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CHAU VeggiExpress
Categories: Restaurants Vegetarian Restaurants Vietnamese Vegetarian, Vietnamese [Edit]
5052 Victoria DriveVancouver, BC V5P 3T8
Neighbourhood: Kensington-Cedar Cottage
(604) 568-9508
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 11 am - 8 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
20 reviews for CHAU VeggiExpress
Review Highlights
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"...if you don't know what Com Rau, Pho Nam and Bun Chay are." In 2 reviews -
"The broth is flavourful with a really good variety of..." In 3 reviews -
"Spring rolls are to die for and their homemade sauces are..." In 3 reviews
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20 reviews in English
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Review from Ellie V.
Vancouver, BC
4/8/2012
I was on the hunt for some good, vegetarian Vietnamese food. Luckily, I stumbled upon this place, because they don't use any meat/fish products in their dishes and broths! Fantastic!
The inside of the restaurant is very clean and modern. It's a nice difference from the usual Vietnamese restaurants on Kingsway - you know, the neon lights and old decor. No, this place was tres cute!
I dragged along my non-vegetarian friend (for her take on the place), and we both got two, different lunch bowls. I got the #13, the Com Rau, with steamed veggies, tofu, and rice. It was so heavenly, and so were the summer rolls I ordered along side my main meal. My friend had one of the bowls with vermicelli, veggies, and spring rolls. As my friend is an expert on making spring rolls, she said they were very delicious, so I'm glad the vegetarian ones meet (meat!) her standards!
The food came fast, and the lady working there was very nice. I know I'll be back soon to try allllll the phos they have available. This place is 10x better than Dona Cata next door, as well as the Calabria bakery. (That goddamn bakery employs the rudest people ever, but their biscotti are pretty fantabulous.) -
Review from Veronica D.
Vancouver, BC
I would give them 5 stars if everything was vegan, but sadly the spring rolls and Bun Chay (has spring rolls) are not vegan because they use eggs. The owner is not vegetarian or vegan so I don't think she cares about this. But I think the vegans of Vancouver would rejoice if they could sample all of the menu.
I love how everything is presented, it's very beautiful and fresh. The flavour is good. I wish there were more vegetables, but that's just me. Vietnamese is more meat heavy and has few vegetables in it aside from some shredded ones or sprouts.
I tried the Bun Tam Bi, I did not really care for the coconut gelatinous sauce, but other than that the flavour was good.
We also got the Pho Hue to share. It was good, not my favourite vegan pho. I think I will try another one next time. I like the lightly coloured broths.
Shredded bean curd rolls were good. But we were full we did not really need to order them as well!
I like that everything is fresh and quickly made here. I will definitely come back.
It's best for smaller groups as there's a single seating bench along the wall and a communal table in the middle. Or you can get take out. -
Review from Evilyn T.
5/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
I can't remember who recomended this place on Yelp, but I decided it was time to try something new and check it out, especially since Spring just didn't seem to be coming and the rain wouldn't let up.
The BF and I came here for a nice big bowl of veggie soup! He had the Pho Nam and I had the Curry Chay, and both were awesome. We also started with the crispy spring rolls, which were yummy as well. My curry was flavourful, but not too spicy, and filled with big chinks of brocky, cauly and other veggies. Had I not know about this place I probably would have just passed it by, cuz it doesn't look super exciting and anything called "express" kind of screams fast food filled with preservatives to me - which I try to stay away from.
I found the seating to be a bit weird, basically there is a long table in the middle that you sit at where you chau... er chow down on your soup. All of the conidments and cuttlery you need are just on the counter by the cashier where you order, so if you need anything its self serve - including water. Although this place is out of my area I would probably venture back to check out some of the other foody options, cuz everything did taste pretty durn fresh. -
Review from Ashley B.
Vancouver, BC
5/23/2012
Super fresh, yummy food. Soft ginger tofu salad roll is to die for!!!!
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Review from Raji S.
Montréal, QC
3/8/2012
My sister and her husband are devotees of their neighborhood spot, Chau. They even just booked them for their for part of catering the appetizers at their wedding recently. Despite the delivery of the appetizers arriving late at the reception hall, Chau's food was DELICIOUS. The spring rolls and noodle dishes were a HIT with guests!
