You know what? I kind of love Open Sesame. For full on white-person Asian Fusion, it's pretty great. I highly recommend starting with the veggie spring rolls (they have the BEST plum sauce everrr) (but they are pretty expensive for just 2 spring rolls... i think they end up being like $3.50 per spring roll, which is not okay, but they're tasty), or the tereyaki riblings (I want a bottle of this... more

Unless you would like a wait, be sure to make a reservation. Thank goodness they have a full service bar. We were able to sit & eat quickly with decent service. Since it was a Busy night, our meals came out before our appetizer and they kindly provided the app free of charge. I will be back - after making a reservation.

First time at this restaurant and it was delicious. We chose the stir fry feature and ordered the chow mein noodles and shrimp for our protein option. The waitress gave us a bowl to add veggies and sauce. Once you're done, place the bowls on the kitchen table and they make your stir fry as you wait at your table. The atmosphere is great for a date!

I love Open Sesame. I made a reservation at the last minute for my husband's birthday. The staff was extremely accommodating. One of my friends wanted to bring her baby and they made sure that there was a highchair for her. The food, as always, was excellent. The one trip around the Asian market is always a good bet. I ordered some Vietnamese salad rolls which were very tasty too. Our waitress... more

I have been coming to Open Sesame for over 5 years and its always the same. Great service, good ambiance and the stir fry is always really good. The interior is decorated really as well, which adds to the effect. I recently went there for a party of 20 so we got the big tent in the corner which was extremely convenient and even though our party was huge and we kept moving around, the server was... more

How the heck have I lived in Calgary for 3 years and have not been here before?
We went with friends on a Sunday night - they recommended it.
Parking - busy lot but we found a spot - no paying for parking! I am thinking about all the downtown restaurants we skip due to parking issues.
We did have resos just in case. The restaurant was not full but was busy. I loved the interior. It was dark,... more

wow!

We have been going to open sesame for years, having vegans in the family, everyone leaves full and happy!

I was a ver nice place

I really liked it there the waitress was really good and helpful, The food was good i would go back there again.

Like Stir fry

If you like Stir Fry, don't miss this one, a unique in the way of do it yourself. Add what you want, make it as spicy or mild as you want, and you pick the protein, what more could you ask for?

Amazing

Such an amazing place to eat! the food is amazing, staff is amazing. its just a great place to eat. one of my favorite things to eat is the go stir crazy. yum

Birthday Dining

3 of us ladies went to celebrate our birthdays at Open Sesame. We were seated right away, and the waitress brought us water immediately. She was very helpful in describing some of the food for us, and made some wonderful recommendations. We were served our food within 15 minutes of ordering. The portions were plentiful, the food was delicious, and the ambiance was great. She even took our... more

I LOVE this restaurant. Always exceptional food and service. This is a restaurant that allowed me to fall into culinary bliss throughout the WHOLE dining experience and all subsequent times. When returning to the west (I now live in Ontario) this is my GO TO restaurant to get the gang together and enjoy each other's company, the food and to have a good time.

Thanks for everything

The food and selection of foods here are very good. The service is second to none. Waitress was very friendly and helpful, didn't have to wait for any kind of service. We use your establishment for our date nights and haven't been disappointed. We really enjoy the market and the service is very efficient. We will be using your place for more of our date nights. Thank you so much and keep up the... more

Pleasant Experience

Overall it was a pleasant experience and I'd recommend this place for the food, ambiance or just a night out. Very professional and nice staff as well.

Delicious, well presented food

I was travelling on business in the area, and decided to try out Open Sesame on my own. They seated me in a nice corner spot (so I didn't feel so isolated). The service was reasonably attentive (took a while for them to ask if I wanted a drink refill), and the meal, Hibachi Steak, was delicious.

Our last time

We have been to Open Sesame a few times in the past year and always enjoyed our meal. This past Father's Day, our family went for a nice, casual supper out and were extremely disappointed with everything we ordered. The spring rolls were super oily, the spicing seemed off on the butter chicken and my husband's halibut (one of the specials) tasted "fishy". While our service and server were... more

Brilliant restaurant!

This is one of my favorite restaurants ever!! The good is always good the ambience is amazing and service is great!! Good prices too!!

Just fine !!!

Food is good. Ambiance is just fine. Service needs to be improved. The server assigned to our table wasn't that attentive. Has to go directly to the cashier to pay our bill. It seems that he was trying to ignore us. Never felt that we are welcome to dine in there. But then a lady server was nice and friendly enough to attend to us while paying at the counter.

