Wooden Fish

Love it!

Food was delicious and portions were big with fair prices.
Service was excellent, they were very attentive.

We will go back:)

Ps: They have egg coffee too (we felt like back in Hanoi).

Pleasantly delighted by refined Vietnamese. Accommodated our group with children for lunch. Pictured is the crispy skinned super tender duck confit, with garlic fried rice, and watercress salad. The rice was very flavourful and the dressing in the salad was bright and fresh. Their grilled pork skewers were also super delish - large pieces of fatty streaked pork bursting with sweet savoury sauce and crispy shallots on top. The kids devoured the chicken skewers before I could sample! We also had the beef noodle soups including the spicy beef lemongrass and crispy spring rolls. Everything was on point and service was friendly, fast, and attentive.

The food is great. However every time we go there the service is just awful and disappointing. Today, we had to leave before getting order in. It’s -13 and the place inside is so cold, that everybody is wearing their parkas, hats, and two people gloves indoor while their sip their warm lemon water. Very unwelcoming environment. The head waitress is oblivious at the fact that she is rude to consumers.

The food is super tasty but unfortunately the staff have made every experience mediocre at best.

My parents used to love this place, but I’ve went last time and it was the worst food I’ve had in my entire life, it was so bad that I threw up after eating it, food was over cooked and extremely bland with no taste at all. Don’t go here

Such a lovely little restaurant, soup and vermicelli were amazing! Staff were so kind and attentive.

️‍️️DELicious…DELightful…GO! …excellent selection of cuisine!
If you dine in? …cozy and comfortable! …but ***go early since this is a small location***!
GO!

We ordered the beef pho and lemongrass chicken. Both were made to perfection. The 3 chili sauces and the pickled garlic just make everything better. By far the best Vietnamese meal I've ever had. I would definitely go out of my way to eat here again

The food at Wooden Fish is nothing short of delicious, and the staff are genuinely welcoming and attentive.

However, we encountered a hiccup when it came to splitting the check. For parties of six or more, the restaurant will not split the bill, instead providing a single paper bill for the entire group to sort out themselves. We no longer carry cash so this is a hassle not only in calculating the amount owed but in reimbursing each member in the party.

We can walk across the street to Swad’s restaurant and they happily split your bill no matter the size of your group.

After some negotiation, the staff did ultimately allow us to split the bill, but it would be helpful for future diners if this policy were reconsidered.

DELicious…DELightful…GO! …excellent selection of cuisine!
If you dine in? …cozy and comfortable! …but ***go early since this is a small location***!
GO!

It is not authentic Vietnamese pho, wait for a while to have the noodle ready, not worth the high rating at least for pho noodles.

Not authentic at all.don't believe their advertisement.expensive for an extremely small portion

Definitely better than your regular pho place.

Had the beef pho; broth is flavourful and the noodles themselves are cooked just right—not too soft from overcooking like many other places, and not too hard that you have to chew harder than usual. The beef brisket were generous as well—there were 3-4 decently sized slices for the regular sized bowl. Very tender.

The chicken wings are just the right balance between the crispy/crunchy outside and the juicy inside. I ordered the spicy version, which leaves you with a slight (pleasant) sting on your tongue after you’re done. Definitely gave the chicken more character.

4.5/5. Would love to visit more often, but starter is slightly on the pricier side.

We read a bad review that someone else wrote and decided to check it out ourselves.

This is a hidden gem in West Vancouver and I am thankful I came in to try it out.

The quality of the noodles reminds me of the ones they serve at Lunch Lady (one of Anthony Bourdains' favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Vancouver) and also reminds me of the noodles they serve Lihn Cafe one of my favorite high quality Vietnamese/ french cuisine restaurant's in Vancouver)

What really impresed me:

1.the side order of the bone marrow side dish that just melted in my mouth

2. The 4 different types of hot sauces

3.chicken broth is the most flavorful I've had

4. Ginger lime tea

5. Water served is fresh and clean

We definitely enjoyed eating here and we will be back to try other dishes.