I've tried almost every dish they offer and I cannot pick a favorite. I'm used to Vietnamese food being a bit swampy or poorly presented however, Chau dishes arrive in simple serving dishes and served fresh. The owner Maria has traveled far and trained thoroughly in cooking and it shows.
Also, I suggest eating-in. It may be an odd thing to note, but you know how people say to judge a restaurant by how it keeps its kitchen and bathroom? Chau's décor is clean and modern throughout, their bathroom spotless. It makes me more comfortable dining there. -
Review from Alejandro E.
Vancouver, BC
3/9/2012 5 photos
Every time a friend invites me to try a new vietnamiese place I get this picture in my head of colorful neon signs, cheap chairs, and broken English.
So when I walked into this place I was understandably looking for this cues. I was gladly disappointed none of them were to be seen.
Tasteful décor, fresh food (and I mean, fresh!), no MSGs and flavourful original plates.
Affordable too with most of them being $7.50
Do yourself a favour and make your way to Victoria Drive to try this. Yes. Even if you are downtown like me. It is worth it.
Solid Five stars recommendation to friends. -
Review from Stephen Y.
Richmond, BC
Arrived with an open mind, left with a satisfied stomach. Not too shabby for a vegetarian Vietnamese place. Broth was clean and delicious, noodles were nicely done albeit it, a bit smaller than usual on portion size.
I had the Pho Hue, which was a fairly good substitution as a meatless dish, but not the same obviously (go down the street @ Hoi An for a great one). However, after consuming it, I didn't feel heavy or ready for a nap. Very good pre-party food!
Spring rolls were awesome and not too oily at all.
Highly recommend this place! -
Review from Danielle M.
Vancouver, BC
1/17/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I stopped into Chau because it looked clean and modern compared to a lot of other places in the 'hood. I admit, I'm a bit of a wimp when venturing into unknown Asian cuisine -- best to have a recommendation for that awesome hidden gem/ hole-in-the-wall.
Chau takes the guesswork out of finding something fresh and tasty. They present well on first glance and the food didn't disappoint.
I ordered a veggie and blended rice stir-fry. Simple yes but just what I needed as I'd been binging on heavy meat dishes and sweets for weeks.
My husband ordered the Bahn Mi and it was a tasty and creative alternative to the usual cold cuts or pork tradition.
Well worth a visit if you're in the 'hood. -
Review from Angela L.
10/9/2011
I LOVE this place.
I love that it's vegetarian. I love that it's clean and simple inside. I love that there's a big, easy to read order board with pictures of each item. I love that the staff don't bat an eye when your order by number instead of struggling to pronounce the Vietnamese names correctly. I love that there's a self-serve condiment bar with satay, hoisin, and Sriracha sauces. I love that the food is DELICIOUS, and prettily presented in nice big white bowls. I love that there's a strawberry-lychee shake on the menu that's every bit as tasty as it sounds. I love that it's walking distance from my house.
"My" item is the Pho Hue, which boasts of being "spicy," but isn't actually so (in my opinion). Nothing a good shot of Sriracha can't fix. Noodle soups come with standard basil, bean sprouts, lemon wedge, and a hot pepper. Can't wait to come back over the dreaded winter months to get my noodle-soup fix on.
(Addendum: I don't love that it's cash only.)Listed in: Vancouver Favourites, Vancouver Vegetarian
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Review from E J.
Vancouver, BC
2/13/2012
My partner and I are vegans and passionate foodies, so we are always excited to discover great new veg restaurants in Vancouver. We both love Vietnamese food too, so were stoked to try Chau VeggiExpress for the first time last night.
Everything on the menu looked so good - it was tough to decide what to order! I had the Bun Tam Bi (#11), which was unique, delicious, and very filling.
My partner had the Pho Hue (#15), which was also delicious and very flavorful.
Both dishes were fresh, healthy, and authentic, as well as beautifully presented.
