Bold and striking colors, fragrant aromas, ingredients bursting with flavor, and age-old tradition packed into every dish, Vietnamese cuisine carries an authenticity few can match, and a glamour that sparkles. Adding the roster of classic South-East Asian restaurants and eateries in Vancouver, Vietnamese food maintains massive popularity among foodies, locals and visitors alike.
Where do you go for your next Vietnamese food experience? We put together a list of the 10 best Vietnamese restaurants in Vancouver for you to try out and savor.
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10. Pho Duy
We bet you’ve never eaten at a restaurant that doesn’t hand you a menu and basically only serves two items. Yep that’s Pho Duy and we’re all for the simplicity.
What we love about Victoria Drive’s Pho Duy is that they know they make some of the best pho in Vancouver, and that’s what they stick to. Just pho. Just amazing, mouth-watering, scrumptious pho. Even though they have a relatively small restaurant, their cult following is massive because of their excellence at creating classic Vietnamese fare.
So this is how Pho Duy works. Walk in and get yourself seated. Choose between beef or chicken. Eat to your heart’s content. Fair warning: Pho Duy attracts die-hard fans of authentic pho, so it gets busy. Grab a cup of cold refreshing tea or an iced latte on your way out and start planning your return asap.
P.S. Make sure you check their hours as it fluctuates
Address: 1996 Kingsway Vancouver, BC V5N 2S
9. Lunch Lady
It’s always fun when a restaurant transports you to a whole other country, and Lunch Lady executes this very journey flawlessly. Popularized by the late Anthony Bourdain’s food travel show, ‘No Reservations’, Lunch Lady was originally a food stall on the streets of Vietnam before it expanded and conquered the Vancouver street food scene.
Now, it’s any Vietnamese-lover’s favourite choice on Commercial Drive. Whether it be beef pho, crispy spring rolls, beef luc lac or noodle soup, Lunch Lady’s got you covered to fulfill all your South-East Asian comfort food needs.
What to order: beef pho, crispy spring rolls, beef luc lac, noodle soup
Location: 1046 Commercial Drive Vancouver, BC V5L 3W9
Website | Instagram | Facebook
8. Anh and Chi
Mount Pleasant’s Anh Chi is ready to serve you a modern twist on Vietnamese food in a beautiful chic restaurant that you’ll never feel like stepping out of. Having been a finalist for Canada’s best washroom, you can only assume how endearing the rest of the place is. Unique trendy food is also a big plus, of course!
Their DIY Street Side Platter lets you assemble your own wraps and we absolutely love the fun that comes with having our very own pick of toppings to create a meal we’d stay forever for. Their Turmeric Crepes and Soft Shell Crab Salad are also widely popular, so give them a try!
What to order: DIY Street Side Platter, Turmeric Crepes, Soft Shell Crab Salad
Location: 3388 Main Street Vancouver, BC V5V 3M7
Order Online: DoorDash | Uber Eats
Website | Instagram | Facebook
7. Bánh Mì Très Bon
Oozing with sophistication and character, Bánh Mì Très Bon is a cute modern Vietnamese restaurant with the sweetest staff and the yummiest quality food. They will make you feel right at home, and serve up food that you soon won’t forget.
That being said, it’s not just their Savoury Mini Crepes that we love, but their Phở Tái Bò Viên (tenderloin and beef pho) is to die for, and we’re not exaggerating. Really. We’re not.
What to order: Savoury Mini Crepes, Phở Tái Bò Viên
Location: 1840-4720 McClelland Road, Richmond, BC V6X 0M6
Order Online: Uber Eats
Website | Instagram | Facebook
6. Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen
A true hidden gem ready to satisfy all your comfort food cravings, Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen is a busy tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurant on Victoria Drive. A definite must-try for anyone scoping out the city’s bests and dying to get their noodle on.
Although it’s a little cramped, their infamous Bún Chả Cá Đặc Biệt (special fish cake with vermicelli) is what keeps bringing customers running back. Also, their Bún Riêu (crab cake with vermicelli) seems to be any Vietnamese-lover’s biggest weakness.
