Block Kitchen + Bar

Had a great experience at Block Kitchen + Bar last night in Banff! Even though we had to wait a little, we didn’t mind—it was totally worth it. We ordered a bunch of food, and everything was delicious! The flavors were unique, and the drinks were really interesting. The cocktails were great too! I am not gonna go into details of how the food tastes because you have to try it for yourself. The ambiance is cozy and cute, and the service was fantastic. Just a tip—make a reservation before going, as it gets busy. Definitely coming back to try more food!

Blown away by the taste of this cuisine - we had the Korean fried chicken, steamed bao bun with tofu, smoked bison and pesto flatbread, and the Japanese curry poutine. Topped off with some cocktails including a refashioned (old fashioned with maple). Our server was spectacular - very knowledgeable and friendly! The dining area is small so be prepared to wait; beautiful view of the street from their outdoor patio. Easily within the top ten best dining experiences of my life.

So pleasantly surprised. In a sea of overpriced and overrated restaurants in Banff sits this gem. From the friendly service, to the good beer and to the great food, everything about this place was excellent. The prices were incredibly reasonable for the quality of the meal. I would definitely come here again.

Generally rly delicious food!!! Poke bowl had abit too much rice & the duck poutine was abit too sweet though. Bison burger was good

Block is outstanding food, service, drinks, everything! I went to Banff on vacation and found myself eating at Block three times for the week I was there. My goodness was the food amazing, I did not have a single item that did not blow my socks off. The staff is also super kind. I can not recommend this spot enough!!

First meal in Banff! The restaurant is small and with Japanese decor. Servers are very friendly. Mushroom risotto: very curry forward flavor which was surprising and had a classic risotto texture. Not my favorite personally. Tuna tataki: tuna was very fresh and had a flavorful crust! The seaweed salad was a nice addition. Salt & pepper duck drumettes: Very juicy and the pepper was incredibly fragrant. I enjoyed the sweet dipping sauce that came with it. Bison & pesto flatbread: this was just okay. It tasted very dry overall and could've used more pesto. Bison steak and frites: My personal favorite. The bison was cooked perfectly and it was rich & slightly sweet. I loved the chimichurri sauce and the fries were solid too! Zen salad: Nothing to write home about... it was a very simple salad but it was nice to have something fresh to accompany our meal.

Very friendly staff, food was really good. We got the Alberta Bison Burger and Duck Poutine. They were very accommodating to our stroller and gave some fresh vegetables for our daughter to eat :)

I'm impressed by this small bar & restaurant. The Asian fusion menu has a great variety with a long list of daily specials. I had the red curry with prawns, naan and rice, and I loved it. The 3 dips starter with naan was lovely, too. Our Bartender Steve was as professional as entertaining - great service!

We had 6 people in our party and we all loved our appetizers and meals (tuna, lettuce wraps, risotto, prawns). One of our favorite meals in Banff. My favorite was the pork belly bao bun! Amazing flavor. Small place so might be a wait during busy season. Worth it!

Such a unique take on food. We had the bison steak with chimichurri sauce and the pork belly lettuce wrap. Delicious. The place is hoppin, but also very relaxed. Sit at the bar if you can.

Really impressed with this place! A tapas place with kind of an Asian twist, and so delicious! They apparently change their menu up every so often but here's what we had: The block fries are a MUST! They were the perfect crispness to potato ratio like McDonald's except even better because they were dusted with nori flakes. And the accompanying spicy mayo sauce makes you forget all about ketchup. Definitely our favorite thing we ordered. The special of duck drumettes were also very good. Perfectly fried and crisp on the outside but still moist and perfectly cooked on the inside. The Korean beef short ribs were really good, too! Had some of that grilled smoky flavor and I loved the accompanying pickles and kimchi for a little bit of acidity and lettuce to provide a bit of crunch. The cold ramen salad was probably our least favorite thing (not that it was bad, the other dishes were just so good). The broth had great flavor and the noodles were perfectly cooked but there were just a few too many toppings for my liking and I think I prefer my ramen hot! Overall, so delicious though. Oh, and I also really appreciate that each plate is a respectable amount of food (unlike at some other tapas places I've been to).

