Restaurant ordering in Calgary: what the numbers say
Calgary grew 5.5% between 2016 and 2021, a steady rate. In a settled market, repeat customers are what keep a restaurant busy, so offers for returning guests and easy reordering matter more than chasing new reach.
Calgary has about 1,592 people per km², which is typical of a busy suburban city. Most customers will drive or have food delivered, so a radius of a few kilometres with distance-based fees is a good starting point.
Delivery zones across Calgary
You can draw separate zones and fees for the parts of Calgary you serve. Restaurants here often think in terms of areas like these:
- Beltline
- Kensington
- Inglewood
- Mission (4th Street SW)
- Bridgeland
- Chinatown
- Marda Loop
- 17th Avenue SW
- Forest Lawn (International Avenue)
Local facts for Calgary restaurants
Ginger beef is widely credited to chef George Wong at Calgary’s Silver Inn restaurant in the 1970s.
Alberta has no provincial sales tax, so only the 5% GST applies to restaurant meals.
Sources: The Canadian Encyclopedia (Ginger beef); Canada Revenue Agency.
Nearby cities you can reach
The closest large municipalities to Calgary are Airdrie (27 km). Distances are straight-line from the city centre. If your kitchen sits near a boundary, one Chefzi delivery zone can cover customers on both sides of the line.
Sales tax on online orders in Alberta
Alberta has no provincial sales tax, so restaurant meals carry only the 5% GST.
Chefzi shows tax on the checkout and receipt using the rates you set. Rates can change, so confirm them with the Canada Revenue Agency or your accountant.
Language
English is the main language of business.
Direct ordering vs delivery apps in Calgary
Delivery apps bring discovery; your own ordering page keeps the order and the customer. Most Calgary restaurants keep both: the apps for new customers, a direct link for regulars. Compare costs in commission-free online ordering and the Uber Eats, DoorDash and SkipTheDishes alternatives.
Delivery in Calgary without your own drivers
Deliver with your own staff, or let Chefzi’s courier integration send orders from your own site to Uber Eats or DoorDash (DoorDash Drive) couriers. See delivery courier integration. Set zones and fees per area so long trips pay for themselves.
Dine-in, pickup and QR ordering
One Chefzi menu serves delivery, pickup and table ordering. Put a QR code on each table so guests order from their phone; see the QR code menu guide.
POS and payments: what to check
- Chefzi has its own POS and kitchen display in Canada, so online orders don’t need retyping.
- Card payments go straight to your restaurant; budget for card processing on every card order.
- Tax rates shown at checkout and on receipts (see the tax section above).
Going live in Calgary: 6 steps
- Build the menu with modifiers, photos and hours.
- Draw delivery zones and fees.
- Run cash and card test orders to the kitchen tablet or printer.
- Add the order link to your Google Business Profile, website and Instagram.
- Print QR codes for tables and bags.
- Tell regulars who opted in (CASL).
One system for Calgary restaurants
- Online ordering on your own site, with no commission per order. Guests order in the browser, with no app to download.
- POS and kitchen display, so online orders are never retyped.
- Table reservations and a loyalty program.
- Delivery by your staff or Uber Eats and DoorDash couriers.
- Card payments go straight to your restaurant. Menu setup and onboarding are free; plans are month-to-month, with discounts on 1-, 2- and 3-year plans. See pricing.
Alberta rules for restaurants taking online orders
- Tax: Alberta has no provincial sales tax, so online orders carry 5% GST only (Canada Revenue Agency, GST/HST and PST rates). Set GST once in Chefzi and it shows on every receipt.
- Food Handling Permit: a restaurant needs a valid Food Handling Permit from Alberta Health Services to operate. The permit cannot be transferred: a new owner must apply at least 7 days before taking over, and pass an approval inspection (Alberta Health Services, starting a food business).
- Food safety certificate: at least one person in charge must hold an Alberta-recognized food safety certificate. With 6 or more food handlers on shift, including servers, a certified manager or supervisor must be on site (Alberta Health Services, food safety training requirements; Alberta Food Regulation (AR 31/2006)).
- Food trucks also need a Food Handling Permit, so a Calgary food truck can take pickup orders on Chefzi once it is permitted.
How Chefzi works for Calgary restaurants
Pricing is a flat monthly fee: see plans in CAD. Moving from GloriaFood? Read our GloriaFood migration guide.
- Your own ordering page and app, with your name and menu, and no commission per order.
- Delivery, pickup and table ordering from one menu.
- Orders go to a tablet or printer in your kitchen.
- Customer list and offers you control, for repeat orders.
- Card payments paid out to your own account.
Frequently asked questions
How should I prepare for Stampede week?
Set holiday hours and a busier prep time in Chefzi before the July rush, and pause delivery to zones you can't reach in traffic. Customers still see accurate wait times.
Does Chefzi take commission on orders in Calgary?
No. Chefzi charges a flat monthly fee. Card processing fees still apply to card payments, as with any payment provider.
Can I deliver from Calgary to Airdrie?
Yes, if it fits your kitchen. You choose your delivery radius or draw zones on a map, and you can charge a higher fee for longer trips.
Do I have to leave Uber Eats or DoorDash to use Chefzi in Calgary?
No. Many restaurants keep the apps for discovery and send regulars to their own ordering page, where Chefzi charges no commission.
Can I offer delivery in Calgary without hiring drivers?
Yes. Chefzi integrates with Uber Eats and DoorDash (DoorDash Drive) couriers for orders from your own site, or you can use your own staff.
Does Chefzi have a POS?
Yes. Chefzi offers its own restaurant POS and kitchen display in Canada, so counter and online orders run in one system.
Is there sales tax on restaurant orders in Calgary?
Only the 5% GST. Alberta has no provincial sales tax (Canada Revenue Agency).
Do Calgary online orders carry PST?
No. Alberta has no provincial sales tax; orders carry 5% GST (Canada Revenue Agency rates table).
Do I need a food safety certificate to run a Calgary restaurant?
At least one person in charge must hold an Alberta-recognized certificate. With 6 or more food handlers on shift, a certified manager or supervisor must be on site (Alberta Health Services).
Does Chefzi have a POS and kitchen display in Calgary?
Yes. Chefzi offers a POS, kitchen display, reservations and loyalty in Canada.
Do you set up my menu for me?
Yes. Menu setup and onboarding are free.
Is there a contract?
Plans are month-to-month, with discounts on 1-, 2- and 3-year plans.