Best Vietnamese Vermicelli w/ pork & springrolls (Bún thịt nướng chả giò) in Calgary?

[DizzyEdge]

I've discovered that although there are many many reviews of the best Pho in Calgary around the web, I have yet to find a listing of the best vermicelli.

Currently my faves are at Minh Chau in Inglewood and Lotus in the Beltline.
The worst I've had is Giang Nam on 16th ave, compared to Minh Chau the vermicelli dish was like kraft dinner.

Anywhere better?
Attached is a pic from Minh Chau

[Mr. Fuji]

There is a new place at 16th Ave & 14 street NW (across from SAIT)- Pho Phuong Vi Noodle House. I haven't had any Bun there, but Mrs. Fuji swears by it.

I also like this restaurant because the service is always nice & friendly, and it is a lot cleaner than most other Vietnamese restos- in my experience.

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The Noodle House
4815 48 Ave, Red Deer, AB T4N 3T2, CA

[foodkarma]

When I lived in YYC, I worked in the NE and really liked the Bún thịt nướng chả giò at Noodle King. Their spring rolls were like crack for me... I would eat them at least once a week

[rosetown]

adding links:

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Lotus Vietnamese Noodle House
1032 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary, AB T2G 2M7, CA

Pho Pasteur Saigon Restaurant
207 1 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 2G3, CA

Noodle World Vietnamese Restaurant
4909 17 Ave SE #114, Calgary, AB T2A 0V5, CA

Pho S O One
1609 Centre A St NE, Calgary, AB T2E, CA

Minh Chau Vietnamese Restaurant
1318 9 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0T3, CA

Saigon Y2K
2110 Crowchild Trail Northwest, Calgary, AB T2M, CA

[johnjohnson78]

Golden Bell Saigon across from Chinook centre on MacLeod Tr is one of my favourites. Very crispy spring rolls and lots of fresh veg to go along with the marinated grilled pork.

They even have a combo where you get a vermicelli bowl with pork and spring rolls, small wonton soup (very good) and a pop (or tea) for 12 bucks. The service here is generally excellent as well....great people running the place.

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Golden Bell Saigon Restaurant
6008 MacLeod Trail SW #106, Calgary, AB T2H, CA

[Scary Bill]

Mrs Scary really likes the Bun at Noodle World. I've tasted it from time to time and it is pretty good with very flavourful marinated pork strips. The spring rolls are crispy and flavourful as well. She has never been able to finish a bowl, which always arrives steaming.

[clouie]

Thanks - I will have to check it out.

[clouie]

Song Han Vietnamese Restaurant in Kensignton offers a very large bun with a huge amount of crisp, fresh springrolls. I liked the addition of basil too. The noodles were lovely - not overcooked. The sauce smelled pretty pungent but wasn't overly sweet like at Golden Bell. I think I like this place the most - the only issue was service was very slow. A bottle of Big Rock cost only $4.00!

[DizzyEdge]

Went to Pho Pasteur last night. It was good, but I still have to give the nod to Minh Chau. I prefer Minh Chau's pork, as well it also has pickled carrot, and chopped peanuts, and this might just be my imagination, but I believe the bowls are bigger at Minh Chau, not to say you get more food, but it's easier to mixed the ingredients up without worrying about food spilling out over the brim of the bowl. Of course that's just personal preference. Two points for Pho Pasteur though: I think you get more, perhaps twice as much pork as Minh Chau, and the price is $7.50 vs $9.50 at Minh Chau, so for value per dollar, Pho Pasteur is pretty good.

[clouie]

My new favourite is Golden Bell on 17th St. Huge bowl. Very fresh vegetables, great noodles and crispy flavourful springrolls. Fantastic deal - only $9.00.

[Shazam]

Minh Chau rocks. Their grilled meat is to die for.

[DizzyEdge]

Yeah, I've found at some other places the grilled pork is just that, strips of pork grilled, whereas minh chau grilled pork has some sort of yummy bbq sauce grilled onto the meat. Yum.

[marcopolo]

Yeah, Minh Chau's grilled meat is the best I've had. Pork, lemon grass chicken, lemon grass beef... all great.

[chowJD]

Min Chau is ok but I prefer this dish at Pho Huong Viet on 17th. Is there only one Min Chau location?

[miss.foodie]

My favourite is at Pho Pasteur across from Harry Hayes in Chinatown. The spring rolls are made with rice paper wrapper instead of the chinese spring roll wrapper. I prefer my viet spring rolls with the rice paper wrapper. I also love the flavour of their charbroiled pork.

[kemen]

Do you mean that Pho Pasteur's fried spring rolls are made out of rice paper wrappers, too? I've been going there since forever for pho, and it's one of the few places I can still eat at since I found out I was a celiac (the pho is gluten free). If their fried spring rolls are made with rice paper then maybe I can still eat them!

[miss.foodie]

I'm pretty sure (though not 100% sure) that their fried spring rolls are made out of rice paper. Usually the fried ones made of rice paper are not smooth on the outside after being fried. The wrapper kind of looks like it has blisters/bubbles after being fried. If they use the chinese style wrapper, the wrapper looks smooth after being fried. Just to be sure you could check with them next time you are there. I haven't been to Pho Pasteur in a couple of months (not that there is anything wrong with their food... I just haven't had time to make it down there) so I hope they haven't changed the wrapper for the spring rolls. I've being going there for years and IIRC their fried spring rolls do have a blistery/bubbly appearance. Also, even if the wrapper is made with rice paper, you may want to check with them about the contents of the spring roll to make sure it doesn't contain gluten.

[kemen]

Thanks for replying! I will definitely check with them. Was there a few weeks ago with a friend who had the spring rolls, and they still look the same (i.e., mouthwateringly good).

[marcopolo]

Last time I was at Pho Pasteur, their spring rolls did use rice paper. They're one of the few I've found in the city who do this. I definitely think they're better that way.

[sharonanne]

I have seen fried rice paper rolls called Imperial rolls rather than spring rolls on many menus. You'd have to ask to be sure though.

[sharonanne]

One of my favorite meals! I like lots of fresh herbs and some places substitute chopped lettuce.
I like the version at Pho SO 1 at 1609 Centre Street N.

I don't like Saigon Y2K in the McMahon Stadium strip mall. I've been there a couple of time because some friends like it and the noodles were hot and wilted the bean sprouts.