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Golden Garden Vietnamese Cuisine
Categories: Restaurants Vietnamese Restaurants Sandwiches Vietnamese, Sandwiches [Edit]
509 Main StVancouver, BC V6A
Neighbourhood: Chinatown
(604) 685-5623
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
30 reviews for Golden Garden Vietnamese Cuisine
Review Highlights
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"Pho special was not only cheap but absolutely delicious." In 20 reviews -
"However, Golden Garden had great spring rolls." In 7 reviews -
"Golden Garden had some awesome banh mi sandwiches." In 3 reviews
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30 reviews in English
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Review from Maggie L.
Vancouver, BC
4/23/2012
WOW, what a great place!
I was feenin' for a good bow of pho and decided to give this place a try. I can't believe that it took me THIS long to try out Golden Garden when I work just 10 minutes away. I've always been a bit skeptical from the outside as it looks pretty dingy..(sorry) but was pleasantly surprised!
Food: Lots of options, FRESH, huge portions and a great price. I went with my coworker and we shared the:
Spring Rolls: 4 rolls for about $5. NOT BAD! Super crispy on the outside and very flavourful on the inside. It didn't taste like it was drenched in oil either which was a nice plus.
Salad Rolls: 2 for $5? I forgot..but they weren't anything TOO special. They were tasty (don't get me wrong) but nothing to write home about. I did enjoy that they mixed in some mint leaves in the roll though...I haven't had that at other pho places so..yay!
I had a regular bowl of pho with rare sliced beef and beef balls. The broth wasn't overly salty but I will say that was oilier than other places I've had. However, it wasn't a deal breaker and thought it was pretty tasty.
Coworker had the lemongrass chicken with pho. The lemongrass chicken was grilled perfectly and she seemed to enjoy it quite a bit.
*Also, for their side of bean sprouts and the works..instead of the normal jalapeno pepper slices..they gave fresh red chilli peppers and OMG...SO good. I only let it drown in my soup a little and it added that kick that a jalapeno wouldn't have been able to do.
Service: Attentive and it looks like it's a family business. The dad figure (I assume he's the owner) was walking around frequently to make sure everyone was enjoying their food and making sure (who looked like) the son was on the ball. There's something so great about a family run resto....perhaps it's the extra love that is put into it?
Decor: There is nothing worse than feeling like you're sitting on greasy chairs....stepping on what should be for bathroom tiles....and thinking to yourself how you're going to smell like food after you walk out of the resto. Well...GG has NONE of that! I was SUPER surprised with the cleanliness, modern decor and I have to give them major props for this. They really seem to make the effort to make the dining room comfortable for all patrons.
I guess the saying is true..never judge a book by it's cover. GREAT place! -
Review from Lisa W.
4/13/2012 2 photos
It's a good pho place for Canada. But it's not like the ones in California! We stumble by this place when we were in China town trying to go to the suspension bridge.
Pho was flavorful, but small ( I guess only Americans eat massive bowl and amounts, guess thats why we are fat as well). Plenty of soup, noodles, and meat. But the bowl was small, place wasn't a typical pho place.
Why a 3? Because they tried to rip us off! Yes we are Americans, and the exchange rate was 1-1, but they gave us the rate (if we paid in American dollars) for every $10 USD we only get $9 Canadian dollars. I know it aint a lot, but the fact that they tried to rip us off, how shady.
Shady! -
Review from Trudi C.
1/8/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I've visited here twice with work mates so far, and no matter the size of group (last visit there were 10 hungry people!), we can always get a table. So for starters, good for groups!
I'm still not sure about pho; it's not like I dislike it, I just feel like it's missing something, like they forgot to add an extra ingredient...But of all the places I've had pho, this is my fave so far. Even the small portion seems big! It arrives in no time at all, and always tastes fresh. There's free tea of course, and it's cheap enough.
So a thumbs up if you're really into pho :) -
Review from JLuc P.
Vancouver, BC
5/14/2012
One of my favorite Vietnamese downtown and an unexpected gem in this part of Main St.
Unlike many, they can do other things than Phos quite well. Don't get me wrong, I love Pho but it's nice to have a choice.
