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Baoqi Vietnamese Eatery
Categories: Restaurants Vietnamese Restaurants Sandwiches Vietnamese, Sandwiches [Edit]
620 Davie StVancouver, BC V6B 3N3
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Granville Entertainment District
(604) 568-7980
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 9 pm
Sat 12:30 pm - 9 pm
Sun 1 pm - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
26 reviews for Baoqi Vietnamese Eatery
Review Highlights
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"...good and the value for the banh mi sandwiches can't be beat." In 4 reviews -
"The Beef Noodle and Spicy Beef Noodle are delicious." In 3 reviews -
"The pho and the baguettes are both delicious." In 13 reviews
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26 reviews in English
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Review from Megan S.
5/22/2012
The clear noodle seafood soup here is amazing - very light but very, very flavourful. I ate the whole bowl and could've easily polished off a second, it was that good.
I also split an order of spring rolls with a friend but was unimpressed with those, not as crispy as I like and they're small. Although I'm sure they're made in-house, they honestly reminded me of Costco/M&M Meats frozen spring rolls...meh. Presentation of all the dishes was quite nice and my friend's pho came with the uncooked beef on the side.
Although it's a super small place, the decor was cute and cozy. Very pleasant lunch, I'll be back.Listed in: Davie Street - the best (and…
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Review from Stephen Y.
Richmond, BC
4/28/2012 4 Check-ins Here
*Disclaimer* Yes there are better Vietnamese places in Vancouver, but in the downtown core, this is one of the best!
A communal table dominates the tiny space and a 6 person booth can be found at the back. This place serves up great rolls, tasty sandwiches and extremely clean and awesome pho!
I usually have the regular or spicy pho soup noodles, both with the regular rice noodles. A heaping of basil and bean sprouts are given as well and man, it's like they picked this straight from the garden...very rare in most pho restaurants. The broth is flavourful and without MSG, so I could drink it with reckless abandon. The serving size was quite generous and even with the downtown premium pricing, it's decent value.
I would suggest to come here with 3 or more people, this way the rolls, while delicious, probably is a bit pricier than most places and would make it easier to stomach the bill if it was spread across a few hungry friends.
Everyone, do the Baoqi! -
Review from Hoa B.
Vancouver, BC
4/1/2012 6 Check-ins Here
I first noticed this place when I was walking down Davie and saw a vietnamese restaurant that was quite modern in design and a lot of non-vietnamese people eating there. Typically this means that the food has been changed to cater to non-Vietnamese people; something I abhor. I was also taken aback the most of the reviews on yelp were by non-Vietnamese people also. So I must say that my first impression of this place was a "Vietnamese"-fusion restaurant where I get charged more because it is presented in nice plates and there is a running waterfall out front.
I can definitely say that I was right about this place in a lot of ways, the fact that it the recipes were changed for more non-traditional tastes, but it has definitely shown me that I am dead wrong about how that is a bad thing.
The decor of the place is incredibly modern contemporary and I love it. Exposed wooden panelings everywhere, wonderful old prints of a vietnamese family a long the walls. I enjoyed the fact that the main seating area was a long table that people had to share. This enforced a more casual feel and community which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was able to chit-chat with my neighbors about this restaurant while I drank my Tea.
That is another important aspect of this restaurant. I do not believe I have ever been served Artichoke Tea before at a Vietnamese restaurant, even though it is a famous Tea exported from Da Lat, Vietnam. This is one of my favorite Teas. It is a very nice calm, fresh taste that very closely resembles seaweed. In the back, I could see a gigantic jar full of dried Artichoke ready to be steeped. I asked the waiter if they bought it locally from a seller because I wanted to buy some, apparently they had imported it directly Vietnam. Darn....
I had a tough time deciding on what to order. Typically you judge a Vietnamese restaurant on their specialty, whether that be Pho, Banh cuon, Com Tam, or Bun Bo Hue. I decided to go traditional because I couldn't figure out their speciality, I ordered Pho. Simple, basic, and every Vietnamese restaurant will typically serve it.
