Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Fat Mao

    4.0 (281 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 8:30 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Fat Mao Takeout or Delivery

    Fat Mao Photos

    Business Info

    FAT MAO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Fat Mao

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Shuang W.

    I came here because the other restaurant on the same street had too long of a line. And I regretted coming here. I honestly don't get the hype and why people say the food is good, it is not. I do like the deco, since I'm a cat person. But food wise I won't come back.

    Kate T.

    Actually really good! We were originally skeptical and debated whether to go to the ramen place next door but decided to give Fat Mao a try instead. The wait was fairly long (maybe 30 mins?) for a table for 4 but the servers were friendly and nice. We ordered 3 noodles: tom yum kung with glass noodles, kao soi with egg noodles, and duck noodles with flour noodles. Our favourite was the tom yum kung which was sooo flavourful and hearty! The duck noodles were good too but we found the soup base a little sweet for our liking. The kao soi was very tasty but we didn't love the noodles as much. The place itself was small and cozy.

    Vegetarian cauliflower and tofu khao soi curry
    Dana S.

    They only have one vegetarian entree, the cauliflower and tofu khao soi, but it's GOOD. The khao soi curry broth was very flavourful and rich. Perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and tart. They prepared the tofu in a way that made it spongy and absorbent of the broth. Huge portion. I came close, but couldn't quite finish my bowl, as much as I would have liked to. Good Thai iced tea too! The service was good; the staff were polite and the food came out in a timely manner. They weren't busy when we showed up around 5:30, but by the time we left it was full since it's not a big place.

    Cindy C.

    02.09.26 @11:33am Walk in for a table of 2. We actually the first customer of the day. Friendly service. Not sure the hype recommendation for here. The curry is not the taste of the curry i was hoping for and the braised duck noodle is a-bit on the sweet side. Guess is just not my cup of tea.

    Tom yum gong noodle soup with Shanghai noodles
    Mimi W.

    Small Thai noodle shop in Chinatown with limited seating. We waited about 10 minutes on a Friday afternoon. Service was just okay. When we came back after stepping away, there was no line and only my name left on the waitlist, but the new host questioned it and had to confirm before seating us. Felt unnecessary given there was no wait. 2.5/5 for ambiance and service given it was expected. We got the Tom Yum Goong noodle soup, which was a bit salty, but otherwise a good bowl of noodle soup, nothing special I would go out of the way for. Same with Hot & Sour Pork noodle soup. They were presented nicely, but for noodle soups that were $20+, the value wasn't there. A bit pricey given the ambiance and location. 3.5/5 for taste and value.

    Roti with Curry
    Victoria M.

    This is probably one of the most random places to have the best noodle soup in your life! I had their hot & sour pork noodles & it was delicious. I came with a friend who loves this place and got what he ordered. It did not disappoint! Owners/servers were so nice. Great service, delicious food

    Braised Duck Noodles
    Maling S.

    What a fantastic lunch at Fat Mao Noodles in Chinatown today! The place was absolutely bustling, but it was so worth the wait. It was my first time trying it out, though my husband had been raving about it, declaring it the "best soup noodles ever!" (I, of course, had to tease him about who he went with if it was my first time! ) Stepping through the narrow door, the restaurant might be small, but it immediately felt like being welcomed into a friend's home. We kicked things off with their delicious roti and curry--definitely a must-share starter. Then, we dove into the main event: the most incredible, fall-off-the-bone Braised Duck Noodles (duck leg in aromatic soy broth) and a rich, Spicy Boat Noodle soup (rich beef & pork broth with sliced shin & meatballs). A huge bonus? You can customize your noodle type! I did change the noodles from Shanghai wide noodles to glass vermicelli noodles for my dietary needs. Every dish was simply so good, especially the broth, which was incredibly rich and flavourful. The staff were really nice, checking in on us after our food arrived to make sure everything was perfect. We'll definitely be back for more.

    Tom yum goong and Khai soi curry
    Elizabeth H.

    The soup as super tasty and comforting! I appreciate our server being very honest on which noodles would pair well with specific broths. I tried to order my tom yum goong originally with pho noodles and she said no, you choose between these noodle options - I always appreciate positive intervention. No one wants their experience ruined :) the location is small and quaint but still lots of seating. Not overly crowded either! The only downside was walking through Chinatown to get there - not their fault at all, just something to be aware of.

    Platha & Dip
    Huiya Z.

    Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Honestly, it was the best restaurant I had in Vancouver. I went three times during my trip. It was SOOO GUDD. It became a routine to stop by Fat Mao's for a light snack since it was literally downstairs from my Airbnb. Platha & Dip: 5/5 - So good that I ordered it every time I went. Thai Boat Noodles: 5/5 - Never had Thai boat noodles in my life, but I think I found my favorite Thai dish! Creamy Tom Yum Noodle: 4.5/5 - It's good, but the Thai boat noodles are the best.