My favorite dish would be the Stir Fried Basil Beef. At $16, it's one of the pricier items, but is just so good with plain white rice. But most of their range of stuff is quite good.
The one thing that keeps it under 5 stars is the bathroom. Clean, yes, but slightly on the dodgy side if you are trying to impress a guest, mostly because it's it at the end of a long basement corridor - could use a bit of a reno.
But again, given the neighborhood, this is a place you go to eat at, not to show your bling off. -
Review from Shelley B.
Vancouver, BC
9/23/2011 1 photo
I love this place!
We love getting a couple sandwiches from the front counter to-go with fresh coconuts; it has become a pre-trip ritual - for the ferry, for the start to a long road trip, to bring to the lake, whatevs. The Pate sandwich comes on an awesome baked bread, with some salty lardy meat pate, pickled carrots, chillies, lemongrass, etc., and it is just the right size!
Dinning in is wicked too, I love to get that sandwich with a small bowl of beef balls in soup - the prices are so reasonable ($4 for each) and the food is *always* good. They have great big bowls of Pho, yummy salad rolls, and their fried banana dessert is perfection: nice, hot, crispy banana (no burnt oil flavour), surrounded by melty ice cream.
I'll never go anywhere else! -
Review from BR G.
Burnaby, BC
8/21/2011
I was reluctant to come here when Golden Garden first opened because of my favourite pho haunts is just down the street upstairs by Georgia and Main. Everyone from my workplace went to the old place--for their big portions, low prices, and consistently good pho. When this place first opened it had some tough competition as Vancouver is a true pho city. You don't have to go far for a good bowl of good noodles.
For some reason, though, this place has really grown on me. The decor is nice (to be honest how often can you say that about most pho places), and I love the staff. I remember Kim in her olden days when she made $2.50 sandwiches out of the old Asian Market on E. Hastings, splat in the middle of skid row. She has worked really hard towards what is looking like a very successful endeavour.
The sandwiches are now $4 for takeout, and rightfully so. They are fresher than the stuff at Ba Le down the street, and if you have time to sit down for a meal the pho is pretty good and much improved from when I first tried it. I am now a regular, and each time I wouldn't feel my meal would be complete with the spring rolls--so delicately crunchy and delicious. The average meal usually costs me under $10 (my other favourite besides the pho is BU5--the beef skewers on vermicelli with their spring rolls), and I am stuffed for hours. They also accept debit/credit, a rare convenience in many asian restaurants.
If only I could talk Kim into opening a 2nd one closer to my place in Burnaby I would be the happiest girl. -
Review from Gale L.
Vancouver, BC
1/23/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The food at Golden Garden tastes good, is reasonably priced and the presentation is a treat.
Julienned carrot and radish and thinly sliced cucumber and onion decorate most plates. The basil, lettuce and sprouts dressing other dishes are fresh and plentiful.
The premises are clean and service is friendly and swift.Listed in: Restaurants
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Review from Cristian W.
Vancouver, BC
8/3/2011
Don't be put off by the location or the appearance of the restaurant. The front part of the restaurant is set up for take-out and it obscures a relatively modern dining area in the back. My first instinct was to avoid this restaurant. I am very happy I overcame the impression left by the drab exterior.
Vietnamese and Cambodian cuisine should be light and flavourful. On both counts Golden Garden scores very well.
China Town is oddly a difficult place to visit when you're vegetarian. It would seem no opportunity is missed to put pork in everything! Thankfully, Golden Garden has a relatively wide selection of vegetarian options.
The hot and sour soup was one of the best I've ever had. It is available in a vegetarian version and a version with fish (a version with meat is also available but I have not tasted it), which is not always the case in most restaurants.
The crepe can be prepared without pork (shrimp and egg only) for those of us who don't eat meat. I highly recommend the crepe - it's unlike anything I've had before.
The vegetable bun was greasy and flavourless.
I will be going back to taste the other vegetarian options, as there were many others. -
Review from reese p.
Vancouver, BC
8/2/2011
*this review is for take-out bahn mi only!*
Golden Garden is really close to where I live, and cheap (4$ each sandwich, cash only). I love nearby and cheap.
