Winner
Golden Bell
Many Calgarians have popped into Golden Bell’s 17th Avenue S.W. location for a wonton soup or banh mi on the go. The next time you’re there (or at its locations in Bridgeland or Glamorgan), try the restaurant’s bun cha ha noi, a popular dish of grilled pork patties with vermicelli and sides.
Three Calgary locations, goldenbell.ca, @goldenbellrestaurant
Runners-up
Paper Lantern
A literal hidden gem, this Vietnamese cocktail bar is discreetly tucked away in the basement of a building in Chinatown. Once you find it, snack on shrimp crackers or beef carpaccio or dig into dishes like pineapple stir fry, pork belly skewers or crispy crepes, all while sipping refreshing cocktails like the Pandan Pain Killer.
115 2 Ave. S.E. (downstairs), 403-457-7765, paperlantern.ca, @paperlanternyyc
Một Tô
Offering a modern twist on sharable Vietnamese cuisine, this banh mi and pho bar was brought to us by the team behind Pho Dau Bo. Guests can tuck into dishes like the pho grilled cheese, crab and pork tomato soup, roasted bone marrow, vermicelli and more.
​​1609 Centre St. N.W., mottovietnamese.com, @mottoyyc
Pho Dau Bo
Calgarians have frequented this Forest Lawn restaurant for its popular pho since 2008, but the vermicelli bowls, rice dishes and sharing plates like bo tai chanh also score big. The sister restaurant to Một Tô, Pho Dau Bo contributes $1 to Mealshare on select dishes from its menu to support its partner charities, and also offers delivery.
4909 17 Ave. S.E., 403-272-5160, phodaubovietnamese.com, @phodaubo
Oriental Phoenix
Every broth, sauce and marinade on the menu of this family-owned-and-operated restaurant is made from scratch and slow cooked using the Du-Huynh matriarch’s secret recipes. Head to Oriental Phoenix for comforting and traditional recipes that highlight seafood, beef, pork and chicken with French, Chinese and Indian influences, based on the family’s south Vietnamese regional roots.
401 9 Ave. S.W., 403-262-3633, orientalphoenix.ca; and 104 58 Ave. S.E., 403-253-8189, orientalphoenix.net