Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen — Restaurant in Vancouver

As I usually do, I read several reviews before trying out a new place. Therefore when I ordered what I ordered a was surprised to learn a few things.

I ordered a #7, their House Special Pho and made it a combo ($5) for a salad roll. Considering it's $10.50 for 2 salad rolls. You still save a little. The first thing I was surprised at was that they have flat noodles now. Most reviews I read were saying that they only had thick round ones; which isn't the case. For me, I enjoy the flat ones more so I was surprised when I thought I was only gonna get the round ones. The soup is pretty basic, I thought I would get some complex flavour in there like I usually do, but the soup here is pretty basic and plain; what I could pick out was the saltiness and nothing really beyond that. I do give them credit though, they do have big portions; made up by the price, which isn't too bad. One thing I do wish was that I could get my salad rolls first. Not sure if it's just this place as I've been having this quite often at other Vietnamese restaurants is the salad/spring rolls always come when your more then half way done with your main meal. The salad roll was nice and filling and it did come with a rich and flavourful peanut sauce. Surprising as this sauce seemed to be more flavorful then the pho soup. Be aware also that, yes this place does seem to be generous on the MSG; be sure to drink liquids (water/tea).

The atmosphere is great, nice and wide with plenty of seating. They have free parking out front on the main street, parking at the back, or you could find a spot on a residential street.

The only thing that really confused me was was it debt/cash or did they also take credit cards. When I went up to the counter to pay, a cardboard sign said cash and debt only, but I took a peek over the counter and noticed 2 credit card machines. Plus, reviews say that credit is accepted so I'll have to find out the next time I come and visit.

In any case, I recommend this place if you are in the neighborhood. I myself, am tempted to go back and try more as they have a good price to portion ratio.

Edit (Sept 24, 2024) Went here for the Short ribs, and fried eggs on rice.

It was only ok, I didn't expect my eggs to be fully cooked and circular. Something not right with having non runny eggs at a Vietnamese restaurant for me. I need my eggs to be oozing. The short ribs were ok, kinda plain with a slight grill taste. Overall, something I wouldn't get again here. On the plus side, the soup that it came with was very flavorful. Nice beef taste with the green onions and cilantro.

Got the combo, $5.50 for a added salad roll. Worth it! You get shrimp and pork in it and the sauce has a very good peanut flavour.

Sept 26 Went here for lunch, the place was very busy. Just a tip, be alert when paying cash. I only had a $100 bill on me and they gave me back the wrong change. They took a extra $5 on top...

Came on a busy Sunday afternoon and the lineup was out the door! Literally around the corner! I came with a party of 5 and we finally got seated to our table (5th person had to sit on the outside of the table) after waiting 45 minutes!!! It was crazy, I've never seen any Vietnamese restaurant with this type of lunch rush before. Each time the door opens and a table gets cleared out, you can feel the excitement in the lineup rushing to enter. The aroma of fish cakes and bun rieu quickly filled the air, we were all hungry and excited to be seated. Feels good to know you're eating delicious food that is worth the wait. It was our first time there but I already knew what I was getting due to the raving reviews about their bun cha ca and bun rieu. Had to get the fish cakes and Vietnamese chicken wings 🤤. A second order of fish cakes was quickly added to the bill, it was so good! Especially when it's hot, fresh and crispy! For every Vietnamese Cuisine experience, you must order the cafe sua da to wake up from food coma. I love Vietnamese coffee, and this place knows coffee! The owner came out, to my surprise, to greet us and talk to my mother for a few moments before we left. I had just found out they were friends from beyond 20 years ago! What a coincidence, we had randomly chose this restaurant due to their reviews about bun rieu and bun cha ca, so we decided to give it a try. What a humbling experience to be reunited and reconnected to old friendships through the love of food, Vietnamese food that is. If its your first time coming here, just expect a long wait for fresh and delicious food. It was worth waiting every minute for each bite. Thank you Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen for such a memorable and humbling experience that brings family moments together. Will definitely be back for the bun rieu and fish...

Bún Chả Cá Hoàng Yến turned out to be a fantastic Vietnamese spot, with some details that really set it apart from other restaurants in Vancouver.

Right from the start, the sauces by the table impressed me. Most Vietnamese restaurants will have hoisin and sriracha, but here they go above and beyond: chili oil, fish sauce, and even a premium soy sauce are available tableside. That’s rare—I’ve almost never seen proper fish sauce sitting out as an option. Usually, when I ask for fish sauce, staff think I mean the diluted dipping sauce for spring rolls. Having the real thing readily available here shows attention to authenticity.

I ordered the Special Phở (phở đặc biệt), the grilled lemongrass pork & minced meat patty with vermicelli, and their spring rolls.

The phở was very solid. What makes it stand out is the noodle texture—perfectly chewy and cooked just right, not overdone or bloated like at many places. That small detail makes a big difference.

The grilled lemongrass pork was decent, but the real star of that plate is the minced meat patty. It’s a rare dish that you don’t often see in Vietnamese restaurants here, and I highly recommend it if you haven’t tried it before. Juicy, smoky, lightly sweet, and aromatic, it brought together everything you’d want from grilled meat.

Their spring rolls are unique as well. Instead of the usual taro chunks, they mash the taro into a paste, then season it heavily with spices and black pepper. The result is a crisp roll with a peppery kick and a smooth filling—different from the standard style but very tasty.

Overall, Hoàng Yến is a spot that pays attention to details, from their broth and noodles to the sauces and rarer menu items. Highly recommended if you want a phở experience that goes...