Taking a walk down Wolf Street from Banff Ave you run into three. Saffron Indian Bistro is the newest addition to Banff’s roster of Indian restaurants. With entrées fit to share and friendly pricing, you can expect an enthusiastic bustle looking in from the street.

Walk a little further and you will find Hello Sunshine and Masala. Hello Sunshine has brought a dedicated karaoke venue to Banff, while Masala has a buffet lunch special and customer service that are both hard to beat.

Visitors and locals alike are spoiled for choice with ramen options. There’s few things as satisfying as walking into Ramen Arashi to a spirited “Irasshaimase!” from the staff and sitting down to a tub of ramen.

Amu Ramen Bar looks like it could just as easily be slotted into a hole-in-the-wall at a Tokyo subway station. That shouldn’t be taken as a criticism—it’s one of the reasons people love going there. It might be lacking in seating capacity, but it more than shores up the difference in flavour and authenticity.

These restaurants aren’t just providing cheap alternatives to Banff’s concept restaurants or fine dining, they’re also leading the charge on innovative offerings. The Japanese fusion menus at Block Kitchen + Bar and Shozu Izakaya are crafted with sophistication and balance. They’re a must for any diner wanting a virtuoso demonstration in how Banff’s culinary culture is diversifying.