Cái Gạc-Măng-Rê Restaurant (Le Garde Manger Restaurant)

The owner closed a bit early as it’s Halloween but he still let us dine in 😭 It’s a beautiful restaurant with amazing decor. I almost felt like I was back in Vietnam! He was very welcoming and graciously offered us hot tea while we ordered. We got the banh xeo, bun rieu and com ga nuong, all of which were so delicious. This place is a hidden gem, forsure. We heard about it from a friend and are more than glad we stopped by. Definitely recommend! 10/10 experience 😋

To be honest, the foods look decent and well-presented. The place was so nicely decorated. Though the flavor was not there. We got the whelk and couldn’t finish since the whelk was so sandy and many of them had bad smell(probably spoiled). We were fully aware it could be frozen whelk but if the quality is not good, maybe just don’t serve it. Everything else was so lack of flavor and too sweet to our liking. Even with the Bun cha Ha Noi, the grilled meat was well seasonal but the fish sauce dipping did not present the Ha Noi taste since it’s so sweet. We were the only table and the service felt cold and lack of attention. My friend got food poisoning after leaving here so it’s a sign to not come back tho.

I like the vibe of this restaurant — it feels very nostalgic. The food is delicious and authentic, but I hope the service will be better next time I visit. I ordered canh bún, hủ tiếu gõ, and bò lụi, and each dish was served with just the bowl itself — no dipping sauce, shrimp paste, chili, or fresh herbs on the side. There were also no condiments available on the table. This is honestly a big shortcoming for the restaurant.

Had a lovely late night dinner and got to meet both owners. It's a family restaurant with the husband at the front-of-house while his wife Trinh (apologies, I forgot the husband's name) is in the kitchen. Very interesting backstory where the husband was a computer engineer for a number of years but was laid-off during the pandemic. With a son entering university (class pre-law undergrad situation) and his wife working odd jobs, they decided to make the leap into the restaurant world. The menu items are in fact things that speak to their childhood, food items they've had a hard time finding in other restaurants as they just didn't quite taste like they did back home. One exception is the "Snow Harvest", that's actually a modification of lettuce wraps commonly seen as a second course of a Peking duck meal - the husband learned that years ago when he settled in Winnipeg from a generous Chinese restaurant chef who took him in when it was difficult for someone like himself to find a job as a new immigrant from Saigon. Bottom line, they mean well and each dish has a bit of a backstory for the family. If you call before they're closed, they'll even keep themselves open past closing for those late night customers. And if you're willing to try something randomly different, call ahead of time to see if you can have their family meal option (i.e. what the staff are eating in the back that evening). In my opinion, give them a chance? Sure, they're pricier than other Vietnamese restaurants but then again, it shows in their work ethic in trying to recreate something that's authentic from a past time in Vietnam (e.g. no shortcuts in how they prepare the pho soup broth, etc).

Food This is authentic Vietnamese food, and with a name like that, they truly deliver. The menu included some dishes I had never heard of before, so it’s clearly not just the usual lineup. I ordered the classic Vietnamese dishes I’m used to, and even those felt more refined and flavorful than usual. I would definitely go back to explore their more unique offerings. Ambiance The decor really stood out. You can tell they put a lot of care and creativity into it. It felt like we were transported to Vietnam. The vintage, retro look added so much charm. I loved it. Service The staff were great. They were polite, friendly, and fast. No issues at all.

The food was good and they have some dishes that you dont usually see at another restaurant. However, they dont have a lot of menu selections and the food does take while to make. It can be bit pricey as well. But the atmosphere and decorations was beautifully done, felt like I was in a Vietnam with vintage vibe. The service were very friendly and helpful.

It has a unique atmosphere interior, it’s just like I am back to Viet Nam. Food has fair price compared to other restaurants for 4 portions, however its worth the taste. The waiting time is kinda long even though not a lot of people in the store, so if you are in hurry for a meal not really recommend. It’s a quiet and relaxing place, would come back once in a while.

WOW! This place is like being transported to 90s vietnam. It’s absolutely amazing how much detail and care they put into very single corner of this place. From the decor to the food, everything is so authentic! We got the Bo Ne, the Bun rieu, a few skewers, a couple of drinks and nothing disappointed. I can’t tell what I wanted more but I couldn’t help but go back for another helping. The staff was very knowledgeable and very friendly. They made sure our drinks were always topped up and provided such care. I would definitely be back and will definitely be bringing all my friends to try this gem. Holy smokes what an amazing experience!