A little disappointed

Open Sesame is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. I chose to go there yesterday to celebrate my birthday. The food was excellent but I was a little disappointed that nothing was done for my birthday. I told the server and we ordered dessert and nothing was taken off the bill or anything. Definitely won't spend another special occasion there again.

Great place!

I love the food and the ambiance at open sesame. Great for birthday dinners or casual meals. The parking can be a hassle at busy times, since the lot is shared by a group of 4 restaurants.

Great Food,Service and Atmosphere

Staff was very friendly and food was great, it was a surprise to be sitting upstairs in our own private area, our out of town guests loved everything about the Restaurant. They said they will be stopping in next time they are in the are area.Thanks

Average restaurant

The food was average. They have a decent selection of food but overall didn't live up to the standards of the other restaurants in the group.

Food

Food was salty and no taste I had the steak very dissapointed would I go back? No

The quality of the vegetables at the stir-fry bar was less than appetizing. Only about half the items were worth putting in my bowl. It was a disappointment. It has been several years since I was last at Open Sesame and it seems to have gone "down hill"
On a positive note, the appetizers were good.

Great for the experience and our Chinese friend really enjoyed the selection of spices and sauces that matched her taste buds - something she has found difficult in finding in Calgary.

we'll be back

we've always enjoyed coming here ... typically we order off the "stir crazy" menu so we get a variety and each person can make their own choices - great selection of items to choose fromNOTE: had the salt + pepper calamari appetizer - not what we expected, the batter was heavy, greasy and not really a salt/pepper taste ... probably won't order that again

Terrible service

We had a large group about 9 people. Most of us got the stir fry. One of us who ordered from the menu Recieved the wrong order and the waitress left us for 20 minutes. They kept telling us we had to leave in 2 hours because of our party size. We were finished way before and were left another 30 minutes with the plates stacked up on the table. My husband and I enjoy going there are were really... more

Fun

This is a fun place to go especially for a group or family. There is a good variety of choice on the menu and the option to choose your own adventure at 'the market'. The atmosphere is dark and a little noisy but fun and the service is great. The only complaint we had was that we needed a high chair and, because of the way the table was raised, the high chair didn't allow the child to see the... more

Not bad..

Okay food.... But the service was a little slow. Not overly impressed with anything

Great restaurant

Just recently moved to Calgary and found this gem. Great food, lots of choice, good service!

Heading Downhill

We are regulars at Open Sesame and this time was a huge disappointment. To be told, "It's the weekend, so we're out of a lot of fresh stuff," is completely unacceptable from any restaurant. No salad rolls, that's okay. But the Asian Market looked like there had been a robbery. Many of us stood around waiting for them to replenish and it never happened.

Love it!

Excellent food as always. I've eaten at Open Sesame many times and they never disappoint. We often have the stir fry and enjoy choosing our own vegetables and sauces. Highly recommended!

Average

I've been here before this time the experience was just average. Service was nothing to write home about and half the bowls in the market were empty.

Awesome meal

Excellent food, great prices, very good selection of beer, fabulous service, lovely ambiance.
Definitely recommend & will be back!

Slow

If you have a lot of time to kill and do not mind waiting 40 min for two veggie spring rolls it is a great place. Granted we were there on a busy night, but the kitchen was slow and the restaurant itself was not full. I would have hate to have seen it if every table was filled how long it would take then.

diet conscious birthday gal

Open Sesame was the perfect location for my birthday dinner this year as I am following a very strict eating program so the build your own stir fry is the perfect way to enjoy delicious good and remain on program :)Our waitress was not having a good night though as she repeatedly forgot items ordered and screwed up on the billing. She was absent for long stretches of time as well.

Good time.

Dined with a group of 8. Food was good and staff were attentive.

Gluten friendly menu

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Open Sesame. One of the people in our group was gluten sensitive, and he was pleased that they had a gluten friendly menu, albeit somewhat limited in the selection. However, he was pleased that he was able to find a dish that was to his liking. We all were happy with the quality of our meals.

Food was great.

A friend and I had a late lunch this last Thursday. The food was excellent - had the make-your-own-stir fry. The service as a little to be desired, but overall it was a great meal.

Always a pleasure

The food and service is always great. I was a little disappointed in our table as we were so close to the table next to us, they could hear our conversations not a big fan of that little room with the tables and would ask to be moved next time. Otherwise, a great experience as usual!

