Van Vietnamese Restaurant — Restaurant in Brisbane City

This was a weekly lunch favourite of ours since 2008, under a different name (Tahn Quyen ); after some recent issues with them running out of wontons and hot water (!) a year or so ago we started to do lunch across the road at another Vietnamese restaurant, Que Huong . Seeing that it has changed hands recently my mate and I went back on Monday to check it out. We were late for lunch, 3pm, but surprised no one at front desk. Lady came in with a handbag over her shoulder and seemed to be in charge and said we could order. While we checked out the new menu, we witnessed this lady bashing the living daylights out of a man in the kitchen... she was slapping him silly... she came back into dining room, handbag still over shoulder, and abruptly took our order ... but we felt uncomfortable. After a few minutes we started to hear nasty coughing sounds from the kitchen.. then throat hacking... my mate made a joke about ‘hoping that wasn’t the chef coughing up like that’.. but then it got serious. The hacking became gagging and I got up to check what was going on in the kitchen ... I saw the lady and the man wrestling on the floor!, He had her in a headlock but she was clawing back, they seemed to apologise to us, but kept on fighting .... My friend and I grabbed our phones and keys and bolted! We ended up having our lunch across the road... and won’t be back to “Van” until it changes...

First time here. I've read previous good reviews so I caught the train to Darra and a 100m walk around to Van. It's 1.30pm and 8 people here in the small restaurant. I order the basic beef pho ($11) as this will let me know if i'm ever coming back. Friendly lady at counter and quick service and for once this soup was not disappointing (like ALL the city & Valley Viet places). Best was the thick, crisp bean sprouts and very fresh basil with the noodles and broth OK but better than the other 10 or so places I've been to in 8 years in Brisbane (except Inala which was OK as well). I'll come back to Van with a friend another day and we'll try some of the other dishes. The lady gave me a menu to take and some dishes look very interesting esp. at great prices $10 - $15. Yes, it was worth the train trip. UPDATE 3 weeks later: Return visit the other day. This time it's Bun Bo Hue ($12), some prices increased a dollar said menu. The addition of thinly sliced cabbage, sprigs of mint and Vietnamese coriander Rau Ram plus juicy pork slices was so nice that I might just be over...

We drove from the Gold Coast because I told my partner the best Bahn Mi was in Darra .After sitting under the trees eating our Bahn Mi I explained I had eaten at Vans years ago when it had another name , so we went to look at the menu . After watching several meals come out to customers that looked so fresh and yummy, we decided to get a takeaway to bring home for dinner . I was the best Bun Bo Hue YUMMY !!! ( I’m also a chef ) .While we waited we spoke to Van who was so polite and we chatted about Vietnam and told him of my travels from Saigon all the way up to Hanoi and then into the Mountains of Sappa . He was looking forward one day to go back when Covid settles .I’m itching to go back and happy to drive and hour to go though the menu . Lovely and clean , typical little Viet Restaurant. Thanks for the chat Van we’ll see you soon...