It was okay my first time... I didn't think it was anything special, wasn't bad though. Filled me up and was tasty. They ask if you want it spicy and I said yes, and I think they put ALL the jalapeños in one bite.
I went back a few days later and ordered another and it was substantially tastier! I don't know what it was exactly that was different, but my sandwich was super yummy... Everything was more spread out and I'm beginning to think the first time I came here, maybe they forgot to put on those yummy sauces that are supposed to be on the sandwich.
Anyhow my third try there was crazy good so I'm going to chalk my first one up to a bad day and give this place a four, because I will most definitely be back many, many, more times. -
Review from Marti V.
2/7/2012
Happened upon this restaurant in Chinatown as we were walking from the train station to our downtown Vancouver hostel. The Friday working crowd seemed to be filling up the place so we thought that was a good sign. Fabulous choice! Plenty of food, good flavor, attentive service and a great value for the price. Can't remember which dishes we had but both were very delicious. It's on our list for our next visit to Vancouver!
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Review from M S.
1/10/2011
I hate Vietnamese restaurants and despise Pho. However, I keep coming back to this one since it's around the corner, reasonably priced and has amazing lemongrass curry chicken. White meat! Their beef noodle dish was also very good. The food tends to be on the oily side but is a delightful burst of flavor in every bite.
I'm venturing into the other parts of the menu but usually, always get at least one order of the lemongrass.
Service is friendly and fast.
One note though... the toilets are filthy. Stay away. -
Review from Anna C.
6/23/2009
10 stars. No no, 20.
This place was the bombest of the bomb, likely one of the best Vietnamese restaurants I've ever been to. It's located on a somewhat seedy stretch in the heart of Chinatown--we'd spent most of the afternoon exploring the area on foot and were disappointed to find that everything in Chinatown had closed up shop. At 6pm! (Actually, everything in Vancouver seems to close super early, even coffeeshops and drugstores. I'm still not sure why.) Golden Garden was one of the only places still open for business, so in we went.
The menu is loaded, with the perusual pho, bun, and banh mi selections as well as some interesting rice and hot pot dishes. We ordered a lemongrass chicken bun, and house special grilled salmon with salad and jasmine rice to share between the two of us. It was honestly some of the best food I've ever had, so rich and flavorful. Service was great. The prices were totally reasonable too. It came out to about $20 Canadian (including tip) for the two of us. I couldn't have been happier. -
Review from Kristina C.
Vancouver, BC
11/30/2010
One of my favourite places for pho!
While it's true that it's never busy here (judging from the times that I've been here, which is actually quite often), I don't think it's a reflection of the restaurant itself, but more from the location. Is any restaurant in Chinatown ever busy nowadays?
The menu is pretty extensive, from appetizers, pho, vermicelli, rice dishes, and more, but I can never seem to make myself order something other than the pho. The broth is flavourful, and the beef slices are thin and tender.
I also love their deep fried spicy chicken wings. I think they're better than at Phnom Penh, which I find to be a bit too salty (don't get me wrong, they ARE good).
The service is great, the restaurant is clean, and the food is reasonably priced. -
Review from Mercedes G.
Vancouver, BC
11/24/2008
Meh. That was my first reaction to a bite of not-so-crunchy spring roll from Golden Garden restaurant.
I had high (yet wavering) hopes for Golden Garden, simply because I had tried one of Kim Saigon's banh mi sandwiches and it was delicious. Unfortunately, I am not sure if the cuisine translates as well as the banh mi. I ordered a combination plate of pork brochettes on vermicelli noodles and an order of the aforementioned spring rolls. I like to think that the basis of all Vietnamese cuisine should rest on the quality of its spring rolls and this time around, Golden Garden just didn't cut it. The same problem I have had in the past with spring rolls occurred here again: the normally crispy, dark wrapper was softer, greasier and overall just not as appetizing as anything I've had in the past.
Golden Garden did save face with the brochettes, which were seasoned perfectly and were quite tender. Next time, I'll stick to the banh mi. -
Review from Yunn A.
7/3/2010
This place is quite clean and modern....which is the first sign that it's not going to be very good (authentic) Pho.