Great time

Had a great time with my girlfriend when we went there for dinner the other night. The food was great and the service was amazing. If there ask for Payge to be your server, she will take care of you and make your table laugh! Will definitely go back soon!

Birthday Date Night

My husband and I really only eat at Open Sesame for Date Nights, we just really enjoy the food. They are also very accommodating for my Celiac Disease, which is very nice.
We again enjoyed our evening and will go again in the future.

open table reservation

I had to call and change the time and the girl I talked to did not seem to know we had a reservation. However she was very friendly and our reservation time was changed with no problem. It just makes me question if I will use the service again if I am not sure the restaurant looked at my reservation request. I did get a confirmation email.

Open Sesame, dinner for two

The food is always great, the menu is wonderful for me as I'm vegan. This visit the service wasn't as good as usual though. The waitress wasn't too friendly. The table wasn't clean when we were seated. We sat for a long time without anyone helping us. Then I got my food quite a while before my husband was served.

We used to go to Open Sesame a lot a few years ago and had a great time, but this time we were there i was not impressed. The service was very slow and very disorganized the waitress we had was not good ,she seemed to be a new waitress with no experience I was not happy it took forever to get are drinks and the food was cold when we got it. Sorry to say we were not happy.

Our waitress was fantastic. Our first visit was excellent and would definitely return. Thank you.

Service was terrible

The food was pretty good, however, the service was absolutely horrible. We waited longer for a cup of coffee than we did for the food. The manager was at the table more than the server was. If it was a Friday/Saturday busy night it may have been somewhat understandable but for a Sunday when it didn't look to be all that busy, it was appalling. As a server I would personally be embarrassed to... more

Great

Had a great experiment for my first time there

Such great food, good service, fantastic atmosphere, good value

Love the Asian Stir Fry. Love that I can customize it and try a different sauce every time. Great options for added noodles/rice, and meat/tofu. Classy place, not too pricey. Easy to make a dish healthy or customized for individual diets. They're great at catering to requests. Always a good option when in Calgary.

Fun night out. Make your own stir-fry

Love this place, always order the trip to the garden market. You tell your waitress what kind of starch you want... rice, noodles ect and can also pick a meat option chicken, shrimp, beef. I usually get vegetarian, there is tofu and chickpeas available so you still get your protein. You fill up a bowl as full as you want... more

Not worth it - will not return

We had wanted to try this restaurant since we moved to Calgary earlier this year. Finally had a chance to visit and wish we would have chosen somewhere else.
Started with a 30 minute wait, which is fine! We sat in the bar, however we were forgotten about and it wasn't until we asked how much longer it would be... more

Poor Gluten Free Options

I was here a few weeks ago and I had the build your own stir fry. When I asked what sauces were gluten free I was just told not to add any because they would add the gluten free sauce in the back. I was not told what kind of sauce this was or anything. I did not even eat... more

Fabulous Asian Cusine

This place is so fun, and great especially for people with different dietary needs - gluten free? No problem. Off carbs? No problem. Low sodium? No problem. On Weight Watchers. No problem. You can customize lots, pick and choose sauces - they even have calorie counts for the sauces so you know what's what. Great drink menu too.

Second visit, did not disappoint

Interesting menu choices but what I really like is that you can build your own "bowl" with all your own favourites. Prices are very reasonable and good services.

Love open sesame

I have been coming here for years. Started off when I was younger to accommodate my large birthday parties.. There is a space that allows for groups of 20 which is awesome. I love the stir fry (don't recommend choosing pork though) and for people that say its lacking flavour, that's he beauty of this plas, the "market" is right... more

Great evening out

My family of 10 including one 6 year old went to Open Sesame for a birthday celebration. We had a great waiter and the food was plentiful and tasty. I was not too thrilled with the front end staff ( hostess and the girl that brought us our first drinks). They were okay but tended to give the attitude that... more

Never again. Never

Six of us went on a Friday night for dinner. Half went to the "market" where you pick the veggies and other half picked off the menu. My boyfriend did the market and picked the spiciest sauce, the Shezuan and when he got the bowl there was absolutely NO flavor. I picked the kung pao and it was breaded chicken... more

Open Sesame,

For sure one of my favourite restaurants in Calgary now for many, many years! I love the Interior design, decorating and lighting, Very cool! Gives you an "Asiany feel and very original.

