A Go-To Guide for late night food in the city – or early morning! 2 a.m. & later!
Stampede has just begun, and though stomachs may be stuffed with mini-donut popsicles, lobster corn dogs, foot long pizzas and whatever else is now down at the grounds, that does not mean stomachs will still be full at 2 a.m.
For those still out and about in the city and are either heading home and need nourishment during the cab ride, or fuel to begin the after party, here are our choices for fulfilling those drunken desires – and do not close when the bar does.
Clive Burger
736 17 Ave SW
Mouth-watering cheeseburger and milkshake at Clive Burger.
Photo by Ali Hardstaff.Lets just start by sharing a bit of what the Clive Burger website says the place is all about.
For one thing, “All of our packaging – including food wrappers and milkshake containers – are 100 per cent compostable and sent to a local facility to be turned into usable compost.
“Our burgers start out with a quarter pound all-natural Alberta beef which is locally raised and 100 per cent antibiotic and hormone-free.”
“Our menu features locally sourced products made to make your tummy smile.”
If this doesn’t already have your attention, besides the fact that you’re already here for the fact that we’re naming the best places in the city to go to with a buzz on, then just you wait.
Beyond that, there is amazingness of tasting Clive Burger’s food. There is a special, secret “Clive Sauce” for the burgers and fries that is similar to a Thousand-Island dressing, but with a bit of a kick and a hundred times better. And those custard shakes! Drool.
Plus, there can be alcohol in the shakes. They even offer beer and wine. And clothing merchandise. What?! This burger place is so popular it has merchandise. It is awesome, that’s what all of this means.
Did I mention there could be alcohol in the already amazingness that is the shakes?!
A classic, delicious burger goes for $6.50, and there are tons of additional “fixin’s” to add. To add a shakes it costs $5 and is well worth it. (P.S., they also have smokies). Located on the Red Mile at 736 17 Ave., S.W., Clive is open Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Friday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 2:45 a.m.
U & Me
233 Centre Street SW
Barbecue duck at U & Me.
Photo by Ato Baako. You’ve danced up a storm, or tried to. You lost a fair amount of calories and you’ve been “hydrating” yourself with the wrong kind of fluids. Let’s just call it how it is: You’re drunk. The bar’s lights begin to flash, indicating last call. So what’s your next move?
At this point of the night there are two things usually running through my mind: getting home or getting something to eat and honestly, finding some source of nourishment wins every single time.
U & ME Restaurant located in Calgary’s Chinatown at 233 Centre Street S.W. is one of my most frequented after-2 a.m. hot spots. After walking up the stairs, you are immediately greeted by a busy server gesturing you to sit at one of the many large tables. Everything is fast pace at U & ME Restaurant. Before you’ve had a chance to sit, the server has already poured you a glass of water – yes, water.
U & ME Restaurant has everything, from dim sum to more than 10 types of congee. For those new to Asian dining, congee is a type of rice porridge that can be flavoured with pretty much any meat, or seasoning. If you’re anything like me, you want options, so naturally my mindset is to get one of everything. But I won’t because I’m usually with friends who are as gluttonous as myself, and we will at least have nine different dishes to share.
I always get beef and vegetables with fried noodles ($11.95), barbecue duck ($11.95 for a quarter duck) and the deep fried tofu (an off the menu item that can be made to order if available), which is probably my absolute favourite thing at U & ME. My food arrives in a timely fashion and I’m slowly sobering up now. I have very little concern for the stomach ache which will hit me at some point the next day because I’m eating so late and I’m sort of over drinking water… Yes! U & ME serves liquor! They even have sake! Well, the night is still young.
And to top it all off, U & Me is open 24 hours!
Singapore Sam’s
555 11 Ave SW
An array of dishes from Singapore Sam’s, including shanghai noodles.
Photo by Ali Hardstaff.My mom even remembers going to Singapore Sam’s after a night out, needing something to soak up the mixture of drinks or who knows what was in her stomach. That was more than 30 years ago. (Sorry mom). The fact that Singapore Sam’s is still operating on 11th Avenue after all those years, and is thriving with a line out the door and down the street on weekend nights, is really all you need to know. How the staff manages to keep their sanity with countless drunken costumers dancing on the tables and in the aisles, chugging sake and most likely puking, I have no idea. I have a lot of respect for you, #serverlife.
I have even eaten their food sober and can still say that it rules.
Beyond that, they offer a buffet, Mongolian grill, good old fashioned ordering to the table, take-out, catering and delivery. A personal favourite for me anywhere I go is plain fried shanghai noodles ($9.95, which is pennies when not so sober, right?), and I was not disappointed when eating it at Sam’s.
So go and eat your hearts out whether sober or at the other end of the spectrum. But please, please, please tip them well, because I could not deal with what they do. Located at 555, 11th Ave., S.W., Singapore Sam’s is open from 11:30 a.m. to mid – night Monday to Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday to Friday, noon to 4 a.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. to midnight on Sunday.
Denny’s
138 Crowfoot Way NW
After a long night of dedicated drinking, dancing, and selfie taking, I look at the time. It’s 1:48 a.m. and I hear an announcement for last call. My friends and I rush to the bar for one last drink, and in between slurps we know we need an answer to the most important question of our night. Fast.
“Where are we going to eat after?!”
Order of cheese fries from Denny’s.
Photo by Melissa Kadey.We talk options, but ultimately land on an old favourite — Denny’s. Thankfully, this old friend is open 24 hours a day and is right near the C-train at Crowfoot Station. This is perfect when you’re too broke for a cab and still feel like getting home safe, which happened to be the case one recent evening. There’s just something about eating fries when you’ve had a lot of alcohol that’s just too good to pass up. Which is why Denny’s is one of my favourite places.
Their smothered cheese fries really hits the spot, and the money I saved on not paying cab fare covers the cheap dish at only $6.29 plus GST. Worth every nickel. The easy location, decent prices, patient and under – standing staff, Wi-Fi to upload selfies, a wide range of food for all cravings, and great tasting fries are all the reasons that Denny’s is my go-to drunk food place.
Our other option (which was heavily de – bated amongst my inebriated pals) was the McDonald’s at 222 8th Ave., S.W. It s also open 24 hours, has Wi-Fi and, of course has, extra salty fries. It was a toss up, but Denny’s won over our drunken, hungry hearts.