2012-02-09 Dinner #2 @ Hai Phong Vietnamese Restaurant 海豐越南美食

1246 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC

604-872-3828

After our meal at Green Lemongrass, we went for a short drive and came here for the second part of our dinner.  We only had a few items in mind, items that were recommended to us, as well as something we previously saw on their menu.

The Garlic Butter Chicken Wings 炸雞翼 (Canh Ga Chien) were well marinated, fried, then tossed with butter and garlic.  The texture wasn't there, as they weren't crisp, but these were decent in taste.  If this was crispy, then I'd love it.

We ordered two simple Pork Bone Soup 豬骨湯 (Sup Com), something that helped on a cold night, not much MSG too.  If you don't want pho but do want a simple broth to warm you up, ordering a bowl of this wouldn't be a bad idea, only a buck a bowl.

 

A former food blogger, KimHo (I'm Only Here for the Food) has suggested this dish, not once, not twice, but numerous times.  The Vietnamese Crepe 越式薄餅 (Banh Xeo) was a welcome surprise.  We never tried something like this before.  It's a crepe made with coconut milk, tumeric and rice flour.  Apparently, I was told (by both KimHo and Mrs. Little Lee) to take a leaf, wrap some banh xeo, add the herb, then dip in the accompanied sauce before consuming.  Knowing me, I skipped all the greens.

The crepe was crisp, with a nice coconut flavor.  The filling had sliced pork, shrimp and bean sprouts.  We probably would have preferred more pork considering I think there were only three or four small slices.  If you're up for it, we'd recommend trying this then try making it at home.  It's actually very simple to make.  Since this meal, I've made banh xeo at home at least five or six times already.

2012-01-10 Lunch @ Hai Phong Vietnamese Restaurant 海豐越南美食

1246 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC

604-872-3828

Day two of Buddha Boy's flu battle...that means another day of pho.  When Buddha Boy asked me to choose the restaurant, I immediately thought of Hai Phong Vietnamese Restaurant 海豐越南美食, a restaurant that caught my attention every time I drove by.  Located just a couple of blocks east of Green Lemongrass, this restaurant offers better parking and a larger menu. 

Just like most pho restaurants, after we placed our orders (with pho), we were given a plate of bean sprouts, basil and lemon.  Two dipping sauces were also provided to accompany the salad rolls we ordered.  One was a sweetened but diluted fish sauce.  The other was a mix of peanut butter and hoisin sauce.

We ordered two types of salad rolls.  On the left was the Nem Nuong Cuon 燒稔肉沙拉卷 (#F, Grilled Pork Patty Salad Roll).  The meat itself was a little too sweet and too salty, even when it's wrapped in a roll with lettuce and vermicelli.  One the right was the Goi Cuon 越式沙拉卷 (#A, Shrimp & Pork Salad Roll).  In comparison to last night's order at Green Lemongrass (photo), both rolls were weak and small.  Shrimp quality wasn't the greatest.

My bowl of Dat Biet Nuoc Hu Tieu 特別湯麵 (#23, Special Pork Noodle Soup) came first.  The pork broth was light yet rich.  Ample and good varieties including shrimp, squid, pork, pig blood/heart/liver and pork hock.  With a choice of rice noodles, thin egg noodles or both, I went with rice noodles.  Yes, the soup broth was HOT!

Buddha Boy had the Pho Dac Biet 特別牛肉粉 (#1, Special Mixed Beef with Rice Noodle Soup).  Buddha Boy enjoyed the pho broth here a lot more than Green Lemongrass.  He thought it had more depth and more tastes of roasted onions.  Ample amount of meat in a hot soup...perfect for the cold weather!

Despite the miss on the salad rolls, we enjoyed our visit.  Buddha Boy and I plan to visit again to try some other items on the menu...such as Canh Ga Chien 炸雞翼 (#M, Garlic Butter Chicken Wings), Goi Ngo Sen Tom Thit 蝦豬肉連藕絲沙拉卷 (#M, Lotus Salad) and Bo Tai Chanh 生牛肉片配檸檬汁 (#O, Vietnamese Style Beef Sashimi).