Anyways the important part: FOOD! yes great food :) I have mastered my "build your own" stir fry dish. I actually haven't ordered any other main dish because the garden market is soo good :) I... more

Like I've said before, I've always considered Open Sesame a decent option and appreciate their allergy cards and separate veggie wok. However, the last couple of times I have visited, the service has been f@!%!*g atrocious.
A couple months back, I went with Tiffany N to Open Sesame on a quiet Saturday afternoon for lunch before a Heritage Park outing! Our server was grouchy and unwelcoming.... more

The prices are very reasonable for what you get and it's our favourite restaurant. It's delicious and definitely worth getting dessert. I have not been disappointed once. The only downside is the parking can be a nightmare if you are going for dinner, and wait times may not be good. They do take out though which we've done a few times.. it's delicious !

Family member picked this as a "Thai" restuarant... NOT

That being said it was a very pedestrian gastronomic experience and if you are the sort to be happy with "road house" eateries, you may well be completly satisfied.
As for me I actually like to eat out and have a meal that has great flavour and carefully chosen ingredients.
This is not that place.
I'm sure 8 of the... more

I was very underwhelmed by Open Sesame. I've only been here once before...decided to not do the "buffet stirfry" this time, and instead ordered the Thai Bouillabaisse. The dish definitely had potential, but the serving size was far too small, the seafood was undercooked and the dish wasn't hot (in spice or temperature!). I don't think this is a place I would want to come back to...there are so... more

What can I say, Open Sesame is a crowd pleaser and a fan favourite! I've brought friends, family, and acquaintances here, and haven't yet heard a complaint. Of course, I always urge people to take a trip through the Asian market and build their own stir-fry. Some find this daunting. Others confusing. But after a quick tour with me, they know what to do.

I urge everyone to begin with the... more

Some friends of mine were kind enough to bring me here for dinner.

The atmosphere was nice, quiet, intimate - a great place to catch up with friends.

We shared some spring rolls and samosas as appetizers. I preferred the samosas. For the main course I went for the dragon noodle bowl. It was quite nice. Noodles not too much sauce, and beef with various veggies I cannot recall.

Overall it was... more

Average but could be better

The food was OK but for the price you should be allowed additional trips to the grill, not just 1.
We had potstickers for an appetizer which had way to much dough on the outside, and little fillings in the middle. They were not very good.
For the price you could spend your money better elsewhere. Unlikely I will visit... more

A veggie buffett! Nice! and all I like to eat is meat.

My friends brought me here on recommendation and I am glad they did. Great atmosphere, great people, and great staff. My first experience here will definitely not be my last.

This place wins me over with it's decor and ambience. Eclectic, intimate, creative--really ideal for a date night or girls night out. The atmosphere would get five stars, hands down.

The noodle bowls we had for lunch were tasty, though nothing extraordinary.
Dragon bowl- quite tasty
Sesame bowl- tasty, but way too much sauce
Malaysian bowl- one of the tastiest, but spicy!
Kung Pao chicken rice... more

Valentine's Day Disaster

We had our Valentine's Day dinner at Open Sesame, it was my first, and last visit there. Our waitress was absolutely awful, I've never met someone so miserable working in a restaurant. It was like we were ruining her night by being there.
I have a shellfish allergy, I warn servers the minute I get a menu. I had picked... more

Mediocre

Went on a date night here a couple nights ago. This was my first visit and most likely will be my last. The menu had items from all over Asia with a superb selection of Asian beers. There was also a do it yourself stir fry bar which had fresh options except that there was food all over the floor... more

Make your own Stirfry...How can you go wrong

If you are trying to watch what you eat and be healthy while dining out, this is the restaurant for you. Lets do the pros and cons. Overall, I would go back here. The stir-fry and healthy options outweighs the CONS.
CONS:
- There is always a wait....you have to wait for 30-60 minutes which is really frustrating at times... more

Portions shrink, and inventive billing

The food was good, but the Mongolian grill style where we dont see our food cooked had me and our party scrtaching our heads as our portion seemed very small from what we gave them (vegetables), and the biggest thing was the auto gratuity on our bills. Yes it was a party of 9, where the food and some bevies... more

Review #13 of Yelp's 30 Day Challenge 2012

I had high hopes for Open Sesame as I've always loved Asian fusion restaurant or dishes like PF Chang's (though it's always listed under the unhealthy restaurant list) or wings and burgers that have an Asian twist. The service was just ok. I appreciate being seated right away despite not having a reservation but we were seated at the tightest corner... more

never again

hadn,t been to this place in years the food was horrible ihad pad thai off the menu took 2bites this did not taste like any pad thai i have ever had noodles were over cooked it tased like soy sauce very dark in color a pile of goup my husband had a different dish another pile of goup the manager... more

Great Personalization and Variety

I love how in the noodle dishes, you can add anything you want and any quantity you want, and then they cook it (on fire) in front of you. A great family experience. A must see.