Block's dishes are all great. We tried bison short ribs, lettuce cups with boneless ribs, Korean fried chicken, and the tuna tataki The bison short ribs were very tender and cooked perfectly. It's rare to find bison ribs. These didn't disappoint. With the lettuce cups, add some of the peanut sauce and Kim chi to the mix. You won't be sorry. The Korean fried chicken was very crispy. The sauce was a little spicy. This is a do over for sure. Tuna tataki was probably the 4th favorite but still very good. The salad that came with the tuna is one of the best I've had.

I came here on a Thursday night and was seated right away. The service was excellent, and the restaurant had a small, cozy atmosphere. My favorite dishes of the night were the duck drumettes and the Alberta bison steak. Both were standout dishes and definite must-tries!

There's a first time for everything and I'm so glad my first time trying Bison steak is at this place. The steak is cooked medium rare and it was so tender, the chimichurry sauce goes so well with the steak. And while you're there, don't miss on ordering the fantastic Original 16 draft beer. Service is super awesome, very friendly and kind, I would definitely come back here when in town. There's indoor seatings and plenty of outdoor seats too.

Great service and great food after a long hike. Karaage chicken and bon mi was the highlight along with the service!

We had a wonderful dinner experience at Block! We ordered a bunch of food to share including lettuce wraps, Korean beef short ribs and gyozas. The food was so good; it was fresh with a unique combination of flavours and Asian flare. The inside has mostly high top/ bar seating. It's quite small inside so I would recommend making a reservation. The service was also top notch. The owner served our meals, and kept the kitchen open for a bit longer so we could order a few more plates. He was so accommodating and friendly. Would highly recommend!

I had the poutine which was delicious. The gravy was rich and tasty, the fries were crispy, the pulled duck meat was tender, and the cheese curds were nice sized and numerous. I ended up eating the entire thing, which I don't usually do with poutine since towards the end the fries get soggy. But this was so good even the soggy fries at the bottom tasted fantastic. Honestly the best poutine I've had. Would love to come back someday.

First meal in Banff! The restaurant is small and with Japanese decor. Servers are very friendly. Mushroom risotto: very curry forward flavor which was surprising and had a classic risotto texture. Not my favorite personally. Tuna tataki: tuna was very fresh and had a flavorful crust! The seaweed salad was a nice addition. Salt & pepper duck drumettes: Very juicy and the pepper was incredibly fragrant. I enjoyed the sweet dipping sauce that came with it. Bison & pesto flatbread: this was just okay. It tasted very dry overall and could've used more pesto. Bison steak and frites: My personal favorite. The bison was cooked perfectly and it was rich & slightly sweet. I loved the chimichurri sauce and the fries were solid too! Zen salad: Nothing to write home about... it was a very simple salad but it was nice to have something fresh to accompany our meal.

I still think about this restaurant! I visited Banff about 2 years ago and the food at this restaurant blew me away! It's a cozy and unassuming spot but it is a MUST try. The vibe is chill and cool, good music too. The owners and staff are also super welcoming! For the food? I had to take a pause after every bite because of how tasty it was. The massaman Thai prawn curry was delicious, and the chicken karrage was as well! I will definitely eat here again the next time I visit!!

Came here just for drinks. Saturday night 8PM only place was at the bar. Very small seating. These are based on Personal Preference! Ruby Tuesday. 7/10. Yuzual Suspect. 9/10 ( I liked it, boyfriend did not) Birds of Paradise. 10/10. Best drink here. Watermelon Splash. 8/10. Tastes like cucumber water, very diluted. I didn't like but boyfriend did.

We got to sit outside and it was very nice. Our server was wonderful. Drinks were amazing & food was served hot & fast!

Such a Gem in Banff. It's a small place but worth the wait. Couple tables inside and a few outside as well. Their food is Beyond delicious along with their drinks that are well priced and so worth it. It's like a Tapas style menu that you can share the plates. We had the Shirt ribs, a delicious salad and the Hummus trio with warm pita bread. We devoured the food and we were amazed how much we loved it. The Ambiance was great, a bit dim and they had sports on the TV and it was a great vibe. The tables are a bit close to each other just putting that out there but that didn't bother us at all. The hostess was nice and the customer service was great, very attentive and food came out quick. If you are visiting Banff area book a reservation here you won't regret it! Get your name in the list as have a good meal!

we were looking for a quick place to eat and this place was pretty good! got 3 appetizers - the dumplings, chicken karage, and the fries. the atmosphere was pretty nice too. the service was very friendly and the placed was pretty filled. we should've probably gotten one of the main meals like the galbi but enjoyed it still.