One of the best places for Pho in Vancouver and it’s Northern style Pho which is not very easy to find. The price is a bit too high though

One of my favorite Vietnamese places! The salad rolls are amazing, the lobster one is so unique. The skewers are delicious and I love their peanut sauce. The pho is tasty, a bit too oily but very flavourful. We usually order the bun cha as well, as this is the only place we have found good bun cha outside of Vietnam! The drinks are a bit expensive but strong and delicious so worth it. The service is always attentive and welcoming, and the food typically arrives quite fast.

Overpriced food and the quality wasn't worth the price. They do not give bean sprouts for pho soups, and a single averge sized salad roll is $6. The broth was salty and too much msg was put in (I am not anti-msg, I don't mind some msg). It gave me a headache and made me thirsty after.

This is my go-to when in Vancouver. The noodle soup is fantastic, and the fried chicken is some of the best, especially if you like it crispy!
The service is friendly and comfortable. Located just across from the beach walk in west Vancouver's Ambleside Beach.

The food here is absolutely delicious. I'm going to be a bit defensive because I really love this place and I don't want it to close ever because I've never had a restaurant where everything on the menu is so tasty.

I see some reviews saying service or food is meh, they've always been good when I go but maybe because I haven't gone during peak hours? The staff is pretty nice but it's not a bougie restaurant so it's not the same level of service and I'm 100% fine with that. I'm just here to eat.

Also I saw a review giving 3 stars because it wasn't worth the trip from Richmond to North Van.sorry but that is just ‍️ I've driven all the way to Langley for just waffles from North Van and not once thought to dock marks for the experience due to the duration of the trip, that's really unfair to the restaurant. I love their noodle soups, so flavourful, especially the lemongrass one.
And honestly, even an average bowl of pho is better than the best bowl of tomato soup in my opinion and I love tomatoes.

reviews make a big difference on restaurants, so please keep in mind it's someone's livelihood. Of course if you truly had a poor experience, you are obligated to share it, but this is my 2 cents.

My wife and I love this place - it reminds us of restaurants we went to while travelling through Vietnam. Absolutely amazing food - the Pork Patty Salad Rolls are delicious, and my wife really loved the Lobster rolls too. Excellent Spring Rolls too. The real draw here though is a true Vietnamese specialty that’s rare to find in Vancouver - the Bun Cha! It’s sweet, savoury, sour with hints of spice all at once and reminds me of the Bun Cha from Phong Nha. The service is good too, everybody is friendly and helpful and meals come out quick. Think I’m going to go back to try their Pho tonight!

Hands down best pho in Vancouver. Broth is very light yet still flavorful. The lemongrasa chili and garlic chili goes well with the meat.

Edit: the quality has dropped recently

Most friendly and kind staff they always take care of us, the best place for good quality Vietnamese around. Food is phenomenal. Family run and good value. If I could give more stars I would! Thank you Wooden Fish for your amazing work. It’s always noticed and appreciated

Very good pho but by far the most expensive pho. They cater to west vancouver, not average peoples wallets. It is good though.

We love the food at wooden fish. Food is consistently great and the service is always very poor. We almost got used to the odd hosts and honestly don’t think they mean to be rude. We stopped taking it personally

The restaurant is at a very good location and a great take out place to eat on the beach on sunny days as it is steps away from the Ambleside Beach.

I love ordering Shaking Beef on noodles, and almost everything taste delicious. The chicken satays are juicy and yummy as well as the summer roles.

Amazing vietnamese food with northern style. Best pho in town. Wooden fish releases my homesickness

I was there April 14,2022 for a late lunch, yes the atmosphere was cute and cozy, wait Staffs was OK could be better.
I had pho.for authentic Vietnamese pho not even close. Spring roll was good, I don't mind the high price
Definitely will not go back to recommend to anyone

Friendly staff and ok food. The customer service and experience needs improvement. Prices are on the higher side for comparable food.

