What started as a sibling-led passion project has become one of the city’s freshest modern Vietnamese gems.
Hai Chi Em Modern Vietnamese Cuisine, which first opened on Fraser Street back in 2022, relocated to Kingsway in late 2024.
The move made sense for the team: more space, a prime location, and a spot along what many consider Vancouver’s “Little Saigon.”
The restaurant is a family-run labour of love, inspired by the vibrant cooking of their mother.
The team, including Mai and her brother Tony – who owns the restaurant with his wife Kim – worked with Bac Do, a close family friend and talented chef.
Chef Do, who hails from Saigon, brings over two decades of culinary experience from some of Vietnam’s most prestigious kitchens. He’s worked as head chef at Caravelle, Jade Garden, and the upscale Shri Lifestyle Dining.
Now, he’s bringing that same passion and precision to Vancouver, with bold, flavour-forward dishes that are a refreshing shift from what you’d usually find in the city.
Inside, the new Hai Chi Em Modern Vietnamese Cuisine location is sleek and modern.
There’s a striking mural of the Sapa hills, plenty of greenery, and a welcoming energy that makes it feel like a cross between a contemporary café and a family dining room.
And while the space is beautiful, it’s the food that really steals the show!
At Hai Chi Em, the flavours are deep, bright, and unmistakably crafted with care.
Chef Do makes all of the sauces in-house, including their wildly popular seafood sauce that regulars swear goes with everything.
From the rich Bun Bo Hue to the buttery crab fried rice, pomelo salad, and crispy garlic butter wings, each dish reflects a balance of elegance and heart.
You’ll still find comforting classics like Beef Phở and Spicy Beef Noodle Soup, but the menu goes far beyond that.
Highlights include Bánh Xèo – thin, turmeric rice crepes stuffed with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts – as well as their crispy garlic butter wings, crab fried rice, pomelo salad, and skewer-grilled chili prawns.
Since opening, the Kingsway spot has been buzzing with locals eager for comforting meals with a modern twist.
It’s no surprise, Hai Chi Em captures the warmth of a family gathering, plated up with care and served in a stylish space that still feels like home.
If you’re looking for a new spot to hit up, Hai Chi Em is worth adding to your “to nom list”.
Address: 2172 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5N 2T5
This is a community-partnered piece. While this is a paid partnership, we only partner with organizations & businesses that align with our values and mission. Thank you for supporting the businesses and events that make our community thrive.