Gyoza, Korean fried chicken, and duck poutine were all excellent. Service was great even when they were slammed.

Solid spot for small (and less small) eats in Banff. I remember being surprised about the small size of the indoor space but there were actually quite a few spots at the bar. They also got outdoor spaces that are great for the summer + people watching. I ended up getting the duck poutine, which was really good. All the ingredients worked well together, my only regret was that I should've split it with another person (I think this is true of all the large dishes). I also really LOVED the cold ramen salad, it definitely felt not only more healthy but a bit more fitting for the sunny weather that day. Recommend this for summer and the poutine for colder seasons. Staff was also pretty friendly and helpful in explaining food options/payment to us non-Canadians.

Went for a lunch in downtown Banff. Parking was pretty tough but we did manage to find a spot in the free lot and walked to the restaurant. Other parking was street/paid. There was no wait when we went although the place was already packed with others. Service was average. Food came out in about 20min. 7/10 Ramen chicken MP - Average ramen in terms of broth and noodles. Flavor is just ok, noodles were not overcooked, toppings were ok, and chicken was good. 4/10 Tofu wrap $16 - Would not recommend. Tofu is plain and portion is very small. Mostly will be just lettuce and sauce. 7/10 Bbq pork wrap $19 - Pork was good but again very little protein. 5/10 Tofu bowl $20 - Mid tofu protein bowl. This bowl has soft tofu and there was not that much flavor. 8/10 Medley flatbread $23 - The best thing they had. Crust was well made with cristy edges and thin soft interior. Very cheesy and generous toppings. Could use a bit more seasoning on the toppings. 7/10 Korean fried chicken $16 - Solid sweet and savory flavor. Chicken to breading ratio was good, but not that crispy. As far as KFC goes, this is average. 7/10 Passionfruit mocktail $9 - Pretty refreshing especially after hiking in Banff, but could use more passionfruit flavor.

Overall drinks and food were good, but we were more impressed with the craft cocktails. The food was not as good as the foodie places in California, but it satisfied our appetite.

Sweet Potato Soup 3 spicy, flavorful SMOKED BISON & PESTO FLATBREAD 3 pumpkin seed pesto, onion compote, goat cheese, bread slightly dry, cold cut bison slightly dry, medium flavorful PIG, DUCK & FIG RILLETTES 4 chutney, crostinis, flavorful, refreshing, slightly sweet PULLED DUCK POUTINE 3 fries, pulled duck, cheese curds, demi-glace sauce, super salty

This is a cozy quirky little restaurant in downtown banff that serves up foodie quality concoctions that all are equally as tasty as they are creative. It's an Asian fusion spot so expect thing from ramen to tobiko laden karage chicken. Get reservations because it gets filled quickly. Service staff were super duper friendly, helpful and personable. The karage, Korean fried chicken were both different and excellently juicy and crispy bat same time . The bao were filled with meat and goodness about the size of the palm of your hand. Capable of being split. The shrimp were cooked to perfection

What a surprising find! My friends and I stopped by for a late lunch after hiking nearby and were amazed by the food! The 6 of us got seated inside by the window next to the bar and honestly it was a bit cramped. My boyfriend and I got the duck poutine(7/10), asian lettuce wrap (8.5/10) and the karaage crispy chicken sandwich (10/10). The duck poutine was good but it gets really heavy after awhile. The Asian lettuce wrap was yummy and the different sauces were nice but the portion is smaller than I thought. I loved the karaage crispy chicken sandwich! The chicken was marinated and crispy. It was extremely delicious. I would highly recommend this place.

