It may be hard to believe, but we actually have a lot of great Vietnamese restaurants in Calgary. In fact, they’re among our staff’s favorite haunts when mealtimes come!
And of course, we’d love to share our passion for good food with you! So, without further ado, let’s go on a food trip and check out the city’s top Vietnamese restaurants.
Table of Contents
How We Chose the Best Vietnamese Restaurants in Calgary
Before anything else, take a look at the criteria we used to evaluate the restaurants:
1. Song Huong Vietnamese Restaurant
| Menu | 4/5 |
| Ambience | 4/5 |
| Good value (A higher score means better value) | 5/5 |
| Service quality | 5/5 |
Song Huong Vietnamese Restaurant is one of our go-to places, having been among our favorites for a long while. The Vietnamese food experience here feels very genuine, thanks to the delicious meal and welcoming ambiance.
With only a few modern touches, their food is almost unrivaled in its authenticity. In fact, they serve a wide range of authentic Hue-style Vietnamese cuisine, including soups, appetizers, rice, and noodle dishes.
We fell in love with their Bun Bo Hue and its generous portions. However, we can’t rave about the overall taste of the food – not that it’s bad, it’s just that we’ve had it better somewhere else.
For example, their Bun Bo Hue has a great balance of sour and spicy flavors that’s also a little sweet. But we also wish there were more Thai basil, as all the veggies we had were mostly lettuce and cabbage.
What we’d suggest you try first though is their Bo Tai Chanh (raw beef salad), which we found truly delicious and fresh. The rare beef soup is also a good place to start, especially if you don’t want something too salty while you dine.
While the overall food quality is good, we can’t help but feel off with their food preparation. We find it difficult to eat through their small plates and bowls, and considering the portion sizes, it often ends in a messy meal.
Fortunately, their staff is very accommodating and assists diners with a look of vibrance as they approach. Or it might just be the lighting inside the place that makes everything feel homier than it is – we favor either, nonetheless.
Finally, what truly makes this restaurant stand out is the family-friendly prices. The meals are affordable, leaving you full of the feeling that you really got your money’s worth.
Pros
- Serves traditional Vietnamese cuisine
- Wide range of authentic Hue-style Vietnamese dishes
- Every dish is combined and topped with Vietnamese herbs
- Offers signature dishes
- Generous food portions
- Online ordering available
Cons
- Small bowls and plates
- No delivery services (take-out only)
Generous portions, must try
A staple of Vietnamese Restaurants in Calgary. Must try the bun bo hue. Generous portions. XL is quite big for those with a big appetite. Bo Tai Chanh is rare to see on menus as its just rare beef, but is amazing to have everytime. 2 must have items off the menu everytime. – Albert Mah
Best place for authentic Vietnamese food
Everything about this restaurant is amazing. One of the best place to get authentic Vietnamese food, if not the best in Calgary. – Vivian Nguyen
2. Bolsa Vietnamese
| Menu | 5/5 |
| Ambience | 4/5 |
| Good value (A higher score means better value) | 4/5 |
| Service quality | 4/5 |
Bolsa Vietnamese has been serving Vietnamese cuisine to Calgary customers since 2005. This humble restaurant was a gem of a find in the neighborhood – we almost couldn’t believe we hadn’t dined here until recently.
Now, the first thing we noticed was that the place was packed with customers when we arrived. We were greeted by their friendly staff, who let us in and immediately assigned us a table, reducing our potentially long waiting time.
Despite being crammed, their staff quickly took our order and happily recommended their best-selling cuisine (head’s up though, we ordered on our own accord). The food took about a half hour to arrive, something we understand given the situation.
While we normally hate waiting too long for our orders, we feel redeemed by the taste of each meal. Their noodle soups, for instance, were boosted by a strong flavor – quite surprising since they said they don’t use seasonings.
— image from @armondmehrabian on Instagram
The usual dishes (rice, meat or seafood dish, vegetable dish) were also what we expect, albeit not as tasty as they appear. The Pho Ga in particular though, was perfect with flavorful broth and chicken that’s tender and not super salty.
The spring rolls were also an excellent addition to our meal, all thanks to the crispness that we always look for. Other appetizers, like egg rolls, have great texture and are easy to pair with their main dishes.
If you want to try something different besides what we’ve mentioned, don’t worry because their extensive menu offers a diverse selection of dishes. From traditional to modern Vietnamese recipes, you’ll not be short of options.
