tasted great. Definitely come again.
Never been disappointed. I love this place so much. Total hole in the wall, great food, always always packed so go early or make resos if you want a table.
Good. We ate some grilled beef and lemon grass chicken I believe. It was great! Can't really say anything bad about Vietnamese food though! only unless the spring rolls are old and in this case, they were not!
Best Korean food in town. My absolute favorite Korean food in town. The LA Bulgogi is the best thing on the menu. Pair that with the Bee-Bim-Bap, and I'll never leave.
This is a real Korean food.. You must try this restaurant. My friend is Korean. She said,they serve real Korean style foods. Only this restaurant in town. Best taste.
Better Book Before Bow Bulgogi House. Yum! I grew up with a lot of Korean kids and always had the pleasure of indulging in thier meals and taking home jars of Kim Chee. This Korean BBQ House is by far the best I have been to in Calgary. With maybe only 8 tables, this is the classic hole in the wall treasure. With smiling faces and quick service it is easy to enjoy all the bbq'd meats as well as all the other Korean treats. I frequent this place for a tall bottle of HITE Beer followed by GOO-MAN-DOO (Fresh Dumpling), BEEP-BIM-BAP (mixed rice with vegs & egg), and DO-GI-BULGOGI (Pork Bulgogi). After making a mess rolling my Meat in lettuce with Rice, Sprouts, and KimChee, I take my last sip of my beer while the plates are been cleared. If stopping by during dinner hours, phone ahead....
Great food but get there early; the little place fills up fast
Great Experience. I just went to Bow Bulgogi House for the first time and I had such a wonderful experience. The service was fantastic, they were so helpful and the food was exceptional. I highly recommend this restaurant for a great Korean meal.
Delicious food, cozy space. Reservations are a must thou there is no guarantee that you will be seated right away. All the BBQ is worth trying but don'tforget to try the chap chai
Its the best korean restaurant ever!!Bow Bulgogi House's menu hasn't changed for quite a long time. This is what I like about them. This is called tradition. It's been kept for a long time and they're damn good at making their sauce for their bulgogi and other foods too. Although they have limited menu, every one dish is fabulous unlike some other Korean restaurant that don't have a specialty of their own and just makes it. This is the difference between Bow Bulgogi House and the other Korean restaurants. Bow Bulgogi House have their own speciality that no other Korean restaurants can make. They may not have a table cook(those things that u can cook for urself) but they have taste and manners. When people are hungry, they want food right away, not cooking for themselves. Bow Bulgogi House's food usually comes out pretty fast. The owners had changed and the prices went up a little bit but I think Bow Bulgogi House deserves this price for their long and traditional and fabulous foods. Bow Bulgogi House rocks!!!
Bow down to Bow Bulgogi House. Impressive. Simply impressive is all one could muster.
While it isn't really the largest space for a restaurant, the friendly service and delicious food makes up for it.
I wasn't too pleased to discover that the kimchi costs extra on the bill, especially since Bow Bulgogi offers the wonderful pickled radishes that is a complete must on the table. In comparison to rival Korean restaurants that offer free refills of the side dishes this is the only complaint I could think of.
Lettuce wraps with the meal, genius. Marinated beef and chicken, scrumptious. The sound of the sizzle as your food gets delivered to your table, memorable. The price of the meal, minimal.
Best Korean Food in Town!. I've been eating at this little family run restaurant for several years.
It's changed owners and the prices have gone up so it's not a steal like it used to be, but the food is still outstanding.
Beef, pork, chicken or short rib bulgogi is all exceptional as is the bee bim bap.
Make reservations or be prepared to wait in line as the restaurant is tiny (maybe 25 seats)
Cheap and Damn Good!. There are more unknown Asian restaurants that are fantastic than any other style of cuisine in Calgary. The Bow Bulgogi House is no exception. This family restaurant serves Korean BBQ (Bulgogi) meats, Vietnamese style soups, noodles and dried rice vermicelli dishes. Bulgogi is a sweet and spicy marinade comprised primarily of soy sauce, sake, sugar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, garlic, ginger, chili flakes and scallions. Whatever meat you order is served with a variety of condiments and lettuce leaves that you use to wrap around your pieces of Bulgogi style meats. Two words describe the Bow Bulgogi House, value, and quality. The food is inexpensive, fresh, and full of flavor. They are open for dinner and have fantastic lunch specials for $7.95 a person. The portions are large whether you have the Bulgogi BBQ or one of the many soups they offer. This is restaurant that you better arrive early at because the space is limited and there are always many people in the dining room. There is only one criticism of this restaurant, you will smell like Bulgogi if you dine-in (take-out is available) but this is a small sacrifice in my opinion! Ph: 686-6826
Delish!. My first experience with Korean food. Good staff, good food. Chicken Bulgogi = so fantastic
Best Korean. We only go for the lunch special which is amazing. Tons of food and what a variety of tastes. It recently changed hands but the food has not lost quality and the service is friendly and extremely efficient. The price can't be beat either. It's the best Korean we've experienced in Calgary.....
