Viet Mama Cafe

Another new(er) Northern Vietnamese spot to pop up. They’re located next to Fatty Cow Seafood Hot Pot along with several competing Vietnamese restaurants (Hoang Yen, Hoi An Cafe, La Maison Da Nang, Cafe Dang Anh and Hanoi Old Quarter).

Sign outside.

We’ve been twice now. Service is friendly and our teas were refilled frequently. Interesting that you can buy their broth for home ($10.00).

The menu is limited to 20 items; appetizers and entrees (pho, vermicelli, bahn cuon and rice). You can also get your bean sprouts cooked (but you need to request it).

Click here to see the full menu (1, 2 and 3).

Trip #1
We dropped in on a Friday evening (around 6:45pm) for takeout. Service was prompt; our food was ready in 10 minutes even though we were quoted 15.

Bahn cuon nhan (#17) ($14.95)
Meat rice rolls. The rice rolls were solid, topped with Vietnamese ham and fried shallots.

The nuoc maam was well balanced and came with three small (but mighty) pork meatballs. They reminded me of spring roll filling but tastier.

Pho tai ga (#8) ($12.95)
Chicken and rare beef noodle soup. Broth was piping hot. The tai was very tender unlike the chicken, which was a touch tough.

Bun rieu cua cha ca (#14) ($12.95)
Vermicelli crab meat with fish cakes. This was my favourite of the the
bowls; light, clean and refreshing although light on the dill (compared to other versions in the city).

Crab meat was packed. It also came with tomato wedges, meat balls (very tasty) and tofu puffs.

Trip #2
We dropped in on a Wednesday for a late lunch (around 1:45pm).

Tea

Herbs
Two different types of herbs for our bowls. Lettuce, bean sprouts, cilantro, lime wedge and chilis.

One of the packs also had pickled onions with an unexpected light kick to it.

We were even given a side of chili flakes.

Cha gio (#2) ($7.95 for 2)
Deep fried rice paper, pork, shrimp, real crab and vegetables served with fish sauce. These were light and crispy. Filling was decent. A couple dollars overpriced.

Bun rieu cua tom (#13) ($12.95)
Vermicelli with crab meat and shrimp. Enjoyed this one bowl over the fish cake. The crab meat is excellent and flavourful. Broth is on the light and cleaner side. The noodles are of the thin, vermicelli style; decent but it doesn’t fill me up (compared the usual pho noodles).

Bun rieu cua cha ca (#14) ($12.95)
Vermicelli crab meat with fish cakes. Again, the broth is light and clean. Does it beat Hoang Yen across the street? Personally, I don’t think so but it’s still a solid bowl.