Vietnamese Archives - West Coast Food

Cafés January 7, 2019

Richmond’s Bánh Mì Très Bon showcases Vietnamese Cuisine with French Flair

By Tourism Richmond The charming elegance of the interiors of Richmond’s Bánh Mì Très Bon (1840-4720 McClelland Road) makes any diner feel like they have been transported to a Parisian café. In the display case are a variety of brightly coloured macarons and an assortment of small cakes. If they turn to the menu on the wall, though, they’ll see classic Vietnamese dishes, like pho, bánh mì, and bánh bot loc (shrimp and pork tapioca dumplings). This combination of Vietnamese cuisine and French pâtisserie items represents chef/owner Lan Do’s cultural and culinary influences, as well as the colonial history of Vietnam itself. Do, who is of Chinese descent, was born in Vietnam into a family with a passion for food and the restaurant industry. “I’ve had a love of food since childhood because my mom and dad are pretty adventurous eaters. I was never afraid to try anything,” she explains.…

Recipes January 5, 2019

Recipe: Pomelo and Tiger Prawn Salad

By: Lan Do, Executive Chef and Owner of Bánh Mì Très Bon INGREDIENTS (6 portions) White or red Pomelo – (1 medium) (in the restaurant, they order their pomelo from Vietnam) Green Papaya, julienned (1/2 medium) Carrots, peeled and julienned or shredded (2 jumbo), Basil leaves,chopped into fine strips (1 cup) Roasted peanuts, finely chopped (1/2 cup) Large or jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined, cut in half & boiled (1/2 pound) DRESSING White sugar (100 grams) Fish sauce (50ml) Garlic, minced (20 grams) Lime juice (40 grams, approximately 2 limes) Red chili peppers, minced (2) DIRECTIONS Peel pomelo and remove all the skins, break the pomelo flesh into small pieces. Toss pomelo, shredded green papaya, carrots, prawns and basil into bowl Make dressing: Add lime juice and fish sauce to sugar, whisk well until dissolved. Add minced garlic and mince red chili peppers. Dress salad. Sprinkle chopped peanuts on top of salad.

Vietnamese April 24, 2017

Banh Mi Bar: Your Must-Try Vietnamese Sandwich Stop in New Westminster

By Anna Black Tucked just a few blocks from the New Westminster Skytrain station, you’ll find a cozy little Vietnamese eatery on Carnarvon Street called Banh Mi Bar. Now in its second year of operation, the restaurant has become a popular choice with locals because of their affordably priced and freshly made traditional Vietnamese baguette subs and friendly customer service. Owners Lily and Tung have been described on Yelp Canada as an “absolutely lovely pair of people” that are “nice and friendly” and always “deliver with a smile”. The restaurant has received numerous five star reviews and as a result was recently named one of the site’s Top 100 Restaurants for 2017. The menu, although simple, offers a delicious choice for every sub lover complete with delicately flavored grilled meats, pickled vegetables, cilantro, and just a splash of sriracha, all served on crisp freshly toasted baguette. One of Banh Mi Bar’s…

Asian April 25, 2016

Richmond’s Food Court Face-Off: Parker vs. Yaohan

By Visit Richmond BC Chowing down at a food court in Richmond is somewhat different compared to the typical North American mall food court; you’ll find incredibly unique mom ‘n pop stalls serving tasty curries, warming noodle soups, creating mouth-watering dumplings, barbecuing meats – you name it, you’ll probably find it in Richmond. Each and every food court in Richmond has a hidden treasure waiting for you to discover it. It can be slightly overwhelming on your first visit; there are so many options to choose from that you may not be able to decide. To help you out, here are some insider tips about two popular Asian malls and their food courts, including where to go for the best eats and how they compare to each other in the ultimate face-off! The Contenders Parker Place Established in 1993, Parker Place Mall has become a shopping landmark in downtown Richmond.…

Vietnamese April 18, 2016

Chopsticks on Pho: A Love Story in Surrey

By Joanne Sasvari Long before they met, Lynn Le and Steven Lee knew they wanted to open a restaurant. But it took a long time – and an even longer journey – before they would see their dream become reality. Reality it is, though. On Aug. 1, 2012, the couple opened Chopsticks on Pho in Surrey. They’ve since developed a loyal following for their fresh, healthy and flavourful Vietnamese fare. They’ve also become proud members of their community, even though it is a world away from where they started out. Vietnam is where they started, back in the bad old days that followed the end of the war in 1975. Many Vietnamese, especially in the south, feared retribution from the Communist government of the newly unified country, and rightly so: It is estimated that a million Vietnamese were sent to brutal prison camps after the war and some 65,000 executed.…

Coquitlam February 9, 2016

The Heights of Culinary Adventure

By Sheliza Mitha Across a few short, bustling and walkable blocks of Coquitlam is where you’ll find Austin Heights – an unassuming culinary gem that’s home to some of the most delicious and densely concentrated restaurants anywhere in the Lower Mainland. Overflowing with restaurants representing nearly every corner of the globe, the area is relatively small in size (making it easy to explore by foot) but big on taste serving up the height(s) of culinary adventure with almost every step. Here, you’ll find a veritable foodie destination that requires some serious and dedicated exploration – which is just what I set out to do one bright, sunshine-filled day. The goal was to spend a good part of my day in a self-guided food tour of the area. This meant nearly five-hours of restaurant hopping to experience just a few of the area’s tastiest and most unique experiences – only because…