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Lam Hoa Quan Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Vietnamese Vietnamese [Edit]
5073 Victoria DrVancouver, BC V5P 3T9
Neighbourhood: Kensington-Cedar Cottage
(604) 326-5880
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
6 reviews for Lam Hoa Quan Restaurant
6 reviews in English
-
Review from Justin L.
Upon several Vietnamese acquaintances' recommendations, we decided to trek over to Victoria Dr to scope out Lam Hoa Quan for a late-night dinner at about 9pm on a weeknight. Closed! Unfazed, we returned the following day for lunch, and what a lunch it was. Service was friendly. The owner is Vietnamese-Chinese (hence the surname "Lam"), and so his Vietnamese wife actually speaks some Cantonese -- which I discovered when my grandma just began speaking in Cantonese to her...
First off, the sliced shallots are a nice touch, though you should be forewarned that the red bird's eye chilis are potent. I think they blanche the bean sprouts, which simultaneously sanitizes them and removes the raw taste that I don't like, while preserving the sprout's crunch. Again, nice touch. As for the noodles, they were substantial, not mushy, and generously portioned.
The house specialty CHICKEN pho came as an atypical but delicious concept. In fact, the next time I'm sick and craving some chicken noodle soup, it just might be Lam Hoa Quan's! The free-range cut-up chicken is akin to the kind you'd find at most Chinese restaurants -- you know, with the yellowish skin and firm and tasty meat. My grandma only eats this kind of chicken now, shunning as she does the over-medicated generic variety, so she was pleased with the quality. The soup base is chicken, too, rather than the darker beef broth.
As for the BEEF pho, it was also delicious. I know many reviewers have only tried the chicken (since Yelpers love to bandwagon, it seems, for fear of trying something untried!). But I'm pleased to report that the beef is just as fantastic and just as better than most other Pho shops as one would hope. Lam Hoa Quan does an interesting manoever with the rare beef: they kind of partially hack the piece in criss-cross fashion with the back of a cleaver so that it's tenderized and almost diced, but still intact. Reminds me of a super thin Salisbury steak. They do this to the ginger as well, which provides just the right balance to the beef without overpowering. [See photos]
Both the fried and unfried SPRING ROLLS were delicious, with the former excelling in the taste and texture categories. Next time, I'd like to try the chicken and pork chop rice dishes. -
Review from P G.
Vancouver, BC
2/24/2012
Went here twice in the last week. I'm usually eating Pho 3-4 times a week for a quick cheap snack. Yes it's priced ONE DOLLAR more than other places but I would pay 3 dollars more for the taste of this soup. LOVE the minced ginger as I've never had this in Pho before.
Will be coming here whenever I'm in the area and even when I'm not.
She didn't like it as much because it's not exceptionally clean and our tea pot had brown sauce on it. I could care less, great Pho! Have had #2 & #4 so far. -
Review from Simon K.
I was pulled to this place by my brother for their specialty chicken and pho. I was actually quite surprised, as when you think pho, you think beef and beef broth, but the specialty is really in the chicken! I have always crossed this place located on Victoria Drive, never ever going in, and now I must say it is one of my favorites for this cuisine.
It is an average sized place, with a small tv in the corner, and when you see the local Vietnamese come in here, and fill this place up and also order the popular poultry and noodle, you know they are doing something right! They give you a good serving of chicken when you order a bowl, they do not cheap out, you might look at the prices on the menu and think, I can get some cheaper pho somewhere else, but here, your paying for what your getting, and that is value and quality. Big bowls, substantial noodles, and a good serving of meat at your disposal, just to see how you will devour and say anything after is the question.
I come in here, and want to order the regular beef pho, but it always leads back to the chicken, maybe it is the special mixed powder that you make into the sauce that you like to dip the 'free range' chicken that gets me. I do not know, but when someone talks about this place, I say "oh, that chicken pho joint!".Listed in: Pho and other Vietnamese…
-
Review from Jeff L.