Not as good as it used to be

It's a fun concept: Choose a protein, then load up at a stir-fry salad bar and they'll combine your veggie choices with your sauce and your meat in a stir fry dish. I used to come here a lot but have found that lately the food hasn't been as good: The veggie bar is often out of what I like... more

Great Fresh, healthy food

First timer here, really enjoyed the food especially the Crab Stuffed Wontons very good. Would defiantly go back. Although the server we had was a little slow and not very attentive, but will not let that hold me back.

Consistantly dissapointing

The food here used to be awesome. Now if you order off the menu everything tastes so pre-made. Not fresh tasting at all. I keep saying I won't go back, and I don't for a year, then I do go back and remember why I normally don't. Save your money, there are way better places in town. Try Chili Club... more

What can I say

I USUALLY love going to Open Sesame. The food is delicious and the service is usually good. HOWEVER, this time things were not. We had made reservations for a couples dinner. Although we came early, we still had to wait. We were seated in between 2 large groups which made the romantic dinner very annoying. The server/waitress should not be... more

Great ambiance, great food. Go there

Very good date night restaurant with unique spaces and dim lighting. It's a unique place with great food.

The last time for us

We went to Open Sesame last week for my birthday, and it was terrible. We've been here a half-dozen times over the past few years, and this will be the last.
Once we were seated, it took about ten minutes for someone to take our drink order. It took five minutes for the drinks to make their way back. The... more

nice idea. nice food and decor

a fun place where you can choose what you want to eat and they cook it for you! food is good and interesting way of doing things too.

Fantastic Dining Experience

The food and flavours are amazing and the atmosphere is great! The staff are very good and helpful, the quality of service I would expect from a much fancier restaurant. I love being able to create your own dish to your specifications. A must-do on the Calgary food scene!

Really good value for your dollar

I love the "create your own sauté" bar. You can choose the veggies you want. There is a LOT of choice. The basic one is like 12$. You can had meat for a couple dollar more. We had a bridal shower there, and they didn't push us to leave. It was really nice.

The best value in the city

It's wonderful to be able to choose exactly what you want to eat - just enough, no waste and oh, so very fresh. The speed of service always amazes me. Wait-staff are attentive but not invasive. The price for the garden market 'open bowl' stir fry is fantastic but even the menu items are all very affordable.

Good

Very nice place. Clean. Not every expensive. Fire place. Interiors really nice.
I love its. Its similar to Flat top grill in Chicago.
Must go there. Pick up your own food in bowl and then give them to cook. I like that.

Open Sesame has a beautiful set up with nice decor and an overall pleasant ambience. This was as far as the restaurant went to impress me. I found the "build your own stir fry" to be lacking with ingredients and sauces. The DIY stir fry had a set cost rather than by weight. This could be seen as a positive or negative thing depending on ones appetite. I was disappointed at the portion size of... more

A beautiful family dinner

We made reservations at Open Sesame for my sister-in-laws birthday. We were all a little stressed as we were bringing along two young toddlers and we were all having a bit of a rough day. The server was accommodating and welcoming even after finding out late that the reservation for 5 was actually for 7 when counting the two babies... more

Rave reviews

Rarely do I rate a restaurant with five stars but this is the exception. The atmosphere is wonderful and decor very unique. Our waiter was right there for us when we needed him. The food was tasty and since we have some finicky eaters, the make your own bowl was great.
The salt and pepper calamari was great. I wasn't... more

Best Stir Fry for MILES

This is BY FAR my favourite restaurant in Calgary. I try to get there EVERY chance I get when I'm in town.
I've always ordered the Garden Market stir fry - you select from an AWESOME selection of fresh vegetables and delicious nuts and seeds as well as tasty tasty stir fry sauces. Choose a rice or noodle and your... more

MUST have the Banana Won Tons

Wow. Fresh, hot, food, friendly service, great dessert, and all at an incredibly affordable price!

If you feel like having some Asian food without a usual cheap-c@!p-sticky-tables-dirty-walls-stink-and-yell atmosphere, Open Sesame may be a right choice.