The chicken wings were good, but the pho was bland and tasteless. I didn't try anything else on the menu, but as far as pho goes, I won't be coming back. Go to Kim Penh Xe Lua on Broadway and Cambie instead. -
Review from Carmen T.
11/23/2010
I stopped in on a freezing-cold day for a bowl of rare beef and cooked flank pho, and it was alright. The place was super-clean, and the service was really fast.
The basil and sprouts were nice and fresh, and the portion was really big for a "small" with a good meat-noodle balance, but nothing really stood out as spectacular. I'd definitely go in again if I was passing by on a cold day and hungry, but it's not the kind of pho I'd have serious cravings for. -
Review from Rachel P.
Vancouver, BC
1/21/2010
We had a quick dinner at Golden Garden and the food was tasty and fresh.
The service was nice and quick, although the restaurant was very quiet on a Tuesday night. The vibe was kind on "hush-hush", not very vibrant, but who knows what this place is capable of on a busy night....
I had chargrilled shrimp and beef skewers with salad and vermicelli, very crunchy and alive with flavour, probably a good choice for lunch. My friend had a seafood curry that he was super-stoked on, the beads of sweat on his forehead and empty plate gave it away. Can anyone say food coma?
Beer and wine only....they served plenty of fresh lime with the Corona....
Spring rolls were crunchy and served with a tangy fish/chilli dipping sauce and portions were decent. Food was nice, service pleasant, but it was so quiet in there that we were in and out of there in record time, not a huge dining experience for me to comment on.....but certainly no complaints.
Giggled on the way out at the sign in the doorway next to Golden Gate "Do Drugs in this Doorway at your Own Risk".....well, duh...! -
Review from pete d.
Vancouver, BC
6/1/2010
Vietnamese restaurants have come and gone in the neighbourhood over the years - and after the closure of the Pho Huang on Georgia Street a few years back - I began to despair that I might not be able to enjoy a good local pho.
Golden Garden to the rescue! They have a very good menu, with lots of entrees beyond my own pho fondness. Good, friendly service and CLEAN..
Folks, as a local - I can't over emphasize how important cleanliness is when dealing with Chinatown restaurants .. I've *seen* things {shudder} -
Review from stan s.
Vancouver, BC
2/3/2010
I only had the PHO, and I can say no so good and alitte pricey.
On a scale of 1 to 10 this gets a 4. There are alot of better places to eat then Golden Garden if you are looking for Vietanmese.
Nice place for beginners wanting to try Vietnamese.
I give it Stars for being clean and having nice decor but the PHO was very plain.
English Friendly -
Review from Kate B.
10/24/2010
Stopped in for pho on a rainy saturday afternoon before hitting a movie. Good broth and a good amount of fresh basil to add in. We really liked the spring rolls here as we have been searching for good spring rolls. I'm not sure what the deal is with spring rolls in Vancouver but often they are wrapped in something that sticks to my teeth (what is it!). However, Golden Garden had great spring rolls! This is a place that I could bring company from Edmonton as the spring rolls here are like the ones at home. Excellent dipping sauce as well. I really want to come back to try the noodle bowls.
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Review from Peter V.
Vancouver, BC
1/7/2010
Much of Chinatown closes early these days, much to my dismay. Being a night owl can be difficult sometimes. For a slightly later dinner, I'll head over to Golden Garden for a bowl of pho dac biet ($7 for a large). The few times I've been in the broth has been excellent. The tendon can be a little chewier than better pho that I've had, but this is made up for the tripe being a little better prepared. One of my biggest pho fears is choking to death on a big ol' strip of tripe. The accompanying herb plate is slightly sub-standard. I've gotten some sad basil there before, but tonight's version was nice and fresh. They sliced up the chili pepper too, which was a nice touch. With so many produce shops nearby specializing in asian herbs though, I'm always a bit disappointed there aren't some unfamiliar leaves on the plate.
Open until 10 PM, this spot is a clean and definitely classier Vietnamese restaurant than most of my old Kingsway haunts. Service is efficient and friendly. A couple sitting nearby was assisted through the menu when they had questions, so that's a good sign. Prices are a tiny bit higher than the aforementioned Kingsway joints, but it's a negligible difference. The menu is extensive, but I'm almost exclusively a pho eater, so I haven't ventured past that and the spring rolls (which are delicious). -
Review from Arec B.
