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Co Do Vietnamese Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Vietnamese Vietnamese [Edit]
17 Avenue SWUnit 1411
Calgary, AB T2T 0C6
(403) 228-7798
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
21 reviews for Co Do Vietnamese Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"What would have made the spring rolls perfect is if they..." In 6 reviews -
"Oh what I would do for Co Do's Pho Satay right now." In 8 reviews -
"The beef noodle soup is fantastic." In 4 reviews
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21 reviews in English
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Review from Matt B.
12/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This was the place where I first learned what Pho was. It was an excellent intro.
We arrived about an hour before closing (something I don't like doing), but the staff were quite friendly and happy to serve us. I got a Beef Pho...but somewhere in there I didn't get any sort of spring rolls to start. I downed the pho and was full for the moment...but an hour or so later I was hungry again.
I'll definitely be back for another variety of pho, and to get some spring rolls. -
Review from Brendan E.
Calgary, AB
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
This would have been a 4-star if I had never been introduced to Basil or Pho Dau Bo.
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing truly amiss with the place. The service was reasonable. The Pho was quite serviceable. There's nothing bad here. My dining partner was quite impressed with her bubble tea as well.
However, after trying those other places, I just can't in good conscience give it a 5.
There is one bonus to Co Do though: It is open until 10pm. This is an edge on both Basil and Pho Dau Bo. -
Review from John M.
Calgary, AB
12/11/2011
I used to love Co Do- in fact, it's the first Viet resto I ever ate at in Calgary (May 2000). Over the years and with many apparent changes in ownership, it's gone downhill. The size of servings has shrunk and I have to sadly say that I am boycotting them now and forever because I ordered fried rice there (based on the good luck I've had with fried rice at other viet places, like Thanh Long up the street) and it was perhaps the single worst dish I have ever paid for. Taste-free mush- I got it to go and chucked it in the garbage in my kitchen. It was as if they hadn't even tried- just horrible food.
I am giving them one star because they need a kick in the pants and in the hope that people will start to discover the outrageously better Pho Ngon a half-block to the west. Even the new Thai Tai, next to Priape and across the street from Co Do, is better.
If you keep patronising them and giving unearned glowing reviews, they'll never improve, and this place needs tonnes of improvement. -
Review from Danelle W.
Calgary, AB
11/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Had a good visit here - I had the lemongrass chicken on rice (#40) and it was delicious. I haven't tried out a whole host of Vietnamese restaurants so I'm no expert, but definitely worthy of having again.
Despite arriving less than an hour before close, the staff were very friendly. However, they seemed to keep us waiting forever towards the end of the meal while we wanted to pay & leave.
I'd definitely drop by again.
(9/30) -
Review from Christopher V.
Canmore, AB
3/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
A go to for me. So many Vietnamese places to choose from, I always come back. Quick, clean, and quality.
-
Review from Jenn D.
11/9/2011
For Vietnamese, this is the best I've had in Calgary. It's a tiny, basic little joint along a busy street with very limited parking, but the food is worth the hassle to get there!
The menu has all your typical Vietnamese items, and they make it right. Service is friendly and fast. I've been here about 15 times for dine in and countless times for take out. You can't go wrong here!
And if you haven't tried Vietnamese Coffee yet, you'd better do that!
Enjoy :) -
Review from Tara M.
7/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
I used to live on 15th Avenue and 11th, and when I was in a pinch for good, fast food that wasn't that Rockadoodle McDonalds on 17th, I went to Co Do. I remember it being this cute, locally owned place that had great food at a decent price.
Enter a few weeks ago, while re-living my bygone days, I decided to revisit Co Do.
Apparently my memory is fading because Co Do has gone downhill. The rave reviews here are of a restaurant I remember, not a restaurant that currently is.
Co Do needs cleaning. Badly. The walls are splattered with mysterious sauce remnants (?) the windows are clouded with grease and I won't even mention the bathroom...I'd hate to see the kitchen.
The food has also gone down in quality. The rice was overcooked, the tofu I got was mushy and the sauce bland, all served on too little vegetables. One used to get a great bargain, lots of food, and lots of flavor; but now, it sort of made me wrinkle my nose.
If Co Do pulls up its socks it could once again be the good little place on the corner I remember; but for now, it needs a wash and a rethink.
T. -
Review from Peter A.