We shared a Banh Mi, which was not quite as authentic as the vegan Banh Mi at Bao Qi downtown, but was still really tasty.
The portions are generous - for about $22, we both ate till we were absolutely full. We also had lots of nice jasmine tea, which is free at Chau.
The service was friendly and fast. The whole place (including the washroom) is clean and nice.
The restaurant is also quite easy to access by transit - it's about a 15-minute ride on the #20 bus from Commercial and Broadway, and is also very close to a #33 bus stop. Even the #41 and #25 buses stop only a short walk away.
We'll definitely be back. I can't wait to try the other beautiful and interesting dishes they have to offer! -
Review from Fonny C.
Vancouver, BC
8/9/2011 ROTD 11/24/2011
One complaint: It's not closer to home.
But definitely worth the drive. The broth is flavourful with a really good variety of toppings. No frills pho but yet not your typical hole in the wall, dingy, "don't touch anything" noodle joint. Using the small space they have they've laid it in a cafeteria style with a long table in the centre. A eat and dash place, since the stools are too uncomfortable to sit and chat for long. Just as well to ensure high turnover.
I've had the spicy pho and curry pho, but delicious and hard to believe there is no meat in the broth. The curry is a bit on the heavy side, but so yummy. Spring rolls are to die for and their homemade sauces are awesome.
A tad more expensive than your mom-pop, hole in wall pho joints but not unreasonable, good portions, friendly and speedy service.
Whether you're a omni/herbivore, doesn't really matter...its just tasty good food. -
Review from Ellen L.
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
My boyfriend usually wants meat in his meals, so it was a bit of a surprise that he wanted to go back for a second time. Perhaps he's on his way to being a vegetarian? Hardly!! But this place is one-of-a-kind and we will definitely be adding it to our rotation of restaurants we frequent.
We have tried a few dishes:
- Pho Hue (#15) - we love this one! The broth has depth that makes it seem like it's a meat broth, but much lighter and with no "wow, I think I had a lot of MSG and cow just now" feeling after. I'm not a fan of the noodles (not chewy), but my boyfriend likes them.
- Curry Chay (#17) - light and tasty! My boyfriend had this with rice noodles. There is a hint of coconut in the curry, but it is definitely not overpowering.
- Com Rau (#13) - Felt like a standard stir-fry of tofu and vegetables. Though tasty, not terribly exciting.
- Crispy Spring Roll (#19) - Yummy! Like your standard veggie spring roll but less oily.
- Shredded Bean Curd (#21) - More subtle, but the tastes go well together. The house-made imitation fish sauce tasted like the real thing!
The food portions are large and presentation was above the price point. All the dishes had a colourful assortment of vegetables. Self-serve for all your cutlery, water and tea; clear your own dishes. There is limited seating, so I can't imagine them accommodating large groups.
We'll be going back soon!!! -
Review from Garry C.
Whistler, BC
7/17/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I gave Chau VeggiExpress five stars because I was so excited to find a vegetarian Vietnamese restaurant! This was the first time I've had pho in over ten years - before I became vegetarian!
The place looked pretty new, it was clean, organized and the menu was well displayed. Not your average Vietnamese restau! The food was awesome too! I had spring rolls and, of course, pho!
I'll be back for sure!Listed in: Vancouver Eats
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Review from josey r.
Victoria, BC
4/3/2012
I don't have words for how good the banh mi is here. I ate there almost two weeks ago and have been daydreaming about it since.
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Review from Raymond K.
Vancouver, BC
9/10/2011 56 Check-ins Here
I normally didn't go to that part of town. After discovering the place through some online reviews, I wanted to try it out. The outside didn't look that special. I was expecting something cooler as their web site looked quite nice. However, the inside was very modern and clean. I was very impressed.
I ordered the coconut juice and bun chay (#10; vegetarian spring rolls, roasted peanuts, fresh vegetables & herbs, vermicelli). It could have been my first time drinking coconut water. It was so tasty!! And, I really liked the spring rolls!! So crispy but not oily. Really like the presentation and the taste of bun chay. They really paid attention to the presentation details.
Very fast. Very good service. (Still, they wanted you to bring your dishes back to the tray. LOL.)
