Searching for "fancy halal restaurants Calgary" used to mean one halal cut at a steakhouse, if you phoned ahead. Not anymore. I looked into it, and Calgary now has a rooftop with a skyline view, steakhouse chains with halal menus, and fully halal fine-dining rooms.
So if "halal restaurants near me" isn't cutting it for a date night, an anniversary, a graduation or an Eid dinner, here's where to book.
Steakhouses with halal-prepared beef
Modern Steak
Modern Steak is the standout, with two locations: Southport and Stephen Avenue downtown.
So, is Modern Steak halal? Partly. It depends on what you order. Both offer halal-prepared steak, including ranch-specific Alberta beef. Stephen Avenue also has Kobe beef. Southport shows its halal certificate on request. The menu is not halal throughout, so ask for the halal-prepared items when you order.
The best value is the Sunday dining special at Stephen Avenue. You get an 18oz steak with sides, cheese bread, house salad and Baked Alaska for dessert. Servers will explain where each cut is from. Southport's Sunday Supper starts with truffle butter popcorn and a Caesar salad.
Ruth's Chris Steak House
Ruth's Chris Steak House sits at the base of the Calgary Tower, at 115 9 Ave SE. It has a separate halal menu of halal-prepared chicken, lamb and select steaks, so ask for that one.
The halal menu is short and it changes. At times the only halal cuts have been the petit filet and the lamb chops. Call ahead and confirm by phone, not through the booking website. The orders people recommend most are the 8 oz halal Alberta beef steak and the stuffed chicken.
Chairman's Steakhouse
Chairman's Steakhouse is in Mahogany on the south side. It has an old-school, Rat Pack-style look. The ribeye, Australian tomahawk, chicken and lamb are all prepared halal. A meat selection board lets you pick your cut at the table.
The main dining room has a dress code. The lounge and bar don't. Parking is free for guests, and the date-night offer is the best value.
The halal options at Chairman's are real, but easy to miss:
The view-and-occasion pick
Major Tom is 40 floors above downtown at 700 2 St SW. It's Calgary's rooftop fine-dining pick for a halal date night or a big occasion. You get a sweeping city view and a bar.
Only the Benchmark Angus beef and the chicken dishes are halal-certified, so ask about anything else. Book ahead and ask for a window table. Servers take their time walking you through the menu. Lean toward the steak: regulars rave about the dry-aged bone-in striploin and the steak frites. The pastas are the weakest part of the menu.
Built halal from the start
Sultan's Tent
Sultan's Tent has been on 14 Street NW in Kensington since 1988. It's a Moroccan fine-dining room styled like a Berber tent, serving couscous, tajines and kebabs. The community halal map lists it as halal, but confirm with staff when you book.
Reservations are a good idea. Share the Couscous Royale, a big plate of mixed meats and vegetables. Private dining is available for groups, and parking is free.
Orchard Restaurant
Orchard Restaurant on 10 Ave SW downtown is an upscale fusion spot. It does chandelier-lit brunch and dinner, mixing North American classics with Middle Eastern and South Asian touches.
The kitchen is fully halal and buys meat from halal suppliers. No third-party certifier is named, so ask if that matters to your group. Book weekends ahead, or you may be seated at the bar. Staff will adjust dishes for vegan and vegetarian diets.
A note on "halal-prepared" vs. certified
The steakhouses, the chains especially, offer halal-prepared options on a mixed menu. Sultan's Tent and Orchard are halal throughout. Neither is better, but they mean different things. Confirm which one you're getting when you book.
How many Calgary halal restaurants are truly fancy?
Fewer than you'd think. Only five halal spots are priced $$$$ and three are $$$. That's eight rooms at the top of the market:
- The $$$$ five: Major Tom (rated 4.4), Chairman's (4.5), Modern Steak on Stephen Avenue (4.4), Ruth's Chris (4.5) and Modern Steak Southport (4.4).
- The $$$ three, which are a different kind of night: Orchard downtown (4.4), Shinwari Karahi (4.3) and Kabul Lounge (3.9).
Four of the eight are steakhouses.
Book ahead at most of these. Kabul Lounge, at 3.9, is the lowest-rated of the eight.
The short version
Modern Steak is the safest bet. Major Tom has the view, Ruth's Chris the name, and Chairman's the deep south. Sultan's Tent and Orchard are halal wall to wall. For more meat, see halal steak in Calgary and the best halal BBQ.
Book with confidence
Each restaurant's listing has its rating, price range and phone number, so call ahead before you reserve. If a menu or certification changes, let us know.
Common questions
Where can I get halal steak in Calgary?
Modern Steak (two locations), Ruth's Chris downtown and Chairman's in Mahogany all offer halal-prepared beef. For the full list, casual spots included, see halal steak in Calgary.
Do these restaurants serve alcohol?
The steakhouses and Major Tom do. That's the "halal option, not halal kitchen" setup described above. Sultan's Tent and Orchard have fully halal kitchens. If a dry room matters to your table, that's the line. Mention it when you book.
Is there halal wagyu or Kobe beef in Calgary?
Modern Steak's Stephen Avenue location offers halal-prepared Kobe. Major Tom's menu is built on halal-certified Benchmark Angus. Book ahead at both.
What should I confirm when reserving for a group?
Three things. Check that the halal option covers the cuts your table wants. Ask if it needs to be requested in advance, since some kitchens prepare halal cuts to order. And ask about alcohol. Two minutes on the phone protects a two-hundred-dollar evening.
Which fancy halal restaurants in Calgary have no alcohol at all?
The fully halal rooms, not the steakhouses. Every steakhouse above serves alcohol to the rest of the room, and Major Tom is a bar as much as a restaurant. If you need a dry room, book an upscale fully halal kitchen. Confirm it when you reserve, not when you arrive.
Where should I book for an Eid dinner in Calgary?
Book early. The fully halal rooms fill first, and the steakhouses need notice to prepare halal cuts for a table. For a big family, ask about a set menu instead of ordering one by one. It's faster for the kitchen and cheaper for you. Several of these restaurants take group bookings as a matter of course.
Do I need to dress up?
Less than you'd think. Reviewers call Modern Steak at Southport a neighbourhood steakhouse that won't ask you to dress formally. Most of these rooms are smart-casual in practice. The exception is a rooftop dining room on a big night. The room will be dressed up even if the menu doesn't demand it.
What is the most expensive halal restaurant in Calgary?
The steakhouses and fine-dining rooms share the top price band: Major Tom, Chairman's, Ruth's Chris and both Modern Steak rooms. Expect a bill to match. The value trick at more than one of them is a set night. Sunday and date-night menus cut the cost of the same kitchen a lot.