I must say I was surprised by how they presented the Pho to me. It was an interesting take on the plating. The waiter brought out a large Plate and on it was a bowl of Pho, a plate of the rare beef (uncooked), and the garnish on the side of the large Plate. I really enjoyed this plating because it was fairly unique. You typically have the rare beef in the Pho bowl already (slightly cooked) and the garnish would be on a separate plate. The problem with this is that they always gave you too much garnish which would end up cluttering up your eating area, the rare beef would be cooked to some varying degree depending on the person who made it, and the broth would get murky with the run-off from the rare beef being cooked by the hot soup. It was such a revelation to me to see it presented in this way as I able to cook the rare beef to my tenderness and be presented with a very clear broth. I was able to just put all my garnish in and just turn the large plate so that the bowl faced me. Such novelty.
The key to any Pho is the stock. Everything else is somewhat forgiven as long as the stock is good and this place delivers on the stock. It was a very clean and clear taste of Pho without the weird taste because they used a simmered it too long or on high heat and so the carcass started dissolving into the soup itself. It was just that, good Pho soup. That alone deserves the 4 Stars.
The bad things about the soup were the roast beef they had put in there, it was a bit chewy, and the noodles was cooked and left too long in the bowl before the Pho soup was introduced. This made the noodles toughen up (and hence somewhat chewy) and start sticking together (and hence harder to eat properly). The beef I could have forgiven, but not the noodle, which in this writer's opinion, is one of the more essential components to a good pho.
I will definitely be making more frequent visits to this restaurant and trying their other dishes as I am curious how much care they put into their other dishes as much as this bowl of Pho. -
Review from Susie L.
Downtown, Vancouver, BC
5/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Actually have eaten at a few Pho places in Vancouver and this is by far the best. We ordered Beef Pho and Spicy Beef Pho. Presentation is good and the stock was very flavourful. I especially enjoyed the rice noodles which were cooked to perfection. There was no other people in the restaurant at 3pm on a Sunday but I'm not sure how the bench seating works when the restaurant is full! The decor is clean and modern and staff are very friendly. Will definitely be going back.
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Review from Joe T.
5/23/2012
This is a wonderful Vietnamese place with very tasty food. We had the Beef Pho and the Vegetarian Sate with the Crab Spring Rolls. Everything was delicious and there are several vegetarian options.
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Review from Ronald A.
3/22/2012
We stumbled upon this place; we were sent by the hotel staff to a restaurant that had closed. The place on both sides of this restaurant are not places we would have entered. Although very small, it is inviting. The tables are communal. We were present we hot tea when we arrived; it is their special blend and very good.
I had the hot and sour soup; i would easily have it again. It was one of the best broths I have had. It was filed with vegetable and even a bit of pineapple that tasted wonderful with the both. It had enough shrimp to satisfy my need for protein. However, it is much more a vegetable dish. Healthy I now feel. My daughter is the carnivore and ordered the beef stew. It had tender beef and carrots; the broth was also different. it was flavorful, without being heavy. Rebecca's sate had great chicken with a very good peanut sauce. The noodles were a bit clumpy.
All in all, it was a very satisfying lunch and I would not hesitate to go again. Try it, I think you will like it. We did. -
Review from Veronica D.
Vancouver, BC
Thank you yelpers for recommending this place!
My husband and I are vegan and were looking for a quick dinner on the way to a concert downtown.
I was previously informed by a friend that getting vegan pho is impossible in Vancouver. So naturally I was pleased when I read a review saying that someone had it.
We got banh mi and pho both vegan and they were really light and flavorful. Just our style without anything too oily or heavy. My husband had never had banh mi before so he enjoyed trying it as he's French himself.
I have made vegan pho myself with a very rich flavourful spiced broth, which is unlike what they have here. But given the fact that almost every Asian restaurant has beef broth only I'm not going to complain about a lack of flavour when at least they can make it animal free, and they give you hoisin and hot sauce on the side to add some flavour.
We were 1 of two families dining there so it was not busy for dinner. Most people were getting take out.
We will definitely be back and share it with our veggie friends too. $5 for a sub and $8 for a big bowl of pho works for us.
I like finding little family restaurants. The artichoke tea is unique and nice here too. Caffeine free. -
Review from Gagan P.
5/3/2012
Visiting Vancouver and found this place when searching for vegan restaurants. It's a small restaurant with amazing service. It looks family owned. One of the guys came out of the kitchen to tell me what was in the vegan pho broth. The vegan banh mi sandwitch was delicious and for $5 you can't go wrong. The Pho was equally delicious. Five stars for the delicious vegan options, friendly service - oh and they gave me a cup of artichoke tea while I waited!!
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Review from J T.