This place is quiet, reasonably expensive, and they have a chef, not a cook, working in the kitchen. Resulting food is professional grade, of no risky ingredients, and the portion size is fair.

They have a "build your own stir fry" buffet... more

I would have been to Open Sesame sooner had I better luck with booking reservations when I actually wanted them. It's a busy place.

I was here for a birthday party last night and we were informed beforehand that our table was reserved from 6-8pm. Not once were we reminded of this, even after 8pm rolled around. However, receiving our appetizers look a very long time and they couldn't have... more

READ ON FOR THE "BROCCOLI" SECRET...

Open Sesame combines a few of my great loves, namely:
1. Quiet places where you can actually talk to those you came with.
2. The ability to customize your meal and choose what you're putting in your mouth.
3. An opportunity to cheat the system in a big way. (The broccoli secret!)

I'll get to number three in a hot minute here, but for now, let's go through... more

Great atmosphere and food

What a great way to have your stir fry exactly what you want. Pick your own sauce and veggies off the buffet, then pick your choice of pasta or rice.

Good food, great staff

Order off the menu or make your own - it's all good. The staff is attentive and it's a really nice atmosphere. Quiet and darkly lit, it's very cozy.

I'm a big "Make your own" stir fry fan! A large group of us met for some Open Sesamy goodness and it seems to be a place that can accommodate all palates. Our server was actually really impressive. She kept on top of everyone's drinks the entire time, kept up with everyone's orders, appies, and separate bills. I started with some hot and sour soup, it wasn't the best I've had, but it's not a... more

Great Food, Great Ambiance

I have been to Open Sesame twice now. Both times I went I did the open bowl. I enjoy that you are able to pick your veggies and sauces. This helps people adapt there meal to their tastes. Opposed to other grill restaurants, This restaurant has a flat rate for as many veggies and sauces you would like to pick.... more

go "stir-crazy" at open sesame

In the mood for a stir fry? look no further. You can build your own, go up to the bar and pick your vegetables, meats, and sauces and they will cook it for you. So delicious and fun too!

I'm partial to the stir fry bar. I love the selection, appreciate the vegetarian only wok for veggie folks and that it's not by weight like competitors do where you end up with a $30 stirfry and you didn't even get meat or anything expensive because you're a vegetarian.

I also LOVE LOVE the pomegranate green tea - it's not too sweet either. Their brownie is great - but enough for 2 or more.... more

Food fun

Great if you like to be the chef. You pick your protein and noodle or rice selection and the you fill your bowl with great veggie and other items. Lastly you can experiment buy ading sauces from a wide selection My kids love this place. They also have meals that you can order from the menu.

So much fun

I went with a few friends and it was my first time. It was so much fun to make your own stir fry and you get to choose what goes into your supper so you don't have to pick around stuff you don't like or ask for the server to change things.

Decent food, decent price. I mean if you are itching for some Mongolian Grill food this place is better to go to than the Mongolia Grill, mostly for price. The Atmosphere is pretty great though, this place certainly has that going for it.

My first impression of this place was horrible, and I tried to stay impartial as I rated other elements throughout the night, but the did nothing to improve throughout.

We were there for a birthday, about 15 people. Booked a reservation, and took the earliest reservation we could get. Now imagine how small the waiting area is and imagine having 15 people wait for 30 minutes for their... more

we thought this place was great when we arrived, but the things we ate just seemed to be 'ready-made' items. i recommend trying it and seeing for yourself. the place is beautiful and the choices are good. it just lacked authenticity for me.

Worst Service Ever

First for a place that is supposed to have a more fresh, healthy menu, the place smells of old grease. It was completely empty and had to wait 5mins before I could get the server's attention, then was seated at a terrible terrible where I was asked if I wanted drinks. My mistake was saying I'll look at the menu... more

Had a great time here for my hubs bday. They had plenty of dishes marked as gluten free which was nice they made it so easy. Not a huge fan of the tandoori chicken appie but the stirfry was awesome. Even the other 3 who did not require GF were extremely satisfied. Plus the server was great too! Definitely will be back!

