Vietnamese Curry Ottawa — Cà Ri Gà at Vietnam Palace Restaurant

Most people associate curry with Indian or Thai cooking. But Vietnamese curry — Cà Ri — is its own magnificent thing: fragrant with lemongrass, rich with coconut milk, golden-yellow from turmeric, and perfect for scooping up with a crusty French baguette. At Vietnam Palace Restaurant in Ottawa’s Chinatown, our Cà Ri Gà (chicken curry) has been warming tables since 1989.

What Is Vietnamese Curry (Cà Ri)?

Vietnamese curry reflects the same French colonial influence that shaped so much of Vietnamese cuisine. The name itself — “cà ri” — comes from the English/French word “curry,” which the Vietnamese adopted and transformed into something distinctly their own.

Where Thai curry leans on galangal and kaffir lime, and Indian curry relies on complex spice blends, Vietnamese curry is defined by lemongrass, turmeric, and coconut milk. The result is lighter and more aromatic than its South Asian cousins, with a broth-like consistency that invites dipping rather than ladling over rice alone.

Key Ingredients in Cà Ri Gà

• Lemongrass: The soul of Vietnamese curry — fragrant, citrusy, unmistakable
• Turmeric: Provides the golden colour and earthy, slightly bitter undertone
• Coconut milk: Adds creaminess and tempers the spice
• Chicken: Traditionally bone-in pieces for maximum flavour
• Sweet potato or carrot: Adds sweetness and body to the curry
• Fish sauce: The umami backbone that ties it all together

The Baguette Tradition: A French-Vietnamese Ritual

One of the most delightful aspects of Vietnamese curry is how it’s eaten. While rice is common, the traditional accompaniment is a French baguette — torn, not sliced — for dipping into the fragrant coconut broth. This practice is a direct echo of French colonial influence on Vietnamese food culture, and it’s genuinely one of the best bread-dipping experiences in any cuisine.

At Vietnam Palace, we honour this tradition. Our Cà Ri Gà comes with the option of rice or a side of bread, and we encourage first-timers to try the baguette. Once you’ve dipped crusty bread into that lemongrass-coconut broth, you’ll understand why this pairing has endured for generations.

Vietnamese Curry at Vietnam Palace Ottawa

Our kitchen has been making Cà Ri Gà the traditional way for over 35 years. We use real lemongrass — not paste, not powder — along with fresh turmeric, quality coconut milk, and bone-in chicken pieces that contribute their collagen to the broth as they simmer.

The result is a curry that’s comforting, complex, and deeply satisfying. It’s the kind of dish that Ottawa winters were made for: warming from the inside out, rich but not heavy, with enough fragrance to fill the table with good feeling.

Explore More Vietnamese Dishes at Vietnam Palace

If you love the aromatic complexity of Vietnamese curry, our menu has much more to explore. Try our Vietnamese hot pot for another communal, warming experience, or explore our Vietnamese rice plates for grilled meat dishes that showcase the same quality ingredients.

Our full 100+ dish menu covers everything from delicate soups to bold curries to fresh salads. Browse online or ask your server about daily specials.

Visit Vietnam Palace in Ottawa Chinatown

Find us at 819 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON K1R 6R4 in the heart of Ottawa’s Chinatown. Family-run, open since 1989, and proud of every dish we serve. With 671 Google reviews and a 4.3-star rating, we let our food speak for itself.

Hours: Monday 11am–10pm | Tuesday CLOSED | Wednesday–Friday 11am–10pm | Saturday 10am–10pm | Sunday 11am–10pm
Phone: (613) 238-6758

Also explore: Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant Ottawa | Bún Bò Huế Ottawa | Our Story