Pros
- Over 15 years in the business
- Menu includes traditional and modern Vietnamese cuisines
- Uses fine meats and fresh vegetables (no MSG)
- Flavorful dishes
- Excellent customer service
- Delivery available
Cons
- Place is often packed with customers
- Slow serving at times
So delicious, next to perfection
Such great food! You can’t miss with the soup or vermicelli if those are your go-to vietnamese dishes, but my favourite is the coconut rice with stir fry beef/veg – out of the ordinary but so delicious! If you ask nicely, mama will make the stir fry spicy, and it’s perfection. Highly recommend! – Jamie Kidd
Friendly service, flavorful
Best Pho ever!!! Such lovely/friendly service and the food was so flavorful and delicious. Portion and price was fantastic, will definitely be back again! – Sarah Dyckerhoff
3. Pho Chu The
| Menu | 5/5 |
| Ambience | 4/5 |
| Good value (A higher score means better value) | 3/5 |
| Service quality | 5/5 |
We’ve been indulging in the taste of Vietnamese food for days, trying to finish this review, and Pho Chu The just hits the spot. With all the amazing flavors and the cozy atmosphere, we seem to have hit the jackpot when we came to this restaurant.
As we were walking towards the front door, we could already smell the delicious aroma of their grilled meats. The setting is a bit small, but it’s very clean and environmentally friendly – not to mention their smiling staff when they approached us for a seat.
We can literally say that this place is completely “un-pho-gettable”, serving a wide variety of noodle soups including some that we were unaware of until we saw their menu. Their Pho Sate is to die for among this diverse selection.
We even got burned while trying to sip the soup, but it was all worth it when we tasted the rich flavor of the chili-peanut paste they use. It’s similar to regular beef pho soup but with more spiciness, perfect with their delicious spring rolls.
Just one thing – if you have a big appetite, go for the extra large size which comes with more noodles and even more meat. It may be a little pricey for just one bowl of Vietnamese Pho, but the food quality alone is worth it.
Though the restaurant excels at Pho, they also seem to know their stuff when it comes to rice dishes.
Their Bo Ne, for example, is excellent, with tender beef steak and a sunny-side-up egg. Though we prefer to top it all off with lots of veggies compared to their usual serve – it’s just more delectable that way.
Finally, the restaurant is by reservation only, so you may want to call ahead to reserve a table or you can book one on their website. Heads up though, it’s actually hard to get a table, especially for a large group so take note of that when you visit.
Pros
- Cozy and clean place
- Approachable staff
- Serves a wide variety of pho
- Freshly cooks their food and serves it hot
- Excellent rice dishes
- Can order ahead of time (through their website)
Cons
- Small place
- Small serving portions
- Can be a bit pricey
The right place for pho
Randomly pulled off the highway cause wifey and I were a hankering for some pho. Well lo and behold we picked the right place. Friendly service and served in no time. Highly recommended if you too are hankering for pho. – Yes And Amen
Good pho, fresh garnishing
Absolutely one of the best pho in town. Clean, clear, nonoily broth with good pho spice aroma and bone. Fresh garnishing. Pho noodles are done nicely and well presented. Meat cuts are high quality as well. – David
4. Saigon Red Sky
| Menu | 5/5 |
| Ambience | 3/5 |
| Good value (A higher score means better value) | 4/5 |
| Service quality | 5/5 |
Saigon Red Sky is creating quite a stir among Calgary’s Vietnamese food enthusiasts – all for its exceptional range of cuisines made from fresh ingredients. That’s why we seized the opportunity to find out the hype for ourselves.
They’re famous for their Pho, which we find rather ordinary because what Vietnamese restaurant doesn’t serve this delicate soup dish? Nevertheless, we made a point of trying it and were impressed by its richer flavor, thanks to what they call their signature ingredients.
Of course, we didn’t miss tasting their vermicelli noodles which are as tasty as they are colorful, topped with fresh vegetables and herbs. We had it paired with grilled pork and chicken, and while it really elevated the dish, we couldn’t help but notice how bland the flavor was.
— image from @6ix_foods on Instagram
On the other hand, we noticed that most of their dishes have a hint of spiciness, which we think is a plus. However, when we talked to a few of their patrons, it’s actually what they didn’t expect from them (we still love a kick of spice though!)
