1246 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC
604-872-3828
Day two of Buddha Boy's flu battle...that means another day of pho. When Buddha Boy asked me to choose the restaurant, I immediately thought of Hai Phong Vietnamese Restaurant 海豐越南美食, a restaurant that caught my attention every time I drove by. Located just a couple of blocks east of Green Lemongrass, this restaurant offers better parking and a larger menu.
Just like most pho restaurants, after we placed our orders (with pho), we were given a plate of bean sprouts, basil and lemon. Two dipping sauces were also provided to accompany the salad rolls we ordered. One was a sweetened but diluted fish sauce. The other was a mix of peanut butter and hoisin sauce.
We ordered two types of salad rolls. On the left was the Nem Nuong Cuon 燒稔肉沙拉卷 (#F, Grilled Pork Patty Salad Roll). The meat itself was a little too sweet and too salty, even when it's wrapped in a roll with lettuce and vermicelli. One the right was the Goi Cuon 越式沙拉卷 (#A, Shrimp & Pork Salad Roll). In comparison to last night's order at Green Lemongrass (photo), both rolls were weak and small. Shrimp quality wasn't the greatest.
My bowl of Dat Biet Nuoc Hu Tieu 特別湯麵 (#23, Special Pork Noodle Soup) came first. The pork broth was light yet rich. Ample and good varieties including shrimp, squid, pork, pig blood/heart/liver and pork hock. With a choice of rice noodles, thin egg noodles or both, I went with rice noodles. Yes, the soup broth was HOT!
Buddha Boy had the Pho Dac Biet 特別牛肉粉 (#1, Special Mixed Beef with Rice Noodle Soup). Buddha Boy enjoyed the pho broth here a lot more than Green Lemongrass. He thought it had more depth and more tastes of roasted onions. Ample amount of meat in a hot soup...perfect for the cold weather!
Despite the miss on the salad rolls, we enjoyed our visit. Buddha Boy and I plan to visit again to try some other items on the menu...such as Canh Ga Chien 炸雞翼 (#M, Garlic Butter Chicken Wings), Goi Ngo Sen Tom Thit 蝦豬肉連藕絲沙拉卷 (#M, Lotus Salad) and Bo Tai Chanh 生牛肉片配檸檬汁 (#O, Vietnamese Style Beef Sashimi).
I actually like Hai Phong but for one other reason: Along with Mui Ngo Gai, Hai Phong is one of the few Vietnamese restaurants in Vancouver that offers Banh Xeo. It is oddly listed as an appetizer ($10???) but, if ordered for a single person, it would actually work as a meal. Now, it might not be your cup of tea, though: it is a crepe with pork and shrimp. You eat it with the side of lettuce, cucumber, sprout, other herbs, et al, making small wraps as you go and dip it in the fish sauce combination.
ReplyDeleteI think I tried it before? Or maybe not...hmmm...but I will for sure to give it a try next time I visit Hai Phone. Mui Ngo Gai is also on our list.
DeleteWow...you ACTUALLY "like" the place? So not KimHo...