My Vietnamese colleague recommended this restaurant to me. The food is authentic and the area is clean and nice. That would be great if the staff can talk quietly rather than loudly.

Grilled chiken, papaya salad, beef pho bo were nice. Food is great, employees are kind and helpful. Price is little bit high but it seems to come here often.

Was so hungry when I was there so everything tastes delicious for me with no doubt.
Especially like their home made sauce including pickled garlic and chili sauce.

The Pho at Wooden Fish is definitely a step up from most Pho you find in the city, which expectedly, does come at a higher price point that usual. The level of depth to the broth is quite noticeable compared to others and you really get the sense there’s a lot of love and experience put into it. At first, the portioned seemed to be a bit less that typical, which would be expected with the higher quality ingredients, but the slightly denser noodles even it out nicely. Overall, I really enjoyed this pho and you can bet that I cleaned my bowl.

Just had an amazing dinner with my family at my friends new Vietnamese restaurant in West Vancouver! Be sure to stop by to enjoy some authentic North & South Vietnam cuisine, made with love and high quality ingredients! Everything is made in house including their very own special hot sauces and desserts! Be sure to check it out, guarantee you’ll walk away with a smile and a happy belly! Thank you for the wonderful meal! ️ @ Wooden Fish Restaurant

This is a great authentic Vietnamese restaurant in Ambleside. Great dining atmosphere and much better quality than your average Vietnamese restaurants. There is a lot of different options to choose from including vermicelli bowls, salad rolls, pho, and desserts. There is a tray of four house-made sauces that really enhance the experience. Next time I'm in the area, I'm definitely going to have to return and bring some friends.

I am looking for a nice pho place in north shore and tried this place.and failed again. Compare to other pho places, it is quite expensive. A pho noodle soup is $14. Bean sprouts are not included. If you want to add bean sprouts, you have to pay $5. I love cilantro but they did not even have cilantro.

Reply to wooden fish owner
: When I asked for bean sprouts, your server (the new staff who speaks very little English) said we need to add the option on the menu. I saw only the vegi option on the menu and thought that bean sprouts were $5. We asked for cilantro twice for 10 minutes because the new staff kept saying 'YES' and never brought it. When we asked for cilantros for the third time (this time we showed her a picture of cilantro), the other server came to us and said they did not have cilantro, and explained the new staff does not speak English very well. It would be a lot better what you said here was explained beforehand. Thank you.

So happy to finally have a Vietnamese restaurant in West Vancouver! Great food and even better service - will definitely be coming back multiple times in the future.

Don’t listen to any of the reviews, there’s literally 3 other Vietnam restaurants near by that’s miles cheaper, have bigger portions and have better qualities. This restaurant is simply scamming the rich community of west Vancouver

Highly recommended Beef noodle here. I was introduced it is Northern style noodle soup and the soup is truly amazing with its great flavour and fragrant. I am so satisfied and happy to try this quality noodle soup which is probably made with so much attention. Will come back again to try other dishes as I heard their Shaking beef and spring roll are amazing as well.

Put 5 people in the 4 people seat, price is very expensive. Only provide 4 people's dinning set. Pho taste no good and our order can not have space on the table. Really like a joke. Will never come again.

What a different take on Vietnamese food! Stuffed fresh spring rolls with their own home made shrimp paste which gives the rolls a wonderful rich flavour. Next came the octopus, perfectly grilled with a really fresh, slightly tangy flavour, all from home made sauces from the back kitchen.
My fav was the tender beef cubes, with the lightest seasoning on a bed of rice with a snappy, fresh salad full of water cress and radishes, very delicate and a perfect side for the beef.
Don't forget dessert, not your typical gooey over cooked banana dessert but a very light, tall, chilled glass filled with house made gelatin cubes from various fruits and vegetables floating in a light creamy coconut drink. Very refreshing and not too sweet. Finally, enjoy a chat with the lively manager who can give you every detail about the ingredients in every dish and how the broths from the kitchen are truly house made. As I said before, this restaurant serves up a very different version of Vietnamese food and its just a block from one of the most scenic beach walks in Vancouver.

