Chinese Fast Food @ MBA BBQ Noodle House

So I am stuck downtown and it 5 PM what do I do? I could try to get through the traffic or I could just grab something to eat and wait for the traffic to subside. After not getting meat at Sakana Grill I thought its time for MBA BBQ Noodle House. MBA is like HK fast food.

Today is making up for last week. Driving past the restaurant a spot is available right in front of the restaurant. Its like a sign. Eat here. Going inside the place is fairly empty. With the prices being so cheap I never under stood why it isn't busier but who cares we are on a mission.

It's Monday I have miscalculated. Today is Korean Rib day and not Chicken Skewers. Both are about $9.95 which is cheap for the amount of meat but on the "Special" day you get $2 off and the soup of the day included. As far as I can tell the soup of the day here is always Chinese vegetable pork soup. Its good but if you are Jewish or Muslim it not the soup of choice.

So upon ordering the Korean Rib's with some Dry Scallop Congee ( Not Gongee as spelled on there menu ) we wait for the food. The waitress comes back and says that we have our choice of drinks because we didn't get the soup so we order lemon tea. Which is the normal house tea with some lemon. Expensive if we order it alone but refreshing when we get it free.

We start with the soup and the congee is great. Not that I think I have ever had bad congee but hey I am hungry and it really hit the spot. I never really had Dry Scallop Congee before but it was good. maybe a little stingy on the dry scallop but for $5 it was good.

Not even finished with the soup the main course comes. A hot plate of three large Korean Ribs, a bowel of rice and a gravy train of black pepper gravy. Hmmm. With this being around the same price of McDonalds I am not sure how they do it but I am thinking too much. Cutting the ribs and dipping them in the gravy or adding the gravy to the rice with ribs its your choice. Its all good.

I have been here before and I need to remember Tuesday is Chicken day. Next time.

So my ratings are:

Atmosphere: 6/10
Service: 7/10
Price: 5/10 ( With higher being more expensive...)
Food Rating: 7/10

MBA BBQ Noodle House

123, 2nd Avenue SE
Calgary, Alberta T2G 0B2
Tel: 403-265-9880



Related Restaurants:

U and Me Restaurant - Downtown

Japanese Hot Pot @ Sakana Grill

This is my first blog so let me get my format straight before I start posting too much on a regular basis. My first blog will talk about Hot Pot as in Fondue. There are many different styles but for today I was thinking Japanese. With the cold weather about to disappear this is a good time to get out the chop sticks and go to town.

For years I have thought about having the Shabu Shabu at Sakana Grill (the downtown location). So this is the review that I gave for that experience....

Usually the restaurant is hustling with people but today the grills are empty and we should be able to get a booth. Its in that time that I realize a Calgary Flames games is on. With the restaurant not really busy I hope that this will lead to an unpresidented service, and food. Only waiting a minute we are sat down quickly at a booth. Yes, looking on the menu the Shabu Shabu is still there. I am so hungry this better be good.

Only waiting a few minutes the waitress comes and and we order the Shabu Shabu right off the bat with some Japanese Green Tea.

The tea comes quickly then the burner to heat our food. After about 5 minutes the pot comes with the soup to cook our food. Kinda bland looking and smelling but hey it not all here.

Then it comes. The food arrives with one plate of beef per person ( @$18.50) and a plate assorted vegetables Bok Choy, mushrooms (a few), baby corn, tofu (lots of it), and noodles. The beef is like 8 very small pieces. I have never seen beef cut so thin for the hot pot. This is it. After crying for a minute we start the process of cooking the beef first. Just before it is done cooking the waitress brings Steak Sauce and Ginger Sauce that is usually used for the grill items. Ok here we go.

After devouring the beef in a few minutes we decide to order another plate each of beef and start in on the rest of the food. Now we spend another hour eating Tofu and vegetables. Which don't get me wrong are heathy but just not really something that really grabs you.

If you have never had Hot Pot before you will enjoy the experience but for a veteran this was very disappointing. Not enough beef and it was mostly noodles and tofu which are cheap...

As Hot Pots go I would rate this a 6/10.

But hey I like Sakana Grill maybe not for Hot Pot. They have an amazing Grill with Streak and Shrimp that I am sure clogs your arteries but worth the heart attack. They also have probably the best Sushi Boats in town. If you go in non peak hours they have some really good deals. At 3 PM till 5 PM and from 10 PM till close they have the $30 boats for a price close to $20... Lunch is always quaint for the typical Sushi/Tempura/Teriyaki boxed food. I don't think anyone can beat them on price and quality....

So my ratings are:

Atmosphere: 7/10
Service: 7/10
Price: 8/10 ( With higher being more expensive...)
Food Rating: 6/10 (without Hot Pot 7.5/10)

Sakana Grill

Downtown Location
116 - 2nd Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0B9
Tel: 403-290-1118



Related Restaurants:

Sakana Grill - NorthWest location
Gabi Grill - Eau Claire Market
Gabi Grill - Franklin Mall