Holy cow! I almost forgot to review this restaurant, and what a travesty that would have been. With all the other reviews, so graciously provided by you fellow yelpers... I demanded that we eat dinner at this restaurant. Not only was our meal, outstanding, as expected... The next night several other ladies in our travel group decided to visit as well, and also had an amazing experience and dinner. Based on other reviews, I had my heart set on duck poutine... And of course, it wasn't on the dinner menu. The chef graciously agreed to make it for me anyway, and it was frigging delicious. I got to try one of the shrimp, and a piece of the Korean fried chicken... And both were absolutely delicious, my friend said the bao bun buns were equally amazing. She devoured them too quickly for anyone else to have a bite. :-) I absolutely love, crème brûlée, tiramisu, and brownies so I imagine my immense happiness to discover they have created dessert. That is all three in one, and yes, it is everything you want it to be. Don't miss this place if you have one night in Banff. It's a win all the way around.

Lively place for Saturday! We weren't exactly sure what we were in the mood for and definitely wasn't dressed for any special occasion. Block was opened, had seats, and had a lovely vibe to it. We sat at the bar and people watched majority of the time. I spent half the time watching the bartender make pretty drinks. The food was good. My boyfriend ordered two of the bao buns and he enjoyed them. He loved the Japabao more than the Char siu. I agree, but I am bias, because I know what true char siu tastes like. Not that it's bad, just not what I'm used to. It's a mix of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. Japabao was unique to it's own, so being a mix of Asian ingredients made sense -double smoked farmers sausage, house kimchi, takoyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, smoked bonito shavings. I think there was a kick to it, if I remembered correctly. I had the Thai mushroom risotto. This small bowl is packed with lots of flavors. Shimeji, shiitake & king oyster mushrooms, brown, red & wild organic rice, Thai curry broth. It was really good, but heavy. I couldn't finish it. My boyfriend didn't want anything to do with it as he was satisfied with his buns. Overall, cute places, good food, and chill vibes.

What an incredible gem of a restaurant! I didn't know what to expect when my friend picked this restaurant but I came out full and happy. The food was so delicious and every item we ate had so much flavor to it. Special shout out to the chefs cooking the food. Everything was made to perfection. We came here Friday night and the inside was full. We got sat outside and it was freezing cold. The employee offered us blankets which was really kind of her and made it more bearable sitting outside. If anything opened inside, she would move us in. For the food, we did family style so we could taste everything. We got the char siu bbq pork belly, karaage chicken, pan-flashed spicy prawns, tako yaki and the thai mushroom risotto. I want to start off the tako yaki, it was the best tako yaki I've ever eaten in my life. So much flavor to it. The chicken karaage was so good we ordered a second one. The pork belly, prawns and risotto were flavorful in their own way. I would 100% come back here again. We as a group couldn't stop talking about how delicious this place was. Incredible food, incredible employees and we did end up getting moved inside. The inside is small but gives out a nice vibe. The experience was amazing! Thank you so much Block Kitchen + Bar!

We went for the cocktails, per a recommendation from a local bartender. Had to try a few of the oyster specials when I saw them on the featured menu. I had the Birds of Paradise cocktail but with vodka because I can't drink Gin. It was delicious, fruity but not sweet and had a bit of tartness. The foam on top gave a unique smooth texture to the drink. I also tried the two oyster specials. Personally I thought the miso oyster was the best and transported me back to Japan which I had visited earlier this year. We only stopped by for a cocktail before dinner. However, I wish we would have eaten there as the food that was coming out the kitchen smelled so good! Be sure to get a cocktail!

Took our family here for an early dinner which worked out great because it was slow and we got the happy hour price and menu!! Highly recommend this place- staff was amazing!! Were able to get a same day reservation.

We had an amazing meal--naanwhich and spicy fried chicken sandwich. Absolutely wonderful food, great service and great beer! Highly recommended!

TLDR mushroom risotto was great, duck wraps were okay, and crême dessert was okay The place was busy around 7PM, so we had to wait ~25 minutes for a table. But, the area is very bustling, so it didn't feel too long. Got two entrees: Mushroom risotto was great, and had a ton of umami packed into it. I'm guessing that was from the curry, or maybe a couple of the mushroom species. However, it's not really a traditional risotto. It's a fusion dish, so it wasn't necessarily creamy, and I think the focus was more on the curry. Still good though. The chili threads didn't add anything. Idk why so many restaurants like to decorate with them. Duck lettuce wraps were good, but for some reason, I was expecting the duck to be served in filets. The shredded meat had some good flavor, but was a bit dry, but was saved by the peanut sauce. Perfect complement. Didn't care much for the spicy sauce. Got the pot de crême for dessert. Pretty good, and not too dense. I'd like to see the restaurant experiment with different flavors - maybe remove the chocolate and just have it be creme with berries, or try vanilla, etc. Sat outside at the beginning of September. Very nice out, but got a tad chilly toward the end. Waiter was nice for the most part.

