Category Archives: Vietnamese

Bún chả cá Hoàng Yến

April 9, 2013 – 16:10

Hoàng Yến is a fairly new restaurant on Victoria Drive, having taken over what used to be the Mayflower Cafe, a Chinese Canadian restaurant. They’ve kept the “-Canadian” part, but replaced the Chinese with Vietnamese.

Inside, it’s quite stereotypical of a Vietnamese restaurant with the tight table seatings, mirrored wall and a TV playing some Vietnamese channel, except…it’s really clean and bright! Service is pretty good too, even though it was super busy when we went at peak dinner time (630pm).

The prices are very reasonable and even include tax. Add-ons to any main (noodle or rice) are also very cheap ($1.50 for spring or salad rolls, $2.00 for coffee or 3 bean ice). read more »

Permalink | Comment (0)

Asian British Columbia Cambodian Canada Cuisine Location Vancouver Vietnamese

Indochine Kitchen – Phnom Penh’s young & hip sister.

July 5, 2012 – 16:46

A thread on Chow and a subsequent blog post from Nikikiu prompted my visit to Indochine one day. And then another night. And then last night.

Already armed with knowledge from the above two sources, I knew that a quick cursory glance at the menu would show me flashes of Phnom Penh. What I wasn’t aware of was the actually awesome specials they have. For example, Wednesdays: wings are 50% off ($4.25) AND import beers are $4.99! On Thursday: $10.99 pitchers (Winchester Lager) and Sunday Fundays $1.75 beers! (6oz).

No beating around the bush, I wanted to order the same items available from PP to do a comparison, and I started with the Beef Luc Lac [aka Vietnamese Shaking Beef] with Tomato Fried Rice $12. read more »

Permalink | Comments (3)

Asian British Columbia Canada Cuisine Location Vancouver Vietnamese

Sugarcane Vietnamese Cafe

September 18, 2011 – 20:31

Trying out some blogging on the go. I probably have to edit this after, but at least I can get most of the work done here first.

I was running some errands in Kerrisdale today and decided to try out Tokyo Thyme for lunch, but they’re closed on Sundays, so I stopped at Sugarcane Vietnamese Cafe instead. This is not a typical Vietnamese restaurant, as there is barely a hint of pho on the menu here. They specialize in rice, curry, seafood and brochettes.

According to the suggestions on Foursquare and Ho Yummy, there are two things worth ordering, the Imperial Roll and the Chicken Hot Pot Rice Pilaf. There are some very obviously French dishes such as Chicken Grand Mere Farcie, which is a fricassée, or stew. Like I said, if you’re looking for pho, it’s not here. It’s great that there’s more choices and variety than just pho available in Vietnamese restaurants in Vancouver. I’m already thinking about trying the Vietnamese Rack of Lamb the next time I come…

read more »

Permalink | Comments (3)

Asian British Columbia Canada Cuisine Location Vancouver Vietnamese

Nha Trang Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup Restaurant, Vancouver

September 16, 2011 – 00:00

I dropped by to see Terry Deane at his soon to be open restaurant, Pizzeria Barbarella on Broadway & Fraser. Yes, this is the same Terry from Ah-Beetz, the famous pizzeria located all the way in Abbotsford for the New York Style Pizza. When I came by, the walls were being painted and I got to check out his reclaimed wooden tables. Sweet stuff, I’ve also been keeping up to date with how the place looks like on this pizza thread, and hope to drop by again before the opening.

I had just come from other errands, so I hadn’t eaten lunch and Terry suggested I go to Nha Trang just down the block and even gave me a specific dish to try out. From one food enthusiast to another, of course I had to honour this recommendation.

Hủ Tiếu Bò Kho $5.95
Rice noodle with beef brisket in special Vietnamese stew

read more »

Permalink | Comments (3)

Asian British Columbia Canada Cuisine Location Vancouver Vietnamese

Hoi An Cafe

July 20, 2011 – 00:00

Hoi An Cafe. So famous in Vancouver and on REVscene that there’s even a dedicated thread for this restaurant.

So why the popularity? On my initial visit on a Saturday an hour before closing, there was still a steady stream of people coming in. I had set up a RS meet, and in true internet forum fashion, 10 people signed up but only 2 showed up. Myself and Andreas. Y’all missed out, just saying.

The second visit was a random sunny Tuesday at 2pm, but it was packed. People actually had to WAIT at the door for a table to clear up. What’s this little normal looking Vietnamese restaurant doing to conjure up such business and traffic?

Well, let’s start with some appetizers and see why. read more »

Permalink | Comments (4)

Asian Cuisine Location Vancouver Vietnamese

Kim Phung

May 30, 2011 – 13:00

The 4 blocks or so of Victoria Drive leading up to 41st avenue is filled with many small businesses ranging from grocery stores, bakeries, restaurants, hair salons, spas, etc. It really is quite densely packed and so as a result is very busy. Sometimes it even feels a bit like Chinatown with the predominantly Asian population out for groceries, dim sum or a daily stroll. However, there is a restaurant here that isn’t Chinese.. and that’d be Kim Phung.