If you are looking for a restaurant that has excellent food and that feels like home, this beautiful place is definitely the one. By far, a hidden gem in West Vancouver. Highly recommend the Pho and Grilled chicken served with rice!

I’ve been a few times now and every time we are treated to amazing service and smiles and delicious food! My favourite is the Shaking Beef, the quality of the beef is really good for what you pay for and is always super flavourful. The Pho is also delicious. I recommend sharing a few dishes so you can try more off of the menu.

Food was great. Beef noodle had no MSG and grilled chicken was so good with homemade sauce. My friend loved the lamb shank. Staff friendly. Quality food. Highly recommended. Will definitely go again.

This place was recommended to me by a friend. So this weekend, I decided not to cook on purpose so I can try out this new spot in the neighbourhood. And I can definitely say that the food is great. The staff was kind too. Expect me back next weekend.

A nice addition to the West Vancouver restaurant scene. The Vietnamese food is fresh and tasty. We tried the grilled octopus (delicious), salad rolls (very fresh), shaking beef with vermicelli, chicken curry, and iced Vietnamese coffees.

Everything we tried was delicious. The portions are not large, but the dishes were prepared with care. We will be back.

I was curious about the name and came on Tuesday, shortly after the opening day. The place was nicely set out and felt cozy and friendly. The staff was all Vietnamese and it was obvious from their enthusiasm and knowledge that the dishes on the menu were what they have known and loved in Vietnam. It was perhaps this emotional attachment that makes the food here different from that of other Vietnamese restaurants in Vancouver. My group of 5 ordered the Baby Octopus, the Chicken Wings and the Fresh Rolls for appetisers. Although the portion was generous, not a scrap was left and we were all keen for more so yes, they were good. But for me the stand-outs were the main courses. The "Beff Pho" came with a rich and flavourful broth that signified long, slow simmering of bones and an absence of additives. This may well be the "must have" item if you must really go for one dish only. But if you have a chance, pick the Grilled Chicken and the Stir-fried Beef to share, your stomach (and your friends) will thank you for it:)

P. S: We came back on Thursday and managed to get to desserts this time. We have now added the "Egg Coffee" to our "Not-to-miss" list.

Very good soup stock with the beef oxtail soup although a small amount of oxtail. Tasty and creamy chicken curry. Great friendly service. Great addition to the West Vancouver restaurant scene.

Growing up in Vietnam, I was skeptical when I saw $14 on the price tag for a bowl of Pho here.

But I have to admit, this was hands down the best Pho that I have had in Vancouver. The quality definitely reflected accordingly to it’s price.

This is not a place where people seek for cheap and cheerful Pho. It was quality that I was looking for, and I walked out of this place feeling like I was on the streets of Hanoi.

I will 1000% be back. Hungry for more.

Quite overpriced compared to other Vancouver restaurants (Pho is $14 compared to $8-9 in many other restaurants and they provide no additional toppings!) and the food was disappointing. You can get one free noodle refill for the Pho" (it's just tasteless beef broth) but considering how little of anything there is in the bowl you will need it. Very disappointing.

I was so excited to try this new Vietnamese restaurant. First impression is that it is very nice, clean with beautiful decor, people are very friendly and accommodating. I tried Hanoi Beef noodle soup and it was amazing. Their pho is unlike many other places, the broth is very rich, flavorful and i can taste no MSG. I love to add their Garlic vinegar and home made chilly sauce into pho and it makes it taste so good. It was so different that I asked for some bean sprout but I was told that their pho is authentic northern Vietnamese style and they do not go with bean sprout and hoisin sauce because the broth is already rich enough. But combination of Pho with garlic vinegar is great. If you look for veggie option and low carb, they offer to add veggie for you and of course noodle refill is also a plus. It completely worths the price considering how much effort they put in to make a good broth that is hard to find.
So far so good, I am very excited to try their other main dishes next time.