Close your eyes and imagine the streets of Hanoi at dusk. The sizzle of pork belly on a charcoal grill. The sharp tang of pickled daikon. The heady fragrance of fish sauce, lemongrass, and fresh herbs drifting through the evening air. Vietnamese street food is one of the world’s great culinary traditions — bold, layered, impossibly fresh, and born from centuries of culture, ingenuity, and hunger.
Here in Ottawa, you don’t have to book a flight to experience it. Vietnam Palace Restaurant, nestled in the heart of Ottawa’s Chinatown on Somerset Street West, has been bringing the authentic tastes of Vietnamese street food to the capital since 1989. With over 664 glowing Google reviews, 100+ menu items, and nearly four decades of culinary tradition, we’re your front-row seat to the streets of Vietnam — right here in Centretown.
Whether you’re a student at uOttawa or Carleton looking for a satisfying lunch, a Glebe local craving something vibrant and different, or a visitor exploring the ByWard Market area, Vietnamese street food in Ottawa doesn’t get more authentic than this. Let’s take a deep dive into the dishes that define this incredible cuisine — and why Vietnam Palace is the place to try them all.
Bánh Mì: Ottawa’s Favourite Vietnamese Sandwich
If there’s one dish that perfectly encapsulates the genius of Vietnamese street food, it’s the bánh mì. A colonial-era mashup of French baguette and Vietnamese soul, bánh mì is a textural and flavour revelation: a shatteringly crisp exterior gives way to an airy interior, packed with a symphony of contrasting ingredients.
At Vietnam Palace, our bánh mì starts with a baguette baked to golden perfection. Inside, you’ll find your choice of fillings — think lemongrass-marinated grilled pork, Vietnamese cold cuts, or savoury grilled chicken — alongside creamy pâté, a swipe of house mayonnaise, julienned pickled daikon and carrots (do chua), fresh cucumber slices, sprigs of bright cilantro, and sliced jalapeños for that essential heat.
Every bite delivers crunch, creaminess, acidity, heat, and savoury depth all at once. It’s cheap, filling, and wildly addictive — exactly the kind of thing you’d grab from a street cart in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City. Searching for bánh mì in Ottawa? Vietnam Palace is your answer.
→ Explore our full menu to see all bánh mì options.
Bún Chả: Hanoi’s Most Beloved Street Food
Bún chả is the dish that put Hanoi on the international food map — famously enjoyed by both Anthony Bourdain and President Obama on their legendary Hanoi visit. And for good reason: it is extraordinary.
The dish centres on grilled pork patties and pork belly, charred over hot coals until caramelized and fragrant. These are served alongside a bowl of nuoc cham — a warm, sweet-and-sour dipping broth made from fish sauce, lime, sugar, garlic, and chilli — and a generous tangle of cool rice vermicelli noodles (bún). On the side: a mountain of fresh herbs — Vietnamese mint, perilla, bean sprouts, and sliced green papaya.
The ritual is half the pleasure. You dip the noodles and pork into the broth, tear off herbs, and assemble each mouthful exactly how you like it. It’s interactive, fragrant, and deeply satisfying. Our bún chả in Ottawa stays true to the Hanoi original — smoky pork, bright broth, and a herb platter that makes the dish sing.
Bánh Xèo: The Sizzling Savoury Crêpe
The name bánh xèo literally means “sizzling cake” — named for the dramatic hiss the batter makes when it hits the hot pan. It’s one of the most theatrical and delicious dishes in all of Vietnamese cuisine.
Made from a turmeric-tinted rice flour batter, our bánh xèo is poured into a blazing wok, swirled to form a thin, lacy crêpe, then loaded with seasoned shrimp, pork belly, bean sprouts, and spring onions before being folded in half and crisped until golden. The result: a crêpe that’s simultaneously crispy on the outside and steamy within.
The traditional way to eat it? Tear off pieces, wrap them in lettuce and fresh herbs, and dip into a tangy nuoc cham sauce. It’s hands-on, messy, and absolutely magnificent. Bánh xèo is southern Vietnamese comfort food at its most exuberant — and our version in Ottawa has earned a devoted following.
Gỏi Cuốn: Fresh Spring Rolls Done Right
Before you even think about deep-fried spring rolls, meet their far more elegant cousin: gỏi cuốn, the fresh Vietnamese spring roll. These are a staple of Vietnamese street food culture for good reason — they’re light, healthy, gorgeous to look at, and explosively fresh.
We roll plump shrimp, sliced pork, rice vermicelli, lettuce, cucumber, and a bouquet of mint and cilantro inside translucent rice paper, creating little windows into their beautiful contents. They’re served with a rich, creamy hoisin-peanut dipping sauce that ties everything together.
Cool, herbal, and deeply satisfying without being heavy, gỏi cuốn are the perfect starter — or, honestly, a full meal if you order enough of them. Looking for light, authentic exotic Vietnamese food in Ottawa? These are your entry point.
Phở as Street Food: Vietnam’s National Dish
It would be impossible to talk about Vietnamese street food without devoting serious attention to phở. In Vietnam, phở is breakfast food — a warming bowl ladled out at 6 AM from giant vats of bone broth that have been simmering all night, consumed at plastic stools on the sidewalk before the city wakes up fully.
At Vietnam Palace, we honour that tradition with a phở that has been honed over 35+ years. Our broth is built on slow-simmered beef bones, charred ginger and onion, and a carefully balanced blend of star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom. The result is a clear, deeply aromatic broth of extraordinary depth — what the Vietnamese call ngọt (naturally sweet).
