Best of Toronto
The Best Vietnamese Restaurants in Toronto
The best Vietnamese restaurants in Toronto go beyond a bowl of pho and tempt customers into straying away from the usual brothy goodness and toward the unknown and unusual. From cheap and filling banh mi (sandwiches) to beef balls, tendon and spring rolls served more ways that you'd ever imagine, Vietnamese food may not always look the prettiest but does the trick when flavour or comfort food is what the doctor orders.
Here are the best Vietnamese restaurants in Toronto.
See also:
The best pho in Toronto
The best Thai restaurants in Toronto
Writing by Cynthia Nguyen. Top photo by Not Peppermint in the blogTO Flickr pool.
Banh Mi Boys
Found at Queen and Spadina, this small, Vietnamese sandwich shop puts a twist on your traditional Banh Mi. The Five Spice Pork Belly sandwich offers a nice break from your typical, humdrum ham/mustard/mayo sandwich and are a step up in quality from what's found just north in Chinatown. The Kim Chi fries on the side perfect this fast lunchtime meal, but be prepared for a line-up as this small spot fills up quickly. More »
Golden Turtle
Golden Turtle is an Ossington staple that has developed something of a cult following over the years. Taking top spot on our best pho list, the casual (but recently renovated) corner restaurant also serves up cheap and delicious spring rolls. In the summer, the side patio fills up quickly with locals washing down a plate of vermicelli with a cheap bottle of Tiger beer. More »
Pho Vietnam
This Scarborough eatery is always buzzing with servers weaving large crowds to deliver their cheap and tasty food. Popular non-pho dishes include pork chops with eggs and rice and vermicelli dishes with either grilled pork or chicken), all sized quite generously. Be sure to end your meal with a fresh coconut shake. More »
Pho Hung
Pho Hung has been a cornerstone for pho lovers in the heart of Chinatown for many years and the establishment can be found bustling with activity at all hours of the day. They have an extensive vegetarian menu which ranges from pho, to vermicelli dishes, to spring rolls. A must-order are the banhxeo (Vietnamese pancakes) which come large and filled with shrimp, pork, beans, and a handful of bean sprouts. More »
Hanoi 3 Seasons
This North Vietnamese restaurant has two locations east of the DVP (in Leslieville and East Chinatown). While the menu prices at the newer Leslieville one are oddly slightly higher, there's no denying these guys know how to make a mean Bun Bo Hue. The Goi cuon (fresh shrimp rolls) are also an excellent choice and provide bang for your buck. More »
Kim Po Vietnamese Restaurants
Kim Po has multiple locations in the GTA including this one in Don Mills. Their specialty menu item is Bo 7 mon (literally "seven courses of beef") which as it sounds is served as seven different dishes each incorporating beef in different and unique ways (such as beef wrapped around a Lalot leaf, inside rice paper or beef congee). Non carnivores need not apply. More »
Saigon Star
A popular spot in Richmond Hill, Saigon Star wins points for modern yet cozy decor for those looking from a step up from formica tables. Their signature Dungeness crab dish easily puts a spell on any seafood lover, and the Vietnamese crushed ice drink (Da Dau) is a nice complement to some of the spicy flavours that come out of the kitchen. Reservations are recommended as the restaurant can get crowded at peak dinner hours and on weekends. More »
Pho Linh
Hue Style Pho is certainly a favourite at this long standing establishment on College. To the unknowing passerby, this restaurant might easily be overlooked but those who venture in will be rewarded with the best crispy veggie spring rolls this side of Ho Chi Minh City. More »
Pho Huong
This Junction spot is a local favourite. Those in the mood for something different should try the Banh Uot (literally "wet cakes") which are basically rice noodle sheets with dry shrimp, nuoc mam (fish sauce) and cha lua (Vietnamese pork sausage). It's a refreshingly different combination of tastes. More »
Nguyen Huong
This family-owned Vietnamese sandwich shop started its first location on Spadina back in the mid 80s and has since added three more north of the 401 including this one next to the T&T near Middlefield and Steeles Avenue. Go here for a cheap and filling Vietnamese sandwich (banh mi). My favourite is the xui mai (Vietnamese meat ball) which, of course, comes with a choice of vegetable toppings. They also sell several cold dishes in small portions such as vermicelli and fresh spring rolls. Almost everything is under $5. More »
Mi Mi Restaurant
You'll find lots of grilled goodness at this East Chinatown mainstay. The "Do it yourself" combos are a specialty, as they allow you to get creative. They arrive with your chosen meat (beef, pork, or shrimp), rice papers (which you can dip into water), and many fine herbs. The grilled meat with banh hoi is almost orgasmic and worth all the work you'll put into making the fresh rolls. More »
Pho Tien Thanh
This small, family-owned restaurant on Lower Ossington is perhaps best known as Susur Lee's favourite pho joint and the chief rival to Golden Turtle up the street. Beyond their fragrant pho bowls, the kitchen impresses with spicy lemon grass pork chops with rice. With food this good who needs ambiance? More »
Discussion
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The main attraction at BMB is a mash-up of various culinary influences from across Asia (notably Vietnamese and Korean) prepared in the Bahn Mi style, and from there the menu just jumps all over the place.
I doubt the BMB guys would even put themselves as #1 on this list.
If I'm looking for the best Vietnamese restaurants in Toronto, I want authentic Viet food.
But I do agree with Pho Linh, and Nguyen Huong. Been going to both since I was a child.
Pho Linh belongs much closer to the top. For those who don't know, they opened up another location @ Steels & Keele - and it's as good.
banh mi ba le on dundas west of spadina is the jams you should swap the two.
Man, I'm getting hungry just typing this...
Also, Where's Pho Dau Bo? and Pho Hung is number 4? who's voting on this list???
Now that blogto has recovered from RealJerk withdrawal, congratulations on covering a few non-Ossington eateries.
Pho Linh is my go-to spot. I'm okay with it being low on the list because it's already hard enough to get a table!
guest contributor please don't ever contribute another review
Pho Hung??
Please give your taste buds a slap.
Please do a review on Chicken balls instead, I think we can take that more seriously then this garbage.
I think he named it after Hanoi because he misses his home.
As this was the worst Vietnamese experience I've ever had, I think he should go back to remind him what it's supposed to be like.
BMB- LOL BlogTO- you do put SOME thought into this stuff before you post it, no?