When it comes to their service, we’re fond of how much they try to possibly serve orders in no more than half an hour. Every dish was served hot and the soups were even smokey, indicating that everything was freshly cooked.
Now, despite minor inconsistencies in the quality of their food, our own dining experience still reflects them as a true Vietnamese food haven. It’s simply because of the array of traditional dishes they offer and the thirst-quenching drinks that perfectly complement them.
We’ve heard that they deliver food orders through SkipTheDishes, so you may want to give them a shot before dropping by.
Pros
- Fresh ingredients
- Savory and flavorful dishes
- Serves many traditional Vietnamese dishes
- Food delivery available
- Offers Saigon Red Sky specials
- Serves food in less than half an hour
Cons
- Serves food a bit spicy
- Delay in deliveries
Did not disappoint, all dishes are excellent
Calling all foodies! This place is Vietnamese food heaven. Being from Toronto, I was not sure what to expect. This restaurant did not disappoint. We got vermicelli with grilled pork & chicken, pho and stir fried shrimp. All dishes were excellent! – Shali M
Nice and friendly, always recommend
Love love love Saigon Red Sky. After trying many Vietnamese restaurants around the area we have committed to going here for many years. The owner is so nice and friendly always have a nice chat when I pickup my order. We always order the beef satay, I love the onions in the soup. The to-go packaging has the broth separate from the noodles and beef…no soggy noodles. I always recommend Saigon Red Sky to my friends and family – Ashley H
5. SEN Vietnamese Kitchen
| Menu | 4/5 |
| Ambience | 4/5 |
| Good value (A higher score means better value) | 4/5 |
| Service quality | 4/5 |
Having been affiliated with various Vietnamese restaurants throughout Alberta, Sen Vietnamese Kitchen is easily one of the favorite Viet food places. We’ve had quite a few times having our lunch at this place, all of them just as unforgettable as the last.
Perhaps the first thing that made us come back to this restaurant is its simple yet remarkable menu. Every day, they have a different special where customers can choose their entree along with the featured dessert.
As mentioned, we like dining at Sen during lunchtime because of their weekday lunch combo. It’s actually pretty cheap compared to ordering dishes a la carte – for $15, you can enjoy a shrimp salad roll, a vermicelli bowl, and a drink (coffee or tea).
Of course, whenever we dine in, we don’t forget to order one of their many deep-fried appetizers. We can’t get enough of it – we like the sound of its crispiness as we bite, almost making us full before we even start with the main course.
Sen Vietnamese Kitchen also won our approval by offering gluten-free options. This is surprisingly rare among Viet places, so this is a definite plus, especially for those on a strict diet.
On another note, we find their place to have a chill yet welcoming ambiance. However, it lacks a bit of an authentic Vietnamese restaurant vibe in our opinion.
Regardless, we continue to see the overall restaurant atmosphere as a great spot to enjoy our favorite Vietnamese dishes. Plus, the food is good and very filling so we have little to complain about.
Pros
- 20 years in business
- Serves simple yet fresh Vietnamese cuisine
- Affiliated with various Vietnamese restaurants across Alberta
- Flavorful dishes
- Gluten-free option available
- Chill and welcoming restaurant ambiance
- Contactless delivery available
Cons
- The place lacks a bit of a Vietnamese restaurant vibe
- Minor complaints regarding overcooked noodles
Flavourful, big portions
Delicious food! Great staff! Very quick! Amazing gluten free options! Very flavourful soup. Lemon grass chicken tasted like heaven. Very chill atmosphere. Big portions and great prices! – MissKAGE666
Attentive service, good food
Had a nice lunch here. Service was very attentive. The food was good. Would say the price points were exceptional compared to other places, a great value. – Fancy Travel
6. Essence of Saigon
| Menu | 5/5 |
| Ambience | 3/5 |
| Good value (A higher score means better value) | 4/5 |
| Service quality | 4/5 |
We’d love to include Essence of Saigon, which is one of the easiest Vietnamese food places to go to with its two locations. It has a bistro in the Northwest and an on-the-go restaurant in the Southwest.
Although each location has its own setting and operating system, both provide customers with wholesome and rich-tasting Vietnamese cuisine. And from what we’ve gathered, they’re pretty excellent in this regard.
