Vietnamese Restaurants in Banff

“Had some Bánh Mì (satay beef) and it was nice but had a lot more veg than meat which was disappointing. The fried dumplings I had were great. Mango juice was nice- had some ice in it though which I wasn't expecting but still good.
Price was good.“

“We came here after visiting Lake Louise on an absolutely freezing day, and a big bowl of hot pho was exactly what our group needed to warm up. It was my first time at Pho House — a friend brought us, saying it’s a good Vietnamese spot.

Looking at the menu, I did get the sense that it leans more Chinese than Vietnamese. I ordered the Special Pho, expecting the usual combination of rare beef, fatty brisket, tendon, and tripe. To my surprise, there was no tendon or brisket (just a light sprinkling of tripe — and I mean sprinkling), and instead of brisket it came with meatballs. As someone who loves pho and has had some amazing bowls in NYC, maybe my palate is a bit spoiled — but I do have certain expectations when it comes to a “special” pho.

Another difference: the bean sprouts and herbs were already placed in the soup rather than served on the side. Personally, I prefer adding them myself (and I’m not a fan of bean sprouts sitting in the broth), but I didn’t have much choice here. The broth itself was hearty, though it had a slightly sweet aftertaste that gave it more of a Chinese-style pho flavor rather than a traditional Vietnamese one.

We also ordered the lemongrass grilled pork over rice, which again tasted more Chinese-inspired than Vietnamese. The crispy spring rolls (cha gio) weren’t particularly Vietnamese in style either — but they were a surprise hit because they were genuinely tasty.

Overall, the food is good — just not what I would strictly categorize as Vietnamese cuisine. The space is large and comfortable, and the staff were attentive.

One logistical note: the restaurant is located on the 3rd floor. We had a senior with us, and getting her up three flights of stairs was quite challenging. We only discovered afterward that there’s an elevator on the other side of the building, which we used on the way down. It would really help if there were clearer signs indicating elevator access.

In short: good food, warm and filling on a cold day — just not the traditional Vietnamese pho experience I was expecting.“