Minh Chau Vietnamese Restaurant
318 9 Avenue SE
403-265-2073
Hours of operation:Mon – Fri, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Rating: ****
Price range: $$
Reservations: Yes
Client negotiations: Yes
Lunch w/co-workers: Yes
Social Lunch: Yes
Quick solo lunch: Yes
Time in: 12:00 p.m.
Ordered: 12:10 p.m.
Food arrived: 12:15 p.m.
Time out: 12:45 p.m.
Total time: 45 minutes
Low $: Spring Rolls, $6.50
High $: Platter, $7.99
Lunch menu: Combo – Dinner for Four, $69.95
Licensed: Yes
Calgary has an abundant Vietnamese population, and as such, we are blessed with a lovely array of Vietnamese restaurants to choose from. Some are good. Some are bad. Lucky for me, Minh Chau in Inglewood is definitely one of the good ones.
With a menu that literally contains hundreds of options — choosing a meal can be a lengthy process, especially for someone as indecisive as I am. While a customer favorite at Minh Chau is their Pho — a spicy soup containing meat, broth and garnish — I opt for #49, a vermicelli dish with shredded pork, charbroiled pork, and spring rolls ($10). With my mother’s voice etched permanently into my conscience telling me to “eat your vegetables,” I request the dish with extra veggies, which was about $4 more.
The meals arrived promptly at our table and were piping hot. My dish was very large, with the meat seasoned and cooked nicely, and the spring rolls crispy and delicious. I was happy that I opted for the extra veggies, because my lunch partner Jaelyn, who got the same meal as me sans extra veggies, was a little low on the green stuff.
The staff were also very accommodating with my peanut allergy — which is always important at a Vietnamese restaurant where peanuts are prevalent in many of the dishes.
The decor of Minh Chau is comfortable and no frills, with multiple Buddhas on display, adding to its charm. Having been to the restaurant a few times now, I have always had consistent, friendly service and great food. It’s a definite must if you’re in the mood for an inexpensive, tasty and quick Vietnamese lunch!