Went on a busy night and got lucky to be able to seat outdoors on a beautiful summer night. Good selection of pan Asian fusion dining. Every dish we got - tapa style was great for sharing. Enjoyed the flatbread, poke, bao bun, takoyaki, and Asian fries. Great selection of beer and drinks. Service was helpful and quick.

My sister and I stopped by here for dinner. No line and got seated right way! We were trying to order some of the dishes we saw online but the waiter said they don't have those. I guess they change their menu occasionally? But overall, all the dishes we ordered have great taste, except the spicy vegetable soup. Not really my type of food. The chilled ramen is surprisingly tasteful. My sister doesn't like cold noodle but she likes the chilled ramen too. One of the best restaurants we've tried in Banff! Recommended!

We seriously enjoyed everything we ordered. Staff were nice and attentive. Indoor seating is a bit limited, but outdoor seating is available as well! Came at a Saturday afternoon ~3ish and didn't really have to wait! Food: Block fries: my friends fave! Takoyaki seasoning over fries Char Siu BBQ pork belly: great! Tad bit too spicy for me though Japabao dog: one of my faves! The sausage was so good! Lettuce Wraps: it just works. So refreshing if you want something light! Red Devil Calamari: I love how these were cooked so well. Not too chewy. Adding it with the lime was perfect -- my other favorite!!

This place is cute and has a good vibe. Outdoor dining doubles the space which is super helpful! This place has decent food and extremely creative dishes- duck poutine, chicken karaage sandwiches, naan sandwich, etc. there's definitely some Asian influence on the menu. The service was amazing. On the day I went, there was only 1 server and every table was taken, so service was a little slower but it was ok given the short staff. I'll be honest- i had higher hopes for this place than what I actually tasted. The chicken karaage was really good but I didn't like it in the form of a sandwich and should've just ordered the dish of it instead. The salad was refreshing and light but also a little on the bland side. I couldn't taste the duck in the poutine bc the gravy overpowered it. At the end of the day, I thought the food was decent, but not amazing which is why I would give a 3.5 stars. I appreciated the service tho bc it was really good of all the places I went to in Banff!

Super cool Asian-fusion restaurant in the cute, little town of Banff! We tried the duck poutine and it was so bomb! The gravy was savory and the duck was so tender! The fries were crispy and it's exactly what we wanted on a cold day! Service was great! It's a smaller restaurant so seating a big party might be a little difficult.

The Block was amazing! Highly recommend. We walked in on a Thursday and were seated right away at the bar. If you come at a busy time definitely call for a reservation or be willing to wait. The restaurant was small but had a nice, warm environment. There was great art on the wall including a wine holder. We started with the spicy prawns followed by the Red Devil Calamari and Korean beef short ribs. The prawns were lovely! Great flavor and perfectly cooked. The calamari was slightly spicy but were massive pieces. And the short ribs were delicious! The meat basically melted off the bone, and the kimchi with the pickled cucumbers blended perfectly with the meat and rice. Beer on tap and the cider were great too! If you are looking for tasty and flavorful food, would definitely recommend checking this place out!

Everything about this place is amazing. The food, the drinks, the service. All stellar. In fact we rarely revisit a place on vacation because we like to try new places, but we are actually driving back thru Banff to hit it up one more time before we leave.

It has a very limited seating and was very popular. We sat outside, the temperature was cool but comfortable. The waitress was friendly and professional. We had only small plates - char siu bbq pork belly buns, Korean fried chicken, duck spring rolls, tako yaki, and pork-kimchi gyozas. All were very tasty and delicious. The Korean fried chicken was a slightly salty and the pork-kimchi gyozas were a bit too crispy. We shared matcha cheesecake and were disappointed. The texture was a bit on the soft side and the flavor was bland. I tasted neither the cheesecake nor the matcha.

