Le BL Cafe: Grilled Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi

So, if you haven’t noticed this by now, there have got to be dozens of little Vietnamese shops on Victoria Drive. Le BL Cafe is one such nondescript eatery.

Pho Thai Ha: Average Vietnamese Eats

Pho Thai Ha is located in the Killarney Centre on 49th and Elliot in Vancouver. I decided to try this place out because the ratings were pretty good and I’ve been craving banh mi sandwiches again.

Ngon Banh Mi & Tea: Braised Pork Banh Mi

Ngon Banh Mi is located on the same block as Obanhmi. Suffice to say, if you’re looking for a banh mi sandwich, this block has got you covered.

Obanhmi: Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi

I know, I know… I’ve been on a bit of a banh mi kick recently. Well, who can blame me? When done right, this is the perfect lunch item and packed with so much flavour (sorry Subway).

Bánh Mì Très Bon: Modern Vietnamese Cafe

Bánh Mì Très Bon has been on my radar for quite some time… not just for their banh mi either. We visited in early December (Covid safety protocols were in effect) and the pretty interior is a stark contrast to hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese places.

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Banh Mi Saigon: Banh Mi Dac Biet

If you asked what the perfect sandwich is, the banh mi would definitely rank high up there. There’s something about that freshly baked, crusty bread stuffed with flavours that explode in your mouth that just speaks so much more than a plain old bologna sandwich.

Bean Banh Mi: Modern Banh Mi Offerings

A couple of years ago, I noticed that a new Banh Mi placed opened up in the former haunts of Tung Hing on Kingsway but it hasn’t been until recently that we were able to try out Bean Banh Mi. I was a bit intrigued by their name because I don’t normally associate beans with banh mis. However, I did quite enjoy watching the episodes of Mr. Bean that they had playing on the overhead tv screen while we waited for our orders to come up.

White Lotus Cafe: Busy Hidden Gem

Okay, if you’ve been reading my blog for a while now, you probably know that I’m not really inclined to wait in long lines for restaurants. I usually pre-plan and look up when places are busy to avoid those hours. Unfortunately, Google’s not always that accurate (I probably shouldn’t say that out loud… I can hear the black helicopters hovering nearby as I type this).

Kim Anh: Return of Kim Anh on Edmonds

In early September, I noticed that Kim Anh had recently reopened on Edmonds Street in Burnaby. I found this to be a bit odd because I distinctly remember eating at this same restaurant in this same location a number of years ago. As it turns out, the owners of Kim Anh had subleased the location for a couple of years (to Aria Kabab) and had recently decided to reopen.

Pho Nam: Comforting Vietnamese Food

Earlier this year, I noticed a new Vietnamese place open up on the corner of 8th Ave and 12th Street in New Westminster called Pho Nam. The interior is quite spacious and there’s plenty of light coming in the windows.

Little Minh’s (Formerly Most Valuable Pho): Vietnamese Food in Burnaby

In early April, we noticed that a new Vietnamese restaurant called M.V.P had opened up recently in the Market Crossing complex on Marine Drive in Burnaby. I was a bit confused by the name at first until I learned that it stood for Most Valuable Pho. As things turned out, they had to change their name at the request of their landlord (because there are other competing tenants that also serve pho)… hence their new name… “Little Minh’s”.

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.