    Khao Soi
    John C.

    I remember going to Fat Mao a long time ago when it first opened. I remember trying their braised duck noodle, and was honestly unimpressed, so I never went back. What made me decide to return? I discovered boat noodles recently, and very few places in Vancouver serve it. I noticed Fat Mao had it so I decided to give it a try I visited during the weekend. It was busy so I had to wait about 20 min for a table to open up. They were pretty accurate with the wait time and were seated 20 min later. We already knew what we wanted so we ordered immediately. - Spicy Boat Noodle: Not bad. It's decent, but not nearly as good as other places I've tried. The soup is a bit flat and lacks depth. - Khao Soi: Good. I haven't had a lot of Khao Soi, but it was good as I've had elsewhere. Braised Chicken was tender and easy to eat. Service was quick and friendly enough. Overall, I thought it was acceptable. Khaoi Soi was good, but Boat Noodle was so-so. It's a small space, so not a lot of seating. I would consider going back if in the neighbourhood and not busy, but didn't feel it was worth a 20 min wait.

    Khao soi
    Heather T.

    Rich, deep, flavourful broths. If you're looking to get a noodle soup fix other than pho, then this is the spot! I've been here twice, first time I had their special (forgot what it was) and second time I ordered the khao soi. I've been to Chiang Mai and had many bowls of khao soi and this place is nearly there with the flavours. The price per bowl is a little steep (mid $20s) but the uniqueness of their offerings and the flavour punch is worth every penny. Must try!

    Green bean mix
    Deb C.

    Ordered braised duck noodles, chili green beans, Thai iced tea and lychee lemonade. All delicious except green beans weren't what I was expecting - they were kind of like ... julienned stalks of gai lan. Good crispy flavour though with crispy bits of garlic. We shared all except our drinks. I loved my lychee lemonade! I could get that again on a hot day. Broth for soup was good. I forgot to ask for no cilantro but I just discovered my friend doesn't like it either. I could see that portion of braised duck noodles being very filling for one person. Better to share and try other things! We were able to split the bill evenly between us which was great.

    Spicy boar noodle
    Taylor K.

    Small little spot. I had to visit since I was in the area and my brother in law raves about this place. I got seated right since I was a table of one. I got a bar seat by the window which I was happy about since I love people watching (no, not a creeper but who doesn't love to people watch lol). I got their spicy boat noodle with wide noodles against their recommended noodle (they recommend thin rice noodle) but I love the chewiness of flour noodles so I decided to be the rebel. I am not sure if it was the noodle or the soup itself but I didn't love it. I liked it and it was good but it wasn't a flavour that knocked the socks off my feet. I am willing to give it another go but I might try their Khai Soi Chicken curry soup next time since that is the one my brother in law absolutely raves about. The restaurant is quite small. It can accommodate a big group but you probably will have to wait since there is a limited space. If you are in the area and looking for a unique noodle spot, I would definite recommend this place. Maybe try the Khai Soi chicken or maybe not. You do you!!!

    Restaurant front

    See all

    Photo of Tara H.
    322
    940
    1949

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Cristy L.
    204
    122
    201

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adel W.
    407
    833
    2907

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ashley C.
    12
    11
    23

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Luke Y.
    307
    177
    1106

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 16
    Thanks 0
    Love this 16
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Wilson L.
    138
    1851
    3088

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Matt B.
    36
    1564
    2529

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jason H.
    0
    30
    176

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 8

    Fat Mao Reviews in Other Languages

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Asian Fusion 726 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Zab Zaab Thai Cuisine

    Zab Zaab Thai Cuisine

    4.5
    (58 reviews)
    1.8 km

    We needed a nice quiet place for dinner and the oyster bar across the street was, no bueno. We…read moresauntered over to Zab Zaab and had a wonderful meal. The service was spot on and very pleasant. We enjoyed a wonderful and meal with some delicious appetizers. I read the reviews and specifically asked for crispy calamari and it was melt in your mouth delicious. Prawn pad Thai and the curry were very good. I enjoyed the spring rolls which were fresh with crisp filling. Definitely a can't go wrong spot for me.

    it was our first time visiting the restaurant and it was very busy at dinner. Our server was very…read morenice, friendly and provided valuable suggestions when we ordered We ordered 2 appetizers (calamari and chicken satay, i forgot to take picture of the satay!) and 1 entree (salmon penang curry). The chicken satay was definitely very good, flavorful and tender. The peanut sauce goes very well with the meat. Downside was the calamari, the pieces are quite big which make it not as crispy as it would be. Our favorite was the salmon penang curry. the coconut flavor of the curry together with the sweetness make it a very well balanced item. it went very well with the jasmine rice. We also tried the mango sticky rice. the warm sticky rice went perfectly well with the sweetness of the mango. very well made I would love to visit again to try other items on the list which caught my eyes

