bun cha ca hoang yen still delivers exactly what it has always been known for: a reliably busy, no frills spot serving comforting central vietnamese noodle soups and generous rice plates, even after its move and upgrade into a newer space. the highlight remains the bun cha ca. the broth is deeply savoury and aromatic, built around a clear fish based stock with plenty of dill, which gives it that unmistakable herbal lift. it's the kind of soup that tastes layered rather than heavy, with tomato, caramelized onions, and vegetables adding sweetness and depth without overpowering the fish cake. the fish cake is generous, and the noodles have that slightly thick, almost spaghetti like texture that holds onto the broth well. it's a shame they no longer offer the option of a small or large bowl, the portion of noodles and toppings in a single bowl is substantial. the option to have bean sprouts cooked is a thoughtful touch and makes the bowl feel more cohesive and softer overall. the combo set is a solid way to round out the meal. the shrimp salad roll adds freshness and texture contrast, while the vietnamese iced coffee is serviceable, if not particularly memorable. the lemongrass chicken on rice is another strong option, with large portions that easily push the meal into leftovers territory, especially when paired with additional sides like the three bean drink. service remains straightforward, and the restaurant continues to operate on cash or debit only, which keeps things simple but is worth remembering before visiting. overall, the food is still comforting, consistent, and satisfying. it's not trying to be modern or refined, but it doesn't need to be. it's the kind of place people return to for familiar flavours done well, and it's good to see it still busy after all these years. read more

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We ordered three types of noodles. The crab noodle was delicious - different than anything we've had at a Vietnamese restaurant. The noodles had a nice springy texture - also unique from other Vietnamese noodles we've had. We also had the shrimp rolls - nicely filled with shrimp. However the restaurant was a bit warm - they didn't have on enough AC on a hot day. Nonetheless, would definitely recommend! read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

The restaurant was at 3pm on a Sunday - feel like an odd hour to be dining but it's bustling in here! And lots of seating. I had the crab cake soup with vermicelli (not noodle as I was corrected) and unfortunately they don't have pork rice roll. The take out packaging was well done - with everything separated and packaged to be carried up right without tipping over. However I have mixed reviews about the food. Starting with the good, it was delicious - very tasty and the texture of their noodles is 10/10. However I was disappointed with how salty the soup was and I suspect it's the MSG that I'm usually sensitive to on an empty stomach. read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - Take out packaging for crab cake soup vermicelle - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Amazing. I'm from Los Angeles and I kid you not, this was the best Pho place I've ever had and have already raved about it to many friends. Will come again on my next vancouver visit. read more

Food****// love their crab vermicelli really fresh and flavorful. I hope I can check out other dishes next time! Service***// regular service nothing to complain nor call out Ambiance***/ ok environment but for the food I would come bk again I think read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Cuisine: 9 Service: 7 Decor: 6 Value: 8 Overall: 9 This is maybe my favorite restaurant in Vancouver. Or at least the one I visit the most since it has two of my favorite things to eat in the city. I simply can't get enough and enjoyed it once more last week. Those items are the namesake Bun Cha Ca (#24) and Bun Rieu (#23). It's hard to pick a winner between the two because they are both so damn awesome. Bun Cha Ca is extremely refreshing with a refreshing dill flavor in a clean tasting broth. The fish cake in the soup is wonderful. However, I always get another appetizer portion of the fish cakes because it's never enough. The fluffy but bouncy texture of the fish cakes are perhaps the best I ever had. The Bun Rieu is also full of umami. It makes me smile seeing all that crab fat floating on the surface of the soup. As everyone knows, fat is flavor. This bowl of smooth rice noodles also comes with shrimp, cold cuts, roast pork, and tomatoes. This amazing soup noodle is another popular option at this restaurant. Btw, rest of the food here is very tasty as well. I really enjoy their Grilled Lemongrass Pork Chop w/ Steamed Rice (#36) and Grilled Lemongrass Beef/Pork & Minced Meat Patty w/ Vermicelli (#37/#40). Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings (4a) are pretty good too. Spring Rolls (#1), Shrimp Salad Roll (#2), and Green Papaya Shrimp Salad (#5) are decent. They also have Pho Dac Biet (#7) that is well made, but please try the other two noodle soups I mentioned above on your first visit. I wish we had this restaurant in NYC. It would certainly be in my rotation of regulars. As I get older, I'm looking for cleaner, lighter, and less red meat. This restaurant's noodle soups would be perfect. Until we do, I guess I'll have to keep coming back whenever I travel to Vancouver. read more

