Vancouver Good

The past two weekends have been all about Vietnamese Saturday lunch – both on Main St. While a bowl of steaming Pho is always good, I’m often partial to the vermicelli noodle bowls – strings of thin vermicelli, thinly sliced veggies (typically lettuce, cucumber, carrot, bean sprout), a grilled meat, & fried spring rolls all doused in a vinegary, fishy sauce. Fresh, filling, great.

Au Petit Cafe, 4851 Main St (b/w 32nd and 33rd ave)

Two Saturdays ago we hit up Au Petit Cafe, famous in Vancouver for their excellent Vietnamese sandwiches, which we ordered in addition to our vermicelli bowls. Have you heard all the raves about this place’s sandwiches? People go on and on about the fresh French bread. Well, my first Vietnamese sandwich at Au Petit Cafe was certainly the best Vietnamese sandwich I’d eaten – soft & crusty French bread with nicely seasoned pork and veggies…but it was still just a sandwich. I’m not in a hurry to return for it, but it was tasty. The vermicelli bowls were great with crispy pork spring rolls and fresh vegetables. My husband says the portion was a little small though.

The restaurant itself was small and busy, with a line-up out the door when we arrived and the staff running around to keep up with the crowd. You’re not there for the ambiance, but the place was clean and service prompt.  I’d definitely return. For two vermicelli bowls and a sandwich, the price was about $20 plus tip.

Pho Tan Vietnamese Restauarant, 4598 Main St (@ 30th Ave)

This restaurant was given Bronze for best Vietnamese by Vancouver Magazine this year, and is about 1 block north of Au Petit Cafe, so we gave Pho Tan a try this weekend. Business is good, as Pho Tan was also packed with a line-up out the door when we arrived. A ten minute wait later and we were in! The staff was busy as hell, but very good at clearing tables, seating tables, and getting orders taken. Not always an easy feat when you’re slammed. My husband deemed Pho Tan’s vermicelli bowls to be big portions, cheaper and equally good as Au Petit Cafe, so this is his new number one. I enjoyed it also, but found Au Petit’s was slightly fresher and tastier – but also saltier. We also drank down some  lovely iced Vietnamese French coffee with sweetened condensed milk – always a tasty treat, and nicely made here. At $7.50 per vermicelli bowl, this was good cheap eating.

If Vietnamese Saturday lunch continues next week, I think we’ll hit up Thai Son on East Broadway, which I’ve also heard good things about. There’s also Pho Hoang at 3388 Main St, but I find the food quite over-rated. Many tasty options.