Go Stir Crazy" and you'll leave happy

I love Open Sesame and it's a go to on days where I don't want to spend a lot of money. I recommend the "Go Stir Crazy" (embarassing to order) which involves choosing your base (rice, vermicelli, ect...) and your meat, and then filling a bowl with all the delicious stri fry fixings and sauces you could want. It's very... more

Bland Asian

Not a great experience last night at Calgary's Open Sesame. A glass of red wine was $9, beers were $6 and the Mojito, which lacked in rum was $6.50. The shrimp spring rolls were cold out of the frig, hard to find a shrimp and the wrappers heavy and all was bland, so good thing there was a dipping sauce.... more

Stir- Fry ala-carte

Go hungry and come out very very satisfied, this is a restaurant with you in mind. I have always enjoyed a great stir fry, the crunchiness of fresh vegetables ( of your choice ), and great selections of sauces, added a choice of meat and rice or noodles . You first get a bowl pick your sauce and put it... more

I eat at restaurants because the chef prepares food better than me. I was disappointed with my choices of sauce and veggies for the stirfry and how the rice pretty much dissolved into mush. Service and atmosphere was nice. Very swanky seating and decor if that's what you look for.

I went here yesterday with a friend and got through no problem. We were both immediately impressed with how NICE the restaurant was. The decor was beautiful! We ordered the 'Make your own stir fry' bowl for 10.95. I added beef to it for an extra 4 bucks.
When I went to get my veggies + seasonings, I really piled on the stuff I wanted to put in my bowl and hoped for best results. When my stir... more

I'm writing my review based on the "Asian Market" create your own bowl menu item. I now know that I am not a fan of paying restaurant price plus tip to "create my own" dish because it's too expensive when you know you may screw up your choices (which I felt I did make incorrect decisions). I like paying $14+ for a dish in a restaurant because the chef knows which foods go with certain flavors... more

Ok food, terrible service

We were in a group of 14 that had made a reservation for a Saturday night. There was no problem with this and we were sat very quickly. However, our server was dreadfully slow with drinks. Then even slower taking our food orders. Very quickly it became apparent that since she would be getting an automatic tip due to the... more

This place should change their name to "Open Saltmine." My Blazin' Malaysian noodle bowl was packed with so much sodium that I was bloated and hating life after 2 bites. My sister and her fiancé had equally salt-tastic steaks. I liked their Neon Ninja drink though. And the chocolate spring rolls. To be honest, though, it's pretty hard to eff up chocolate. Unless you add water to it while it's... more

Had the lunch bowl on Sunday. They have an open selection of vegetables, sauces, that you add to your own stir fry, stacking up the bowl as much as you can is quite an art. Then the cook, adds your choice of rice or noodles with meat if wanted, within a few minutes a steaming hot stir fry is served. We eat here a few times over the year and is always excellent.

I went here on a Saturday, at 11:00 a.m. I had read somewhere on another review that they weren't open until 11:30. I got their and they were already open. It wasn't very busy only one other table seated with three ladies. My wife, son and I all ate the $10.95 all you can fill in a bowl meal deal. It sounds like a good deal at first, but by the time you add on the "EXTRAS" ie: the scallops,... more

I have never been a profound fan for "Make-Your-Own-Dinner" type of restaurants as it takes away the essence and adventure of trying the new flavours and styles of food. The whole concept I find is a total money waster; at places like the Mongolian Grill or Xan, you pick out as much food as you want to only discover that your wallet may be a tad lighter than expected since they weight your dish... more

Fresh is good. Selection is good. But, standing in line behind a bunch of people who are taking their time to consider all of the possible combinations of vegetables to be cooked for them was incredibly annoying. Might go back for a regular sit-down lunch but do not like this routine at all.

Good:

1. Fried crab & cream cheese wonton. It's from heaven.

2. Banana wonton & ice cream. Very nicely done.

3. They give you chopsticks!

Bad:

1. It's "asian-fusion". There isn't one asian working or eating there. Bad news number one.

2. Half of the ingredients out at the bar is not real stir fry ingredients. How often do you see tomatoes in stir fry?

3. Too much ready-to-go sauces. You... more

This place has gone downhill

We have been to Open Sesame several times and enjoyed it but would never have returned if tonight's visit was our first.
We make sure to call for a reservation as the staff do not seem to approve of those who don't - even when the restaurant is obviously not busy, the response is similar to "I guess we can... more

I LOVE OPEN SESAME. I go here every time I come to Calgary, mainly because it is the only place I know of in Calgary where I can eat a safely vegan meal and my parents and friends can eat whatever they choose to eat without having to "suffer" a meatless meal.

