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Red Pagoda
Category: Restaurants Vietnamese Vietnamese
1408 Commercial DrVancouver, BC V5L 3X9
Neighbourhoods: Grandview-Woodlands, The Drive
(604) 569-1919
- Hours:
Mon, Wed-Thu 11:30 am - 9 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sat 12 am - 10 pm
Sun 12 am - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
28 reviews for Red Pagoda
Review Highlights
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"I'm a big fan of this classic Pho spot." In 14 reviews -
"...and my favorite pho dish is the tofu pho with peanut broth." In 3 reviews -
"As always, the spring rolls were wonderful." In 4 reviews
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28 reviews in English
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Review from Janice F.
12/16/2011
So glad I gave this place a try last night! All thanks to the glowing reviews from Ben & Amy :) Thanks guys!!
It's so out of my comfort zone to step into a pho place that isn't a hole in the wall, so I never would have considered this modern'ish restaurant without a solid reason. Credit cards? Friendly waitresses? That is just bizarre for a pho restaurant and it also says to me, we charge a premium on our pho for this. Which they do, but it's maybe $1 more than regular dirty pho places - it's worth it :)
I had the sate peanut chicken pho and it was yum - flavourful rich peanutty broth. I have difficulties with opaque broths (can't do the kintaro pork broths either), but the taste is unique - haven't seen this on the menu in any other vietnamese restaurant. Big chunks o' chicken swimming around too.
I also really liked the beef stew, bo kho - huge pieces of brisket, carrots, potatoes, noodles (not baguette), tiny bit of spice. We waddled outta there, $20 lighter in the wallet and 2 bellies fuller in 30 minutes flat. -
Review from Miss M.
Vancouver, BC
5/3/2012
I owe my favorite pho to yelp! I've been slowly working my way through the top vegetarian pho recommendations here, and so far Red Pagoda's peanut sate pho is on top. So much so that it's really getting in the way of trying veggie pho anywhere else.
The broth is peanuty and mildly spicy, with a good dose of carrot, broccoli, onion, celery, bok choi and tofu. I will admit this is the only dish I've had here, other than there standard spring rolls, but that's because it's SO GOOD. I will eventually break away and try the regular veggie pho one day, but probably not until I've eaten so much of the peanut sate that I hate it....
As others have noticed, service is friendly and the decor is defiantly not your usual hole in the wall dump. -
Review from Ly H.
4/15/2012
Solid Vietnamese food.
The broth for the pho tai was very beefy and came with a generous serving of meat.
The pho ga had pieces of chicken, meatballs, and two quail eggs. The quail eggs are a nice touch.
I'll have to come back and try some other dishes, but this place passed the pho test. -
Review from Adrian P.
Vancouver, BC
4/11/2012
Authentic Vietnamese at an almost authentic Vietnam price.
Nothing spectacular at Red Pagoda; good pho, grilled pork, and shrimp salad rolls. The service is quick.
Last time in though, the pork was undercooked and still raw in the centre. This was quickly addressed though, and I'd still go back. -
Review from Felicity D.
Vancouver, BC
4/22/2012
When they first opened I had gotten takeout from here and had not been impressed enough to go back. However, I stopped in and tried their Red Pagoda Special Pho (sliced beef, brisket, meatball, tendon, tripe) and have been won over! Fantastic broth. Generous portions of meat. Really good service. Really made me wish I had given them a second chance sooner.
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Review from Florence C.
Vancouver, BC
4/24/2012
I'm a BIG fan.. Always miss the vermicelli bowl with lemongrass beef and spring rolls. Clean and moderately decor'ed interior, I always have a nice feeling stepping into the restaurant. Service is sometimes slow but if you're not in the rush, don't fuss about it. I don't mind paying $2 more than regular Vietnamese joints cos this one is just consistent among the many pho places in Vancouver (some are just questionable how they make the soup)
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Review from Ben C.
12/10/2011
I regret not having found Red Pagoda sooner. The decor right away got my attention as it is a unique blend of Thai-Viet setting - not sure if this was intentional but I thought it was pretty cool. Also it was noticeable quieter than any other packed vietnamese restaurant I've been in. Oh, did I mention they accept credit cards? I think there are still many Pho restaurants that only accept cash.
