Wok and Co Pacific Rim Kitchen Brings Global Flavors to Calgary's Edmonton Trail
Ashish Damle, the dynamic restaurateur behind Calgary's successful Namo Cafe and Bistro chain, has unveiled his latest culinary venture: Wok and Co Pacific Rim Kitchen. Located on Edmonton Trail, just steps from the original Namo location, this new establishment represents the culmination of years of planning and culinary exploration.
From Vision to Reality
After establishing three Namo locations across Calgary since 2018, Damle has transformed what he describes as a "well-oiled machine" into a platform for his newest concept. The restaurateur's journey toward Wok and Co began years earlier with a brief return to his native India, where he operated a casual wok-cooking restaurant with a Subway-style made-to-order format. Though he temporarily shelved wok-focused restaurant plans upon returning to Canada, the concept continued to evolve in his imagination.
"With Namo now running smoothly, I was ready to make Wok and Co a reality," Damle explains, highlighting the strategic timing of this expansion.
A Seamless Transformation
The restaurant's opening stands out as remarkably efficient in Calgary's competitive dining scene. Damle took over a space previously occupied by several casual restaurants, most notably Joey's Fish Shack, and completed the transformation in approximately two months. The result is a vibrant dining room featuring:
- A colorful mural that energizes the space
- Paper lanterns creating warm, inviting lighting
- A relaxed atmosphere with youthful energy
Culinary Philosophy and Menu Highlights
While Namo has built its reputation on eclectic global brunch offerings, Damle sought a more focused approach for Wok and Co. He describes the restaurant as a modern Pan-Asian eatery loosely based on Pacific Rim cuisine, drawing inspiration from Singaporean, Korean, and Thai flavors while maintaining creative freedom from traditional constraints.
"Pacific Rim makes the most sense," Damle says. "It is globally inspired but is still very much my style of cooking. It should feel like comfort food for Canadians, but taste a little bit different."
The extensive menu is organized into distinct sections, each showcasing Damle's innovative approach:
- Thai-style curry sets ($23-$24) featuring authentic yet creative interpretations
- Asian-inspired pizzas ($22) with toppings like hoisin duck, satay chicken, and red curry mushrooms
- Share plates designed for communal dining experiences
- Main courses that cross culinary boundaries
Signature Dishes and Creative Liberties
Damle's culinary creativity shines through in unexpected combinations that delight rather than confine. Notable offerings include:
- Rigatoni in wagyu bolognese ($24) - an Italian-Asian fusion
- Rich unagi and prawn fried rice ($28) - combining Japanese and Chinese elements
- Spicy Malaysian fried chicken ($24) - with authentic heat and flavor
- Angus tenderloin lomo saltado ($26) - incorporating South American influences
- Duck confit fried rice - a French-Asian hybrid
The restaurant also features an Instagram-worthy dessert: the Mega Fortune Cookie ($15), a giant cookie placed over scoops of mango gelato, complete with a traditional fortune and lottery numbers.
Dining Experience and Future Plans
While purists might find the menu unconventional, Damle emphasizes that the dishes are designed to be "fun and tasty" rather than strictly authentic. The menu's bold flavors and diverse options encourage group dining, with Damle suggesting that "bringing several people and creating a little buffet for yourselves would not be inappropriate here."
Even with this extensive launch menu, Damle confirms he has additional culinary ideas ready for future implementation, suggesting that Wok and Co's offerings will continue to evolve. The restaurant represents not just another dining option for Calgarians, but a personal culinary journey for a restaurateur who has successfully translated years of international experience into a cohesive, innovative dining concept.