Whistler, BC
10/30/2011
Vietnamese food is non-existent in Whistler, so I always jump at the chance to have it when I'm in Van, and lucky for us, this place was right across the street from the hotel we were staying in. Super cute but tiny interior. I was looking for this place and almost missed it! As most people know, hole-in-the-wall places are usually the best.
We had the lemongrass chicken sandwich($5), the spicy beef pho($9), and the summer rolls($6.50). It wasn't the best I've ever had, but it was definitely good, and probably the best in downtown.
The banh mi was a little short on the pickled daikon and carrots, but the chicken was very well marinated. The summer rolls were on par, but i would prefer that they used more filling to make 2 rolls as opposed to using less filling to make 5 rolls. What ends up happening is that they get really chewy because there is so much of the paper roll folded onto itself. The pho was good. Pretty expensive for pho and not much meat, but tasty. They must use shrimp shells of something for their broth, cuz it definitely has a seafood flavor to it..
so just to forewarn anyone that has a seafood allergy, you should double check!
Overall, it was really good and the value for the banh mi sandwiches can't be beat. -
Review from Luisa D.
I really liked this place. Clean, simple decor. Young, hip staff (possibly the owners). Delicious Pho (the broth was fantastic and worth the money in my mind - around $9). The tea they serve free was so good I had to ask about it. They mix their own blend and it includge dried artichokes and ginger. They should package and sell it!
Don't go here for cheap food, go here for good food. I'll be trying a Vietnamese sandwich next time. -
Review from Diane J. W.
8/19/2011
Hands down THE BEST Vietnamese experience to be had. The chef/owner has some serious skills that are well beyond the usual fare. And extra bonus points for presentation. The environment is modern, clean, and inviting. The plates styled as to be appetizing and visually appealing (go figure, right?) Be sure to try their house tea -- guaranteed to be gorgeous and tasty.
Faves:
Chicken Pho
Bo La Lot
Pork Meatball Banh Mi
Go! Support this family's small business and fill your tummy at the same time! Don't let this gem get away.
http://www.facebook.co... -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
12/20/2010 2 photos
* Maybe the best Vietnamese on the downtown peninsula *
Vancouver is a city that has lots of little neighbourhoods. Unfortunately the bulk of the higher quality Vietnamese eateries are not on the downtown peninsula, and are instead found around Kingsway just a bit outside of downtown.
But it doesn't stop me from trying a new one that opens up. This is a small little space which has been nicely converted to have two communal dining tables. The decor is a slight step above the typical hole in the wall, with some interesting pictures of the owner from her earlier years in Vietnam. Her son was behind the register taking orders and bringing the food. They seem like a nice family and were very friendly.
We tried two dishes:
- Bánh cuon (rice rolls). The rice rolls were cooked to the proper level, although not served in roll form - they were falling apart a little bit. They were covered with fried onions, pork floss (which was surprisingly non-porky), and some fried shallots. They were accompanied by sliced Vietnamese ham (once again not very porky tasting), some diced basil and cilantro, and some iceberg lettuce. The dipping sauce was not the typical nuoc mam pha, and instead was more pork based (perhaps Northern Vietnamese style?). The dipping sauce was quite a pleasant change from the typical one, with tender pork chunks and diced bird chilli peppers to pack a punch. The greens selection could have been a lot more interesting, and I would have preferred additional herbs instead of iceberg lettuce. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
- Clear noodle seafood soup. The broth was the highlight here. It was a gentle soothing broth with no detectable MSG. The clear noodles were cooked nicely. The squid was masterfully scored, and not chewy at all. The shrimps were decent, but the texture was just slightly off. I could do without the imitation crab (I always could do without that at all restaurants though!). Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
So while this is likely the top Vietnamese spot on the downtown peninsula, the Vietnamese section of Kingsway isn't far away, and is definitely worth the trip out!Listed in: Vanoodle, Vancouver Vietnamese/Cambodian…
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Review from Helena J.
Vancouver, BC
10/29/2010 1 photo
$4.50 Vietnamese Sandwiches and $8.95 Beef Noodle Soup in Yaletown!
This place is small. There is a booth for 4 and a long table that could seat probably 10 people, so when we went there were 3 pairs each spaced a chair apart. The worst place to sit is on the end on the inside since everyone has to pass you, but the food more than makes up for it.
Disposable chopsticks in vases + napkin holders is all that is on the tables to start, but the tables are beautiful wood and it doesn't look spartan but instead modern.