Ottawa, ON
1/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Vietnamese soup, hard to screw up, but because of the almost insatiable demand, hard to find a decent, reasonably-priced place in this city that serves it.
Everything on Co Do's menu is under $9, with the option of getting large or medium servings. The medium servings go from around $7.50, and are easily large enough to fill me up. The service is just quick, as it should be.
As many have said below, Co Do is now how I define Vietnamese food in this city. -
Review from Kate N.
12/7/2010
Take it from me, I am Vietnamese and I live in Southern California (Vietnamese central in the US), this is by far the best Vietnamese restaurant I've ever been to! EVER!!! I love this place. Whenever I come to Calgary, this is my first stop! I've tried just about everything on their menu so I have too many favorites. Oh what I would do for Co Do's Pho Satay right now!!!
Anyways, here is the breakdown:
FOOD: ALWAYS AMAZING!!!!!!!
DRINKS: Same as other places. Just the norm.
SERVICE: Quick. Owners are very quiet, humble people.
PARKING: requires patience sometimes
AMBIANCE: I like it!
CLEANLINESS: much cleaner and sanitary than other Vietnamese restaurants
LOVEEEE THIS PLACE!! I wish they would expand to California!! You all must give it a try!! It shan't disappoint!!! :) Go on, delight your taste buds! -
Review from Ken S.
Calgary, AB
5/19/2011
Was in the mood for Pho the other night so thought I'd check out Co Do. Started with the spring rolls and the grilled beef pho for a main. The spring rolls were quite tasty. Good size and freshly fried. The Pho was very good with a healthy portion of beef. Well prepared and very fresh.
What would have made the spring rolls perfect is if they were served with lettuce and fresh mint. I used to go to an AMAZING Vietnamese restaurant in Edmonton (Mekong on 107th Ave) that served the best spring rolls. You could wrap them with fresh lettuce and mint leaves at the table. Oh so tasty!!! I've tried a lot of Vietnamese places in Calgary but have yet to come across anyone who serves their spring rolls like this. -
Review from Mike M.
Calgary, AB
9/28/2010
Codo will always hold a special place in my heart. Mostly because it was my first experience with Vietnamese ever. Codo's food is so good that I've compared every single restaurant to it ever since. I don't know if that is a good thing or not because I've become so accustomed to perfectly flavoured rice vermicelli, pork and spring rolls. My mouth is watering as I type. Sorry keyboard, it is just too good.
My tip for Codo's would be definitely don't be disappointed if you don't get a table. It always busy, so you if you are able to snag a seat, you might as well buy a lotto ticket, you are that lucky.
Their take-out is just as good as eating in and it will give you a chance to sit on a curb behind 17th ave and have a great dinner.....sorry, I'm reminiscing.
If you haven't experienced vietnamese yet then you should definitely start and end at Codo's. You'll be happy you did. -
Review from Mike M.
11/25/2010
I've got to be honest, Most Vietnamese places Ive gone to ( Dozens) have never let me down...except one. They also tend to offer almost identical tastes.Vietnamese as far as tastiness, healthiness and affordability is always your best bang for buck ratio.
CoDo is just deadly, close to my house and quick friendly service.
Dont sit by the door in -30...but that goes for any door in the city, just a tidbit of advice. -
Review from L M.
Calgary, AB
9/18/2010
The beef noodle soup is fantastic! Beef noodle is my favorite food, I search out new places every chance I get. This place was on my radar for awhile due to other reviews, so finally got the chance to go.
Food - as stated above, the broth for the soup is unbelievable. There is no grease / oil slick on top at all, the flavor is light, but just right to complement whatever you want to throw in. Spring rolls were above-average as well, crispy and well made.
Service - very friendly, efficient and fast. They asked about the weather, no snow yet, but sure felt like it's on the way.
Parking - 17th Ave parking, also side street parking.
Overall - clean place, we actually smelled the ammonia as we walked in so it was freshly scrubbed. Good experience, will be returning. We didn't have alcohol, but it looked like there was a well-stocked bar at the back. -
Review from Melissa L.
Calgary, AB
6/20/2010
I tried out Co Do for the first time this weekend. As a vegetarian, I was happy to see that their menu had a special vegetarian section. I was also happy to see that their website reminds vegetarian visitors that the "vegetarian" pho is made with a pork-based stock. I appreciate those little reminders!
