A guide to Vietnamese restaurants in Vancouver
When people think of Vietnamese food, they usually think of pho: a steaming hot bowl of noodles in beef stock topped with meat and vegetables. And while these hearty noodle soups are a popular favourite, traditional Vietnamese cuisine offers a wide range of other delicacies to sample. Here’s a list of Vietnamese restaurants where pho is not the main selling point.
Au Petit Café
4851 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5V 3R9If you were to ask a traditional Vietnamese family where they would go for Vietnamese food, Au Petit Café would certainly be on the list. Skip the pho and try their famous bo kho, a hearty beef stew that you can eat with either rice noodles or French bread. Another popular dish to try is the xiu mai, a Vietnamese version of a meatball that is also commonly eaten alongside bread.
Mr Red Cafe Inc
2129 Hastings St E, Vancouver, BC V5L 1V2This establishment is one of the only places in Vancouver where you can enjoy authentic Northern Vietnamese cuisine. The menu offers a range of regional dishes that are completely different from the usual Southern Vietnamese food that Vancouverites are more familiar with. Be sure to try their traditional xoi, a special sticky rice dish. Another Northern Vietnamese classic is banh bot loc, a steamed tapioca-based dumpling filled with pork and shrimp and wrapped in banana leaf.
Chau Veggie Express
5052 Victoria Dr, Vancouver, BC V5P 3T8Chau Veggie is a dream for vegan and vegetarian diners. This casual takeout spot on Victoria Drive offers non-traditional dishes with Vietnamese flavour profiles that will please both plant and meat eaters alike. Besides the many creative bowls and salads prepared with locally sourced ingredients be sure to order the bai sao beach chips; you’ll be hooked after just a few bites of these hand-cut taro chips served with a creamy tofu dip. And if you’re in the mood for something sweet, try their desserts – many of which are vegan but taste amazing!
Song Huong Vietnamese
1613 Nanaimo St, Vancouver, BC V5L 4T9Song Huong is another popular spot for Vancouver’s Vietnamese population. The service may not the be the greatest, but the food here is authentic and very cheap. Come and try their famous bun bo hue, a hue-styled beef noodle soup. If you’re up for something completely new, order the bo la lot, which features grilled beef wrapped in piper lolot (betal) leaves. Dining with an adventurous group? Try the Song Huong special bo 7 mon – a multi-course sampling platter that features beef prepared seven different ways.
Ba-Le Deli & Bakery Ltd
25-701 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5T 3K6This Vietnamese sandwich shop has been around for decades and will always be a family favourite. Where else can you find top-notch bánh mì sandwiches for under $5? Ba Le does everything right and makes all of their own fillings, including cold cuts, mayonnaise (unlike anywhere else), pate and pickled vegetables. The crusty baguettes are always baked fresh in house as well.
Phnom Penh Restaurant 1996 Ltd
244 Georgia St E, Vancouver, BC V6A 1Z7Phnom Penh is an extremely popular Vietnamese/Cambodian restaurant in Chinatown. This place has been around for a very long time; in fact, my mother remembers eating here when she first immigrated to Vancouver in the ’80s. Everything on the menu is delicious, but you have to order the bo luc lac with an egg, butter beef, and the crispy chicken wings. You haven’t properly experienced Phnom Penh until you have those three items. Expect a long wait time if you’re going during dinnertime (usually around 45 minutes). I recommend going right when they open to avoid lines!
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