For what it’s worth, the restaurant is owned by a Vietnamese family, so the homey feeling comes as no surprise. In fact, we felt compelled to try everything (at least their best-selling dishes) to get a taste of what keeps Calgarians returning to this place.
We thoroughly enjoyed every bite of the spring roll vermicelli that we ordered – it’s not as crispy as it appears, but it’s definitely flavorful. Their beef satay noodle soup is out of this world, served hot with perfectly cooked noodles and tender meats.
They also have spicy options for those who, like us, enjoy a little challenge. We like these options because the tartness of it does not overpower the flavor of the dish.
If you haven’t already guessed at this point, we do love to eat but we don’t forget the importance of doing so in a healthy way too. Hence, we appreciate Essence of Saigon’s gluten-free options and food allergy customization.
The only drawback of dining at their bistro location is that it is always crowded, even during the day and especially at dinner time. Although we applaud them for always being able to keep the place well and provide quality service to its patrons.
Pros
- Has two locations in Calgary
- Rich-tasting Vietnamese cuisine
- Offers exclusive Saigon dishes
- Owned by a Vietnamese family
- Offers spicy options
- Offers food allergy customization
- Has gluten-free options
- Online order and delivery available
Cons
- Their bistro place is often crowded
- Minor complaints about small portions of serving
Service is perfect, friendly and cheerful
My boyfriend’s favorite place in the city. Absolutely delicious, great prices. Best place to get viet food and coffee. Loving the gluten free options and bubble tea! Service is perfect here and everybody is always friendly and cheerful – Jenna Wilson
Very flavourful and reasonably priced
It’s my favourite Vietnamese restaurant! Try the grilled beef satay on a bed of rice. Comes with a fresh, crisp side of greens. Very flavourful! Great service, very reasonably priced dishes. – Ted Wong
7. Saigon Royal Restaurant
| Menu | 4/5 |
| Ambience | 4/5 |
| Good value (A higher score means better value) | 4/5 |
| Service quality | 3/5 |
If you’re fond of Vietnamese vegetarian dishes, we recommend Saigon Royal Restaurant for personal reasons. The first, as health-conscious food enthusiasts, is the restaurant’s gluten-free option (for all of their dishes, not just on the vegetarian menu).
Veggie dishes are available as soup, stir-fried, steamed, or in rolls. But our favorite is having it stir-fried with tofu on rice vermicelli – it’s as flavorful as it looks, and despite the sticky sauces, the veggies are not that soggy (just half-cooked).
We talked to some of their patrons during our dine-in, and we completely concurred with their praise for the cuisine quality. We agreed that their dishes incorporate herbs and vegetables, which speaks to authentic Vietnamese food.
The customer accommodations that they provide are also noteworthy, albeit not as well as we would have hoped. For some reason, we actually had trouble finding a table, despite the fact that the restaurant is open on a walk-in basis.
We also find it difficult to have a staff member with us to take our order, which is a turnoff given how long we’ve waited for a table. Perhaps the only thing that saved it was that we got our food on time.
Despite a few flaws in customer service, Saigon Royal proves itself as a premier Vietnamese restaurant in Calgary, and that, for now, is okay with us. Of course, there’s no harm in upgrading their accommodations, say, by having friendlier and more approachable staff.
Pros
- Specializes Vietnamese vegetarian dishes
- Vegan dishes in a variety of food styles
- Offers Vietnamese staples
- Flavorful and well-cooked meals
- Can order online (delivery is available)
Cons
- Doesn’t always accept orders for delivery
- Can be difficult to reach at times
- Difficult to find a table
Delicious and reasonably priced food
This family run Vietnamese Restaurant is a jewel in Douglasdale. Clean, reasonably priced and the food is delicious. Service is first rate, a joy to dine in. If you have the chance definitely visit Saigon Royal, you will not be disappointed. – Vern Shepherd
Kind staff, very welcoming
This is hands down our favourite restaurant! Such an incredible family run business. The staff are always so kind and welcoming, and the food is incredible! My hubby and I love the fried dumplings, vermicelli, beef noodle soup, and Vietnamese coffee. A must try for everyone in the city! – jessica basaraba
8. Cuty Restaurant
| Menu | 4/5 |
| Ambience | 4/5 |
| Good value (A higher score means better value) | 3/5 |
| Service quality | 4/5 |
Cuty Restaurant made our list for a variety of reasons, the most important of which was that we thoroughly enjoyed our entire dining experience there. The whole place itself, especially the food, truly speaks of authentic Vietnamese restaurants.