Vancouver, BC
11/24/2009
Golden Garden Vietnamese Cuisine: Great pho (Vietnamese soup); bright, clean restaurant; friendly staff; relatively inexpensive (e.g. $8/pho). I highly recommend menu option HM7 (that's right, HM7 - it is the "seafood pho"). Also, try a vegetarian sub - AMAZING!
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Review from reesa S.
Winnipeg, MB
8/12/2009
Having just returned from 3 months in SE Asia, I was longing for a good pho and this place exceeded expectations with a soup that was quite possibly better than anything I had on my trip.
Hint: The condiments on the side pack a real punch if you're into that type of kick! -
Review from Leon F.
Vancouver, BC
12/30/2009
Pho special was not only cheap but absolutely delicious! Subs are great for lunch on the go. You can order lemongrass chicken sub, even though it is not on the menu. It tastes better than regular chicken sandwich. Service was prompt and courteous. Food was served fast. They refilled our tea pot with hot water adequately. Unfortunately they did not have avocado milkshake.
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Review from Jordan H.
Updated - 8/3/2010 1 Check-in Here
I have to drop this down to a 4. Bao Chau is my favourite. Golden Garden is still great, but there can only be one 5.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/5/2010
Awesome stuff. A friend and I both got a rare beef and cooked flank pho, and an order of spring… Read more »
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Review from John H.
Vancouver, BC
9/22/2009 1 Check-in Here
The interior was quite nice... which was a surprise as it is actually in a seedy area of Main St. They seem to have a healthy counter service in the front area that is segregated from the restraunt proper. Looks like it was mainly supplying sandwich orders to a take out crowd.
I found the food above average for Vietnamese... As mentioned by others, it is not assembly line pho...
Cheers! -
Review from Amy C.
2/15/2010
Had the traditional pho and sandwich as a meal. The menu had a great selection and the service was fast and good. I liked that hte sandwich was toasted and the soup was light and noodles had the right texture. An interesting thing to note is that portion sizes are much smaller than what's in the USA. Not sure if that's just another 'supersized in America' thing...I'd recommend this.
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Review from Niki K.
Vancouver, BC
5/7/2009
unlike the first reviewer, i thought the spring rolls were crunchy and authentic. unlike the egg wrapped spring rolls most places go.
Golden Garden had some awesome banh mi sandwiches. The pho was good, clear and not cloudy or murky in taste like other pho places. there was actual flavor, not just M.S.G. I'd definitely go back.
On ambiance, it was ok, but that was not a bad thing, probably because it looked clean, bright, and just unlike most other vietnamese places. -
Review from K N.
4/13/2011
Been here a couple times already and haven't been disappointed yet. The pho is actually pretty good for not coming out of my mom's kitchen and I was actually impressed that they had thit kho trung on the menu. I haven't tried, but I want to. I can't think of a single Vietnamese place in Portland that serves that homecooked goodness. The cafe sua da is right on, too. Not pre-made, but left to finish dripping at your table. We also had their sandwiches and they're not too bad. Not the best, but they were alright. The little lady out front running the register and making sandwiches is super nice, too. Their food is pretty good, but the reason for their 4-star rating is the fact that I am preeeeetty sure there's some underground mafia stuff going on downstairs. FYI - avoid the bathrooms. I dare not go. Not because I may be interrupting the possible gambling down there, but I hear they're filthy compared to the clean restaurant.
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Review from anne c.
Vancouver, BC
2/21/2009
I'm not just talking about the awesome sanwiches because that is just a given but the pho was awesome! I know there is a million pho places out there but the broth at this place is a lot better. It is clear and just didn't taste like the other places. A lot lighter. Not sure how to explain it. You just have to try and compare. I think they use fresh noodles because they don't stick together like it usually does at other places. I also had the papaya salad which is super duper spicy which suck that they don't tell you that little tid bit. Once you get pass the heat it is actaully very tasty. My friend had their vermicelli and she said was very happy with it too.