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Amazing bun rieu. Loved the soup and noodles. Flavourful and filling. The Vietnamese coffee was also delicious and caffeinated. Remember to bring cash! read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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The restaurant was crowded. There was a line but the wait was not too bad, probably 10-20 mins especially for a family of 6. They are efficient and fast. My oldest daughter and I had bun cha ca dac biet and my husband had bun rieu. It was really good actually. The broth is rightfully flavored and the cha ca (fish cake) is fresh not imitate fish. It reminds me of my hubby's hometown. My husband said that's the best bun rieu so far compared to all the places he had it. The place is just like any ordinary Vietnamese restaurant but they ensure to upkeep the cleanliness. We'll come back when we're in town. read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - Bun Cha Ca Dac Biet - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Always a staple in Vancouver for us when we're not sure where to go or when we're thinking about where to take our friends who visit Vancouver. They're highly known for 2 speciality dishes - the #24 Bún Chả Cá Đặc Biệt- Special Fish Cake & Vermicelli in Soup and the #23 Bún Riêu - but what really stood out to me was the #7a, which is the bone in pho. This is probably the best pho I've ever had. Packed with flavour and yet balanced. It does get pretty busy and lively. I would say allocate some time earlier in case you need to line up. I prefer this location compared to the other. read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Honestly, my expectations for this place was low after trying Phnom Penh the night before with disappointment. Walked in, heard Vietnamese music and tv screens of koi fish, and it instantly reminded me of those places in San Jose, CA and Westminster. Already a good start. Ordered the #24 but substitute with crab soup base. This was the move. Very good and was very authentic. Also ordered the nem spring rolls, but that was just meh. Would come back again to try other things on menu. read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - #24 but with crab soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

It's my first experience to Travel from Honolulu- Seattle - Vancouver, so I would love to try out the Bún chả cá @Hoang Yên restaurant, i had bún chả cá tươi # 24 bún cá nóng hổi, nước soup trong, ngọt thơm mùi vị của rau thì là rất đặc trưng, đậm vị, nhiều cá Pho? Đặc biệt very delicious, plenty meats and tendons Yummy read more

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This is a must visit place to eat Vietnamese food. They have move from their old place down the street to a bigger venue. Server is quick to seat and take order. I recommend ordering bun rieu and a side order of cha ca and dunk the cha ca into the bun rieu. Portion is big that my sister and I had to share it. We would definitely come back read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - Side order of Cha Ca - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

A YouTube review basically propelled me to this place to try out their crab noodle soup. When I got there it was packed for a Friday lunchtime with the 90% Asian clientele. This is always a very good sign at an Asian restaurant. I ordered the crab special soup as planned and I found the broth delightful, filled with whatever the term for crab sponge is plus slices of pork, sausage some large shrimp and fried tofu which soaked up the flavours. I also ordered a side dish of a grilled pork chop which I quite enjoyed. Service was fast and parking is right outside on the street. read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - Grilled pork chop side dish - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Came here twice this month!! I'm not particularly the biggest fan, but my mom loves this place whenever we go for Vietnamese food because she claims it's the only place with broth that doesn't make her thirsty when she gets home. Their portions are quite big and everything is always flavourful and on point. I enjoy their rice dishes a lot here! I always opt for number 41. As for their noodles, their special includes a variety of beef and that's always a go-to as well! (#7!!) We got a vermicelli bowl here for the first time and it was just okay! Lots of noodles but it was a little dry. It also would've been easier to eat if it was in a bowl instead of a plate. The shrimp were quite small and burnt. There was also sadly a piece of hair in it. Next time, we'll try the patty instead of the shrimp. Service isn't bad, but nor is it good (especially if you're nor Vietnamese! They do their jobs and get the food to you as soon as they can. It's cash only, so make sure you bring enough!! It's always busy, but people usually eat and go pretty quickly. There's enough seating! They also have two rooms in the back I believe.. which I personally like as it's not so loud. The only downfall is that it may take them longer to service you. read more

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The crab noodles soup was amazing - springy rice noodles drenched in a savoury crab broth and topped with a generous portion of meats, cuttlefish fish and prawns. Add some fresh bean sprouts, lettuce and a squeeze of lemon to just make it perfect. Also had the fried chicken. Though it was tasty it seemed to miss that crunchy and "special seasoning" from That Other Cambodian restaurant. Service was fast and curt. Ethnic background music was loud to cover up the rather noisy toddlers that seem to fill half the place (Young parents, there is a difference between free spirit and running amok). Despite the ear pains the food will draw me back! Cash / Debit only. read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - Crab noodles soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Stopped by mid week around 11 am. Seated at a table immediately...and no line ups. I like how open and clean this new location is. Ordered the pho with rare beef, beef balls and beef ribs. There were two large beef ribs in the pho...wow. The broth was great with the addition of a little chilli oil. Will need to return to try their Bun Cha Ca as I understand that is what they are known for. It was a very positive food experience and happy to recommend Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen. read more