The best and most authentic Vietnamese restaurant in Toronto!!! They offer dishes that I only saw when I was in Vietnam, which is so incredible given that most of the Vietnamese restaurants in Toronto offer very similar items. The owners/Chefs were so warm and friendly. He walked us through his museum-like restaurant where he explained he imported all the doors, rickshaw and garde manger (name of the Restaurant in French) from Vietnam. You can tell this is his passion project, their joy and passion just oozes out of them. I love the classic, old soul music they were playing too, fit the theme so well. The food was so amazing! I've searched high and low for the Banh Xeo (egg crepe) in Toronto. Never found a good one. They had the best, crispiest and tastiest Banh Xeo hands down!!! It was huge and packed with fillings! I had the Bun Rieu and my friend had the Bun Bo hue. We both love the soup so much we finished them all. We were lucky that the owner's son came in who was a master at making egg coffees. It was even better than the ones I tried in Vietnam. It was smooth and creamy. He proudly shared that he went through many trial and errors to get this recipe! The owners were so kind and explained the meaning behind the dishes to us and their plans to expand as well as cool concepts like home meals where customers can order "home-cooked meals" for a week to a month. They are also testing out an 8 course meal (reservation required), which I cannot wait to come back to try! They are only 6 months new so as much as I want to share this glowing review to help them, I'm also worried that soon they will be so busy I can't find a seat anymore lol. Definitely try this warm, cosy and delicious restaurant out! It's a restaurant that will tingle all your senses! Ps They offer plenty of free parking out front in the complex.

Came here with my friends from Mississauga and Innisfil, we thought we'd be the first ones there considering we came right at opening but the place got busy so fast. The menu is a bit different than the regular pho restaurants you go to and it is a bit on the pricier side as well. We tried the home meal, bun bo hue, vermicelli bowl, and the BBQ pork. The portion sizes were okay but like I said, it was pricey. I believe it's just the owners running the kitchen so service is a bit slow so don't expect the food to come out right away. They don't all come at once either and we ended up waiting for one more dish when we've finished most of our food already. We did enjoy the food, it has a very clean flavour (can't really quite describe it). However, for the price, I'm not sure it would be my go to Vietnamese restaurant. Would definitely come back and try the other dishes.

Coming in this restaurant, it made us feel like we travelled to Vietnam. It was cozy with ample seating and we were greeted warmly and were given the option to have hot or cold tea/water. My partner and I ordered the Bun Bo Hue, BBQ Pork with Egg and Rice and the Beef Vermicelli Bowl. Our friends ordered the BBQ Pork with Egg and Rice as well but with fermented tofu, and the Traditional Home-Cooked Meal which was spicy lemongrass chicken with rice, garlic sautéed Chinese broccoli, and a bowl of clear soup. The Bun Bo Hue was rich and slightly spicy. It had deep layers of flavour from the shrimp and chilli paste and the fresh aromatics. The soup had beef and cha hue (pork roll) but we were hoping to get some cubes of congealed pork blood as well. We would also ask for extra spicy if possible the next time because we all love spicy food. The BBQ Pork was packed with flavours of garlic, scallion and lemongrass. It was also served with some fish sauce that has a delicate balance of sweetness and tanginess to it. The BBQ Pork with Fermented Tofu was similar in taste with the added flavours of subtle sweetness and faint cheesiness. The Spicy Lemongrass Chicken had a blend of chilli paste, shallots, garlic and lemongrass. It was full of bold and savoury flavours. The garlic sautéed broccolis were perfectly cooked, and the clear soup was light and refreshing. The Beef Vermicelli Bowl had punches of tanginess, sweetness and aromatic herbs. The beef was tender and savoury, and the vegetables were fresh. It was also topped off with crushed peanuts and served with a side of fish sauce. Overall, we were really pleased with the food. The food was very authentic, fresh and fragrant. The owner was very welcoming and took the time to talk to all the customers and listen to feedback. Although the service of the beef vermicelli bowl was slow (approximately 40 minutes), we'd love to come back to try the other dishes.

I saw this hot new Viet restaurant on my Instagram story and bookmarked it for a while now. Walking in, it reminded me of my travels in vietnam. They had this very cute cart side table. The menu isn't like your traditional items like pho, it has a lot of street food items you normally don't see. I ordered Bo la lot (beef rolled up in betal leaves) which comes with vermicelli, mint, lettuce, rice paper and a fish sauce dip. With this dish, you would wrap it up all together using a rice paper wrap with everything you'd like and dip it with the sauce. My husband ordered the chicken wings with sticky rice but they didn't have any sticky rice in the kitchen so we had the option to swap it with spring rolls or have the chicken wings on its own. We opted for the spring rolls. Bo la lot is my favorite dish and I noticed that a lot of restaurants don't normally sell it so I was sooo hyped. It was so fresh and tasty, Ive never had it in a rice paper version so it was a new experience. My husband's chicken wings were great however his dish was very small for the price - it came with 3 chicken wings and two spring rolls. I felt the meals to be very overpriced based on the amount of food that was served. In the area they're in, there is a huge Viet community and lots of restaurants. The tastes and freshness were all there, however the price was very steep for the quantity.

Located in an industrial area, this unique Vietnamese restaurant really shines in it's amazing decor of a retro Vietnam. Luckily there were few tables taken at the time we went, but it quickly filled up with the Sunday lunch crowd. As for the food, it tasted authentic. Tho the portion size seemed a bit small and prices a bit high. Definitely go to experience the environment and decor.

Loved everything about this magical place! This is NOT your typical fast food noodle joint. Everything is well thought out and made with passion! Menu changes often to showcase a variety of Vietnamese creations. Can't wait to book a 8 course tasting!!!

Great vibe, cool deco, authentic việt food and friendly service. A must visit in Toronto.