First-off, this place just feels cool. The decor and lighting are great, as is the layout. Nice bathrooms. Feels like you're somewhere... more

Great Stirfry & Ambience

First off, let me say I am perhaps biased to do-it-yourself stir-fry restaurants since I am a huge fan of stir-fries in general. However, I love Open Sesame, I think it has a great atmosphere & delicious food.
Comparisons to Mongolie Grill have been made already; I will say that the do-it-yourself stir-fry is where the similarities end. Open Sesame... more

Another great meal at Open Sesame

I have been there twice now, and enjoyed both meals. While the tented area on the far side of the restaurant is a little dark at times, it does have a nice atmosphere.

Oh Open Sesame with your bad service... Just cause we have a party of 8 people and you tack on 15% gratuity, It doesn't mean you should have to be a lazy weirdo! Can you please give us some time to think about what we want instead of hovering? And then after we order we never see you again... we should have under paid you! Trust me, your service was worth about 4%.

However... Your meals are... more

Open Sesame has always been fantastic every time I've gone over the years. Some said it wouldn't last when it first opened but here they are still going strong over 7+ years later. I've done the Asian Market, which is fantastic in it's own right, but I always seem to land back on the ginger beef rice bowl. Maybe it's because now that I've moved away from Calgary and can't get ginger beef... more

How much or how little is up to you, and it takes a little getting used to. Judging proportions and taste combinations must be an art. Difficult to sum up the experience but it's worth a try.

I went to Open Sesame on McLeod Train on a couples date with my lady. I had no expectations really, as it seemed to be rather tacky on the outside, but overall I had a positive experience.
The place is dimly lit and has a modern Asian feel to it. I went for a tour of the fresh Asian Market, which is where you can create your own "Asian Creation". You get to choose your own meat, veggies, and... more

This place is great, but as others hinted at you need to know how to pick the right sauces and vegetables and stuff for your stir fry or noodle bowl. Let me explain: Go for 4-6 scoops of sauce, don't mix and match sauces too much or it will taste funny. Their sauces are great with out being combined. I personally love the spicy peanut, Thai curry, and hoisin.

The desserts are incredible, and a... more

Umm yeah, nice enough place but sadly the past few times I've been there the food has been horrid. I can't seem to make a good noodle bowl to save my life, so I tried the butter chicken. It came with the equivalent of 2 onions, you couldn't taste anything else. The calamari appetizer might have well as been deep fried salted bread...

At the same time, others I go with seem to love the place,... more

Open Sesame is hands down one fo my favorite restaurants. I have been here both on romantic dinners with my Husband and fun casual dinners with friends.

If you plan on going here on the weekend, I highly recommend a reservation, a couple days in advance at least. Otherwise expect a 40 minute to an hour wait. Parking can be sparse on busy nights. The ambiance and decor of this place are... more

This place is amazing. Great selection of sauces and stuff to put in your mix. The atmosphere is also very nice.

Cheap too, great deal, will definitely be back again.

Great food for a great price

I went to Open Sesame tonight with my boyfriend. We had great service, delicious appetizers, and the stirfry was huge and tasty! We packed up most of our stirfry's to take home. Our entire bill for 2 appetizers, 2 stir fry's, 2 beer, and a coke was $54!
I will definitely go back again.

Great ambiance and very good food as well. My only issue is it is impossible to get in there! I guess that speaks to how good it is, but it is frustrating when I have only got in there one out of the last four times I tried. It's too dang popular! I imagine it's a good problem to have, but they need more tables. :)

I love this place.. the menu + ambiance is amazing.

great for groups too.. they can host a large group (just ensure to make reservations!)

This is one of those Calgary Treasures...it's not over priced at all..a great value makes for an even better night.

My only problem is.. confirm your reservation... I made reservations for a Friday night.. I called them to let em know I'd be about 10... more

I love Open Sesame! I always make sure to go when I'm back in town. The market place thing where you get to pile your bowl with as much vegetables and sauce as you can is great for me, because I'm kind of picky when it comes to peas and mushrooms!

Also, the banana wontons are amazing! Weekends can get busy, so a reservation is a good idea, and parking isn't so great, but I've always found a... more

Great idea and good food

Great idea and good food.

Been there too many times to count. Make your own stir-fry kicks A

Been there too many times to count. Make your own stir-fry kicks A$$!

Really like the ambiance

Really like the ambiance and the fact that you can put together your own dinner. Neat idea!

Wonderful food in a great atmosphere. Neither too crowded nor noisy. Perfect for a first date, you can actually hold a conversation.

Cozy restaurant serving a blend of Asian cuisines located below the Smuggler's steak house. You can also make your own stir fry. If you like just about any type of Asian food, you should find something here you can really enjoy.