Vancouver, BC
2/15/2011
4.5 Star nammertastic Food
3 Star atmosphere/decoration
This is a great place for authentic "bucky" (northern) vietnamese pho. The price of the pho here is at a slight premium (+$1-2) compared to other pho places but definitely worth it. It tends to get quite busy during weekends/meal times as the whole Vietnamese community appears to halt "agriculture" and nail salons to come feast here lol
All jokes aside this is one of my favorite places for pho. I usually get pho tai or the steak with beef balls in noodle soup. The broth is incredibly rich and the slices of meat are tender, of a different cut, and compliment the soup well. I will usually get a side order of chicken (free range chicken) to share. The small sauce dishes that accompanies the chicken are filled with little cuts of chili peppers, onions, and salt/pepper. Your suppose to squeeze the lime juice into that sauce trey and mix them (adding a bit of hot sauce too if desired). Then you dip the chicken into the sauce trey, throw some of the drenched cuts of onions on top and chow down. It is simply - delicious. Ive tried the rice dish here, it was pretty good, but like many of my reviews - "i come here for a particular dishe" -
Review from Mark c.
New Westminster, BC
9/25/2011
I was on my Quest for a bowl of "good" Pho, I asked a [Vietnamese] co-worker. His first answer was his house, good for him not ideal for me. But his second was Lam Hoa Quan. So based upon this I and a guest went to see if his recommendation had any merit.
First, it is not a standout location and we just happened to locate it surely by accident; it is directly across from the Calabria Bakery, but that is another story. After a "Frogger-like" crossing of Victoria Street we arrived at out destination. The place is small but felt "homey", comfortable.
We were seated almost immediately , given menus and were on the Quest for a bowl of "good" Pho.
I selected the spicy Beef, my guest the rare beef. We split an order of Spring rolls and I had a Avocado smoothie. The order came quite quickly starting with the Spring rolls then the Pho and finally my smoothie.
The Quest has ended, this had to honestly be the best Pho I have ever had, in Vancouver. The broth was flavourful with just the right amount of noodles and "stuff". My guest, who is, well very particular, commented that "this was (is) an "outstanding" bowl of Pho". This was shocking as they rarely say this about anything.
I can officially say that this is the best bowl of Pho in New Westminster, only the drive is just a little long. That said we were in, fed and out in under an hour and just over $25. Yay!
The only complaint was that there was not a refill of tea, but for the best bowl of Pho, I guess that could be overlooked.
As aside note - they close at 8:00PM and ONLY TAKE CASH. -
Review from Louise G.
9/12/2009 8 photos
Lam Hoa Quan is a little undiscovered gem nestled in a neighbourhood which seems almost over-full with Pho places. It's family-run and specializes in Pho. Not the usual salty-brothed Pho, but a Pho based on a lovely, amazingly well-crafted broth; lovely fresh ingredients, and a meticulous kitchen.
That's a lovely start: Other draws are their delicious sodas and fruit shakes; their marvellous way with chicken and pork; and their filling but light Vietnamese breakfasts.
Often we are served by quiet daughter and loud daughter, also known as quiet sister and loud sister. The reason I refer to them as the daughters is that the way I realized they were sisters was at different times they said the exact same to me while serving us. Something like this:
"Did you enjoy the pho? It is my Dad's special recipe. He makes it fresh every morning. It's really good, no?"
I never would have guessed that they were sisters otherwise. They look different. They have completely different mannerisms. One has that rather loud type voice. You know theone that makes her sound like she's rather excited about something. The kind that makes people sometimes turn and look but not in a bad way. She's just got a bit of an edge. One time she ORDERED me to put the sauce she'd given me over my rice. " OMG YOU HAVE TO USE THE SAUCE !!!!"
She was very passionate about it and quite convinced that it wouldn't be the same without it. It was yummy. The second sister is quiet sister. She is shorter, rounder, softer, quieter. She does not have the loud edge to her voice, in fact she has a very soft whispery voice. After her sister ORDERED me (lol) to use the sauce, she later came and quietly apologized for her sister. I said it was quite alright and that I enjoyed the meal very much. Another time quiet sister asked if I wanted a fork (instead of chopsticks) and then apologized for asking.
It's the kind of place where they're seem surprised to see a non-Vietnamese walk through the door - the place seems a big hit with the Vietnamese community. The awkwardness abates quickly when they realize that you're not there to impose on them and they're glad to give advice on the lovely food and drink available.
When you're done, try the Kawa Bakery next door for dessert and Teng's supermarket up the street for Pho ingredients. You'll never want to shop at any other storeListed in: FTRs, Healthier Choices, There and Back Again, Victoria Drive