With all the good pho around toon, it's not hard to blend in to the "good value and yummy" category, which is fine, but this place is exceptional. Service is brisk, friendly and formal even. Food was artfully prepared with all the tang and spice to back up the appearance.
Pagoda is marginally more expensive than your average 7.95 bowl of Pho, but worth it.
Will definitely be back. -
Review from Amy T.
12/10/2011 1 photo
I can honestly say this is by far, the best pho in the city!
Red Pagoda is a modern and well kept pho restaurant on Commercial Drive so there is only street parking.
The waitress was friendly and made sure we were happy with our meal. This is definitely a first in terms of service from a pho restaurant. Usually, they want you to eat and quickly leave so they can get another customer in.
What about the food? I loved it. I had the Red Pagoda pho noodle soup, which came with meatballs, rare beef, tripe and a ton of green onions. The broth was fantastic and even though I told myself I will not finish the broth, I drank almost every drop. You can tell it was cooked with care and time.
The prices are higher than other pho joints in the city, but you will definitely notice the reason and will not be disappointed. It was PHO-nomenal!Listed in: Pho-nomenal!
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Review from Katie S.
Vancouver, BC
11/20/2011
I went to this Pho restaurant for the first time last week, and I can definitely say I will be returning!
My boyfriend and I, being carnivores, both ordered the beef pho with brisket, tripe, tendon, and beef meatballs. The portions were generous and there was A LOT of meat, so I really felt I was getting good value for my money. We also ordered the beef wrapped in heart leaves, which was really quite delicious!
The restaurant itself is a lot nicer than most other Pho places in Vancouver which is a nice change from the usual scruffy atmosphere of pho restaurants. The service was friendly too, and they gave out really yummy candies ;P
Overall, I'm a total fan and hope to head on over there again- maybe for the peanut noodle pho which is getting such rave reviews! -
Review from Angela L.
7/3/2011
Vegetarian pho? Sign me up!
Arrived at Red Pagoda for a late lunch on a sunny Saturday. Service was warm and friendly, and quite accommodating with regard to my dining companion's very specific requests. The menu is a touch on the small side, not necessarily reflecting a diverse range of Viet cuisine.
I of course, ordered the veggie pho. I was a bit disappointed when it arrived. There were very large chunks of carrot, celery, and broccoli serving as the "veggie" portion of the dish, along with some chunks of tofu and the obligatory onion, green onion, and cilantro garnishes. Bean sprouts, basil, and lime wedges came on the side, but no chili peppers (tears). The large chunks of vegetables were rather unwieldy, and I had a difficult time navigating to the noodles hiding underneath the celery fortress.
The veggie soup base itself was quite bland. I had to jazz it up with a generous amount of hot sauce and hoisin to make it zesty enough for my preference, and then of course went overboard with the hot sauce and sweated unattractively for the duration of the meal. I love that they have a completely vegetarian option for pho, but execution wise...not so much love. -
Review from Cyndi H.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 11/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
Came here again for the freakin' life altering peanut pho! By mid-bowl, my heart threatened to go on vacay (the broth is VERY rich) so I switched with the bf's beef stew. ALSO amazing! The stew has a sweet cinnamony broth with rich chunks of beef, carotts, potatoes and other wonders. As always, the spring rolls were wonderful.
Ohh, Red Pagoda, you don't disappoint.
Advice:
Order the peanut pho if you can share it with someone... it's far too rich to eat all by yourself!
When you're done eating don't expect the waitress to bring you the bill unless you ask for it. I usually just go up and pay because it can take too long to get their attention. Good thing the phood is so good : )Listed in: Life Altering Items, The Drive, Vietnamese
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/1/2010
Are you kidding me!?
WHY haven't I been here before now!?
My friend Steve (pho connoisseur)… Read more »
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Review from Cici D.
Vancouver, BC
1/6/2012
Best. Stew. Ever. (chef's special). Better than Burgoo, which has pretty good stews. And for half the price. Omg.