I got my usual whenever I try a new Korean place: bibimbap. I think bibimbap is probably one of the most well known Korean dishes around. I was slightly disappointed that it wasn’t servied in a sizzling hot stone bowl because I love the crunchy golden chunks of
On my way home, I decided check out the lunch special ($10.99) at Bow Bulgogi House. The first dish to arrive was a bowl of congee. L can’t stand the texture of congee, but having grown up on it, I enjoy it. The congee was warm, salty, and tasted a bit like cream of chicken. It was cooked “home style”. If your family ever made congee, you know what I mean. The grains of rice were still evident, not like the smooth, almost silky stuff you get at Chinese restaurants. I like the addition of green onion, meat and celery in the congee. Next up was three side dishes: bean sprouts tangled with carrots; kimchi; and daikon with cucumber. I love the different sweet, tart and crunchy elements of each dish. The main dish consisted of bbq chicken, a bbq rib, a spring roll, rice and vegetables. The chicken was juicy and covered in a pleasant sweet marinade. The spring roll wa
We arrived, and got seated. It's a very cozy place to have dinner, but what I didn't like was that they put three of us on a two person table, and then the same thing to the table beside us.... so it was really tight/cozy lolol... Oh right, should I mention that the area seems kinda sketchy/ghetto? Definitely not recommended to go late night, but then again, they're only opened until 9:30... even on a Saturday.
Bow Bulgogi House is an unassuming little place located just off 17th AVE SW. They have been serving up delicious and authentic Korean dishes in the same location for as long as I can remember. The staff is super friendly and take pride in explaining each dish on the menu if you have any questions. The only down side (depending of how you look at it) of eating at this great establishment is that the pungent aromas of beef bulgogi will cling to your hair and clothes until the next time you take a shower. All the more reason to take your family and friends so as not be singled out as that guy who smells like beef bulgogi.
There are more unknown Asian restaurants that are fantastic than any other style of cuisine in Calgary. The Bow Bulgogi House is no exception. This family restaurant serves Korean BBQ (Bulgogi) meats, Vietnamese style soups, noodles and dried rice vermice
My favourite place for Korean in town. Service is unbeatable and food is amazing. They have a lunch special as well which is perfect value!
Amazing flavours and atmosphere. The staff is incredibly friendly and they seem to have their heads on straight to serve their guests in the best ways possible. My only gripe is something that is probably a good thing in hindsight, but with this being a really small dining room, you might want to try to make a reservation or be prepared for a wait if you're going for a weekend dinner.
Ps, best Kimchi I've had yet!
An unassuming hole in the wall with fabulous food. The service is also great! Would highly recommend the Galbi and the beef bulgogi. They come with rice, lettuce, and lots of side dishes and make for a very filling meal.
The husband says we must give Bow Bulgogi House 5 stars! The food was good. That kimbab lasted all of 2 minutes lol. There were a few issues with the rest of the food, but we still left fully satisfied, having enjoyed our meal very much. The 5 stars are really because of the fabulous service we received from a very busy front of house guy. He was amazing. Truly enjoyed our time here and would probably make if a go to spot for Korean food if it weren't on the complete opposite side of the city!
Like all the previous reviews it’s a FACT! This place has amazing service! The family who owns and operates treats you amazing like welcoming us into their home! We had the short ribs, squid, and beef as well as dumplings and glass noodles with a little Soju to wash it all down. The food was mind blowing good!! Flavourful with great texture and spice! Fresh ingredients oh and did I mention amazing service!!!! We will definitely be back! Thank you for making our fathers birthday a memorable and special one!!!
We have been coming to this restaurant for more than 20 years. It was one of the first Korean BBQ spots we had ever been to. It's still a benchmark for every other one we try.
Support local business and check out this spot. The tofu appetizer is not to be missed.
Also they have the best lunch special in the history of lunch specials
We loved this place!!! Service was amazing. They added extra spice when requested and made the dish to our taste😊. Having worked and lived in Korea prior, this food was just like being back to the places we loved 😊! Would give this 10 stars if I could.
The best Korean food my family and I have ever had. We’ve been coming here for almost 20 years now and it is always absolutely delicious. If you have not been here please try it out. You won’t be disappointed.
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