Oddly, I’ve never been to CHAU Veggie Express. It’s a popular Vietnamese vegetarian spot nestled in between Hoi An Cafe and Amay’s House. They also have a second location in Granville Island’s Public Market.
Sign out front.
We dropped in on a Tuesday (around 11:50am). Not too crowded but decently busy for a weekday.
The menu is small with about a dozen options; rolls, pho, vermicelli bowls, salad and rice bowls. There’s also a large healthy drink menu.
They also have their broth ($6.50) and ice cream pints ($12.00) for sale in the back.
Some interesting flavours that stood out to me were fresh panda leaf & kale, Vietnamese coffee dark chocolate and Thai milk tea
There’s even a few pastries available (toasted coconut flakes, crispy mung beans & shallots and organic peanut butter bars).
Cute that they give you a fruit sign as your order number. We got mangosteen.
Typical Vancouver. Solid beers on tap including Four Winds!
Nonla crispy rolls (#19) ($5.00)
Crispy spring rolls with kale, mung beans, taro, organic tofu, garlic, shallots, sesame and vegetable fill. It came with a lemon vegan fish sauce. Light and crispy. Perfect little appetizer.
Tropical rainstorm bowl (#11) ($11.00)
Thick round rice noodles, shredded bean curd, spinach, kale, cucumber, pickled carrot/daikon, mung bean, crispy shallot, mint and roasted peanuts. It came with a creamy toasted coconut and vegan fish sauce.
This was like a vermicelli bowl with thicker noodles. Coconut cream sauce was okay but it was too creamy for my liking.
Red sand dunes cup (#15) ($11.00)
Mild spicy lemongrass, ginger, peanut sate broth, organic tofu, beancurd, mushrooms, pineapple, thin vegetable shreds, lotus root, red cabbage, spinach/kale, thick round rice noodles and bean sprouts. This is the vegetarian equivalent of bun bo hue.
This was surprisingly good, especially when you consider the broth is strictly vegetarian. Good depth, slight spiciness to the broth. The tofu and lotus root were tasty.
I get why this place is popular in Van but with all the Vietnamese places in the area, this wouldn’t be my first choice.
CHAU Veggie Express
https://www.chowatchau.ca/
5052 Victoria Drive
Vancouver, BC
(604) 568-9508
CHERRY BOB-OMBS 