I needed to eat some dinner before dodgeball, so I suggested to my parents that we go to “that Vietnamese restaurant we always used to go to when I was younger on Victoria drive“. Yes, that would be Kim Phung. I hear they’ve renovated, but Christmas lights and fake vines still string the walls, lending even more to the tackiness that Vietnamese restaurants seem to love so much.

What are these strands underneath the basil and above the bean sprouts? I asked the owner but its’ been so long that I don’t remember.. I do know that not a lot of Vietnamese restaurants will offer these, so that’s a good sign that they take their food seriously and want to offer up true authenticity.

Permalink | Comment (0)

Asian Cambodian Location Vancouver Vietnamese

Phnom Penh 金邊小館, Chinatown: Cambodian & Vietnamese Cuisine

April 5, 2011 – 11:30

Talk about coming full circle.. Phnom Penh was one of the first few restaurants I ever posted when I started this blog, and look how laughable my posts used to be. Back then in 2009, Save-On-Meats was still up and running. Now it’s gone and with it, a piece of Downtown East Side history and a stupidly down to earth good and greasy burger. Sorry for the sidetrack, but just sitting here typing this up has got me feeling a little nostalgic, and it’s only been 2 years.

The amount of awards and accolades they have tacked up on their wall is staggering, and really speaks for the restaurant. Oh, did you also know that they’ve been praised by the likes of Anthony Bourdain and Julia Child? Well.. now you do!

The Marinated Butter Beef is a delirious mix of vinegar, soy sauce, cilantro, roasted and fried garlic, and a wackload of other stuff on top of raw beef. On paper it probably doesn’t sound good, but it’s a must try to truly understand the combination of flavours. I’m glad my sister didn’t like it, which allowed me to eat more than my share!

The Spicy Basil Clams was hardly spicy, and the amount of clams for the price ($15.50!) was disappointing.

Ah, my favourite vegetable, Sauteed Tong Choy. They didn’t cut them into nice manageable lengths, like how many restaurants do the same with gai lan, and that kind of irked me…for the first leaf. Then I just didn’t care cause I ended up getting more onto my plate as a result.

No visit to Phnom Penh is complete without trying 1 dish, and that is their famous Deep Fried Chicken Wings (full order pictured below). What is it about these wings, tossed in rock salt, pepper and sugar (some may dispute and say MSG, but look at those crystals closely next time, it’s gotta be sugar) that makes them so damn delicious? Is it the garlic? The slight buttery hint? Or is it all in the dipping sauce of black pepper and lemon?

Whatever factor it is that makes them so delicious, there must be some crack in here sourced from the back alleys of Chinatown, cause once you eat one, you’re ADDICTED. YMMV though, but the general consensus around town is that these are the best deep fried chicken wings, Asian style.

Uhhhh this was on the first page of the menu, it was some special dish. It tasted like Green Thai Curry but without all the heat that is generally associated with Thai curries.

Missing this time was some of their dry noodles, but since I was with family, the vote was to have dishes that we could share, not individual portions. As a result, all this food wasn’t enough for us and was stupidly expensive (for an Asian restaurant, really) and we ended up going elsewhere to eat after. Where? That’ll be up next…

Tags $$, chinatown | Permalink | Comments (7)

Location Vancouver Vietnamese

Green Lemongrass (Kingsway, Vancouver)

September 6, 2010 – 16:57

Had dinner at Green Lemongrass with my Condiments dodgeball team before the last night of league play before playoffs. Awwwww maaan I don’t even know where to start here. This food was so. damned. GOOD. I just can’t remember what they’re called on the menu anymore.

View Larger Map

The map is old, but Green Lemongrass now occupies the spot where you see the Vietnamese Food awning.
Just know that Green Lemongrass (be it the original Richmond location or this Kingsway one) is a good bet for quality Vietnamese food and some more unique items. Below is grilled chicken satay with vermicelli.

The above is kind of typical and boring, and this is what Jeff had insisted I order instead. Prawn brochette on sugar cane. With little rice vermicelli wraps (which I will now call pancakes) and a buttload of vegetables/herbs as well. Oh and the requisite fish saaaaauce.

Some serious rabbit food here with all these vegetables and herbs. Some of these I haven’t even seen before let alone know the name of.. delicious!

Tags $, Vietnamese | Permalink | Comment (1)

Bakery Location Vancouver Vietnamese

Tung Hing Bakery

June 21, 2010 – 14:33

Before heading out to Kitsilano Beach on a rare sunny day back in May, Victor and I stopped by Tung Hing Bakery for some banh mi. Originally I thought of just going to the normal standby, Ba Le, but having heard good things about Tung Hing from others, why not?

View Larger Map

With bakery in their store name, you can expect that they not only bake their own banh mi bread (aka french baguettes) fresh daily, they also have other types of buns, pastries and desserts.

Simpler than simple, the banh mi menu is painted onto a small black board, and all the prices are tax included.

Tags banh mi | Permalink | Comment (0)

Location Vancouver Vietnamese

Au Petit Café

January 7, 2010 – 22:58

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?