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Review from Z Z.
Vancouver, BC
12/21/2011
One of my favorite pho places in Vancouver. Always good pho. I've also tried the beef stew and it was super filling and delicious.
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Review from Zee K.
Vancouver, BC
1/7/2011
Came here to compare the peanut broth with the peanut broth from the other place. My brother had the peanut satay vegetarian pho, of which I tried the broth, and I had the lemongrass pho. Both were quite good.
Prices here are definitely a bit more expensive than your average pho place - 7.75 per bowl, which only comes in one size that is about as big as a small at another place. Ad my brother put it, however, you do get premium ingredients.
I would definitely come again, especially to introduce someone to pho. They also offer a vegetarian broth, meaning a lot more people can come here and enjoy pho! -
Review from beki L.
Vancouver, BC
4/20/2011 1 photo
First time trying out this place with my man.
I was going to go for my usual pho w/ assortment of beef meat but last minute changed my mind to try something different.
The peanut noodle pho with chicken it is!
WOW. The peanut aroma coming from my bowl instantly filled up my nostrils with nutty delight and I was off! The soup is delicious, rather thick...and a little spicy! The kick definitely made the soup! I threw in a whole lot of the fresh thai basil with a splash of lime juice and stole as much of the sprouts from the plate without annoying the man. Perfection in a bowl. I kept finding big chunks of chicken too...they don't skimp out with only 3 pieces! FTW!
We shared the spring rolls on the side. very flavorful, crunchy but not too much that it rips off the skin from the roof of my mouth....gee, i hate that!
I would def. come back and probably bring a few other pho-lovin' friends =)
oh! i wanted to add, our server (Kim), was so nice! Great service....we introduced ourselves and she remembered both of our names and used them each time she spoke to us. hard to find employees like these nowadays! -
Review from Dani B.
4/16/2009 1 photo
This place is not totally authentic Vietnamese, but that's why I like it, because it means more veggie friendly options for me!
This place used to be next store and called Mee Kong, but the owner sold it and her nephew reopened it under a different name with a couple changes as well.
Almost everything can be made vegetarian which I love, because even though I heart pho in a big way, I usually only have one or two options to choose from.
Their papaya salad was amazing and my favorite pho dish is the tofu pho with peanut broth. It's very delicious.
They have spruced the place up a bit so this would be a good place to take a date but its chill enough to just saunter in and eat by yourself.Listed in: Cheap and fast, just how I…
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Review from Trevor M.
Burnaby, BC
9/15/2009
The pho...ah, pho! Not sure how, but pho has become a comfort food for this gwailo. I had the #20, rare beef in broth. Well balanced flavours, depth, and not too oily. Wifey had a pork & vermicelli dish that got the thumbs up. All in all, food was fresh, tasty, and well presented. As mentioned in a previous review, perhaps not the most authentic or boldest flavours, but a good feed nonetheless.
The interior is certainly more user-friendly than previous restaurants in this location. Way back when, I lived in the'hood and would often grab take out from Meekong, and would have to suck in what little tummy I had to squeeze between the tables.
As the days grow colder, and I require my pho fix, I will be returning to Red Pagoda. -
Review from geraldine g.
Toronto, ON
7/5/2009 2 photos
I've gone to two modern vietnamese restaurants in the city. The other Chau on Robson. Neither of these establishments truly stray from vietnamese into something completely new and original yet still vietnamese.
Between the two I would say it is a hard call to say which is better. The patio option and downtown location is a plus for Chau. Price of the food is similar. If I had to choose I would base it on location.
The food was OK. I still say the best flavours are coming from the places less slick. It's true. The flavours just fall short of desirable to the palate but filling for my stomach..
It's ok but not memorable. -
Review from Rachel P.
Vancouver, BC
9/25/2009
I grabbed a quick Pho-fix from Red Pagoda on my lunch break from work and it hit the spot. I only had half an hour to burn and the service was super quick and friendly. I was seated, had hot tea and my order taken within 10 minutes.
