Take Ten Cafe, Calgary

I stumbled across this place seven years ago as a first year university student needing good substinance to nurse a bad hangover. To this day I still go back nearly every week for the great food and unbelievably personal service from Adam who has become a part of my (and most likely all of his regulars) life. He knows what I eat, which dishes I like "extra spicy", and is never to busy to catch up on things. The business has just been sold but Adam has assured us he is training the new owners to his ways, and it will remain the great little gem it has always been - same great food, same great personal service. Man this place is great (especially the spicy chicken shanghi noodle). Check it out.

As we entered the restaurant for breakfast, my partner noted the greasy odour but from that point on the experience was mostly positive. The owner is very amiable and knows his loyal clientele. There are about 12 two person tables (which can be configured for larger groups) so this is not a big restaurant. They do not serve de-caffeinated coffee which was a disappointment but the regular coffee was okay. The food was well prepared, very tasty and did not leave a greasy plate once we had eaten everything. The service was very efficient. The kitchen is open and was quite clean however the staff working in the kitchen did not wear any hair covering. This is a common problem in restaurants which needs to be addressed.

When the media or a touristy book names a great place for breakfast in this city, they always name horrible places like nellies or the river cafe. They never mention Take Ten, which is disappointing that this place doesn't get the recognition it deserves, but it helps keep the riff-raff out. The only way you can discover this place is through word of mouth or if you stumble upon it while wandering 10th street (like I did five years ago). The food here has come a long way since my first visit five years ago, and even then it was delicious. The menu is diverse, you can get everything from woks to burgers to sandwiches to corn beef hash. You can't go wrong with ANYTHING they make, but the Woks are some of the best I've ever tried. The place is run by a Corean couple who work hard and are very nice to boot. They recognize regulars and go the extra mile for them, which is something RARELY seen in this city. Value here is great, you can get two eggs, hash browns, sausage and toast for $4.95. Portions are huge; I have problems finishing the $8 wok. I like the plastic chairs, rickety tables and cheap flooring personally, but someone who prefers a predictable suburban environment may not. They have a 'patio' outside, which is a nice thought, but it just doesn't work due to the loud traffic outside. I recommend this place to EVERYONE, open Tuesday-Sunday.