I was eyeing the cute salad rolls (four to a plate), each about the size of my thumb that the diners next to us had.
My Beef Noodle Soup was essentially a Pho served nice and warm with the pink of the beef still showing, (a mix of roast beef and fresh slices) sprinkled festively with onions and cilantro. A dollop of hoisin and hot sauce sat in a cute saucer on the plate with the basil sprigs + bean sprouts and a small wedge of lime.
My friend had the Spicy Beef Noodle Soup (lemongrassy) and said it was also tasty.
I'll definitely be back. -
Review from Paul D.
Vancouver, BC
11/24/2010
There's been a lack of Pho/Vietnamese joints in this part of town and Baoqi fills the niche nicely with excellent, authentic, reasonably priced food. The menu is simple but hits the right spots and has enough variety to become a regular stop.
I had the spicy beef noodle bowl and I'll be back! Grest deal for $8 and a really satisfying bowl of soup. They make the stock from scratch and it's not too salty or loaded with MSG. Great stuff.
The room is simple and elegant but, like most of Vancouver, didn't hold hold well in the November deep freeze. The communal table is and seats don't encourage dawdling, but given the great food and small capacity, you're likely to have to wait sometime soon and knowing that the seats will turn quickly will be almost as comforting as the soup!
It's not licensed which is a bit of a bummer, because i'd love a bottle of Saigon lager to wash down the Banh Mi and spicy soup.
Give it a try! -
Review from Lisa C.
Vancouver, BC
3/15/2011
Disappointing, small portions, lousy beef, and terrible hours.
They're closed on Sundays and Mondays.
They are the only pho place in Yaletown and it's been regrettable every time I go here.
I would rather drive 15 minutes to Denman or Broadway instead of eating here and paying for an over-priced bowl of Pho to only get a measly amount of noodles, a small bowl, and a couple slices of beef that you wouldnt even feed your dog. -
Review from E J.
Vancouver, BC
9/24/2011
My boyfriend and I went here for dinner last night. We are both vegans as of about a year ago, so we were intrigued by this place because we miss Vietnamese food and it offers vegan pho and vegan banh mi. We split a bowl of pho, a banh mi, and an 'Autumn Roll' (vegan summer roll/salad roll).
I was very impressed with the banh mi - bursting with flavor, great level of spice (nice and hot, but not so hot that I couldn't taste the other flavors), fresh and quite authentic. They use crispy lemongrass tofu instead of meat.
The Autumn Roll was also delicious. Again, small amounts of crispy tofu were included, as well as a square of seaweed in each portion, which I found very clever - it replaced that slightly 'fishy' taste you'd normally get with shrimp. Delicious peanut sauce on the side.
The pho was not bad at all, but I didn't find it as impressive as the rest of the meal. The broth was not particularly flavorful, and they included some mock-meat 'fish balls' and 'prawns' that I wasn't crazy about (I would rather have had some mock beef or chicken, or even some tofu or just veggies). However, it came with the standard plate of fresh bean sprouts and Thai basil, as well as a couple of nice sauces to add, and was overall quite acceptable.
After the meal, the waiter brought us each a longan (a small Southeast Asian fruit similar to lychee), which was a nice touch - the longans were an excellent palate cleanser.
All in all it was a lovely meal, and for around $25 we were both fed to satisfaction.
The service was friendly and prompt (and thoughtful - the waiter brought an extra plate or bowl for each dish without being asked, so it was easy for us to split each one) and the atmosphere/decor was really nice.
I'd recommend this place to any Vancouver vegetarian craving some nice Vietnamese food and a casual-yet-pleasant dining experience. -
Review from Andie A.
Vancouver, BC
11/8/2010
Although not much of an atmosphere, this place is still cozy. Run by a Vietnamese family, really friendly and thoughtful service. The place is small, but not as cramped as some of smaller outlets nearby like Yamato.
I've dined a few times since its so close to my home. The Beef Noodle and Spicy Beef Noodle are delicious. Portions are large, fresh and good value (only $8 for huge bowl of soup!). They have a nice selection of Vietnamese subs I've yet to try.
Since there is not Vietnamese nearby, this is a welcome addition to a the 10 sushi places within a 2 block radius! -
Review from Amy C.