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Best Pho in town! Some days have line-up out the door! The Pho bowls are huge!! Usually order is the Seafood Hot and Sour Noodle Soup and Rare beef and Beef ball soup. The broths are the Best! read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - Seafood Hot and Sour Noodle soup and Rare Beef and Beef Ball soup. - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

The fish cake rice noodle soup is definitely the one to try. It is our go to. Love the flavour in the soup. The beef short ribs vermicelli is great too. Nice customer service. read more

I'm glad to be back here after eating at their old location many years ago! I can definitely see the renovations and improvements. The sign at the front even has a thin waterfall against glass which is really nice to look at haha. Upon entering on a busy Saturday evening for dinner, I lined up behind a few groups of people waiting. There's no name-taking; you just have to physically wait in line and use an honour system to see who is next in line to be seated. It's pretty efficient and fast anyway. The server took our order very quickly and efficiently, which I really valued in my hungry state. I ordered a bun rieu, and my friends and I shared the chicken wings appetizer. The food came out lightning quick! I was so impressed, because it felt like 5 mins since they took our order, and then all our noodle soup dishes came out! The bun rieu was tasty yet light. I liked the big shrimps and fried tofu pieces. I often make bun rieu myself at home actually, but this was a great, lighter option for me! The chicken wings were perfectly cooked, though I felt lacking in a bit of flavour. I still preferred Phnom Penh chicken wings in that regard. Can't wait to keep coming back here! The quick service was very much appreciated. read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - Chicken wings with salt & pepper sauce - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Came by to try out their infamous crab pho and I was pleasantly surprised. There was a good amount of flavour, toppings and noodles in the bowl...enough for me to have left overs! We also ordered a rare beef pho and it was also generous on the portions of noodles and meat! We both felt pretty full and good after our meal but felt quite thirsty hours later from the broth. Service was pretty quick and you pay at the counter when you're done your meal. Highly recommend trying this spot read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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My wife and I are from Seattle, and my wife has a coworker, who is Vietnamese, that would come to this place every time they visit. With that in mind, and being avid pho lovers, we had to make a pit stop here. We came around noon, and this place was bustling. We were hastily seated in a back room (which filled up quite quickly once we sat down). We ordered two orders of the Bun Riêu (crab broth), and I ordered an addition of the spring roll to make mine a combo. While we were waiting, the smell of the dishes coming out of the kitchen was so tantalizing and fragrant - needless to say, we were hyped. Off the bat, the broth warmed our souls after spending most of the day out in the cold. The noodles were fantastic, and there was a great crab aroma to the bowl of goodness. There were pieces of meat that were tender, and surprise pulls of shrimp were delightful. Yet, at the end of the day, I would still prefer a beef-based traditional pho. Something about this, despite its deliciousness, felt a bit lacking, like something was just slightly missing. I can't put a finger on it. Still a great bowl though and worth at least a try. Didn't help that they forgot my spring roll, and after a quick ask of its arrival, I got thrown a couple fried egg rolls. I get it - the kitchen is packed and busy during peak hour, and maybe they thought I wouldn't tell the difference. But my knowledge of Vietnamese cuisine isn't that paltry, so this was a slight disappointment. Overall, great bowl and food that's unique and special - not something you'd fine everyday in a pho shop. Definitely worth trying at least once! But I'm still going to stick to my traditional meat cuts. read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - Bun Riêu - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

This spot has been on my radar for a few months for the Pho Dac Biet. They delivered a large steaming bowl of herbaceous broth that had a buttery smell and springy noodles. Chock full of stalks of greens, tender fish cake and amazing fish balls. The side dish of veggies were super fresh the obligatory bean sprouts but also lime, fiery red pepper, medium jalapeno, lettuce and basil. Service was terrific, quick and friendly. This is a nice clean and modern spot to enjoy an authentic Vietnamese meal. I loved my preserved lemon soda too! read more

Haven't been to Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen in ages. Their new spot is much more spacious. We dropped in on a packed Friday evening (8:15pm). Very short wait time. Teapot brought to our table. - Herbs - bean sprouts, basil, lettuce, bird's eye peppers and lemon wedges. - Make it a combo ($5.00) - standard spring rolls. Not worth the price point. - Bun rieu (#23) ($17.95) - good portion of slightly firmer noodles. Broth was light, lacking depth. - Bun cha ca dac biet (#24) ($16.95) - broth lacked complexity. Best bites were the fish balls, noodles a tad soft. - Pho tai, bo vien (#9) ($16.95) - better than expected. Star anise was prominent. Cash or debit only. Bowls aren't quite as satisfying as back in the day. 3.5 stars. read more