I really enjoyed the experience. It was so nice to be able to eat Vietnamese vegetarian dishes without going to Burnaby. I hope they would open a bigger restaurant. I sure wouldn't mind paying more. -
Review from Michele M.
Vancouver, BC
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great food at a great price point! Healthy, fast, filling and beautiful. Will be returning for sure!
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Review from Cynthia F.
Vancouver, BC
5/29/2011
If you've been to Chau on Robson Street, you'll soon become addicted to owner Maria's newest venture. Located south of Commercial, this chic colourful cafeteria style restaurant got our 5 stars last night. Easy to find, lots of parking on the streets, and a whole new neighbourhood to discover.
Arriving just as a full house group were leaving, we were warmly greeted and directed to the front counter to place our order.
The wall displays excellent photos and descriptions of the meals, so ordering is very easy if you don't know what Com Rau, Pho Nam and Bun Chay are. You soon won't forget. Very flavourful, piping hot, huge portions for tiny prices - what a deal! What you'd pay $12-14 elsewhere, you'll pay $7.50 - $8.00 per meal here! Their coconut juice is divine - far from what you'd expect - I'm a huge fan of it.
We appreciated that the modern music wasn't blasting in our ears. You'll be surprised at how comfy the metal stools are for sitting at the huge picnic table. You could sit on leather cushioned bar stools at the counter along the wall, but the one wallpapered wall pattern would drive me bonkers. Don't be shy - grab a stool at the big table and feast your senses at CHAU VeggiExpress.
Great price, great service, great flavourful food, great ambiance - sweet all round. Yeah for our new addiction! -
Review from Kelly C.
9/24/2011 7 Check-ins Here
Stopped in here because it's so close to home and grabbed a couple of Banh Mi to try it out. Very tasty take on the Banh Mi, not your usual demi baguette style bread, more of a sort of bun or roll. I know that sounds weird, but it actually worked quite well. Very good veggie Banh Mi, I've tried it in a lot of places and it's always essentially the same sandwich, but this was moist and tasty. Good ratio of ingredients. Definitely going to stop by again. Good to note that it is cash only.
Listed in: east van goodness
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Review from Crystal G.
West Vancouver, BC
6/19/2011
Very inexpensive, casual, and fast, good food. This is a small restaurant with flavourful and healthy vegetarian/vegan food. Vegetables and tofu are fresh, and dishes arrive promptly after ordered at the counter. They are not overly oily, but portions are filling.
We ordered rice paper roll to share, with lovely peanut sauce. A nice fresh combination. I had the Pho Nam: mushroom-lychee-date stock (light and delicately flavourful), vegetables, tofu, noodle and more. My lunch mates had Curry Chay: yellow coconut curry broth, veg, and tofu with choice of bread, noodles or rice. My husband and I shared our dishes as we liked both of them. Although full after the meal, none of us was bloated.
Staff are friendly. Bathroom was clean and attractive. Easy, free parking on the street with, as a bonus, a Chinese vegetarian supply store a block away. Costs are kept down, we suspect, as patrons order at the counter and are encouraged to clear their own dishes afterwards. There is self-serve tea in an urn at the front as well as soft drinks, coconut milk etc.
For now this small restaurant is cash-only but apparently they are working on having credit cards. They do have wifi but not sure if this is for the customers. -
Review from Christina T.
Vancouver, BC
6/7/2011
Chau's Veggiexpress only opened a few weeks ago and I have already been 6 times (disclosure, I am her neighbour and when she moved in last year she gave me a preview of some delicious spring rolls, so I am forever Chau's fan).
This food is so delicious! I have ordered #11 twice now and it is my favourite so far. Most of the dishes are about $8, two can eat for under $20 and order a lot of food.
Sometimes vegetarian cuisine ends up being deep fried vegetables tossed in salt, leaving you to wonder if the chefs have it in for your waistline..
Not so with Chau's food! It will give you a spring in your step and a song in your heart (OK maybe ... well I hope so anyway!)
Go try out Chau's food! It is healthy, delicious, plus it's a bargain!
