Vietnamese cuisine is Calgary’s favourite fast food alternative, particularly when wholesome, delicious and cheap are the order of the day. Of the city’s many, many Vietnamese spots, this is a selection of standouts.
From egg noodle soup with beef to rice plates topped with charbroiled quail, pork chop or chicken, Bolsa’s bowls are generous. Sizzling hot plates with your choice of meat or seafood are a customer favourite. Also try lip-smacking Asian comfort dishes such as seafood congee (a Chinese dish) and curry chicken stew with French bread.
A pleasant 17th Avenue Southwest restaurant , the Golden Bell menu features plenty of pho noodle bowls, sate noodle soups, vermicelli bowls and much more. The place also serves a very good four-sandwich baguette selection. Try the bánh xèo, a Vietnamese crepe filled with pork, prawns and bean sprouts.
Located on Calgary’s unofficial Vietnamese restaurant row, pho is the mainstay at Pho Dau Bo. Go for the rare beef or the spicy version, which is also served with seafood or chicken. The broth really pushes these dishes over the top. Served regular or large, the latter is massive, and service here is surprisingly speedy.
Close to Chinook Centre, Bagolac serves a uniquely engineered take on Vietnamese standard fare that is artfully presented. Dishes include vermicelli noodles topped with tiger prawns, grilled scallops, charbroiled pork and more. Also try the Saigon-style stir-fried lemongrass chicken or the hot and sour chicken and prawns soup.