Calgary's dining scene has gained a new Pacific Rim destination as restaurateur Ashish Damle expands his culinary empire beyond the successful Namo Cafe and Bistro brand.
Wok and Co, located on Edmonton Trail near the original Namo location, represents Damle's latest venture into the city's competitive restaurant market. The entrepreneur, who has built Namo into a three-location Calgary success story since opening his first location in 2018, said he's been planning this concept for years.
"I decided Pacific Rim makes the most sense," Damle explained. "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 new restaurant draws from Damle's diverse culinary background, including his experience operating a successful wok-cooking restaurant in India before returning to Canada. That venture, which he described as a "Subway-style" made-to-order operation, planted the seeds for his Calgary Pacific Rim concept.
From India to Edmonton Trail
After years of working in Alberta restaurants before launching Namo, Damle briefly returned to his homeland where he successfully operated a casual wok restaurant. Though he shelved those plans initially, the idea remained in development as Namo evolved into what he calls "a well-oiled machine."
The timing proved perfect for expansion. Damle was able to secure and convert the Edmonton Trail space in approximately two months, taking over a location that previously housed several casual dining establishments, including Joey's Fish Shack.
The transformed space now features vibrant murals, paper lanterns, and what Damle describes as a relaxed, youthful energy designed to complement the Pan-Asian menu concept.
Pacific Rim Fusion Focus
While Namo has built its reputation on eclectic brunch offerings with global influences, Wok and Co represents a more focused approach. The menu draws inspiration from Singapore, Korean, and Thai cuisines while maintaining creative freedom beyond traditional boundaries.
Signature dishes include innovations like Duck Confit Fried Rice and the restaurant's eye-catching Mega Fortune Cookie, demonstrating Damle's commitment to both flavour and presentation.
The Pacific Rim concept allows the chef-owner to blend familiar comfort food elements with distinctive Asian flavours, creating dishes designed to appeal to Calgary's diverse palate while offering something distinctly different from the city's existing Asian dining options.
With Namo's newest location on MacLeod Trail and Southland Drive now serving dinner alongside the brand's signature brunch offerings, Damle's restaurant group continues expanding its presence across Calgary's dining landscape.
Information for this article was sourced from the Calgary Herald. Additional reporting by WestNet News staff.
