604 Just Eat: Vietnamese Cuisine @ Mr. Red Cafe

Apr. 4th, 2015

Mr. Red Cafe @ East Village

Food:  4/5   Service:  3/5   Atmosphere:  3/5   Price: Avg. $18.00/person

Long time no see Mr. RED!  The dishes that we had last time were absolutely authentic and delicious.  We came here again for lunch in the Easter weekend.

While they have some of the standard dishes (pho, bahn mi), they specialize in dishes from the Northern Vietnam. There are dishes on the menu that I have not seen elsewhere.
Must Eat:    Bun nem cua be & Banh Gio

 

Banh Gio @ $4.00
#6 on menu:  Pyramidal rice dumplings (filled with meat, onion, mushroom)
This Steamed Dumpling was really good and delicious!  
 It looks similar to "glutinous dumplings in Chinese style". The bamboo leaf gives a hint of aroma to the rice dumpling.  The glutinous rice was so soft and fluffy. 
Unlike the Chinese style, it was very light and creamy, without mung bean. 
 

 The filling was flavorful with mild seasoning and a quali egg inside.  
It was so good to eat with the chili sauce on the side.
 

 Prawn Salad Roll @ $5.00

#1 on menu:  choices of prawn, chicken or fried tofu rolls
Fresh!  I particularly like the peanut sauce, so rich flavor and thick texture.
 

  Bun nem cua be @ $11.50
#19 on menu:  Deep fried crab meat rolls serve with vermicelli mixed herbs and sweet sour fish sauce
The crab meat rolls were deep fried to golden brown perfectly! 
The rolls were light and very crispy but not greasy at all.  It was soooo tasty to eat with vermicelli and the herbs with the sauce.        

The crab meat flavor was not too outstanding but the flavor of the roll was still very good overall.

 

Pho Bo tai nam@ $8.50

#12 on menu:  Sliced rare beef and beef flank with flat noodle in soup

The broth was piping hot.  The broth tasted different from the standard pho from other Vietnamese joints; perhaps the characteristics from the North.  It was not the strong beefy kind of broth with the hits of spice and herbs.  I really like it! 

 

Meat size and quality was okay.
In terms of meat quality, I would say other pho places are better.

Vietnamese Hot Coffee @ $3.50
Standard quality.
 

Thumbs up for the dishes we picked!!  I will be back for sure as I have heard a lot of good reviews on the baguette!!!
Services are good and attentive overall.

 

2234 E Hastings St Vancouver, BC V5L1V4