We surely can’t take our eyes off the displayed custom-made furnishings that surround the place. We loved the decorations that we’ve heard they imported from Asia for a true cultural experience.
Cuty doesn’t only offer Viet foods and beverages (we’ll get to that later, promise), but also other cuisines associated with the Asian cultural spectrum. In fact, they also include foods and drinks from Japan, Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Of course, we didn’t pass up the opportunity to sample their Asian street foods on offer – all of which tasted good but, to be honest, aren’t something we’d order again. The best thing about the place certainly, is the range of Viet cuisines on their menu.
We’ve heard their combo bbq platter is their best seller, so what’s a better way to get to know Cuty than to try it? We actually waited almost an hour for it, which is a bit of a letdown, but the wait was still worthwhile thanks to the flavor.
The pancake on the barbecue platter is crispy and juicy, and the organ dish adds a nice spice and a kick to the whole thing. It’s a heavy meal in general, but with all of the vegetables on it, we guess the entire dish is still a healthy dinner – or so we like to think.
We actually can’t say anything poorly about the restaurant’s dining service, though we’ve heard the opposite for their delivery service. So if you ever think of checking them out, we recommend dining in for a better experience.
Pros
- Good ambiance to enjoy Vietnamese food
- Also has foods and beverages from other Asian cultures
- Offers a variety of distinctive Asian street foods
- Offers special combo bbq platter
- Healthy and nutritious meals
Cons
- Often slow in serving orders
- Minor issues with their delivery service
Wide variety of food, good price
Great food and exceptional service, taking an additional step to help us with our requests. There are a wide variety of food and they are amazing for a good price <3 will definitely come back – Thao Pham
Tasty fish soup
Really good Noodle Soup. Especially good on a cold snowy day. Highly recommend the Cuty Fish Soup if you like a tangy flavour. The fish was tasty as well as the fish(?) balls. Wife had the Bun Bo Hue like soup and also enjoyed it. – Michael Wang
9. Pho Dau Bo Restaurant
| Menu | 4/5 |
| Ambience | 3/5 |
| Good value (A higher score means better value) | 3/5 |
| Service quality | 4/5 |
We haven’t been to Pho Dau Bo Restaurant in ages, and we figure this review research is a good excuse to go back. We were surprised to learn that they are still well-liked, which is difficult to justify when there is an authentic noodle restaurant nearby.
Coming there, we noticed a change in vibe, or more accurately, a change in social presence, seeing as the restaurant attracts more visitors than locals. They’re packed with customers, so we find it hard to find a spot for ourselves.
Now, when you visit the restaurant, it’s better to stick with their Pho, as everything about it is perfect. The satay broth was good and full of flavor, and the noodles were perfectly cooked.
We ordered it with baked bone marrow on the side, which surprisingly complements it quite well.
We just wish they didn’t reduce the amount of beef in it, unlike before when they overloaded their satay noodle soup with beef. Now, the dish has only a few more bits of meat and was only literally packed with greens.
Despite flaws in the quality of their food, we can’t help but praise them for their exceptional customer service. The staff was friendly and assisted us in finding a table, plus they made sure to serve our meals quickly (it’s almost embarrassing not to tip them more for the service).
Overall, it’s worth noting that we will undoubtedly return to Pho Dao Bu. The food isn’t as good as we’ve had in the past, but it’s still good enough to be considered one of Calgary’s best.
The price is also reasonable – it is not cheap, but it is also not that expensive. Good food at a good price.
Pros
- Flavourful Pho, well-cooked noodles
- Offers a good selection of Vietnamese food
- Warm and welcoming ambience
- Popular for visitors
- Exceptional customer service
- Delivery available
- Catering available
- Online ordering available
Cons
- Minor inconsistencies with the food quality
- Often packed with customers
Delicious dishes, excellent service
We just ate there and were very happy with the delicious dishes and the excellent service from our waitress, Elena! She gave us great suggestions of what to oder and was very professional. – Clarence Ho
Photo-worthy dishes, amazing pho sate
The most iconic viet restaurant in YYC. Amazing service, photo worthy dishes, and the most amazing sate pho in my humble opinion! Please go check them out if you haven’t, def worth the try and I can guarantee you’ll want to come back. – Brian Chen