Served with your choice of beef cuts — rare slices, brisket, tendon, tripe, or meatballs — over silky rice noodles, and accompanied by a plate of bean sprouts, fresh basil, lime wedges, hoisin, and Sriracha, it’s the bowl that makes Ottawa winters bearable.
We’ve been called home to the best phở in Ottawa — and we take that seriously every single day.
Chè: Vietnamese Dessert Drinks
No street food tour is complete without dessert — and in Vietnam, that means chè. These sweet, layered drinks-cum-desserts are sold everywhere from Hanoi to Saigon: coconut milk pooling over jade-green pandan jelly, mung bean paste, black-eyed peas, tapioca pearls, grass jelly, and crushed ice.
Chè is sweet, cooling, and deeply nostalgic for anyone with Vietnamese heritage. The flavours are subtle and milky-sweet, the textures endlessly varied — chewy, silky, soft, and icy all at once. It’s the perfect antidote to Ottawa’s hot summers and the ideal finish after a spicy bowl of bún bò Huế.
Ask our staff about our seasonal chè offerings — these change based on availability and tradition.
Vietnamese Iced Coffee (Cà Phê Sữa Đá)
Vietnam has one of the world’s most distinctive coffee cultures — and cà phê sữa đá (Vietnamese iced coffee) is its crown jewel. Strong, dark robusta coffee drips slowly through a traditional phin filter directly into a glass containing a thick layer of sweetened condensed milk, then poured over crushed ice.
The result is intensely caffeinated, gloriously sweet, and unbelievably creamy. It’s a drink that turns an ordinary afternoon into something worth savouring. Once you’ve had Vietnamese iced coffee, regular cold brew feels pedestrian by comparison. Ask about our coffee offerings on your next visit.
Street Food Menu Highlights at Vietnam Palace
| Dish | Description | Price (from) |
|---|---|---|
| Bánh Mì | Crispy baguette with pork, pickled veg, herbs & jalapeño | $8.99 |
| Bún Chả | Grilled pork patties & belly, vermicelli, herbs, nuoc cham | $16.99 |
| Bánh Xèo | Crispy turmeric crêpe with shrimp, pork & bean sprouts | $15.99 |
| Gỏi Cuốn (2 pcs) | Fresh spring rolls: shrimp, pork, herbs, hoisin-peanut sauce | $8.99 |
| Phở Đặc Biệt | House special pho: rare beef, brisket, tendon & meatball | $17.99 |
| Bún Bò Huế | Spicy Hue-style lemongrass beef noodle soup | $17.99 |
| Chả Giò (6 pcs) | Crispy imperial egg rolls with pork, glass noodles & mushrooms | $9.99 |
| Cà Phê Sữa Đá | Vietnamese iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk | $5.99 |
Prices subject to change. View our full menu for the complete list of dishes.
Where to Find Authentic Vietnamese Street Food in Ottawa
Ottawa’s Vietnamese food scene is anchored by Somerset Street West — Chinatown, and Vietnam Palace has been its beating heart since 1989. Located in the Centretown neighbourhood, we’re conveniently accessible from virtually every corner of the city:
- uOttawa students — We’re a 10-minute bus ride down Somerset. Perfect for a study break or post-exam feast.
- Carleton University — Hop on the O-Train to Carling, and we’re just minutes away.
- The Glebe — Walk or cycle up Bank Street to Somerset. We’re right there.
- ByWard Market — Heading west? We’re a straight shot down Somerset, with easy parking on side streets.
- Kanata, Barrhaven, Orleans — Can’t make it in? Order delivery through SkipTheDishes and we’ll bring Vietnam Palace to your door.
There’s a reason residents from across Ottawa — from Westboro to Vanier, Nepean to Rockcliffe — make the trip to Vietnam Palace. Authentic Vietnamese street food in Ottawa has a home, and it’s at 819 Somerset St W.
We’re also proud to offer halal Vietnamese food in Ottawa, making our menu accessible to the city’s diverse Muslim community. Our commitment to inclusivity is part of what makes Vietnam Palace a true Ottawa institution.
Why Vietnam Palace? Trust Built Over 35 Years
Anyone can open a Vietnamese restaurant. Building a legacy takes something more. Here’s why Ottawa keeps coming back to Vietnam Palace:
- 🌟 664+ five-star Google reviews — one of Ottawa’s most reviewed restaurants
- 📅 Open since 1989 — serving Ottawa for over 35 years
- 🍜 100+ menu items — from street food classics to regional specialties
- 🥩 Halal options available — inclusive dining for all Ottawa residents
- 🛵 Delivery via SkipTheDishes — authentic Vietnamese food to your door
- 👨👩👧 Family-friendly atmosphere — warm, welcoming, and unpretentious
We’re not a trend. We’re not a pop-up. We’re Ottawa’s Vietnamese food institution — and every bowl of phở, every plate of bánh xèo, and every fresh spring roll is made with the same care and authenticity that has kept this city coming back for more than three decades.
Explore more of what makes us special: our exotic Vietnamese dishes, our legendary bún bò Huế, and everything in between.
Come Experience Vietnamese Street Food in Ottawa — Tonight
Whether you’re craving the snap and crunch of a perfect bánh mì, the smoky char of bún chả, the theatrical sizzle of bánh xèo, or a steaming bowl of phở that warms you from the inside out — Vietnam Palace has it all, and then some.
Don’t settle for a pale imitation. Come taste the real thing, prepared by people who have been doing this since before the internet existed. Ottawa’s best Vietnamese street food is waiting for you on Somerset Street.
📍 Vietnam Palace Restaurant
819 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON K1R 6R7
📞 (613) 234-0276
Book a Table Online → | Order on SkipTheDishes →