My favourite Vietnamese spots are Xe Lua and Golden Turtle but is there somewhere else I should try? I don’t want pho. Prefer bun. I went to Tien Thanh on Ossington and absolutely hated it. It’s rated so highly I couldn’t have been more surprised.
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I also often order bun. I also like broken rice platters.
I was pretty happy with my recent bun at Ca Phe Rang.
I also liked some dishes I ordered at Pho Phuong on Dundas West, which one can order online through Ritual.
I have enjoyed Anh Dao.
I like Hem Social, at 1424 Dundas W, which is a little more expensive than some of the cheaper spots. https://instagram.com/hemsocialto?igshid=MTNiYzNiMzkwZA==
I like the banh mi at Rustle and Still.
A new Vietnamese Bakery called Sweet Sunset has opened at College and Manning, where Kiss My Pans had been before they relocated. So far, I have only ordered Vietnamese coffee. They have some savoury foods as well as sweets.
I like Coffee Dak Lak on College near Spadina for coffee. The food looks good. https://www.daklakkitchen.ca/
I plan to try Ox Tail Pho on Dundas W near Palmerston.
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Hanoi 3 Seasons, if you don’t mind heading east of the Don.
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You’re incredibly patient. Thanks so much for curating all of this for me.
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Sadly too far but I’ll check out their offerings for when I have transport. Thank you!
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You’re welcome! Happy to connect some links. Thanks for making a Vietnamese thread.
Hem is more hipster than the others. I want to return. They make some specials each weekend that they post on IG.
Ca Phe Rang is also more hipster, and Matty Matheson is involved. Very limited menu, just 2 phos, 1 bun, wings, banh mi, but I think maybe more care was taken. I only tried the meatball bun.
I have been to the vegetarian Saigon Lotus twice, which has generous portions. I have not been back recently.
I also want to try Pho Linh on College
https://pho-linh-restaurant.business.site/
Vietnamese hipster brunch available at Dzo, haven’t been yet
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Has anyone seen a restaurant serving Beef 7 Ways downtown?
Does anyone know of a restaurant making a good Bò Kho (Vietnamese beef stew)
I liked the pork chop from Pho Linh.
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I don’t know if they still do but I had it at Rua Vang (Golden Turtle) more than a decade ago. I think it was one of their specials that they have on the board occasionally. Nowadays we go to the burbs for our our Vietnamese food.
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Thank you!
https://www.reddit.com/r/FoodToronto/s/MUAMyxhLed
Bò Kho is also on the menu at Pho Ha Noi, which I will try soon!
https://www.doordash.com/en-NZ/store/pho-ha-noi-toronto-24158347/
Thanks, I will take a look.
I had tried the Beef 7 Ways with former Chowhound GoaGirl and her husband in 2019 at the Vietnamese spot on Bathurst near Dundas, which closed around 2020 and became a Popeye’s.
There’s actually a restaurant with the dish as it’s namesake. Here’s someone’s take of it:
Interestingly they did a takeout shootout! 
This is not a meal I’d recommend takeout because it doesn’t keep or travel well. Wait for outdoor patio weather if you can.
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Thanks!
I ordered take-out from Hem Social on Dundas W again tonight.
Tofu mushroom bun
Satay shrimp
Shrimp roll
and a lychee iced tea.
I like their food. I guess it’s a bit bougie and expensive, compared to Pho Phuong a block away on Dundas W, or Pho Linh on College and the menu is much smaller.
Everything tastes fresh. I have liked what I’ve ordered.
I have ordered take-out 3 times now.
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have been reluctant to cough up the extra for hem, but maybe i should? meanwhile, it’s been xe lua consistently for us especially since they have the different satay skewers to complement our meal - we share a pho. i read either in blogto or streetsoftoronto about a new and different-sounding menu item vietnamese spot - dundas and university. can’t recall the name right now and it’s not on google maps yet . anyone know or been there?
Hem Social does cost more. It’s a nice little restaurant. Tables not too close together.
I don’t know if the shrimp might be better quality or bigger at Hem Social. I had a reaction after a meal at a cheap and cheerful Vietnamese meal elsewhere, so I’ve been wary of some cheap places. I didn’t like the crab omelette at place a while back.
There used to be an upscale Vietnamese restaurant called Lalot, which had clay pot chicken and other cooked dishes, rather than being focused on pho and bun. I miss that place a lot. Toronto isn’t always ready for mid-range or upscale Asian food that isn’t Japanese.
Hem Social isn’t quite at that Lalot level.
I guess go with what you’re comfortable with.
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Would love to know if there is an omni Vietnamese place with good/interesting vegan bun or summer rolls. Most bun come with spring roll and summer rolls filled with mostly rice noodles and basil/mint. Looking for a place for both mr leny and myself. He is not vegan/vegetarian.
Thank you!
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Saigon Lotus is vegan, but many of their dishes have mock meats. Their mock meats are so good that Mr Leny will think that he’s eating the real thing. There’s a location in Kensington Market and a second location that just opened up on Yonge, south of Bloor.
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Thank you … we have been and want to try somewhere new.
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