Anh and Chi , Michelin bib gourmand
"Medical student forced to return home to help out the family restaurant" was the tagline that was in the local business magazine. The son of the founder of the long time establishment Pho Hoang returns to Vancouver to set up and run Anh and Chi Vietnamese restaurant after his father passes a few years ago. Michelin bib gourmand = Bib Gourmand: good quality, good value cooking
"Anh" means "elder brother", "Chị" means "elder sister", once a popular Pho joint operated by the parents, the brother and sister now revamp this beautiful Vietnamese restaurant at the heart of the Vancouver’s Main street.
Before visiting this restaurant, I imagined this is what a cool hip restaurant looks like in Ho Chi Minh city.
Anh and chi storefront and benches for waiting customers
Anh and chi patio
The restaurant décor is very modern and has a flair of color. There is a beautiful stained glass at the back of the bar and with the setting sun provides a beautiful hue to the restaurant.
Anh and chi stained glass bar
Anh and chi table setting
There are many traditional dishes on the menu as well as more adventurous ones. I was told by my local friend that the Pho is not worth getting for $18 but the other dishes are delicious.
The mango salad is fresh, has a great balance of sweetness and tartness and pungent fish sauce. The yellow slices of mango is very crunchy and the shrimp is grilled on charcoal, you can taste the smokiness only charcoal can produce.
Anh and chi mango salad with charcoal grilled shrimp
The watercress salad is crunchy and refreshing on a hot summer day. Each stalk of watercress is sliced up beautifully and laid on the bottom. A warm serving of sauteed beef is perched on top then drizzled with fish sauce marinate and lots of pickles.
Anh and chi watercress beef salad
Very impressed with the quality of pickles in this restaurant. Crispy and sweet and tangy. Pickles come with most dishes so you will have lots of opportunities to indulge on it
The chicken wings are different. They have a strong smell of fish sauce but also sweet and well balanced. Highly recommended to try and the dipping sauces are delicious. They have an extra layer of flavor and not just the usual pungent fish sauce with lots of sugar.
Anh and chi chicken wings with lime dipping sauce
Charcoal grilled squid skewers, with the smell of charcoal fire and the squid is still tender
Anh and chi charcoal grilled squid
Vietnamese sausage wrapped in a lemongrass stalk. The stalk in the middle is an actual lemongrass and it sends out aroma to the sausage.
Anh and chi sausage wrapped in lemongrass stalk
Stir fried noodles
Anh and Chi stirred fried noodles
Three types of lemongrass meat ( chicken, pork and beef short ribs) with rice. Delicious and fragrant and the dipping sauce is the star of the dish again. It has an additional layer of flavor than just the usual fish sauce at restaurants
Anh and chi three types of lemongrass grilled meat
Tips:
Come early, or expect a long line
$18 Pho is not recommended
There are street parking along Main st, also neighborhood parking available if you are willing to walk a few blocks
Address: 3388 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5V 3M7