Canada's insider blog

Cowtown Beef Shack is a former drive-thru coffee shop on MacLeod Trail in Calgary, a postage-stamp space where Brad Johnson (somehow) dishes out hot, smoky AAA Angus roast beef sandwiches while you wait.

This is possibly the world’s smallest restaurant – it even has a repurposed airline washroom – but with an Alto-Shaam oven and an induction burner, Johnson offers a variety of tender roast beef sandwiches on chewy baguette buns all day long.

Traditional southern smoked brisket, Cowtown cheesesteak (with peppers, onions and creamy white cheddar), classic beef dip au jus and locally-loved BBQ beef on a bun – all ready to go in five minutes flat and for only eight bucks. Have the yummy cabbage and apple salad on the side, and if beef’s not your thing, try the smoked pulled pork. There’s even (outdoor) seating at picnic tables alongside this busy city thoroughfare so you don’t drip that beef dip jus in the car. You may have to line up at the drive-thru window but that’s half the fun. And if you stay in your car, this meaty indulgence can be an incognito one. Johnson says stars Michael Bublé and The Black Eyed Peas have had their Alberta beef fix from his compact eatery.

Beef-on-a-bun is iconic Calgary Stampede food and this place finally extends the season. Yee-haw!