Vancouver, BC
11/18/2010
Beef pho here is delicious - no msg is used, broth is made fresh, and it's light. After eating a bowl of pho, you don't feel heavy or bloated. The spicy beef pho is good too, but warning - it's very spicy! The sandwiches I would not recommend.
The eatery is small - two common tables, but perfect for a quick, casual cozy bowl of pho. I've gone three times in the last week. -
Review from Navita R.
Vancouver, BC
10/19/2011
I really like this place. They have secret recipe tea that is to die for!!! The pho is good and under $10. Love the atmosphere of this place. Go support this local eatery!!! The service could be a little faster, but nonetheless this place is great.
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Review from Christian P.
Vancouver, BC
9/13/2011
Baoqi is my new favourite lunch spot. The pho and the baguettes are both delicious. Fresh ingredients, good prices and the restaurant itself has a nice atmosphere. Highly recommended.
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Review from kath r.
12/15/2010
Looking forward to checking this place out again.
Enticed by the aesthetics of the room (think Motomachi Shoduko) and a pho craving, I stopped in mid-week for a quick bite and to get out of the cold.
Of course once in I was seduced by the menu that offered more than the usual Vietnamese fare. Feeling adventurous I ventured off the cravings path...with less than stellar results.
I had the Satay peanut noodle dish which was good but in my mind I was thinking soup, which this was not. So I was disappointed.
The satay peanut dish was tasty enough but not moreish and heavier than I was looking for.
My big complaint was the seating. I have no problem sitting @ a long table, on a low-to the floor bench that screams "no camping!", what is a nuisance is that bc of the water feature you can only get in and out at one end. This is very disruptive to your fellow diners and I pretty much spent my entire meal eying up the table situ trying to figure out if I could legitimately crawl under the table or enact a Spidey and climb the walls over!
Everyone around me had seemed to be pondering the same thing as they savored their steaming Pho! Clearly the dish to order.
Happy to have an alternative to Pho Central in my hood. I'll be back to try the Pho that everyone else's eating :) -
Review from Yvonne C.
Vancouver, BC
11/17/2010 2 photos
Overall disappointing.
The decor is artful but gets in the way of functionality. There is one long communal table and becomes quite cumbersome to get in and out if you are setting against the wall. There are no coat hangers and because mostly stools are used, you can't hang your coat. There is a fish pond in murky water.
The staff is attentive and friendly - he pointed out that 'mild spicy' is still pretty spicy.
We ordered the shrimp & pork salad roll ($6) but the kitchen forgot to add in the pork. The bill was reduced by 10% as a result. The rice rolls themselves had chewy rice wrappings and not enjoyable to eat.
The standard beef pho is pricy and not that tasty. $8 for a bowl that did not satisfy. The biggest issue was the noodles -overcooked and mushy. The other ingredients tasted OK but forgettable. -
Review from Angela S.
Vancouver, BC
9/2/2011
so good try the deluxe sandwich a little slice of heaven in my top 10 of comfort food and I am not from an Asian background. The owner is a really nice guy ,good service and that tea and the music is always something interesting but not too imposing
10 out of 10 for a casual meal! -
Review from Jope W.
8/21/2011
Yes! This is the best Vietnamese in greater Vancouver. They were closed for a long time but recently reopened. Man, that seemed like a lifetime. And I tried all those other places that everyone suggested. Sorry. Baoqi gets my #1 pho in Vancouver rating. No the portions aren't huge, but certainly ample and HUGE on flavour. These guys have some serious magic going on here. Nice, small, funky, modern, and deeeeeeeeelicious! See ya soon!
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Review from Deena R.
Vancouver, BC
9/14/2011
We are lucky to have this place in the Yaletown/Granville district. By far, the best Vietnamese food in the city--and perhaps in any of the cities where I've eaten. The food is creatively presented and remarkably fresh; the menu is interesting with ample choices. A little of the unexpected both in decor (such an elegant and inspiring humble space) and in the cuisine. A small family business that delivers big on every level.
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Review from nat a.
Vancouver, BC
8/3/2011
This place was great! At first I was a little worried because some of the reviews were not favourable, however, this place is worth checking out. All the food was outstanding, and the prices were below average for higher end Vietnamese food. If you're looking for cheap low end Pho, do not go here....I cannot wait to go back. The flavour compilations were so well prepared, you received a different sensation in every bite. Not one was overpowering. IF you are also looking for awesome Vegan or vegetarian food, this is the place for you!