We arrived around noon for lunch, and there were a few other people seated in the restaurant. Over the course of our meal more groups came and went, but the restaurant never filled. The walls are painted a warm red and there are traditional images of Vietnam around the restaurant... the atmosphere is definitely nice for an inexpensive restaurant like Co Do!
My friend and I started with the vegetarian spring rolls, which were great. I then had Banh Xeo Chay, which was supposed to be a crepe topped with mixed vegetables, tofu and bean sprouts. I had actually seen some pictures of this dish before and I was excited to try it firsthand. What I was served ended up being nothing like what I'd seen online- but it was still really good. The yellow crepe was filled with just-steamed cauliflower, broccoli and carrots, as well as fried tofu. Bean sprouts were nowhere to be found. The crepe itself was good, and the filling was nice as well (especially when dipped into what I now realize was totally un-vegetarian fish sauce!)... but there just something not-quite-right about big pieces of crunchy vegetables in a soft crepe.
I would definitely go back to Co Do, and I might even order the same dish (now that I know what to expect). However, with lots of vegetarian choices I might also try something new! -
Review from dinah g.
Calgary, AB
1/31/2010
When I first moved to Calgary I asked a friend who knew the hottest spots where the best pho was and he said hands down the Co Do in Calgary. And with that request he actually took me there.
It was some week night and we had to actually wait in line because the place was super packed. There were many Asians in the place but it was also brimming with Non Asians, families, artists, and couples. My friend whispered to me that the secret had leaked out.
We sat at a table for two in the back and because the place was crowded, you really had to squeeze into your table. The service was very fast and before I knew it I had a huge steaming Pho in front of my face moistening my pores. It was delicious and so fresh, we had been sitting for at least an hour and the line up was nonstop.
They did encourage us to leave by placing the bill on our table as soon as we asked for it, but that was fine. Can't think of delaying someone else from the delicious food here.
Prices are cheap, service excellent and the best Pho in the City of Calgary. -
Review from Bruno C.
Black Diamond, AB
2/24/2011
I find it hard to reconcile all the great reviews with the actual restaurant I visited last weekend. Snow's review matched my experience the best. The place was near empty during the lunch hour - always a bad sign. The vegetarian menu looked bland, my spring rolls on vermicelli tasted bland, the place was dirty (walls & floor), and the staff inattentive (dude didn't even try to upsell me on anything, not even a drink).
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Review from Sapna G.
Calgary, AB
11/3/2009
My new all-time favourite Vietnamese restaurant in Calgary.
I was in serious withdrawal of GOOD pho and I finally found it here!
TGFP (Thank God For Pho!)
If you've never been, definitely stop by! Great food, insanely reasonable prices, wonderful service. -
Review from Mike A.
Calgary, AB
5/5/2011
It's ok. This city is full of Vietnamese restaurants and I don't get what stands out about this one to the other reviewers. It seems average. Maybe because I order the vermicelli and spring roll dishes instead of pho?
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Review from Karen K.
Calgary, AB
10/8/2010
When it's cold outside and something hot in temperature and hot in spice is needed to make you feel better this place is great! I love their Satay soup and homemade lemonade (its actually lime) so good when you want to ward off the cold!
Listed in: cheap eats
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Review from Adam G.
Calgary, AB
3/7/2009
Amazing food at a crazy price.
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Review from Snow M.
10/24/2010
Coming from San Francisco, Bay Area, I must say that we have the best vietnamese joint in this side of the globe. Just visited Calgary. Our first day there and just got out of the airport, starving to death. Found Co Do w/ great reviews here so I thought this must be darn good.
I thought the place was ok, but could use some cleaning for sure. I can see sauce markings on the wall. Condiments on the tables needed to be refilled.
We ordered soup and the spoon handle was sticky, wondering if they are doing a good wash? The menu needs to be replaced, the sides were torn, it looked all chewed up! Plus it smelled like cigarette smoke.
We ordered the noodle soup, fried rice and chicken wings. One star for great customer service, one star for great tasting chicken wings and one star for the good broth. Not impressed with the other ingredients they put in the soup. Just few pieces of brocolli and carrots and tofu, few shredded chicken but that was pretty much it. I'm used to our Pho soup here in SF where it's got all sorts of things, from mint to fishballs, chicken and shrimp..... there's just more to it. The fried rice was blah too. I can totally make it myself, it's just fried rice w/ frozen peas and carrots. Quite disappointing.
All in all, it wan't all that!