    Photos
    Zab Zaab Thai Cuisine
    Mango sticky rice
    Mango sticky rice
    Chicken Pad Thai

    See all

    Chicken Pad Thai
    Fat Mao Noodles

    Fat Mao Noodles

    4.4
    (122 reviews)
    2.0 km
    $$

    I went about 5mins after they opened for lunch and was seated immediately, though there were…read morealready several groups inside. I got the vegetarian cauliflower and tofu khao soi curry (with wonton noodles) - it was delicious, flavorful, and perfect on a cold rainy day. Service was very friendly and the food came out quickly. This restaurant is great for solo dining - I went by myself and sat at the counter next to two women who were also dining solo.

    fat mao was busy when we visited around noon on a sunday and we ended up sitting at the bar. the…read morespace has a casual, modern feel with an open kitchen and a pretty lively atmosphere. unfortunately, there was a strong burnt grease smell hanging through the restaurant that was hard to ignore during the meal. our party of two ordered the khao soi chicken curry ($24) and the braised duck noodles ($26). one thing fat mao does well is the freshness of the ingredients. both dishes came with fresh bean sprouts, a lime wedge, cilantro, and a choice of noodles, which added nice brightness and texture. the presentation was appealing and both bowls looked carefully put together. i had the khao soi chicken curry with clear rice sheet noodles, those soft, silky, wide translucent rice noodles, but they didn't really unfold or separate nicely and felt like they may have been slightly overcooked. the broth was a rich, creamy northern thai style curry with crispy noodles and pickled mustard greens. while it had good flavour, it leaned a bit salty overall. the braised chicken leg also didn't taste freshly cooked, which was disappointing. my friend had the braised duck noodles with shanghai wide noodles. the aromatic soy broth was comforting and the duck was tender, though the seasoning again came across a bit salt heavy. overall, fat mao was okay. the fresh garnishes and nice presentation were highlights, but the strong saltiness, chicken that didn't taste freshly made, and the lingering burnt grease smell took away from the experience. not a bad meal, but not one i'd be in a rush to go back for.

    Photos
    The interior
    The interior
    Fried egg salad
    Fried egg salad
    Vegetarian cauliflower and tofu khao soi (with wonton noodles)

    See all

    Vegetarian cauliflower and tofu khao soi (with wonton noodles)
    Unchai Thai Restaurant

    Unchai Thai Restaurant

    4.4
    (106 reviews)
    3.7 km

    The thai food here is great!! I got the pad se ew with chicken and it's very flavorful and the…read morethick noodles are very chewy. It's small pieces of chicken throughout so I wished there was more bigger pieces of chicken. My friend got the boat noodle and he enjoyed it although the med spicy was definitely a little too spicy. The service was good and the place was nice and clean. There isn't too many tables so you may have to wait if there's a lot of people

    4.5/5 Came here around 6:30pm on a Saturday and we put our…read morename down. There were about 3 people ahead of us and we were called and seated in about 20 minutes. My partner really wanted to try their Boat Noodle for a while now so we were quite excited to try that dish. The waiter was nice and recommended a couple dishes for us. Som Tum (Papaya Salad) 3/5 The texture was nice and it tasted refreshing but it is QUITE spicy. I appreciate the authentic Thai spice level but it was too spicy for us. I liked the sourness and I know this rating is a very personal rating based on our spice tolerance. Roti with Curry Sauce 3.75/5 Nice, flaky roti that wasn't too oily. I wish there was a little more sauce. Pad See Ew with Crab Meat 4/5 Great flavor. There was a decent number of clumped up noodle but the portion was great. Good amount of crab as well. Boat Noodle Soup 4.25/5 This was the best boat noodle we had so far. Flavorful broth with generous portion of various meats. There could be an option to get more noodles but my partner got this and she was satisfied with the amount since there were good chunks of meat. Good heat that creeps up. Roselle Drink 3.75-4.5/5 Great compliment to the dishes as it lightened and refreshed our pallette. Slightly sour. It tasted better with the food than by itself. Thai Milk Tea 3.5/5 Good enough. Wasn't the best but wasn't bad. Rainbow Sweet Sticky Rice 4.25/5 We were surprised it came in a cup and that it was soup-ier than we imagined. I was hoping that they had mango sticky rice but we thoroughly enjoyed the coconut I think it's also important to keep in mind that this is a relatively fast paced restaurant. There is some wait so you want to finish your food, pay, and leave. The staff was nice but we could tell that they wanted to keep the flow. We would be coming back again for sure! We loved the staff and the food.

    Photos
    Unchai Thai Restaurant
    Moo tod prik tai dum (deep fried pork loin) $14, tamarind sauce not pictured
    Moo tod prik tai dum (deep fried pork loin) $14, tamarind sauce not pictured
    Moo Grob Pad Thai

    See all

    Moo Grob Pad Thai

    Fat Mao - asianfusion - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...