Chau Cafe — Restaurant in Vancouver

ATTENTION TO ALL VEGAN/VEGETARIAN: THIS RESTAURANT IS NO LONGER A VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT!! (Although it does offer some vegetarian options)

When we came for dinner today, we noticed that the restaurant had been renovated, and I was quite happy because I used to think it was a great place. When I was ordering, I noticed that the poster had been completely updated (but most of the dishes were the same as before). We ordered three dishes that we had eaten before as usual, but we later founded that one of them contained chicken. Even though the waiter told us it was chicken, I still thought it was vegetarian chicken because they said the menu and the items hadn't changed much. It wasn't until we had eaten two rolls that I felt something was different and asked about it. I was told it was real chicken, not a vegetarian substitute. I was very disappointed. We had even shown the waiter the old menu from CHAU VEGGIE EXPRESS when ordering, and we all assumed it was still a vegetarian restaurant. I was very disappointed and frustrated. I have been a vegetarian for 14 years, and this was the first time I accidentally ate meat in a restaurant I thought was vegetarian, in a place I used to like. There was no vegan/ vegetarian label on the entire menu, which is why we assumed all the dishes were vegetarian. I think they should inform customers when they enter that this is no longer a pure vegetarian restaurant. They told me they had changed their name to Chau Cafe instead of Chau Veggie Express (tbh who cares what the name is…?) but we didn't notice this change when we entered because no one told us it was no longer a vegetarian restaurant, even though we showed the waiter the old menu. then I went to the washroom and threw up all the food. They gave me a refund but I am very disappointed and will never come here...

I noticed this restaurant a couple of years ago before I was vegan. We hadn't intended to eat out – the number of vegan + gluten free places in Vancouver are quit limited. But we bumped into a foodie pastor and his wife who live near Victoria Drive and they told us that Chau Veggie Express is really good. And since it was lunch time already and we hadn't finished our errands, we decided to risk it. The interior was interesting, but the air conditioning was so cold that it was very uncomfortable. Their internet was down so we had to pay in cash and luckily, I have cash with me. I wanted coconut curry, but the usual thing – it has garlic of course. I ended up with Candlelit Lantern Soup (GF) with star anise, cinnamon cardamon broth, organic tofu, daikon chunks, beancurd, lotus root, mushrooms (missing), herbs, spinach and nettle infused rice noodles, bean sprouts and basil leaves. The broth was out of this world delicious but yet clean tasting at the same time. Thankfully, the star anise and cinnamon wasn't over powering. The green rice noodles were a treat – chewy, and very pleasant and felt more substantial than the regular rice noodles. Apparently, they are custom made for this shop and you can buy the uncooked noodles there make a meal with it at home. Although I would like to try other items, I will probably order the same thing again because it was so delicious. My partner ordered Namahata Fresh Rolls and Vietnamese crepe. I think it was too freezing cold for him to enjoy his food. I had a portion of the crepe, but it was sort of 'empty' inside, and the outside overly greasy because of the frying. Not items we would order again. So, when I come back to Victoria Drive for some Sri Lankan mangos from JJ Srilankan Market near by, we will probably eat there again – in their outside...

First off I never found this place to be worth all the hype, it might have been good back in the day, like 4000 B.C when we were hunter gathers and foraging food was hard to come by, but as far as today's standards go it is about average. Most of the food is bland and not too flavorful. The restaurant itself has horrible seating, it is too hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter. I don't know about you, but I have minimal body fat due to my culinary choices so sitting in a freezing restaurant eating semi warm bland food is not very heart warming. Then there is the service, if you can call it that. Basically non existent, with the staff all having blank looks on their faces and hovering around like droids probably due to the high turn over rate - other than the management I have rarely seen the same faces twice. This usually indicates cheap owners who don't know how to hire, train, pay, and maintain good staff. With the prices they charge for what basically amounts to a handful of noodles and vegetables in a small unmemorable atmosphere you would think they could at least do better in this aspect of their business. Why would I return you might ask? Well up until tonight my girlfriend would insist to eat there once a week. Tonight's experience topped them all when they brought out her appetizers, salad, and dinner, and didn't bring mine out until well after she had finished and I was standing in the long line to get my refund. She is no speed eater, and usually I almost fall asleep waiting for her to finish. Hopefully the people who own this place will read this sincere raring and pick up their socks or at least stop taking advantage of the community to line their pockets. Thanks...