Smaller place, but great food and service. We had the duck poutine fries, tom gha soup, Korean fried chicken and it was all excellent!

If I could give 10 stars I would think nothing of it! This place has the most amazing food! We had the Korean short ribs, Bao buns, and the crispy fried chicken and it was by far the very best I've had. The chicken has ruined me, everything else will always be average after this. In fact, we were so impressed we came back for dinner the next night and had both dishes AGAIN. A+++

Delicious, cozy little spot. Staff was friendly and attentive, and the food was great! Bison was really good, the salad too. People around us had bao buns that looked really good too!

My cousin and I were roaming the shops around Banff Avenue when we started looking for a place to stop by for lunch. We saw this place tucked away to the side and decided to give it a try. Walking in, the place was neat and chic with a cool vibe. We were seated fairly quickly and given menus to look over. This is an Asian-fusion restaurant, so we decided to try a couple of things for lunch: the karaage chicken, pork belly baos, pork-kimchi gyozas, and steamed edamame. They all came out quickly and were nice and fresh! Flavor was there and definitely hit the spot after walking around in the cold for awhile. Would recommend the karaage chicken and the baos for those who are wanting some maximum flavor in their life. The sauce that it comes with was just chef's kiss too! Try out the daily specials they have written on the blackboard as well. Wasn't able to try them, but they did sound yummy. Honestly don't have anything bad to say about this place. Food was great, atmosphere was vibin', and service was efficient. It was a great time!

Amazing food. Great presentation. Wonderful service. I highly recommend the tuna. The passion fruit mojito was fantastic.

excellent food, great service!! "boutiqu-ish": gourmet foods at VERY reasonable prices. Small restaurant, so you might have to wait for a table. TOTALLY worth it.

Delicious and amazing service!! Ordered the gyoza, duck special, and poke bowl. All three dishes hit the spot. Tempted to come again to try other dishes on the menu, the quality is there!

What a fun experience!!! Beautifully presented food, tasty and creative. Good serbice.

This is a great restaurant I had the bao bun and it was incredible,the watermelon splash is a must. I would highly recommend.

Block was on our list to "to try in Banff" from several places, and it didn't disappoint. The staff was super friendly and gave us some insider tips and tricks to seeing Banff and the surrounding area. We started with the lettuce wraps and the sauces that went with them were my favorite part. Our server recommended the Karaage chicken skewers, so we tried those and they may have been the best part of the whole meal. They were so good! For my meal, I got a chicken sandwich (chicken was SO good but there was too much bread) and fries (SO good as well). A little gem of a place. Highly recommend!

Loved loved loved this place. Small and delicious with super friendly service and excellent, fresh Asian-themed foods. We liked it so much we actually ate here two nights in a row when the place we chose for dinner our second night was disappointing. Our first night in Banff, we spotted this online and came inside about an hour before close. A Thursday night, it was easy to walk right in and get a table for two. We chose to go with a salad, dumplings, lettuce wraps, and pot de creme which is my fav dessert. We also had a coffee with dessert and even that was very good. The salad, called Chopping Block, was phenomenal - maybe the best I've ever had. Soooo good. An interesting mix of toppings - mixed greens, tomato, avocado, radish, salami, asiago cheese, currants, candied pecans and orange balsamic dressing all chopped in fine pieces as per the name. The combination was salty and sweet and light and super refreshing but the asiago and salami really made for a great pair with the sweet orange dressing and currants and candied pecans to offset the salt. Highly recommend this salad. We ordered it both nights. Our second night - we went somewhere else and weren't too pleased so departed that spot and bailed and came here - got the same salad mentioned above and this time went for the shrimp as well. Which was served with a delicious peanut sauce and was perfectly cooked. Both nights we had a different server and both were equally nice and polite and friendly. Great food and a great experience. It's small and cozy with only a few tables and a small bar inside and a handful of patio seats outside but worth the wait if you have to. Believe me!

All star restaurant all around. Amazing service, delicious food, and ambiance was just right. Glad we made the stop to try this Asian fusion restaurant. I'm usually picky when it comes to Asian cuisine but they the mark with every dish. Would recommend