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Wow so delicious!! And you know it's good when a long line forms outside. Thankfully the line moved fast and we only waited less than 10 min. I got the pho with rare steak and fish balls and brisket. The soup base was so good!! We also shared spring rolls and egg rolls. Very delicious (including the dipping sauces)!! Staff is very friendly and recognizes their regulars. Their decor is nice! read more

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Bun Cha Ca Dac Biet ($15.95) 7.5/10 I was torn between trying the crab soup and the famed fish cake. Luckily the resto allows us to change the soup base for additional charge ($4). The crab soup was unique in a good way, with plenty of crab, egg, and tomato in the broth. My friend ordered the same in the traditional broth, which is full of dill and tasted lighter versus the crab version. The fish cake was also quite good for me who typically doesn't like them. All in all, really good place to order pho regardless if which soup base you choose. Beware that I felt super thirsty after eating here, so perhaps they were over generous with their msg. Bun Thit Nuong Cha Giao ($17.95) 5/10 My friend got this and said it was alright. The spring roll, pork lemongrass, and dipping sauce were just okay. Decent alternative if you don't want soup I guess. read more

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Service was quick. They try really hard to get you seated as soon as possible. The problem is that means it's not a first come first serve. They seat based on number of available seats. If you have table of 5, they will seat 2 groups of 2 or even 2 groups of 4 before they seat you. So it was a bit disappointing in the lack of orderly coordination for seating. The bowl is not as large as you think. The top is round and then is narrows down, giving the illusion of a large bowl but it's not. So don't share. And the meat is thinly sliced, so not a large chunk of fish cake. Again, don't share. You'll be hungry. The soup broth is clear and flavorful. Ambiance. Loud and casual. It's not fine dining but it's definitely good for lunch or quick dinner. read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Popped in for the first time since the new location for pre dinner. Setting got an upgrade and it was very spacious and better lit. Absolutely long over due considering how popular the original location was. Congrats to Team Hoang Yen. Tried the Fried Fish cake and it was not my jam, its texture reminds me of imitation crab or Korean fish cake tier level. For 6 bite size pieces that is almost $3 a bite. I'll pass. To be fair, I love making shrimp cakes and fish cakes at home, I understand the amount of protein needed to make protein cake. It just feels super watered down and doughy with no real crunch or flavour. Their Soup (23?/24?) was much better than last time. The sliced pork hock was executed well (no pork hair! yay!!!), a variety of sliced ham, and the poached crab/egg was not over cooked or under seasoned. Broth was nice. Last note, I was thirsty post meal. I really hope they consider toning down their flavour enhancers. read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Generously sized portions of everything from rice to dry noodle and soup noodle dishes. Good variety of starters and drinks as well. Recommend for some great Viet food. read more

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Absolutely love their crab pho (bun rieu)! The restaurant is very spacious and clean. Staff is attentive and is quick in getting your order and bringing your food. read more

Simply put, their trademark crab soup is unbelievably great! After hearing about it, I was so happy to finally stop in to try it myself and man alive it exceeded my expectations! So much depth of flavour and full of quality ingredients. Service was prompt and friendly, and the place is pretty steady in its flow of hungry and happy customers. A must try! read more

Hands down my favorite pho in Vancouver and probably even the best I've had anywhere including the states. This place is literally the perfect for a good ol' hangover pho. So far I've been here three times the past month and I got their Bun Rieu every single time. The broth is super flavorful, packed with the egg and crab, as well as other toppings with a few large slices of tomato. It came with a side of sprouts and chopped lettuce (only available with bun rieu). I always add those in early so it can soak in the plethora of flavors in the broth. Every time I've come here, I've been lucky enough to not have to wait and we're always seated promptly and our orders taken shortly after. Prices here seem decent as are their portions. Though anything here compared to back home in the states is of course more value haha. Overall 10/10 would recommend! I definitely will be back soon! read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - bun rieu - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen is quite a treat if you're in the area and craving some seriously authentic Vietnamese noodle soup. Caveat: it's cash only, so be prepared to make a quick trip to the nearest ATM if you're like me and usually rely on Apple Pay. We made it to Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen on a random weekday on a rental car because our kids crave noodle. this is nowhere near the typical Vancouver tourist scene. We made an effort to get here. As usual, we arrived at an odd hour at 4pm (IYKYK as a parent) to avoid the crowd. The wait wasn't too bad when we went, but the place got packed fairly quickly after we got in. Let's cut to the chase. You got to get the Dac Biet. They loaded the toppings and the broth was rich and flavorful. It's the kind of dish that makes you appreciate the care that goes into Vietnamese cooking. The restaurant itself is quite clean for just how many attendees turnover. Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen is well worth the drive for us, and it's definitely going to be on my list the next time I'm in town after I make a trip to the ATM first,. Don't forget to bring cash! read more