I ordered the Pho Ga (chicken, chicken meatballs and quail eggs) for around $7.75. The servings were large (there was enough left over for me to have dinner from this portion as well!) and the obligatory bean sprouts, mint and lime were fresh.
Tasty and quick, this wasn't "rock-my-world-gotta-tell-all-my-friends-about-it- crave-it-in-the-middle-of-the-night" kinda Pho, but it was perfect for a half-hour of power escape from work. -
Review from Erin G.
Vancouver, BC
11/2/2010
Consistently good vegetarian pho - and the veggie spring rolls are yummy too!
I've been here about 4 or 5 times, and have never been disappointed. The soup is good, the spring rolls are good, and the service is *usually* good. The last time I was there we had great service but that's not always a given. Sometimes it seems that you're forgotten if the place is busy. I'm so freakin' laid back about stuff like that I'm practically laying down so it doesn't affect me. You on the other hand...
I will return again. I love rice noodle soup and long for it in my sleep. Red Pagoda fills my cravings. -
Review from dZilla T.
Vancouver, BC
10/21/2010
Pretty decent Pho, no complaints. Other dishes, such as tempura and spring rolls available as well. Remember those spring rolls were most likely made the day before and deep friend to hell.
Oh and it just says Pagoda in big letters outside, kept looking for the word "red" and walked by it... -
Review from Benson H.
Vancouver, BC
11/16/2011
I'm used to the more "hole in a wall" Vietnamese restaurants as I've never actually encountered one in trendy location like Commercial Drive. Walking in the decor is definitely a step up than any other Vietnamese restaurant, so I didn't know if that was to compensate for the food. But most definitely not. It actually compliments the food because everything was just sharper and well presented. It was a nice change to have delicious Vietnamese food in relatively fancy atmosphere. Bring a date!
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Review from Taylor S.
Vancouver, BC
5/5/2010
I'm a big fan of this classic Pho spot. Great broth and slow boiled meat make these bowls of Vietnamagic a must try.
While I was there it was a cold day and the kitchen staff kept the back door open to vent out the kitchen heat/smoke so the restaurant was quite chilly at the time.
All in all a great place for good Pho, but don't go for the atmosphere.
TSListed in: Tay's Resto-Reviews
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Review from Derek W.
6/14/2010
This is modern, tasty Vietnamese food in a clean room with good ambiance. Their vermicelli bowls are the best I've had in the city so far, both in taste and presentation. The service is young, friendly, and swift.
Like most Vietnamese restaurants, there is a huge TV on the wall, but it has never been on while I've been in there, though they were talking about turning it to a Canuck's game once. -
Review from Steve B.
Vancouver, BC
1/23/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Fi FY Pho.... at Red Pagoda. You think your local Pho joint is good? Try Red Pagoda on The Drive and compare. Its all about the broth and these guys have it down!
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Review from Sean K.
Vancouver, BC
1/30/2011
So far, so good. Have eaten here twice for pho and will do so again. Enjoy the food and chill atmosphere. Family friendly.
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Review from Rajan S.
Vancouver, BC
1/24/2010
This place has slowly become one of my favorite places for Pho in Vancouver. I like their lighter (not oily) beef broth, and tasty rare beef, all served in a very clean, modern, and friendly environment. I find some places serve Pho that has a very distinct after taste I can't really describe, but I know I don't like it. Red Pagoda doesn't, which may lead some to say their Pho isn't quite 'authenitc', but that shouldn't stop you from finding out for yourself. I doubt you'll be disappointed.
Listed in: Top 5 Pho Restaurants in…
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Review from tracy m.
Vancouver, BC
12/21/2010
this is the best food on the drive! delicious peanut satay soup, fabulous green papaya salad, yummy cold rolls, and coconut slushy drinks to die for! the staff is always friendly, they are happy to accommodate vegetarians (which is so hard to find at most vietnamese places), it is a nice atmosphere, clean and relaxed. i can't say enough good things, my partner and i go almost every week, so now we get a treat for being regular customers! and the prices are ridiclous, we leave stuffed to the brim for cheap. if you haven't tried it yet, do so. it will become a favorite, i guarantee!
