Anh and Chi — Restaurant in Vancouver

Update: Still good, but the competition has definitely stiffened since the last review. The pho seemed to be a bit we. The service was still great and the cocktails also really good. When we arrived at 5:30 on a Saturday there were still seats available for 4 but by the time we left there was a long line.

Finding a great pho restaurant in Vancouver is like going into the land of Mordor. Pho restaurants litter the more lifeless corridors of the city like loitering Uruk-hai. And what is distinctive about each Uruk than their adornments and possibly the color of their eyes, and maybe the jaggedness of their teeth. So it is with pho; broth, noodles, and meat. Maybe you get more onions here, and maybe the soup is richer over there. But at the end of the day you leave with little less money in your pocket and a little more cilantro stuck in your teeth.

Think about the last time you had that hankering for soupy noodles. What did your higher order brain functions process other than your present co-ordinates and the distance to the nearest Vietnamese establishment? Can you even think of an outstanding Vietnamese restaurant? Did you know that Phnom Pehn isn't even Vietnamese, that Cambodia and Vietnam have been at odds for centuries?

Ok fine, maybe it isn't that bleak. But then maybe it is. How often do you go and order something different, bahn mi or bun cha, only to be left wishing you had ordered that warm, soothing, rich scented broth-based slice of heaven. And was the soup really that good? Or did your brain trick you into hoping that somehow this watered down concoction of beef protein and star anise really did hit the spot?

And then there's Ahn and Chi. If pho was a nation, Ahn and Chi is it's embassy of hope and goodwill, the light of Eärendil. Nay, it's the UN ambassador to the culinary universe. Quebec-accented waitresses that know more about "phuh" than a your average asian life-long Vancouverite. Authentic Vietnamese dishes that put to shame your shallow and ethnocentric understanding of the diverse culinary heritage, so much more than pho, and lemon grass, and vietnamese iced coffee. Oh, so you like that avocado drink, good for you. Welcome to the big leagues rookie.

Eating at Ahn and Chi was like waking up in Rivendell surrounded by the clamorous joy of victorious friends. I can't even remember the names of what we had; so awakened were my senses to the flavors and textures. The share plate of DIY wraps, the fish hot pot, the triple treat protein platter. All of them adorned with the savory accoutrements of fresh herbs.

Granted, if you're looking for a cheap trick, then leave your shoes on and go elsewhere. $13 for a bowl of pho isn't just too rich for you, it's too good for you. But if you're wanting and willing and hungry for something different, do not pass up the opportunity to give this place a try. You owe it to yourself, to your Fellowship, and to all Middle Earth.

Protop: Make sure you order something with a slight vinegary splash as a palate cleanser. Depending on what you order, you might find the buttery base a bit repetitive. I don't have any suggestions as to what exactly; it's something I intend to find out at...

I started out with a bit of a negative experience sadly. I must’ve been in a mood because I didn’t want to have to wait outside when there were empty tables and it wasn’t that busy. It was also a cold day and we couldn’t get a seat inside till my brother arrived which would have comprised 1/3 our group. I wanted to order right away and get a nice hot bowl of pho and then wait for him which was only a few minutes. But sadly we had to wait outside and the door staff person said don’t worry, there are lots of tables available. I really was ready to just say forget it and go somewhere else, but my partner said just wait. So we waited. And when we did get our table we were seated in the coldest table and I was already freezing cold. We ended up having to move to a table outside (hah! I didn’t want to be seated outside and that’s where we ended up.). I didn’t order the Pho. I ended up getting the tofu salad roll $10 and regretted getting it. The rice wrap was dry and hard. I’ve never experienced this unless I made it at home and left it out to dry for a day. Hmmmmm. I got a pot of tea for $6 but actually wanted hot water, but oh well, just go with the flow. I somehow ended up agreeing to tea in my already frustrated state. Could I be more “Karen”? Sorry. However my partners Banh Xeo was well presented and she ranked it up higher than most in Vancouver. She said probably number five out of the plethora of this dish she’s been rating. That’s a decent finish. My brother said his Pho was better than in the past . So better than before. But sadly at the end, when we went to pay, I paid cash for a bill that came to $74.00 and change. I gave her $100 and she asked how much change do I want? Huh!!!!???! Seriously? I said just give me the change but I think she either doesn’t know what cash is or like cash ( ugghhh kids these days eh?). She said it’s because of her float she can’t give change? “Whatever” I thought “talk to the hand” I thought but ended up thinking she wants me to pay her the tip on top of the amount and probably wanted me to just give her the $100 and not expect change back. Now that pissed me off. I got my partner to pay by debit. I won’t come back. And they probably couldn’t care . But it makes me think. When it comes to Vietnamese restaurants, I either want the more traditional Pho places or I’ll upscale it without the sacrifice of flavour and quality and add better service and vibe, like Banh Mi Tres Bon. The whole cash change thingy and the having to wait outside just left me with a feeling of cilantro in my mouth. Having said that I mean you either love it or not. My experience was the latter sadly. I am sure many others have had great experiences but with the high cost of dining out, I’ll take my chances on other dining...

GIGANTIC DELICIOUS BANH XEO!

This is my go to place for bang xeo if you want it super fresh and giant banh xeo for two people!

It’s like a crispy savory thin crepe with pork, shrimp and beansprouts in the inside.

How to eat: Cut a piece of it and wrap it in lettuce and the herbs like a salad roll and dip it into the fish sauce. It’s so DELICIOUS!

Ordered: Banh xeo: 10/10 Probably the best in Vancouver because how fresh it is. Not too much batter and a lot of fillings

Chicken wings: 6/10 It was delicous with sauce BUT there were 3-4 wings that were RAW, pink and bloody. They gave us 50% off. We didn’t know it was raw until we ate the drumsticks in the end. Usually we eat the wings first but they were cooked. Most restaurants would take the whole bill off of that dish, if they know they cooked their food raw which was a bit concerning cause that’s a food safety practice and chicken is one the highest food poisoning reasons

Bun Rieu (grandmas recipe) : 6/10 The crab meat noodle soup had good flavor. Isn’t as authentic as what I would eat but I have a feeling they made it more westernized for tourists to eat so it doesn’t have a strong crab flavor. For me as a viet person. I thought it was ok and wished the soup would be more flavourful. Kind of bland for my taste. It’s generic, you can go to other small locals around Vancouver for that super flavourful bun rieu broth.

Viet ice coffee: 4/10 Not strong enough and watery. Viet coffee is known to be very strong. Didn’t have it here

Pandan tea: 8/10 I haven’t seen much restaurants with pandan tea and it’s popular in Vietnam. I was happy they had it here. But for $6 a pot. The pricing is very steep for tea! They can just only serve one cup of tea rather than a pot cause honestly, who drinks a whole pot of tea when they are eating a full meal at a restaurant? Maybe give an option for one cup of tea?

Pricing: decent for quality and presentation. Tea is over priced

Interior: gorgeous and pretty to take photos and videos for your social media platform. Open space with a lot of natural lighting! Tropical Vietnamese vibes

Staff: All staff was very sweet and worked efificiently. I appreciate how they staff help each others table which makes you feel more cared for

Presentation: all their food is in cute straw plate or bamboo leaves which makes you feel like you are in Asia! Beautiful and fun

Overall: I would just come here for banh xeo only as an appie and go somewhere else for the main dishes. There’s alot of food options around the area. Same as drinks...