Recommended by a friend who has never steered us wrong, we quite enjoyed this restaurant. I ordered the pho raw beef with beef balls (#9) and combination rice with lemongrass pork chop, lemongrass chicken, and fried egg (#48). Each dish was roughly $19-20, but plenty of food: me and my two kids couldn't finish these two dishes. The pho was great, but I found the broth to be a bit light for my liking. Kids gobbled it up. Raw beef was quite lean, but tasty. And the noodles were perfect with the ample bean sprouts provided. The com rice combo was great: favourite was the lemongrass chicken, so I'll probably only get that next time. The pork chop was flavourful as well, and fried egg as you'd expect in such a dish. I expected the rice to have more flavour--like maybe some kind of sauce drizzled over it--but it just had a tiny bit of scallion oil. All said, the meal was good value for today's prices, and I would consider coming back again. Service was no-nonsense and efficient, but polite. The one thing I had to dock for was: I went to the washroom after eating and asked my daughter to get the check, and when I came back, I found they had kicked us off the table to seat someone else. Felt like they could've waited the one minute instead of booting two girls off ... You do have to line up outside and simply wait your turn. It's always 10-15 people deep, but the line moves quickly so it's only maybe 5-8 minutes wait usually. read more

Came here because my friend & I went to an omakase and Chef Jin really recommended this spot. He knew we only had a few days in Vancouver and said this was his absolute favorite Vietnamese restaurant. Service was good & food was excellent. Prices were fair. I got a cha gio (spring roll) and #8 beef pho. My friend got a bun rieu (crab special soup with rice noodles). The couple next to us asked us what we ordered because they wanted the same thing. We were very satisfied with the food. The restaurant is big and we came at a time where there was no line, but we stood there waiting because there were no staff around. read more

Very good place for noodle soups. They have lots of style of noodle soups like hieu teiu and pho. But They are known for their bun cha ca dac biet and bun rieu which what my family got. Their food were good and yummy. The place itself is modern and clean. This place can get very busy so if you go during their prime time lunch or dinner, it may be hard to get the worker to come to you. You may have to wait a little bit until they come to you before you can place your orders with the waiter. Other than that, I don't mind coming back here again whenever i visit vancouver again read more

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i've had this place bookmarked for my vancouver visit! i'm always looking for good bun rieu and this place totally didn't disappoint. it was so gooooood, might even be the best i had! it was #23 on their menu. the broth was so good. they also add a lot of meat, shrimp! my husband got #7 and enjoyed his dish a lot too. this place is pretty big but gets busy! we went at the right time (early lunch) before it got crowded. next time, i want to try their fish cake soup! that sounded amazing too. read more

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The portion sizes are very generous and all the noodle and rice dishes are awesome! I really enjoyed the crab soup noodles and the fish cake appetizer. The only dish I wasn't a fan of was the chicken wings. The flavor on the outside crispy skin is there, but the chicken itself was quite bland for some reason. read more

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen - Vietnamese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Since moving to the location, the food is not as good . The location is much bigger and nicer but the food has gone downhill. Used to love the crab soup noodle but their soups have way too much msg now. I was so thirsty and couldn't wait to get home. I literally live 2 min drive from this place but was dying of thirst. I definitely won't be having their soup noodles ever again. The rice dishes are better but honestly there are so many eateries on Vic drive that are better. Their prices have increased a lot so I don't see the value at this place anymore since their food is only mediocre now. I don't think I'll come here again. I rather eat at Hoi An a few blocks away. Their food and pho is much better. read more

Long standing busy restaurant on Victoria Drive. This location is new-ish while the original smaller location a few doors down has closed. Another location on Kingsway is about to open soon. Such success is no surprise. Their pho soup is so hearty. If you think you've had a good one already, you haven't tasted Hoang Yen's. It tastes homemade with less MSG that doesn't leave you dry and thirsty. Service is quick too. Behind its success is Mr Vo, the humble and friendly owner. You'll see him collecting plates and bowls, cleaning tables and pushing the trolley. read more

Highly recommended restaurant! I'm a soup lover and this restaurant did not disappoint. The service was quick and we asked for cooked bean sprouts and it came in minutes. Friendly service that helped one of our party members to decide when he had 2 options. Dishes/bowls are large portions so can be shared. read more