Dundas Eat and Drink: East Van Fusion

For the better part of my childhood, I grew up in East Van… specifically, in the area close to the PNE. Back in the day, it was hardly the place known for being able to find restaurants of any kind. However, over the last few years, a new bunch of eateries have popped up around the northeast corner of Vancouver.

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Pho Capital: Pho in Coquitlam

After running out of places in the South Burnaby and New Westminster area to eat, I’ve been gradually expanding my range to areas around the Burnaby/Coquitlam border. This area is primarily known for having lots of Korean restaurants but I wasn’t really in the mood for Korean so I stopped by Pho Capital.

Pho Japolo: Vietnamese and Japanese Food in Burnaby

Pho Japolo is located on the Burnaby side of North Road, just off of Cameron Street. While I’ve had this place on my list for quite some time, I really didn’t plan on visiting the day that I did… it just turned out that my first choice was too busy so I wound up turning into this parking lot and saw the sign for Pho Japolo.

The Viet Noodle Guy: Modern Take on Classic Vietnamese

Everyone has their own favourite spot for pho. In the past, this usually meant some hole-in-the-wall noodle joint that’s seen better days. The Viet Noodle Guy kicks that trend and seems to be doing quite well at it.

Broken Rice: Bánh Khọt

It’s been a while since we last visited Broken Rice in North Burnaby. This Vietnamese restaurant located on Hastings Street has always been a spot where we knew we would get a good quality meal. Unlike most Vietnamese restaurants which seem to be hole-in-the-wall joints, Broken Rice seems to be of slightly higher ambiance with beautiful blue and white dishware.

Pho Century Fine Vietnamese Cuisine: Solid Viet Food in South Burnaby

Okay, it’s been about 7 years since I last visited Pho Century (geez, I feel old now). Located on the corner of Kingsway and Sperling (and next to Mr. Ho’s Wonton House), I had completely forgotten how the food was like here so I thought I should pay them a revisit.

Pho Pho You: Busy Vietnamese Restaurant in New West

There was a time when you could count the number of Vietnamese restaurants in New Westminster on one hand. Well, that’s certainly changed. Take, for instance, Pho Pho You which opened up in late 2016 in the heart of downtown (right along Columbia St).

Pho Hong Vietnamese Restaurant: Average Food But Big Bowls

It seems like Pho Hong Vietnamese Restaurant has existed for years. The exterior isn’t much to look at… it actually reminds me of an old house (complete will bars on the windows).

Indochine Kitchen + Bar (Fraser St): Beef Luc Lac

Indochine Kitchen + Bar recently opened up a new location on Fraser St. in South Vancouver. For those of you who haven’t tried their original location on Broadway and Ontario St, Indochine is a modern take on the food that made Phnom Penh famous. Instead of the tired decor and the family atmosphere that you’d see at Phnom Penh, however, Indochine has a sleek and stylized decor that seems to target a younger crowd.

V Cafe: Banh Mi and Vegan Beef Stew

I had such high hopes for V Cafe. I mean, I was just coming here for a banh mi. For those of you who haven’t tried it before, a banh mi is a type of Vietnamese sandwich served in an airy and crusty baguette.

Piggy Smalls (Hawaii 2018): Vietnamese Appies in Ward Village

Located in the gentrifying Ward Village area of Kana’ako (sandwiched between Downtown Honolulu to the west and Ala Moana to the east), is Piggy Smalls. This offshoot of The Pig and the Lady in Chinatown serves up riffs on various Vietnamese appies and small plates. We first came across Piggy Smalls in 2017 after visiting nearby Hakubundo for some Japanese pens.

Cam On (Kitahama): Osaka 2017

After our day trip to Kyoto and a nighttime jaunt around Osaka, we were completely bushed… and famished. That’s when we saw this unassuming Vietnamese restaurant close to our hotel. The interior was actually larger than what you would expect from the exterior.