Touted as having one of the best Viet Subs in Vancouver, Au Petit Cafe has been on to-do list for a while, but Kevin kept telling me we should go on a weekend for something they only prep for the weekend. So it’s been like that basically since uh… since we went to Ba Le. That was July, jeez. We’re pretty bad at this organizing time to go, or we just forget.

After doing some Boxing Day shopping at Stussy and Voltage, we headed south along Main St to 33rd ave. (see how far behind I am, posting about Dec 26th..sigh). The item on the menu that Kevin said was his favorite and always ordered wasn’t available! Why? ’cause the night before was Christmas Day so no one was in the restaurant prepping it. Oh well, that’s totally understandable. So what is it that’s so special that it’s only available on weekends?

Banh Beo – $6.95
Steamed rice paste topped with mashed green bean, shredded pork, shrimp bits, green onions and fish sauce

I’m trying as hard as I am to imagine how it looks like or tastes, but I can’t, so I guess I’ll just have to try it one day. Has anyone ever had it, what’s it like, any insight?

I was hungry since we woke up and just went straight to the stores, so I ordered a sub and a pho for myself while he ordered just a pho.

Served piping hot, the soup broth was clear and not a single spice overpowered it, as I sometimes find to be the case at some other restaurants.  Plenty of meat was given, which is always a plus!

Pho Tai Nam Bo Vien – $5.75
Raw sliced beef, cooked sliced beef, beef balls and noodle in soup

For all the hype that I had heard about Au Petit, be it from friends, other bloggers… it was good, but I can’t say it’s the best I’ve ever had. I found somethings to be missing, such as…there was no pate spread on the bread! I really liked their house made meat ball, though I wouldn’t really call it a meat ball, but rather more of a soft meat mixture. I know, I sell it to ya so good, “soft meat mixture“…anyone want to write for me? Seriously. The crusty exterior and buttery (literally) soft interior of the sub was much appreciated.

Banh Mi Dac Biet – $4.50
French bread sub with home made ham, house meat ball, vegetable and hot peppers