What to order: Bún Chả Cá Đặc Biệt, Bún Riêu
Location: 5083 Victoria Dr, Vancouver, BC V5P 3T9, Canada
Order Online: SkipTheDishes
Website | Instagram | Facebook
5. Do Chay
If you’re either a long time vegetarian or just trying it out for fun, Do Chay was made for you. An absolute must for anyone craving a filling and authentic Vietnamese bite with a menu that’s completely vegan and vegetarian friendly.
Their coconut rice cakes are a restaurant favourite and their satay noodles are to die for. Rich addicting flavours and organic ingredients? Sign us up!
What to order: coconut rice cakes, satay noodles
Address: 1392 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5V 3E4
Website | Instagram | Facebook
4. Banh Mi Saigon
Give us bread! Give us Vietnamese! Give us bread with Vietnamese!
And Banh Mi Saigon did just that, supplying Vancouverites with fresh, quick, cheap and tasty sandwiches which we can never get enough of.
Our recommendation? The house Special Sandwich filled with ham, head cheese, meat balls, meat loaf, pate, homemade mayo, soy sauce and pickled vegetables. Grab your squad and get their 10 for 11 deal.
What to order: Special Sandwich
Location: 5397 Victoria Drive, Vancouver BC V5P 3V6
Website | Instagram | Facebook
3. Hoi An Cafe
A small, but pretty busy spot on Victoria Drive, Hoi An Cafe delivers one of Vancouver’s best places for a quick and easy Vietnamese bite. It’s busy because it’s popular for serving up fresh and delicious Vietnamese cuisine.
We’re in love love love with their Cao Lau Dac Biet, a rice noodle bowl full with pork, greens, shrimp, garlic sauce and banana blossom. Side it with a plate of Banh Bot Loc La Chuoi (banana leaf tapioca dumplings) and have yourself a merry little delightful meal.
What to order: Cao Lau Dac Biet, Banh Bot Loc La Chuoi
Location: 5002 Victoria Drive, Vancouver, BC V5P 3T8
2. Mr. Red Cafe
You can’t get more authentic than generations of a Vietnamese family passing down their recipes to create one beautiful never-ending menu, offering a handful of only the yummiest of yummy choices. Mr. Red Cafe is just that spot, and they are a must-try if you aren’t an ardent fan already.
We, like many of Vancouver’s Asian-craving foodies, love their Bún Bò Lá Lốt but there’s more than enough on the menu to satisfy your second, third, and seventeenth visit back.
Fun to know, you can catch the owners at Hanoi Old Quarter on Victoria Drive!
What to order: Bún Bò Lá Lốt
Location:
-2131 East Hastings St., Vancouver
-2680 West Broadway, Vancouver
Order Online: DoorDash | Uber Eats
Website | Instagram | Facebook
1. Phnom Penh
A real Vietnamese-Cambodian charmer and notorious for its fried chicken, Phnom Penh is a local favourite in Chinatown when it comes to South-East Asian food, and on our list of must-haves for anyone scouting only the best places Vancouver has to offer.
Phnom Penh’s made its way into the hearts of customers who like to get the restaurant’s butterbeef, deep fried chicken and beef lúc lắc on rice, an order so famous it’s known to the locals as the “Holy Trinity” of options.
What to order: butterbeef, deep fried chicken, beef lúc lắc on rice
Location: 244 E Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1Z7
Website | Instagram | Facebook
That rounds up our list of the 10 best Vietnamese restaurants in Vancouver for authentic and delicious Vietnamese cuisine. We hope you try them all, and find your favorite spot to frequent. And, if you’re looking to cool down this summer with a nice creamy cone or two, check out our list of 10 Best Ice Cream Shops you simply MUST hit up!
How We Create Our “Best” Lists
All Noms Magazine’s “best” lists are created using multiple factors and signals to help readers find the best restaurants, things to do, and places to stay at. Some of these factors and signs include personal experiences, correspondence with locals, and compiling experiences from review sites.
Each list is also created to be balanced (in terms of price, cuisine type, ambiance, and more) as possible. This means that the lists are not specifically created in ranking order. You should be comfortable picking from any of the spots on the list and generally have a good time. But of course, YMMV (your mileage may vary) and everyone may have different experiences/palates.