Cafe Dang Anh - Vancouver

This restaurant only accepts cash and debit. The soup broth is light and not greasy, and the portion size offers good value for the price. The meat slices were tender, although I wish there were a bit more meat in each bowl. That said, I can't really complain considering the cost. Overall, it’s a decent place. Personally, I prefer my pho to have a bit more bite and a richer broth, but that's just my preference.

We also ordered spring rolls, which were a bit oily but still delicious. We were seated promptly upon arrival on a Sunday afternoon, despite the fact that there was a line for tables, which primarily consisted of large groups. Unfortunately, we ended up waiting about 45 to 55 minutes for our food. The server apologized, explaining that they had lost our order while being overwhelmed with takeout and dine-in customers. Given that there were only a few tables, it was a bit surprising since they could see us and walked by us each time they served someone else.

This was my first time trying this type of meal, and I found the soup to be quite tasty. The ingredients were also fresh. It would be great if you could add some spices to the soup for extra flavor!

We shared the bun rieu cha ca ($13.50) and the pho bo ga ($13.50). The broth was lighter and cleaner than usual, and the fish cakes were quite delicious. However, it seemed like the portion of noodles was smaller than what we had before. The meats in the pho bo ga—bone-in chicken, rare beef, and well-done beef—were slightly overcooked.

On the bright side, the service was excellent; it felt very welcoming and homey. The restaurant is family-run, and the staff were friendly and accommodating, even offering a choice between hot and cold tea, which I appreciated. Although the space is small, people seem to come and go swiftly, and it has a sense of community where everyone seems to know one another. Here’s what we ordered: 1. Bun Long Mam Tom - This dish included good blood sausage and small intestines, and the other organ meats were tender. However, the tofu didn’t taste freshly fried, and the sauce could use a bit more flavor. 2. Banh Cuon Cha Lua - The Vietnamese ham here had a unique taste that I really liked. The rice roll was thin and had a pleasant mouthfeel, though the filling was a bit lacking in quantity. Again, the sauce could have been stronger, and it seemed like it wasn't made fresh each time. 3. Bun Rieu Cha Ca - This dish was rather bland but had a nice base flavor. It had a comforting quality with clean flavors, and we did finish the broth! Overall, if you appreciate a homey atmosphere and aren’t too picky about seasoning or freshness, this place might be worth a visit.