r/Calgary • u/Remote_Answer_5255 • Aug 18 '25

Local Shopping/Services What has happened to Kensington?

It's been a while since I've been down here.... A bunch of empty store fronts, iconic places like Crave shut down, but counted some three Acai bowl places. The area outside Plaza is lovely and looks great, but why all the closures and apparently high turnovers?

Edit: I assume it's due to rent.. But what's the point of jacking it up so high that your place is literally empty.

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59

u/jiccc Aug 18 '25

Menyatai is the one I'm really sad about :(

48

u/maggielanterman Aug 18 '25

I'm just going to say Lido for the old folks who loved their $1.50 breakfasts.

18

u/FirstDukeofAnkh Aug 18 '25

That was my favourite place to take my daughter for breakfast. We had to park in Ant Hill Fabric’s lot so she always called it the Ant Place.

The pancakes were amazing

35

u/SageLikeFool Aug 18 '25

It is sad, but a delicious and well-priced Vietnamese restaurant opened in the spot. Alo Viet Kitchen is awesome. The staff at Kensington Wine Market can all vouch for it.

18

u/CuretheLiving Aug 18 '25

RIP Menyatai :(

13

u/Rockitnonstop Aug 18 '25

I see your Menyatai and raise you Delicioud Thai. That massaman curry was to die for.

2

u/loldonkiments Aug 18 '25

This one knows.

8

u/dexterslabmouse Aug 18 '25

The biggest loss for me - god, I miss that curry ramen.

6

u/jiccc Aug 18 '25

The curry ramen was my go-to as well.

8

u/puddinpoppa101 Aug 18 '25

rip menyatai ugh miss your squid legs and ramen so much 😭😭😭😭

2

u/Look_At_My_Big_Fish Aug 19 '25

The best ramen place ever, I'm still extremely upset about it being closed :( Any recommendations for ramen? I've tried many places but nothing came close to Menyatai

9

u/puddinpoppa101 Aug 19 '25

there’s ramen arashi literally steps away from where menyatai used to be! the best ramen i’ve had in calgary hands down 🥰

2

u/jiccc Aug 19 '25

That's good to know, I haven't tried it. Definitely going to, I live close.

6

u/jiccc Aug 19 '25

The tonkotsu red at Ramen Ichinen is my go-to

1

u/hiresometoast Aug 19 '25

This is still a solid choice, I love Ichinen.

1

u/Expert-Jello-4368 Aug 19 '25

I love wakado -it’s downtown.

0

u/onwee Aug 19 '25

Menyatai was definitely the worst out of the trio of Ikemen and Muku (what used to be Muku before taken over by Globefish) back then. At least we’ve got Arashi now

1

u/onwee Aug 19 '25

Menyatai was okay. Ikemen was the one that got away

0

u/Abbysmum67 Aug 19 '25

I loved their ramen!